The Race Around the World

One day Narad Muni came to Mount Kailash. In his hand was a wonderful golden fruit. He offered it to Shiv ji and said, "Prabhu, this is the fruit of knowledge. It is very special."

Shiv ji's two sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya, were sitting close by. Both cried out together, "I want that fruit!" There was one fruit and two children. Shiv ji and Maa Parvati smiled. Shiv ji said, "Whoever goes around the whole world three times and comes back first will get the fruit."

At once Kartikeya jumped onto his peacock and flew off, whoosh! His peacock was very fast. Kartikeya thought, "I will be back in no time. Brother Ganesh's mouse is so slow."

Ganesh ji stayed where he was. He closed his eyes and thought, "What is the whole world to me? My mother and father are my whole world." Then he got up. He seated his parents together, folded his hands and lovingly walked around them three times. Then he bowed to them.

Shiv ji asked, "Ganesh, why didn't you go around the world?" Ganesh ji replied gently, "Father, the scriptures say that going around one's parents is equal to going around the whole earth. You two are my whole world."

Hearing this, Shiv ji and Maa Parvati were overjoyed. They hugged Ganesh ji and gave him the fruit.

Much later, Kartikeya came back, tired. He saw that the fruit was with Ganesh ji. When he heard the whole story, he felt hurt. Upset, he left Kailash and went to live on a hill in the south.

Shiv ji and Maa Parvati went there to comfort their dear son. Maa hugged him lovingly. Shiv ji said, "My child, you yourself are the fruit of knowledge. Why do you need any other fruit?" Hearing this, Kartikeya's heart became calm, and he smiled.

People say that this hill is known today as Palani, where there is a famous temple of Bhagwan Murugan, which is another name of Kartikeya. And Ganesh ji's lesson still reminds every child that parents hold the highest place.