Mushaka (, ), also spelled Mooshika or Mushika, is the mouse or rat that serves as the vahana (vehicle) of the Hindu god Ganesha. Ganesha is commonly depicted riding on Mushaka or with it near his feet.
As vahana Ganesha is often shown riding on or attended by a mouse.* . Preface. . Martin-Dubost says that the rat began to appear as the principal vehicle in sculptures of Ganesha in central and western India during the 7th century; the rat was always placed close to his feet.See note on figure 43 in: . The mouse as a mount first appears in written sources in the Matsya Purana and later in the Brahmananda Purana and Ganesha Purana, where Ganesha uses it as his vehicle in his last incarnation.Citations to Matsya Purana 260.54, Brahmananda Purana Lalitamahatmya XXVII, and Ganesha Purana 2.134–136 are provided by: . The Ganapati Atharvashirsa includes a meditation verse on Ganesha that describes the mouse appearing on his flag.. The names (mouse-mount) and (rat-banner) appear in the Ganesha Sahasranama.For see v. 6. For Ākhuketana see v. 67. In: . (, 1991). Source text with a commentary by in Sanskrit.
Mythology
According to one traditional account, Mooshika was originally a gandharva (heavenly musician) named Krauncha. He accidentally stepped on the foot of the sage Vamadeva, who cursed him to become a giant rat. The rat later caused damage to fields and hermitages. When it entered the ashram of the sage Parashara, the sage called on Ganesha for help. Ganesha caught the rat with his pasha (noose). The rat then surrendered to Ganesha and asked to serve him. Ganesha accepted and made the rat his vahana (vehicle). The rat was concerned that it could not carry Ganesha because of his weight. Ganesha then reduced his weight so that the rat could carry him.
Another tradition identifies the mouse with Mushikasura, a demon who fought Ganesha. After being defeated, Mushikasura became Ganesha's vehicle.
According to a South Indian tradition, an elephant-faced demon named Gajamukhāsura fought Ganesha. During their fight, Gajamukhāsura broke one of Ganesha's tusks. Ganesha picked up the broken tusk and threw it at the demon, transforming him into a rat. Ganesha then took the rat as his vahana (vehicle).
Another version tells of a rat that is attracted by the smell of a modaka, a sweet associated with Ganesha. The rat comes out of its hole and takes some of the food. It then becomes immortal and becomes Ganesha's vehicle.
Interpretations
The mouse is interpreted in several ways. According to Grimes, "Many, if not most of those who interpret 's mouse, do so negatively; it symbolizes as well as desire".For a review of different interpretations, and quotation, see: . Along these lines, Michael Wilcockson says it symbolises those who wish to overcome desires and be less selfish.A Student's Guide to AS Religious Studies for the OCR Specification, by Michael Wilcockson, p. 117
Krishan notes that the rat is destructive and a menace to crops. The Sanskrit word (mouse) is derived from the root (stealing, robbing). It was essential to subdue the rat as a destructive pest, a type of vighna (impediment) that needed to be overcome. According to this theory, showing Ganesha as master of the rat demonstrates his function as Vigneshvara (Lord of Obstacles) and gives evidence of his possible role as a folk grāma-devatā (village deity) who later rose to greater prominence.
Martin-Dubost notes a view that the rat is a symbol suggesting that Ganesha, like the rat, penetrates even the most secret places.* Rocher, Ludo. "'s Rise to Prominence in Sanskrit Literature", in: . For mention of the interpretation that "the rat is 'the animal that finds its way to every place,'" Getty also notes that the rat has been interpreted as a symbol of the night and as a priapic animal.
Worship At some Ganesha temples, devotees whisper their wishes into the ear of a statue of Mushaka. They believe that Mushaka forwards their wishes to Ganesha. A similar practice is reported at the Huai Khwang Ganesha Shrine in Bangkok.
References