Hi there!!!! Today's story is about the sibling rivalry between Ganesha and Kartikeya, and the famed Fruit of Knowledge. Let's go…
One day, Sage Narada was trekking to Mount Kailash. He met Lord Shiva on the way, who was meditating. He bowed to Shiva, "Pranam, Lord Shiva." Shiva woke up from his meditation and said, "Hello, Narada. You haven't visited in a long time!! What brings you to Kailash?" Narada stood up and took a large pomegranate out of his kamandalu. Lifting it up, he proclaimed, "The Fruit of Knowledge bestows the consumer with unlimited knowledge. They are blessed with eternal wisdom," Shiva stared at the fruit in awe. Narada continued, "I have brought this fruit from Lord Bramha. I have also decided to give this to you, as you are the only one worthy for this. Here you go!!" Narada thrust the pink pomegranate into Shiva's hands. He was shocked!!! He never desired any knowledge, nor any wisdom. So, he concluded that he would give it to one of his sons.
Narada left and Shiva went back up to the peak of Mount Kailash, where his sons - Kartikeya and Ganesha - were happily playing. Without arousing their suspicion, he tiptoed over to Parvati, who was threading some flowers together for a garland. He explained the incident to her. She said, "We must decide who among our sons is worthy. We must set forth a task that our sons must complete. If one completes it before the other, they will be deemed the consumer of the fruit."
So, the two went to see their sons, who were happily playing together on their rides. Ganesha was sitting on a large mouse and Kartikeya was riding a colourful peacock. They were pretending to play 'Devas and Asuras', and were constantly engaging in petty fights.
Shiva and Parvati interrupted their war and told them, "Children, Sage Narada has given us the Fruit of Knowledge. It gives the person who eats it eternal knowledge and wisdom. We shall challenge both of you for this fruit." Ganesha and Kartikeya stared at the fruit in amaze. They didn't know that a mere fruit could do such a big thing!!!!! So, they agreed to do whatever their parents told them to.
Early the next day, Shiva and Parvati woke up their kids and told them, "We have set the challenge. You must travel around the whole Earth, three times. The winner will be whoever reaches here first," Kartikeya rallied his peacock and got ready for the race. Ganesha, however, was in a spot of confusion. He was very, VERY fat, and how fast could a mouse travel compared to a peacock!!! He had no chance against his brother. But, he cunningly thought of a plan.
Shiva waved the checkered flag for the start, and Kartikeya zoomed off into the distance, leaving his brother to eat his dust. But, Ganesha didn't start on the track!! He just walked to his parents and walked around them three times!!! Shiva and Parvati were confused. They knew that the Earth was in front of them, but why was Ganesha walking around them?! After he walked three rounds of his parents, Ganesha stated, "Now give me the fruit!!" Shiva and Parvati looked at him in surprise, "Give you the fruit? But you haven't fulfilled the terms of the task!!! Ganesha's eyes twinkled as he said, "As my parents, you are the world to me. So, when I went around you three times, it was equal to going around the world three times!!!" Realizing his wit, Shiva and Parvati handed over the fruit.
Kartikeya arrived just in time to see Ganesha getting the fruit. He was furious to learn that his efforts were in vain. In anger, he flew down to Earth and settled there.
Thus, Ganesha was known as Buddhinath or Buddhividhata - the God of Wisdom.
Fun Fact Nº 1: When Kartikeya flew down to Earth, he settled in the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu.
Fun Fact Nº 2: There is a HUGE Kartikeya temple in the Palani hills, called Palani Murugan Temple.
Thanks for reading the Fruit of Knowledge!!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the blue button to receive emails about my posts!!!! Happy Reading!!!!!!
One day, Sage Narada was trekking to Mount Kailash. He met Lord Shiva on the way, who was meditating. He bowed to Shiva, "Pranam, Lord Shiva." Shiva woke up from his meditation and said, "Hello, Narada. You haven't visited in a long time!! What brings you to Kailash?" Narada stood up and took a large pomegranate out of his kamandalu. Lifting it up, he proclaimed, "The Fruit of Knowledge bestows the consumer with unlimited knowledge. They are blessed with eternal wisdom," Shiva stared at the fruit in awe. Narada continued, "I have brought this fruit from Lord Bramha. I have also decided to give this to you, as you are the only one worthy for this. Here you go!!" Narada thrust the pink pomegranate into Shiva's hands. He was shocked!!! He never desired any knowledge, nor any wisdom. So, he concluded that he would give it to one of his sons.
Narada left and Shiva went back up to the peak of Mount Kailash, where his sons - Kartikeya and Ganesha - were happily playing. Without arousing their suspicion, he tiptoed over to Parvati, who was threading some flowers together for a garland. He explained the incident to her. She said, "We must decide who among our sons is worthy. We must set forth a task that our sons must complete. If one completes it before the other, they will be deemed the consumer of the fruit."
So, the two went to see their sons, who were happily playing together on their rides. Ganesha was sitting on a large mouse and Kartikeya was riding a colourful peacock. They were pretending to play 'Devas and Asuras', and were constantly engaging in petty fights.
Shiva and Parvati interrupted their war and told them, "Children, Sage Narada has given us the Fruit of Knowledge. It gives the person who eats it eternal knowledge and wisdom. We shall challenge both of you for this fruit." Ganesha and Kartikeya stared at the fruit in amaze. They didn't know that a mere fruit could do such a big thing!!!!! So, they agreed to do whatever their parents told them to.
Early the next day, Shiva and Parvati woke up their kids and told them, "We have set the challenge. You must travel around the whole Earth, three times. The winner will be whoever reaches here first," Kartikeya rallied his peacock and got ready for the race. Ganesha, however, was in a spot of confusion. He was very, VERY fat, and how fast could a mouse travel compared to a peacock!!! He had no chance against his brother. But, he cunningly thought of a plan.
Shiva waved the checkered flag for the start, and Kartikeya zoomed off into the distance, leaving his brother to eat his dust. But, Ganesha didn't start on the track!! He just walked to his parents and walked around them three times!!! Shiva and Parvati were confused. They knew that the Earth was in front of them, but why was Ganesha walking around them?! After he walked three rounds of his parents, Ganesha stated, "Now give me the fruit!!" Shiva and Parvati looked at him in surprise, "Give you the fruit? But you haven't fulfilled the terms of the task!!! Ganesha's eyes twinkled as he said, "As my parents, you are the world to me. So, when I went around you three times, it was equal to going around the world three times!!!" Realizing his wit, Shiva and Parvati handed over the fruit.
Kartikeya arrived just in time to see Ganesha getting the fruit. He was furious to learn that his efforts were in vain. In anger, he flew down to Earth and settled there.
Thus, Ganesha was known as Buddhinath or Buddhividhata - the God of Wisdom.
Fun Fact Nº 1: When Kartikeya flew down to Earth, he settled in the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu.
Fun Fact Nº 2: There is a HUGE Kartikeya temple in the Palani hills, called Palani Murugan Temple.
Thanks for reading the Fruit of Knowledge!!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the blue button to receive emails about my posts!!!! Happy Reading!!!!!!
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