My Goat is missing

Once a person by name Narada came to Kartikeya (Murugan) and said, "0 Lord, I was performing the sacred 'Ajamedha' sacrifice. But the 'ajar' (goat) which is to be killed and offered as sacrifice has disappeared. I have searched in vain. Some angels or Rakshasas must have taken it away. The sacrificial rites have come to a halt. You are the protector of all sacrifices and the Lord of the Universe. You are the son of Shiva, the highest deity in any sacrifice. You protect those who are supplicants and fulfil the desires of all virtuous persons. Please get back for me that goat so that my ritual may be completed."

Kartikeya sent Veerabahu, one of  heroes, to search for Narada's goat.

There was no sign of that goat anywhere in the world. Then Veerabahu went to
Vaikunta, the world of Mahavishnu, and found it there. He learnt that as ordered by Vishnu, his men had taken the goat there to protect its life. Veerabahu brought the goat to Kartikeya. But Kartikeya kept quiet, without immediately handing over the goat to Narada.

Thereupon Narada requested again and said, "Lord, please get me my goat. I will make a sacrificial offering of it and complete my yajna."

"Look, the killing of any animal," Kartikeya told him, "is not correct, for performing
any Yajna (sacrifice). The Vedas, which are our ancient religious texts, do not prescribe it. Any yajna has to beperformed in a non-violent manner. The word 'Aja', which stands for a goat, also means that which is not born, meaning rice. So 'Ajamedha' is the Yajna wherein boiled rice is offered to the fire-god, Agni. So complete your Yajna eschewing violence. Then you will get the full credit and profit from the sacrifice."

Narada accepted this learned exposition of the Yajna. He took the goat with Kartikeya's permission, but did not kill it, and brought it up. He performed his Yajna in a non-violent manner and set an ideal for the future generations.

Who is Elder?

Ganesha and His brother Lord Subramanya(Murugan) once had a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness, around His divine parents and asked for the prize of His victory Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you the prize; you did not go around the world?" Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!" Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave Him a fruit as a prize for this victory

Syamantaka gem

Briefly, Satrajit, who secured a jewel syamantaka from Surya, did not part with it even when Krishna the Lord of Dwaraka asked for it saying it would be safe with him Prasena, the brother of Satrajit went out hunting wearing the jewel but was killed by a ion. Jambavan of the Ramayana fame killed the lion and gave it to his son to play with. When Prasena did not return, Satrajit falsely accused Krishna of killing Prasena for the sake of the jewel.

Krishna, in order to remove the stain on his reputation, set out in search of the jewel and found it in Jambavan's cave, with his child. Jambavan attacked Krishna thinking him to be an intruder who had come to take away the jewel. They fought each other for 28 days, when Jambavan, his whole body terribly weakened from the hammering of Krishna's fists, finally recognized Him as Lord Rama.

As a repentance for his having fought Krishna, daughter Jambavati in marriage. Krishna returned to Dvaraka with Jambavati and the jewel, and returned it to Satrajit, who in turn repented for his false accusation. He promptly offered to give Krishna the jewel and his daughter Satyabhama in marriage. Krishna accepted Satyabhama as his wife but did not accept the jewel.

Curse of the moon

One day while travelling round the universe on his rat, Ganesha came to Chandraloka on his rat, Ganesha came to Chandraloka(the realm of the Moon). The Moon saw him. The Moon, very handsome, was proud of his appearance. On seeing the elephantfaced, big-bellied Ganapati riding on a rat, he- laughed at Ganesha with contempt. This was an insult and Ganesha was very angry about the Moon.

His eyes grew red He pronounced a curse "Oh Moon, your handsome appearance has made you too handsome appearance has made you too vain. Fool, I am worshipped in all the worlds, but you laugh at me. Receive now the fruits of your foolish pride. Let your beauty, which is the cause for your arrogance and ignorance vanishing! From now on, whoever sees you on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada month, the day of my birth, will suffer because of unjust accusations." The curse shattered the Moon's pride.

He realized his mistake, and felt sorry. Standing devotedly with folded hands Standing devotedly with folded hands before Ganesha he prayed to him. "Sir, forgive me and my ignorance. Take back the curse and protect me." forgive me and my ignorance. Take back the curse and protect me." Then the kind Ganesha grew calm. He consoled the unhappy Moon. He said,"Moon, you have realized your fault. What is important is the destruction of your pride. Anyhow, my curse cannot be in vain But those who are subjected to false accusations will be saved and regain their good name if they see you on the second good name if they see you on the second day of the bright fortnight also or listen to the story of the Syamantaka gem." The Moon was satisfied. day of the bright fortnight also or listen to day of the bright fortnight also or listen to the story of the Syamantaka gem." The Moon was satisfied.