Ganesha then broke his right tusk and threw it at Gajamukha cursing him to change into a mouse. He then got on to the back of the mouse, and made it his vehicle, thereby keeping it under his control. According to another puranic story, Ganesha's rat was really the Gandharva, Krauncha. Once, in the court of Indira, the king of the Devas, Krauncha insulted the sage, Vaamedeva. He was then cursed by the latter and turned into a large rat. The rat, true to its nature, entered the ashram of sage, Paraashara and caused great havoc to his dwelling as only a rat can. The Rishi then prayed to Vinayaka to save his simple dwelling. Ganesha appeared, made the rat his vehicle, and brought him under control. As will be noticed, whatever the puranic story, the purpose of making the rat his vehicle was to keep the rodent, whose nuisance value is high, under the control of Ganpati.