Ganesh Chaturthi: The Story To Be Read And Heard.

Sudhakar V.Rao
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Sri Vighneswaraaya Nama:

It is believed that anyone who looks at the Moon on the night of Ganesh Chaturthi will be falsely
accused. Since it is possible to see the Moon inadvertently, it is customary to hear the story of
Syamantaka Mani, at the end of the Ganesh pooja and repeat a verse relating to the story.

The story is narrated in Bhagavatam and Skanda purana. There is also scientific basis for
avoiding seeing Moon on this day, but let us examine the puranic basis for this belief and the
lessons to be learnt.

One day Lord Ganesha after conferring boons on Brahma was riding home on His mouse. When
He reached the realm of the Moon, His pace stumbled. Seeing this, the Moon who was bright
from the light borrowed from the Sun and proud of His splendor, laughed at the site of huge
Ganesh riding a small mouse and his stumbling steps.

Ganesha wanted to teach the Moon a lesson in humility. He therefore cursed the Moon that “no
light may fall on the Moon” and that “any one seeing the Moon on the fourth day of the
bright half of the month of Bhaadrupad be falsely accused”. When the Moon realized the
consequences of this curse, He asked Ganesha to pardon him for the pride. Ganesha modified the
curse and said that henceforth, “there will be waxing and waning of the Moon” to remind him
to be humble. He also said that whoever hears or reads the story of Syamantaka Mani will
not suffer false accusations.

The story of Syamantaka Mani is as follows:

In Dwaapara Yuga, the third millennium, during Lord Krishna’s time, there was a yaadava by
name Ugrasena. (This Ugrasena is different from Ugrasena, father of Kamsa.) He had two sons,
Satraajit and Prasena. Satraajit worshipped the SunGod and obtained a special jewel called
Syamantaka Mani. The jewel was extremely bright, shining like the Sun and when worshipped,
was capable of giving eight maunds of gold daily. ( A maund is roughly equal to 25 lbs or 11.4
kgs.) The jewel has to be worn only by virtuous person.

Satraajit wore the jewel proudly and walked the streets of Dwaaraka. Due to the immense luster
of the jewel, people in Dwaaraka mistook Satraajit to be Sun God himself. Satraajit visited Lord
Krishna to show off the jewel. Lord Krishna then suggested that the gold could be used for the
welfare of the people and so it could be given to Him. Satraajit, of course refused and went
home.

A few days later his brother, Prasena wore it and went for hunting. A lion seeing the yellow
jewel, mistook it for a mass of flesh and attacked Prasena. Prasena was killed. But before the
lion could walk a few steps with the jewel in its paws, a huge bear attacked the lion and killed it.
The bear was none other that Jaambavan from Rama’s time. He wanted to give this jewel as a
toy to hang over his son’s crib.

Meanwhile, Satraajit missed his brother and the jewel, and presumed that Krishna stole the jewel
after killing his brother, Prasena. He falsely accused Krishna of theft of the jewel and murder of
his brother. Krishna could not convince Satraajit otherwise. He therefore decided to prove His
innocence and went out to the forest. He soon found the dead body of Prasena and the dead lion
nearby. There were footsteps of a bear. Krishna followed the footsteps, which lead Him to a huge
cave, 800 miles long. In the cave there was a beautiful young girl, swinging a cradle with a baby
boy in it. She was singing a lullaby to the baby thus:
“Simho Prasenam avadhee, simho jaambavataa hataH
sukumaaraka maarOdee, tava hyesha syamantakaH”.
Meaning, “Prasensa was killed by a lion and lion was killed by Jambavan. So, little boy, please
do not cry, the Syamantaka jewel is yours.”

As soon as Krishna entered the cave the maiden saw the enchanting form of Sri Krishna and fell
in love. She implored that Krishna take the jewel and leave immediately, lest her father, the
powerful Jaambavan might kill Him! Sri Krishna laughed and blew His conch. Jaambavan came
out and fought with Krishna.

The duel went on for 21days and Jambavan was surprised that although his body was full of
wounds and he was tired, Krishna showed no fatigue and His body suffered no blows. Finally
Jaambavan was defeated and looking closely, realized that Krishna was indeed the incarnation of
Lord Vishnu, whom he knew as Rama in Treta Yuga or the second millennium. Jaambavan then
remembered asking the boon of a duel with Rama and Rama’s promise to fulfill that desire in
Dwaapara Yuga.

Jaambavan was pleased and besides offering the Syamantaka jewel, also offered his daughter,
Jaambavati as bride to Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna then returned to Dwaaraka and gave the jewel
back to Satraajit. Satraajit also now repented for his unjust accusation and offered his
daughter, Satyabhama to Lord Krishna.

Narada one day visited Sri Krishna and revealed to Him that the reason for this false accusation
of stealing the jewel was because of seeing the reflection of the Moon in a milk pot. Sri Krishna
then did the Ganesh pooja on the advice of sage Narada and was freed from the curse. Satraajit,
after taking the Syamantaka jewel from Sri Krishna was one day killed by another king,
Satadhanva who was afraid of Sri Krishna. He gave the jewel to Akrura and ran away. Balarama
and Sri Krishna chased him and killed him, but could not find the jewel. They later heard that
Akrura was immensely benevolent in city of Kashi. Akrura heard of Satadhanva’s death and
returned the jewel to Sri Krishna.

Let us now repeat the verse:

“simho Prasenam avadhee, simho jaambavataa hataH
Sukumaaraka maarOdee, tava hyesha syamantakaH

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