In the age of Kaliyuga, where dharma fades and adharma rises unchecked, the world groans under the weight of greed, cruelty, and despair. Yet the scriptures say that in this dark era, even a single soul who chants the name of the Divine with a pure heart can bring joy to the Tridev and Tridevi.
Ganesh was one such soul.
Born an orphan, abandoned at the very moment he entered the world, Ganesh had learned early that survival itself was a battle. He lived by gathering scraps, doing odd jobs, and often filling his stomach with nothing more than cheap instant noodles—if he was lucky.
Today, however, was different.
Today was Mahashivratri.
Hunger gnawed at his stomach, but Ganesh ignored it. Fasting in honor of Mahadev—Mighty Shiva, the Destroyer, the God of Gods—was more important than his own pain. For a devotee like him, this sacred night was worth any suffering.
He had read scriptures when he could find them, watched every film and show that spoke of the ancient tales. In his heart, he longed to live in that divine world where gods walked among men.
But his body was weak.
Years of malnutrition had left him frail. As night deepened, his vision blurred. Each breath felt heavier than the last. Still, Ganesh sat with folded hands, refusing to break his fast.
Darkness crept into his sight.
With the last strength left in him, he whispered from the depths of his soul:
"Om Namah Shivay!"
And then… everything went silent.
Ganesh awoke to biting cold.
He lay upon snow—endless, white, and untouched—on a vast, silent mountain. Frost stung his skin as he pushed himself up, heart pounding.
Wasn't I dead? he wondered. Then where am I?
The air was thin and pure. Clouds drifted below him, and far above, the peak of the mountain rose like a stairway to heaven. With no other direction to go, Ganesh began climbing.
Strangely, the peak felt close, as if the mountain itself wished to guide him.
When he reached the summit, he froze.
Upon a rock sat a lone figure, still and serene.
As Ganesh drew closer, awe filled his heart. The man wore a tiger skin around his waist. His thick, matted hair flowed down his shoulders, crowned by a crescent moon, while a stream of sacred water poured from his locks. A serpent rested around his neck like an ornament.
His face radiated an unnatural calm—an ocean of infinite peace.
Ganesh's breath caught.
This snowy peak… this form… this divine presence…
Could it be?
Overwhelmed, Ganesh fell to his knees before the figure.
A deep, melodious voice echoed, gentle yet powerful.
"My son, why do you kneel?"
Tears welled in Ganesh's eyes.
"Because my soul tells me that before me sits the One worthy of all worship."
A soft smile touched the deity's lips.
"There is no need to kneel. Your place already lies within my heart."
Ganesh's voice trembled.
"Lord… am I dreaming in my final moments? Is this a vision before death?"
"You are not dreaming," the voice replied.
"You have left your mortal body. And because you fasted on Mahashivratri, and with pure devotion chanted my name with your final breath, you have come into my presence."
Ganesh bowed his head, unable to hold back his tears.
"Ask, my son. I shall grant you any boon—except immortality."
Ganesh shook his head.
"Lord, how could someone as ordinary as me be worthy of a boon? To stand before you is itself greater than any gift."
Shiva's eyes shone with divine warmth.
"You are here because you are worthy. Now, speak."
With folded hands, Ganesh whispered,
"Thank you, Mahadev, for your boundless compassion and grace.
Ganesh took a deep breath. His heart pounded, yet his mind was calm in the presence of Mahadev.
"Lord," he said softly, "if you truly wish to grant me a boon… then grant me a life where I may serve dharma. Let me be reborn in an age where I can walk the path of knowledge and valor. Let me strive to realize you—the ultimate truth. I ask for nothing else."
Shiva's eyes closed for a moment, as if the universe itself paused.
When he opened them, the snow around them shimmered with divine light.
"You do not ask for power, nor pleasure, nor dominion," Shiva said.
"You ask for the path to the Absolute. Such a wish is rare, even among gods."
Shiva rose from the rock. The mountain trembled, yet Ganesh felt only peace.
"So be it, my son. I grant you rebirth at the dawn of creation—when the cosmos itself begins its dance. You shall be born among those who guard dharma. Your life shall be of both shastra and shaastra—the sword and the scripture."
A radiant trident appeared in Shiva's hand, blazing like a newborn sun.
"You will walk the path of a warrior-sage. Through countless trials, you will conquer fear, desire, and ignorance. And when the time is right, I myself shall guide you again."
Ganesh bowed, tears flowing freely.
"Mahadev… I am unworthy of such grace."
Shiva placed a hand upon his head.
"Remember this, wherever you are born: I dwell not only on Kailasa, but in your heart. Seek me there."
The world around Ganesh began to dissolve into light.
He felt himself falling—not in fear, but in surrender.
Shiva's voice echoed one last time:
"Go, child of devotion. Begin your journey toward Para Brahman."
Ganesh saw visions as he drifted:
Endless darkness.
Then a single vibration.
The sacred sound:
OM.
From it burst light, time, space, and the seeds of countless worlds.
He felt himself taking form again.
A new body.
A new breath.
And as consciousness returned, a thought echoed within him like a forgotten promise:
This life is not for survival…
This life is for realization.