| Ganesha's
Victory Ravana was on his way to Lanka carrying Shiva's Atmalinga in his palms. He came to the west coast. By then it was evening. It was time for Ravana to perform sandhyavandana' (the evening prayers). Ravana was in a fix. Ishwara himself had told him that the Linga should not touch the ground. How was he to perform sandhya- vandana, with the Atmalinga in his hands? There was no one in that deserted place that could help him. He stood there, thinking, 'I must perform sandhyavandana. What shall I do?' Ganesha was following Ravana and was waiting for a chance. He understood Ravana's difficulty. He appeared before him in the guise of a small boy. When Ravana saw him he was as happy as if he had found water in a desert. Ravana called him and said, "Little boy, will you hold this Linga till I perform sandhya- vandana and return?" Ganesha, in the guise of a boy, said, "It appears to be very heavy. Please put it on the ground and go." Ravana said, "No, I cannot do that. It should not be put on the ground. Please keep it in your hands, till I return." The boy said, "Suppose it becomes too heavy for me?" Ravana spoke softly, "I will return quickly, my boy. You are a clever fellow, aren't you? Please hold it in your hands, my good boy." The boy agreed. Ravana gave him the Atmalinga and said, "Don't forget. This should never be put on the ground." And then he went towards the sea to perform sandhya- vandana. Hardly had Ravana started when Ganesha cried out, "Alas, it's too heavy! Too heavy!" Ravana was afraid. But, he could not return without completing sandhyavandana. Therefore, he cried out, "Boy, I shall be back soon. Don't put the Linga on the ground whatever may happen." By the time Ravana was offering holy water to the gods Ganesha cried aloud, "Oh, Ravana, I can no longer bear the weight of this Linga; I shall put it down here." So saying Ganesha put the Linga on the ground and ran away. Ravana completed sandhya- vandana in haste and ran back in fear. But Shiva's Atmalinga was firm in the earth. No matter how hard he tried, Ravana could not take it out. It was not an easy task to prevent Ravana from getting Shiva's Atmalinga. With his sharp intellect, Ganesha did this difficult task easily. |
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