THE THREE TRIPS AROUND THE WORLD






Pic.: Aparna Khanolkar Sheth
Six days ago, on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, I had had written a Post, titled – ‘The Broken Tusk of Lord Ganesh’. Honestly, when I wrote it, I had no hint that it would touch so many people. I wrote it the way I, always, do – straight from the heart, in a language as simple as the wayside flowers are... That’s why I have been calling my daily writings as ‘The Wild Wayside-Flowers’...
Yes, I know, there is, always, something extra-ordinary in those wild, wayside-flowers!
Kumar, a friend of mine, who regularly reads my Posts, wrote to me, yesterday, after a long time:
“Dear Gerry, how is it that a simple text, like the above, becomes a wonderful post when it comes from you? Happy Ganesh Chaturthi...”
I remembered the beautiful legend of the two brothers – Ganesh and Kartik. They were little boys of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Though both the boys were adorable and wise, there was a heated debate among the Devas as to who was the wiser of the two... The matter was addressed to Brahma, the Lord of the Universe... who, in return, deputed his son, Narad, to resolve it. Narad, being Narad, did it in his own inimitable way: by creating a dispute between the two brothers... He handed the ‘divine fruit of wisdom’ to Shiva and Parvati, and pitted the boys against each other in a contest... The one who would be faster in taking three trips around the world... yes, he would be the wiser of the two, and would, rightfully, deserve the ‘divine fruit of wisdom’...
Kartik was very happy. He, immediately, mounted on his vehicle, the peacock, and set out on the journey... Ganesh, on the other hand, was too bulky and slow. Moreover, his vehicle was the mouse... There was no way he could beat his brother, Kartik...
But, then, that’s exactly what Ganesh did!
Remembering the ‘reality’, that his whole world contained within his own parents, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Ganesh quickly began to go around them in circle, with great love, devotion, grace and respect...
The three mighty trips around the world were completed in just three thoughtful minutes!
Mother Parvati was so impressed, so touched by this simple-yet-profound gesture, that she, instantly, placed the ‘divine fruit’ in the deserving hands of her wise son, the simple boy Ganesh!
I used to, always, wonder as to why, during the devotional Ganesh aarti, the faithfuls took that full round, with such love, devotion, grace and respect... Yes, I had, always, watched this scene with twinkle in my own little-eyes...
Maybe, just like Parvati and Shiva, the whole world appreciates what is very simple and straight, yet wise and beautiful...
Maybe, that’s the reason, here, too, dear Kumar...
May Lord shower on you all His blessings...

GERALD D’CUNHA

Comments

Minal Shah said…
One more masterpiece! Keep writing... Minal Shah
September 3, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Pushpa Dhameja said…
One more inspiring post!
-- Pushpa Dhameja
September 4, 2014 at 1:57 PM
Kumar said…
Great, Mr Gerry. I am amazed that you remember our first conversation, almost two years back, so clearly. Sure, simplicity is your greatest treasure. Keep writing. God bless us all.
N Kumar
September 4, 2014 at 5:05 PM
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