Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat Katha – Chapter 3: The Curse and Atonement of the Moon

The Curse and Atonement of the Moon

In the previous chapter, we saw how Mother Parvati gave her son Ganesha the face of an elephant and how Ganesha received blessings from all the deities. Now, we move towards the event that made the Ganesh Chaturthi fast even more important - the Moon's mockery of Ganesha and the resulting curse.

Humor in Chandralok

After assuming the elephant face, Ganesha was seated on Mount Kailash with his mother Parvati and father Shiva. His aura was amazing, and all the gods, sages, and ascetics were bowing to him. His arrival in Devlok was also being celebrated like a festival. At the same time, the Moon, known for its beauty and cool rays, was wandering in the sky at its own pace. His gaze fell on Mount Kailash, where Ganesha was shining with his splendor.

The Moon saw Ganesha's elephant-faced form and could not stop laughing. He thought to himself, "What a strange form! An elephant's face, a human body... this is very ridiculous." This laughter did not remain only in his mind, but also began to reflect on his face.

Ganesha's Anger and Curse

Ganesha, who was omniscient, immediately understood the Moon's laughter and his mocking expression. He was very angry at the Moon's pride. His face turned red with anger, and his eyes blazed like fire. He said to the Moon, "O Moon! You are so proud of your beauty and form that you do not hesitate to insult others. From today onwards, whoever sees you will be falsely accused."

As soon as the Moon heard Ganesha's curse, he became frightened. He realized his mistake. He immediately fell at Ganesha's feet and begged for forgiveness. He said, "O Lord of Hosts! I have made a mistake. I was blinded by my pride. Please forgive me. Have mercy on me." There was an outcry in Chandralok. All the gods became worried.

Prayer for Relief from the Curse

Seeing the Moon's humility and repentance, Ganesha's heart melted somewhat. He said, "My curse cannot be completely withdrawn, because it is immutable. But, I can reduce its effect a little. One day of the year, on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, whoever sees you will be falsely accused. But whoever observes the Ganesh Chaturthi fast on that day and worships me will be freed from that false accusation."

The Moon was relieved by Ganesha's grace. From that day onwards, he started worshiping and adoring Ganesha. All the gods also understood the glory of Ganesha and decided not to take his curse lightly. This anger of Ganesha, in reality, was only to crush the pride of Chandralok and to establish the importance of the Ganesh Chaturthi fast on earth. Now, in the next story, we will learn how the Ganesh Chaturthi fast began on earth.