There are three different possibilities why Hindu God Ganesh has a broken tooth. If laptops had existed way back when the sacred Hindu epic poem, Mahabharata was written, Ganesh might never had acquired a broken tusk. How so? Sage Vyasa, the author of the epic, needed an assistant who would inscribe his masterpiece, someone gifted with an agile mind and nimble hand to cope with the torrent of words that poured out of him. Who better than Ganesha, the god with the smarts?
Sure thing, said Ganesha, but, on one condition. I get bored easily. I'll do it provided you recite everything in one go. Vyasa, taken aback at the youthful scribe's audacity, agreed, but threw in his own rider. Fine, I can do that, but on one condition. You can not just write stuff down blindly. You must understand everything I say in its entirety before penning it down.
Vyasa thought he could spout something frightfully complicated, then sit back and relax while Ganesh pondered on the verse. Else how could an ancient like him maintain his status before this cocky young fellow? The narration began and Ganesha's plump hand became a blur as it whizzed across the pages. No ordinary feather pen could withstand that speed. The one in Ganesha's hand broke. Could Ganesha live up to his own challenge? Without pause, Ganesha broke off one tusk and continued to use it as a pen, until the narration came to an end.
According to the second story, ever the dutiful son, Ganesh took his title as chief (Ganapati) of Shiva's army seriously. One day, his father was sleeping, when a visitor arrived - Parashurama, reincarnation of Vishnu, the Preserver of Life. Ganesha politely declined to let him in. When Parashurama's entreaties fell on deaf ears, the great warrior was angry, and lunged at Ganesha. Ganesha's sharp eye fell upon the axe in Parashurama's hand. Hey, that is dad's axe! he thought. He must have given it to this person. This means I can't possibly battle him - he must be dad's friend! Turning his face respectfully, Ganesha took the blow on his tusk - and that's how it broke off!
Yet another Ganesh legend offers an alternate tale as to why Ganesha has a broken tusk. One moonlit night, after stuffing himself silly with offerings from his devotees, Ganesha went for a ride in the skies, mounted on his mouse. A snake showed up out of nowhere, causing the mouse to jump in fright. Ganesha fell off on his huge belly. Ganesha picked up the snake and tied it around his belly - a makeshift bandage, if you will. The Moon, an amused viewer to the chubby child's antics, broke into giggles. Ganesh was upset. So you think I'm funny, huh? Just you wait. I'll fix that arrogant grin, says Ganesha. Ganesh snapped off a tusk and threw it at the moon, whose gleaming face was split into two. For good measure, he cursed it as a source of bad luck to anyone gazing upon it. The Moon, realizing the folly of its ways, pleaded for mercy. Godly curses, though, can't be revoked - they can only be altered, somewhat. Ganesha, who was really quite a softie, relented. Oh, OK, you're spared. But you'll wax and wane every fifteen days. And folks who look at you on my birthday will have a hard time. Now you know why a full moon is so short-lived. And don't ever forget to keep your gaze away from it on Ganesh Chaturthi (a festival that marks the birth of Ganesha)!
