One day, Gautam’s disciples were stopped from taking water from the pond by the wives of the other sages. These wives troubled Ahalya, too. They put false allegations on her. They lied to their husbands that it was Ahalya who did not let them take water from the pond. The sages hatched a plot to teach Gautam and Ahalya a lesson. They prayed to Lord Ganesha. When Ganesha appeared, the sages told him, “Please fulfil our wish that Sage Gautam and Ahalya should be taught a lesson and banished from the hermitage.” Ganesha was aware that the sages were asking for an unfair boon. He decided to teach the sages and their wives a lesson. But he wanted to do so wisely. Gautam owned paddy and grain fields. Ganesha turned himself into a thin and hungry cow. He started eating the crops in the fields.
Ganesha Arrives at the Hermitage
