The Ganesha story that I have posted previously, in how Ganesha was ended up with the elephant head, is the most well known version of its myths. However there is another version that is not the usual story where it was cut by his father Siva but caused by the Sani (Saturn). This story has more of astrological origin that is directly related to the nature of Saturn, the planet of longevity and lasting happiness with discipline and humanity as the prerequisite price. The unfolding story is,
“Lord Sani was desirous of seeing Lord Ganesha after hearing his birth. So he went to the mountain Kalias, the abode of Lord Siva and his family. The proud Mother Parvati was holding the child and other invited guests were adoring the gorgeous child. Sani before getting the audience saluted all the Lords—Krishna, Siva, Brhama, Dharma and Sun, and obtained their permission to visit the baby Ganesha.
When he was standing before Mother Parvati, his head bowed down and was avoiding looking directly at her or the baby. Mother Pravati felt offended by Sani’s strange behavior and asked “why are you not looking at me and my child?” Then Sani explained his wife put on him a curse that whomsoever he would look would get destroyed, since he forgot to honor her after his outdoor period, as he was engrossed in the thought of Lord Krishna.
Having heard this all the gods and dancers broke into laughter and Mother Parvati instructed him to see the child. Sani was in a dilemma and however glanced at the child from the corner of his eyes.
Immediately the child’s head got separated from the head and the bleeding headless child was in the mother’s lap. Everybody was in panic and the mother started weeping bitterly. Lord Krishna went to the river Pushpamudra, where a male elephant was sleeping with its female elephant, keeping its head in the northern direction. These two were surrounded by baby elephants.
Lord Krishna cut off the head of the elephant with his Sudarsan cakra, and put it on his mount, the Garuda. Meanwhile the female elephant got up and addressed Lord Krishna, her prayer. The elephant having touched the feet of the Lord got the blessings of long life a Kalpa. Then the Lord rushed to Kalias put the head on the little Ganesha and granted the life force. He also consoled Mother Parvati who took back Ganesha in this form and nursed.”
Among those who know astrology, Saturn is the most dreaded planet by far, out of the nine planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu). While every planet is adorned and revered with their virtues and merits mostly; the Saturn is feared and avoided by at all cost, because of its associated nature being discipline and misfortune. However enduring happiness and glory also comes from Saturn’s slow and steady nature, unlike fast and quick ones like that of Mercury, or flirting and transient ones of Venus, etc.
Have you ever seen anyone, who keeps going up but never falls? Have you ever heard anyone whose lives are colored only with roses but not thorns? Fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. Without pain or sweat, we don’t know how to appreciate what goodness is. Saturn is the shadow of everyone, gods or humans alike. No one can escape from its gaze.
And yet, Saturn is in fact the most misunderstood and unfairly treated planet of all. We all love to hear and be inspired by those bitter sweet success stories, of those after enduring much pains and adversaries only to rise above all challenges. The focus, determination and willingness that are required for any significant achievements in life are all Saturn’s quality in nature. And yet we tremble at the mere sight of Saturn when he comes to knock our door. Sweat, pains, tolerance, discipline that are inevitable parts of growing process for human life…but just by mere mentions of them many would shy away, and wonders why they always feel lousy and are walking like a dead man in their alive but lifeless body, mind and spirit.
In Yoga, Saturn governs our life force, prana, and lots of pranayam exercises…that is the sure way to ensure his blessings. No one can be spared when Saturn put his gaze on. But if you do not challenge him directly, and instead welcome him with the way he looks away from you, then, no major disaster of getting heads knocked kind would happen. When he come to your door, then, just let him hang around for a while in the way he wants. Then his departing gifts are lasting happiness, longevity and success…
