39. A Sacred Lesson

The story goes that there was once a competition between Lord Ganapathy and Lord Subrahmanya. The quarrel between Them was over the possession of a particular sacred fruit, and it was stipulated that the fruit would go to the one who first completes a trip around the three worlds. Lord Subrahmanya wasted no time in setting off on His peacock to complete the task. On the other hand, Lord Ganapathy simply circumambulated His parents, Lord Parameshwara and Goddess Parvati, thrice, only to be presented with the fruit as the prize for finishing the race first!

Lord Subrahmanya questioned this decision by pointing out that Lord Ganapathy did not even leave the place, let alone go around the three worlds. The clarification given at that point is that since the three worlds are considered as being within one’s parents, Lord Ganapahy’s circum-ambulation of His parents amounts to His circumambulating all the three worlds. Lord Ganapathy has, through this divine play, taught us the importance of our parents and also demonstrated to us that they should, in fact, be considered our supreme Gods. ❃❃❃❃