The Fruit of Wisdom

A gift from Narada

The story goes that one bright morning, the sage Narada (நாரதர்) arrived at Mount Kailash (கயிலாயம்), the home of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Narada loved music, he loved travelling between the worlds, and, just a little, he loved stirring up excitement wherever he went.

In his hands he held a single golden mango.

"This is no ordinary fruit," Narada said with a bow. "It is the gnana pazham (ஞானப் பழம்), the fruit of wisdom. Whoever eats it will understand all things."

Shiva smiled and looked at his two sons. Ganesha, whom Tamil families lovingly call Pillaiyar (பிள்ளையார்), sat calmly beside his mother. Young Murugan, bright-eyed and quick, was already on his feet.

"Appa, may I have it?" asked Murugan.

"Appa, may I have it?" asked Ganesha at the very same moment.

Narada's eyes twinkled. "Ah, but there is only one fruit," he said, "and it must be eaten whole. It cannot be cut and shared."

The great race

Shiva thought for a moment. "Then let there be a contest," he said. "Whoever goes around the whole world and returns here first shall have the fruit."

Murugan did not wait to hear another word. He leapt onto his peacock, whose feathers flashed blue and green in the sunlight, and away they flew, over snowy mountains and wide oceans, over forests, rivers and deserts.

Ganesha looked down at his own vehicle, a small mouse, twitching its whiskers. Around the whole world? On a mouse? That would take a very long time indeed.

But Ganesha did not hurry and he did not worry. He sat still and thought. Then he stood up, folded his hands, and walked slowly around his father and mother, keeping them on his right, just as devotees walk around a shrine in a temple. This is called valam varudhal (வலம் வருதல்).

When he had finished, he bowed low. "Appa, Amma, I have gone around the world."

Parvati laughed softly. "How can that be, my child? You have not even left Kailash."

"You two are my whole world," said Ganesha. "Everything I have and everything I am comes from you. When I go around you, I go around everything."

Shiva and Parvati were delighted. Narada clapped his hands with joy. And the golden fruit was placed in Ganesha's hands.

Murugan comes back

Some time later, a rush of wind swept across Kailash. Murugan had flown around the entire world, and he landed, breathless and proud, only to find his brother already holding the mango.

"But I went all the way around!" cried Murugan. "I did exactly what you asked!"

When he heard what had happened, Murugan felt hurt, and he felt that the contest had not been fair. Without another word, he took off his fine jewels and silk clothes, picked up a simple staff, and walked away from Kailash. He went far to the south, to a hill in the Tamil land, and stood there alone.

That hill is Palani (பழனி). Murugan is worshipped there as Dandayuthapani (தண்டாயுதபாணி), "the one who holds the staff", dressed simply, just as he was on the day he left home.

"You are the fruit"

Shiva and Parvati followed their son to the hill. Parvati stroked his hair, and Shiva spoke gently.

"Why be sad over a fruit, my son? Pazham nee (பழம் நீ). You yourself are the fruit. The wisdom you went looking for is already inside you."

Tradition says that Pazham nee is how the hill came to be called Palani. It is a folk explanation of the name, and grandparents have happily passed it on to grandchildren for generations.

Murugan stayed on at Palani, and today it is one of his six sacred abodes, the Arupadai Veedu (ஆறுபடை வீடு). Huge crowds of devotees climb its steps every year, especially during the festival of Thaipusam.

The lesson

Ganesha teaches us that our parents are our whole world, and that a thoughtful mind can find answers that speed alone cannot. Murugan's story reminds us that wisdom is not a prize to be won; it already lives within each of us.

Talk about it

• Why do you think Ganesha walked around his parents instead of racing around the world?
• Murugan felt the contest was unfair. Have you ever felt that way? What helped you feel better?
• What do you think Shiva meant when he said, "You yourself are the fruit"?