Ganesha and His Mouse

Told in English, Telugu.

Long, long ago, in the court of the gods, there lived a musician named Krauncha. He sang sweetly, but he was always in a hurry.

One day, Krauncha was rushing along, and oops! He stepped right on the foot of a wise old sage named Vamadeva.

The sage frowned. "You do not look where you go. You scurry like a mouse. So a mouse you shall be!"

And pop! Krauncha became a mouse. But not a tiny mouse. A big, big mouse, as big as a hill!

Krauncha felt sorry. "Please, I did not mean it," he squeaked.

The sage's face became soft. "Do not worry, little one. One day, Lord Ganesha will find you. Then you will be happy again."

The big mouse ran off. And this is how he ran. Squeak, squeak, run, run, run! Can you say it with me? Squeak, squeak, run, run, run!

The mouse came to a quiet ashram in the forest, where another sage, Parashara, lived with his family. The mouse was hungry, and he was very naughty.

He nibbled all the rice. He knocked over the pots of milk. He chewed the mats and tumbled the clay lamps. Crash! Bang! Squeak, squeak, run, run, run!

The sage and his family did not know what to do. So they folded their hands and prayed. "Ganesha, please help us."

And who came? Little Ganesha, with his big round tummy, his long trunk and his kind, twinkling eyes.

Ganesha saw the big mouse running here and there. He took out his soft, golden rope and threw it, swish! The rope went round the mouse's neck, gently, gently, and the mouse stopped.

Now the mouse was a little proud. He puffed out his chest and said, "You caught me, Ganesha. That is clever. So I will give you a gift. Ask me for anything you want!"

Ganesha smiled. "Thank you, mouse. My wish is this. Be my vahana. Let me ride on you."

The mouse laughed. "Of course! I am so big and so strong. Climb on!"

So Ganesha climbed on. And then Ganesha made himself heavy. Heavy like a mountain!

The mouse's legs began to wobble. His back went down, down, down. "Ooh! Ganesha, you are so heavy! I cannot hold you!"

The mouse thought for a moment. Then he understood. He had been boasting, and boasting is never a good thing.

"Ganesha," he said in a small voice, "I am sorry. I was naughty, and I was proud. Please forgive me."

And what did Ganesha do? He smiled his big, kind smile, and he made himself light. Light like a lotus flower!

The mouse stood up straight again. He felt happy, happy, happy. He was not naughty any more. Now he had the best friend in the whole world.

From that day on, wherever Ganesha went, his little mouse carried him. Over the hills, through the fields, into every home. Squeak, squeak, run, run, run! But now he ran with joy.

So next Vinayaka Chavithi, when Amma places Ganesha on the little mandapam with flowers and kudumulu, look closely. Near Ganesha's feet, you will see a small mouse. Sometimes he is even holding a laddu.

That is Ganesha's dear friend, who learned to say sorry. Can you wave hello to him?

Good night, little one.