Once upon a time, Vatapinagar attracted poets, intellectuals, musicians, singers, dancers, and artists. Gajanana was a musician of repute. He composed several songs in praise of Vighneswara. Whenever he sang these songs at the temple, the idol of Ganesa would mani festas a young boy and dance to the tunes of Gajanana. The devotees gathered at the temple would enjoy the songs, but would not see Bala Ganesa keeping rhythm with Gajanana or dancing to his tunes.
The people of Vatapinagar every year honoured Gajanana on his birthday by gifting him with a lovely golden idol of Ganesa. In course of time, he had an enviable collection of Ganesa idols. He earned the respect of not only the common people of Vatapinagar, but even the intellectuals. However, a few of them were also jealous of Gajanana's fame. Their leader was someone called Swarakesari. He had a rough voice and whenever he spoke, his speech sounded like a lion's roar.
Gajanana forgot himself whenever he sang in praise of the Lord. He was never after fame or wealth. Those jealous of him spread a rumour that Gajanana had noproper training in music, and all that he was singing came from his imagination. Gajanana was aware of such are mark from Swarakesari, but he did not show that he was upset over it. Swarakesari was almost certain that Gajanana would as usual receive a gift of a golden idol of Ganesa on his next birthday. He waited for an opportunity to slight him.
Gajanana kept a cow. It was the duty of a youth called Nanda to milk the cow and serve the milk to Gajanana.
The Navratri festival was approaching. Gajanana and his family had gone to Kalyaninagar. He rushed to Vatapinagar where people had gathered in numbers tolisten to his traditional invocation to Ganesa on the first day of the festival.
Meanwhile, Swarakesari had managed to get Nanda to serve Gajanana milk mixed with water. Gajanana was shocked. "What's this, Nanda? Why are you giving meadul terated milk?" he asked the youth in an angry tone.
Nanda, without batting an eyelid, told Gajanana, "Master, I swear by Lord Ganesa that I haven't adulterated the milk!"
Gajanana was surprised that Nanda had unusually raised his voice when he replied to him. Their conver sation attracted some passers-by; Swarakesari, too, was among them.
"So, you've the audacity to swear by the Lord?" asked Gajanana angrily. "Go inside and swear in front of an idol of Vighneswara!"
Nanda now began looking here and there as if he wanted somebody to support him.
"Why are you looking here and there? You know where the idols are kept! Go, go in and swear!" Gajanana was now shouting at him.
Nanda now looked scared. That was the signal for Swarakesari to tell Nanda, "Why do you hesitate? You already swore once, and you've only to repeat the same words!"
