How the Mouse Became Ganesh ji's Vahan

This is a story from long, long ago. In the court of Indra, the king of the devtas, lived a gandharva named Krauncha. Gandharvas sing sweet songs and play beautiful music. Krauncha was very restless and was always in a hurry.

One day many great rishis were sitting in Indra's court. Among them was Muni Vamadev. Krauncha was rushing about without looking where he was going, and he stepped on Muni Vamadev's foot. The muni became very angry. He said, "You keep running here and there like a mouse. Go, become a mouse!"

At that very moment Krauncha turned into a huge mouse. Now he understood his mistake. He folded his hands and said, "Munivar, I was wrong. Please forgive me." The muni's anger cooled. He said, "What I have said cannot be taken back. But one day Bhagwan Ganesh will make you his vahan, and then even the devtas will respect you."

The huge mouse landed on the earth near the ashram of Rishi Parashar. He was very naughty. He broke the clay pots of the ashram, ate up the grain, nibbled the clothes and ruined the garden. Everyone in the ashram was upset.

In those days, little Ganesh was visiting Rishi Parashar's ashram. The rishi prayed to him, "O Ganesh, please save the ashram from this mouse." Ganesh ji smiled. He threw his pash, a divine rope. The rope gently tied up the mouse and brought him to Ganesh ji.

The mouse bowed his head and said, "Prabhu, please forgive me." Ganesh ji said, "I forgive you. From today you will be my vahan." The mouse was very happy. But as soon as Ganesh ji sat on him, he began to sink under the heavy weight. He said, "Prabhu, you are so heavy! Please become a little lighter!" Ganesh ji laughed and made himself so light that the mouse could carry him easily.

Since then that mouse, called Mushakraj, has been Ganesh ji's dear vahan. Wherever there is an idol of Ganesh ji, you will always see Mushak ji sitting close by.