GANESHA · PURANA
The birth of Ganesha
Parvati’s beloved son was blessed by Shiva to be honoured before every new beginning.
A guardian at the door
In a beloved tradition, Goddess Parvati created a child from sandalwood paste and asked him to guard her doorway. When Shiva returned and the child faithfully refused to let him pass, neither knew the other’s identity.
A new beginning
The confrontation became a battle. Shiva, still unaware that the brave guard was Parvati’s son, severed the boy’s head. When Parvati learned what had happened, her grief was immense. Shiva immediately promised to restore the child; an elephant’s head was brought, and Ganesha was revived and blessed as leader of the ganas and the one worshipped before every new beginning.
The remover of obstacles
Ganesha is remembered before study, travel, work and prayer. His elephant head is often read as a symbol of wisdom, his large ears as careful listening, and his calm presence as patient discernment.