Many stories exist about how Ganesha got a mouse (mushik) as his vahan (mount). Here is one story, found in the Puranas. Once, there lived a huge and powerful mouse named Mushik, on earth. Mushik scrambled here and there, nibbling at food and clothes, and biting people’s feet. It jolted and scared people. There was total destruction all around–crops were ruined, and textiles and clothes full of holes. Mushik was making life difficult for everyone! The worried people tried different methods to trap the mouse, but all in vain. Mushik was very shrewd to be trapped! People had no option but to ask for a divine intervention. They started praying to Lord Ganesha. “God! A mouse is troubling us. It has destroyed everything! What will we eat and wear now? Please find a solution to this menace!”they pleaded with Ganesha. They were confident that Ganesha would put an end to their misery.
Mushik, the Naughty Mouse
