File:Shiva pleased with Gajasura.PNG

Gajasura.png                                    Shiva pleased with Gajasura
Gajasura continued his penitence and Shiva, who appeared in front of him from time to time, asked him once again what he desired. He responded: "I desire that You inhabit my stomach." Shiva granted even this request and he took up residence in the demon's stomach. Then Vishnu, the omniscient director of the cosmic game, staged a small play. He transformed Nandi (the bull of Shiva) into a dancing bull and conducted him in front of Gajasura, assuming, at the same time, the appearance of a flutist. The enchanting performance of the bull sent the demon into ecstasies, and he asked the flutist to tell him what he desired. The musical Vishnu responded: "Can you give me that which I ask?" Gajasura replied: "Who do you take me for? I can immediately give you whatever you ask." The flutist then said: "If that's so, liberate Shiva from your stomach." Gajasura understood then that this must have been no other than Vishnu himself, the only one who could have known that secret and he threw himself at his feet. Having liberated Shiva, he asked him for one last gift: "I have been blessed by you with many gifts; my last request is that everyone remembers me adoring my head when I am dead." Shiva then brought his son there and substituted his head with that of Gajasura. From then on, in India, the tradition is that any action, to prosper, must begin with the adoration of Ganesha. This is the result of the gift of Shiva to Gajasura.