Ganesh Chaturthi is a very popular festival celebrated with great pomp and show. It is celebrated almost all over India. On this day, the idol of Lord Ganesh is brought home. While bringing the idol, we must ensure that it contains mouse and modak. Do you know why mouse is necessary because it is the vehicle of Lord Ganesha? Do you know the story behind it, how mouse became the vehicle of Lord Ganesha? Let us know through a story.
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Became a Mouse due to the Curse of Sage Vamadeva
According to Ganesha Purana, Mushak Raj was a Gandharva in his previous life. His real name was Krounch. He was known for his melodious music, Once Krounch reached the court of Devraj Indra, where everyone was present. Then he accidentally stepped on Muni Vamdev. Muni Vamdev found this behavior very inappropriate and he became very angry. Muni Vamdev cursed Krounch in anger, due to which Krounch immediately turned into a mouse but his size remained big. He said that your ego has blinded you. You kicked a sage who was meditating peacefully, go, I curse you that you will become a rat and will keep experiencing the feeling of being kicked by different creatures.
Kronch became more frightened on hearing this curse and started asking for forgiveness from Muni Vamadeva. Seeing the tears of repentance flowing from his eyes, Muni Vamadeva’s heart melted and he said, “It is true that you will become a mouse” but do not worry. Lord Ganesha will come to your aid to relieve you of your troubles. He will bless you and all your troubles will be removed.
The story of the mouse becoming the vehicle of Lord Ganesh?
Once when he turned into a big and huge rat, he reached the ashram of Maharishi Parashar. The mouse had huge strength, long sharp nails and a terrifying appearance which would frighten anyone. It had long sharp teeth and a horrible and scary voice.
As soon as he reached the ashram, the mouse started creating terror. He broke all the earthen pots and things, tore the books and clothes kept there. He ate all the grains kept in the ashram. In a short time, the mouse turned the entire ashram and garden into ruins and all the sages there were also very frightened to see all this.
Seeing the ferocity of the mouse, the sage became worried. He thought that some solution would have to be found to stop this terror. If no solution is found to drive it out, then its destruction will increase even More. When Maharishi Parashar was thinking about solving this doubt, he remembered Lord Ganesh and he prayed to Lord Ganesh. Then Maharishi saw a wonderful sight, Lord Ganesh appeared there. Seeing Lord Ganesh, the mouse king started digging the ground and making a burrow so that he could hide in Patal Lok.
God turned his Tajomay noose towards the mouse. This noose was so powerful and terrifying that even the Gods felt like leaving their place. It was lit up in the whole sky. It went in ten different directions and caught the mouse with its noose and pulled it out of the hole due to which it became unconscious.
When the mouse regained consciousness, it asked Lord Ganesha for a blessing and a boon. It asked Lord Ganesha to stay with it forever. Lord Ganesha was impressed by the mouse’s blessing and sincerity and kept it with him. Lord Ganesha transformed the giant demon mouse into a tiny shape and gave it the boon to stay with him as his vahan.
Thus, Lord Ganesha with compassion and wisdom not only tamed the giant and demon mouse but also accepted it as his beloved Vahan.
This information is based on common beliefs and religious stories.
