GODS and GODDESSES
Ganesha
- Lord who removes obstacles
Story of Agasthyar - Cauvery
During the wedding of Siva with Parvathi
in the Mount Kailas, the entire population, Devas and Rishis had gathered
& hence the Northern land dipped down, unable to bear the weight.
Lord Siva asked Sage Agasthiar to
go to the Podhigai ranges in the Southern land in order to balance the
weight. (Agasthiar was very short in stature but his might was so great).
Agasthiar was sad that he could not stay & witness the Lord's wedding.
Siva granted that he would still
be able to see the wedding from the South. From within his matted locks,
he took river Cauvery & filled it in Agasthiar's kamandalam (spouted
pot), bidding Cauvery to flow wherever Agasthiar pointed. Agasthiar reached
the south & travelled to various Siva Sthalams.
Surapaduman was an asura, who had
immense power. Indra had run away in fear from his Indralogam, reached
Sirgazhi in the southern regios of India & prayed to Lord Siva. He
created a beautiful garden & worshipped Lord Siva with the flowers
from his garden.
But soon, Lord Varuna in fear of
Surapaduman did not shower rains & Indran's garden & in fact the
whole land suffered from lack of water. Sage Narada, told Indran of the
river Cauvery that Lord Siva had once filled in Agasthiar's kamandalam.
Indran prayed to Lord Ganesha for his help.
Ganesha took the form of a crow &
sat on Agasthiar's kamandalam & toppled it. Agasthiar lifted his hands
to shoo off the crow. River Cauvery, took it as a signal for her &
began to flow.
The crow took the form of a small
boy. Agasthiar started chasing the boy trying to strike him on his head
with his knuckles. Ganesha took his original form. Agasthiar was saddened
that he had tried to strike Lord Ganesha. He started striking his forehead
with his knuckles. Ganesha stopped him & granted that everybody who
worshipped him in this manner would be blessed with wisdom.
Another version of the same story
- Ponni, as Cauvery was originally called, was disrespectful to Agasthiar
when he came down south. To teach her a lesson, Agasthiar imprisoned
the entire river in his kamandalam.
Ganesha on sage Narada's request
came in the form of a crow and toppled the kamandalam & set the river
free. Ponni was then given a new name, Cauvery (Kaveri).
 
 
 
Images from the Tamil movie Agathiyar by Sri Vijaya Lakshmi Pictures
Stories
on Lord Ganesha
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