Once, while goddess Parvati wanted to take a bath, there were no attendants around to stop anyone from accidentally entering the house. Hence she created a boy out of paste which she prepared to cleanse her body, and infused life into it, and thus Ganesha was born. Parvati ordered Ganesha not to allow anyone to enter the house. Ganesha obediently followed his mother’s instructions. When Parvati’s husband Shiva arrived, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him to enter his own house. Shiva was furious at this. He told Ganesha that he was Parvati’s husband, and demanded that Ganesha should let him in. But Ganesha refused. Shiva lost his patience and had a fierce battle with Ganesha. At last he severed Ganesha’s head with his trident. When Parvati came out and saw her son’s lifeless body, she was very angry and sad. She demanded to restore Ganesha’s life at once. Shiva sent out his squad to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Thus Ganesha’s life was restored.
THE ELEPHANT-HEADED GANESHA
