Mumbai: Lord Ganesha, revered as the “First Worshipped Deity”, is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Among all gods, his distinct form sets him apart — an elephant-like head, long tusks, and wide ears, making him instantly recognisable. While most people know that Lord Shiva, in a fit of anger, beheaded Ganesha, very few are aware of why an elephant’s head was chosen to restore his life instead of a human one. Ancient scriptures and mythological tales offer multiple versions of this fascinating story.
Rooted in the Puranas, the legend narrates how Parvati created Ganesha from sandal paste, how he came to guard her, and how Lord Shiva’s anger led to tragedy — ultimately followed by divine intervention that gave Ganesha his elephant-headed identity. Here’s a closer look at the tale. How did
Lord Ganesha has an elephant’s head?
According to Hindu scriptures, Goddess Parvati once needed someone to guard her while she bathed. With no one available, she used the herbal paste (ubtan) from her own body to create a young boy and infused life into him. She named him Ganesha and instructed him to guard the door, forbidding anyone from entering.
Why did Lord Shiva behead Ganesha?
At that moment, Lord Shiva arrived and attempted to go inside. Unaware of Shiva’s identity, young Ganesha stopped him at the entrance, obeying his mother’s instructions. Enraged at being denied access, Shiva, in a surge of anger, beheaded the boy. When Parvati came out and witnessed the scene, she was devastated and grief-stricken. Why was an elephant’s head chosen? Parvati pleaded with Shiva to bring her son back to life, warning that otherwise she would abandon everything.
To console her, Shiva promised to revive the child. He instructed his attendants (ganas) to bring the head of the first living being they encountered in the north. The ganas found Airavat, the divine elephant of Lord Indra, and brought back its head. Lord Shiva placed the elephant’s head on Ganesha’s body and restored his life. From that moment, Ganesha came to be known as “Gajanan” – the one with an elephant’s face.