Story #35: How mouse became vehicle of Vinayaka

   Once there was a gandharva (celestial musician)  by the name Krouncha. One day,  after performing in the court of Indra,  he was praised a lot by the attendees there.  The gandharva walked out with so much proud, that he noticed very little about what was in the way. Without looking he stamped on the leg of Vaamadeva Rishi, son of Gowthama Rishi.  He didn't even apologize for his action.  This irritated Vaamadeva Rishi, so he cursed him to become a mouse,  which would only run wherever it wanted.

    True to the curse, the gandharva became a mouse of enormous size.  He began to run wherever he wanted.  This disturbed everyone.  Due to his size, he was destroying everything over which he was running.

   As he was running,  he came to the ashram of sage Vasishta. As the mouse was about to destroy the ashram,  Vinayaka who was present there,  tied down the mouse using his paasangusam as a noose rope.

   Vinayaka jumped over and sat on the mouse. The gandharva started to cry out of pain, unable to carry the load.  As he pleaded guilty, Vinayaka reduced himself to a size and weight which the mouse can carry.  The mouse or the mooshik was named Anindhya.

   Later vinayaka used him as a vehicle to run around to nook and corner of the world to get rid of any obstacles to his devotees.

   We must also note that the mooshik signifies our senses and vinayaka represents our intellect. The form of Vinayaka on mooshik reminds us that we must keep our senses under the control of our intellect.

  Jai Shri Mooshika Vaahana!!