STORY BEHIND BROKEN TUSK OF VINAYAKA

Vinayaka, also called as “Vigneshwara”, “Ganapathi”, “EkDanta” “Lambodhara”.. and with many other names.

Vinayaka is a Hindu God, who is said to be the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.

ఏకదంతం మహా కాయం తప్త కాంచన సన్నిభం!

లంబోదరం విశాలాక్షం గజానన మహర్నిశం!!

Meaning:  Oh Lord with Single tusk and vast body! The first sight of your darshan is a very great boon for us. Bless us with great success in our work. Oh Lord I salute you!

Vinayaka, also called as “Vigneshwara”, “Ganapathi”, “EkDanta” “Lambodhara”.. and with many other names.

Vinayaka is a Hindu God, who is said to be the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. He used to have his both tusks when he is born as Vinayaka. But later his tusk was broken and was left with single one.

There are many versions of stories that were behind the broken tusk of Vinayaka.

VERSION 1:

Tusk was broken by Parasurama.

STORY: Parasurama was a great sage and a very good devotee of Lord Shiva. Once he was about to complete a yaga. So he wanted to take the blessings of his guru; Lord Shiva. So he started his journey to “Kailasa”, where Lord Shiva resides.

After travelling for a couple of days, he reached Kailasa. He was very tired and exhausted when reached Kailasa. But he had forgotten everything because his physical tiredness was compensated by his eager to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. Parasurama was very eager to see his respectable guru, Lord Shiva.

In Kailasa, Lord Shiva who wanted to take rest, told his son Vinayaka that he was going in to take rest. So, Vinayaka thought that no one should disturb his father Shiva who was taking rest. So he stood at the door of Kailasa guarding his father’s room from others not to enter.

When Parasurama reached to the main door of Kailasa, he saw Vinayaka at the door. So, he immediately greeted Vinayaka and tried to step into Kailasa. Vinayaka stopped Parasurama and asked him to wait as his father is taking rest. As Parasurama reached Kailasa by travelling a long distance and was eager to see his respectable guru, he did not like this interruption from Vinayaka.

He wanted to please Vinayaka and enter inside. So he asked Vinayaka to let him IN saying that he would promise not to disturb Lord Shiva. As he just want to seek his divine blessings. Even after Parasurama pleasing Vinayaka, he was not convinced and did not allow Parasurama to enter… And this discussion turned into a war between both.

Vinayaka pushed Parasurama in order to stop him from allowing into Kailasa. Parasurama got angry and threw his axe on to Vinayaka. Parasurama was presented that axe by Lord Shiva. Vinayaka was not able to stop it. The axe hit his right tusk. It was broken and he fell down unconscious, uttering loudly.

On hearing his son’s voice, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi came out. Parasurama felt ashamed of his behavior and asked Shiva and Parvathi to pardon him.

Later Shiva blessed Parasurama and his son Vinayaka for his love towards his father.

VERSION: 2

Vinayaka broke it himself to use it as a pen to write Mahabharatha.

STORY:

Vinayaka always has a great determination in his work. He never failed in whatever he does.

One day the great sage Vyasa has a very great determination to make the epic; which has vedic status. So he went in search of a person for help, who can can make this possible. As normal human being cannot fullfill his dream to come true. Finally he was aware of Vinayaka and his talent. So he approached to Vinayaka to take his help for writing the story of Mahabharatha. The main reason behind him to take the help of Vinayaka is that this writing cannot be done by a common man.

Sage Vyasa is a very great man and was very specialized in narrating. Vinayaka also has a very great specialization in writing; and had mentioned a condition that the narration of the great epic should not be stopped in the middle.

Vyasa agreed to this condition and started his narration of the story – “The Mahabharath”

As Vyasa is very great narrator, he never stopped in the middle and his flow of the narration started and then Vinayaka to meet up the writing of the epic, broke his right tusk and used his divine tusk as an instrument to write the holy epic of Mahabharatha.

Sage Vyasa was also very dedicate never stooped in the middle and had narrated the epic very beautifully and had completed with in the time.