Ganesha is branded with the Supreme Self.
'The Curse of the Moon' and 'Who is Elder?'
The Curse of the Moon
Myth – On Ganesh Chaturthi occasion who looks at the moon will
be falsely accused. Remedy for the situation by listening / reciting the story
of the ‘Shyamanthaka jewel’ are in the Vishnu Purana and the ‘Bhagavad Gita.
Story - Satrajit, who safeguarded a jewel Syamantaka from
Surya, did not part with it even when Krishna the Lord of Dwaraka, asked for it
saying it would be safe with him. Prasena, the brother of Satrajit went out
hunting wearing the jewel but was killed by a lion. Jambavan of the Ramayana
fame killed the lion and gave it to his son to play with. When Prasena did not
return, Satrajit falsely accused Krishna of killing Prasena for the sake of the
jewel. Krishna, in order to remove the stain on his reputation, set out in
search of the jewel and found it in Jambavan's cave, with his child. Jambavan
attacked Krishna thinking him to be an intruder who had come to take away the jewel.
They fought each other for 28 days, when Jambavan, his whole body terribly
weakened from the hammering of Krishna's fists, finally recognized Him as Lord
Rama.
As a repentance for his having fought Krishna, Jambavan gave
Krishna the jewel and also his daughter Jambavati in marriage. Krishna returned
to Dvaraka with Jambavati and the jewel, and returned it to Satrajit, who in
turn repented for his false accusation. He promptly offered to give Krishna the
jewel and his daughter Satyabhama in marriage. Krishna accepted Satyabhama as
his wife but did not accept the jewel.
After a few days, Krishna and Balarama were off to
Hastinapura after there were rumours that the Pandavas have been burnt to their
deaths in a fire. Kritavarma, Akrura and Satadhanwa, who had their eyes on the
dazzling jewel, conspired to make use of Krishna's absence from Dwaraka as an
opportunity. Satadhanva one night entered the house of Satrajit and killed him
in his sleep, making off with the jewel.
A sorrowful Satyabhama rushed to Hastinapura to inform
Krishna about the ghastly death of her father. Krishna and Balarama immediately
started for Dwaraka to avenge Satrajit's death, hearing of which Satadhanwa
fled on his horse, keeping the jewel with Akrura. He was chased down by Krishna
and Balaram and finally killed by Krishna near Mithila. Later Krishna returned
to Dwaraka, and upon realizing that Akrura had already fled to Kashi with the
Shyamanthaka jewel, summoned him up, and asked him to admit his guilt. When
Akrura complied, Krishna let him keep it, on the condition that it was to
remain in the city of Dwaraka.
The Puranas or the Mahabharata do not say what happens to
the gem after the death of Krishna and the fall of Dwaraka. However, some
speculate that the legendary Shyamanthaka Mani is none other than the famous
Koh-i-Noor diamond
Who is Elder?
Ganesha and His brother Lord Subramanya (Kartikya) once had
a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord
Shiva for final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the
whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the
elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a
circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness,
around His divine parents and asked for the prize of His victory.
Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can
I give you the prize; you did not go around the world?"
Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my
parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!"
Thus the dispute was settled in favor of Lord Ganesha, who
was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati
also gave Him a fruit as a prize for this victory.
