One of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu on the earth was a Brahmin named Parashurama. He was born on earth to teach wisdom to the governing class Kshatriyas who were a caste of warriors, holders of the temporal power and had become arrogant and oppressed people. Parashurama was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He prayed and meditated on Lord Shiva for a long period. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before him and granted him his Parashu, the divine axe. This axe helped him to fight against all the corrupt princes, instigated by devils. Deeply grateful to Lord Shiva, he went to Mount Kailash to express his gratitude to the Lord. But Ganesha, who was guarding the entrance to the palace, told him to wait for the permission of Lord Shiva. Parashurama thought that he was Lord Shiva’s devotee, so he could enter without permission. But Ganesha barred Parashurama’s way. Parashurama got angry and stroke violently Ganesha’s tusk with his axe and broke it. Then Lord Shiva and Parvati arrived and blamed Parashurama who bowed down before Ganesha and supplicated to seek his forgiveness and blessing. Thus, Ganesha was named Ekadanta ‘The Lord with one tusk’.
THE BROKEN TOOTH
