the elder brother was a devout worshipper of ganesa. that was a friday, a day very sacred to that god. the elder brother took the corpse to the nearest ganesa temple and called upon him. the god came, and asked him what he wanted. "my poor brother is dead and gone; and this is his corpse. kindly keep it in your charge till i finish worshipping you. if i leave it anywhere else the devils may snatch it away when i am absent worshipping you; after finishing the rites i shall burn him." thus said the elder brother, and, giving the corpse to the god ganesa, he went to prepare himself for that deity's ceremonials. ganesa made over the corpse to his ganas, asking them to watch over it carefully. but instead of that they devoured it.