Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

“It means that he has done what Vinayaka once did,” said
one devotee. “What is that story?” asked another devotee. Then
Bhagavan began telling it: “Once upon a time, Lord
Parameswara wanted to teach a lesson to His son Lord
Subrahmanya who fancied Himself to be a great sage; so
Parameswara sat on the top of Mount Kailasa with Parvati,
with a fruit in His hand. Seeing the fruit both Ganapati and
Subrahmanya asked their father, Parameswara for it. Then
Ishwara said that He would give the fruit to whoever of them
got back first after going round the whole world. With self-
confidence and pride that he would win the race, Subrahmanya
started immediately riding on his favourite mount, the peacock,
and began going at a fast pace, frequently looking behind to
assure himself that his elder brother Ganapati was not following.

What could poor Ganapati do, with his huge belly? His vahanam
(mount) was after all a mouse. So he thought it was no good
competing with Subrahmanya in the race round the world,
and went round Parvati and Parameswara, bowed before them
and claimed the reward. When They asked him whether he
had gone round the world, he said, “All the worlds are contained
within you; so if I go round you, it is as good as going round
the whole world.” Pleased with his reply, Parameswara gave
him the fruit and Ganapati sat there eating it.

“In full confidence that he would be the winner,
Subrahmanya finished going round the world and arrived at
the starting point, but found Ganapati seated before Parvati
and Parameswara eating the fruit. When he asked Parameswara
to give him the fruit for winning the race, Ishwara said, ‘There it
is, your elder brother is eating it.’ When he asked his father how
that could be fair, Ishwara explained to him all that had
happened. Subrahmanya then realised his vanity in thinking
that he was a great sage, bowed before his parents, and asked to
be pardoned. That is the story. The significance is that the ego
which goes round like a whirlwind must get destroyed, and must
get absorbed in Atma. That is Atma Pradakshina,” said Bhagavan.