Legend of Ganesha

The most striking characteristic of Ganesha is his elephant head. Several different myths relating to the birth of Ganesha, how he lost his human head and acquired the elephant’s head exist in Brahmavaivarta Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana and Shiv Purana.The following interesting myth is found in Brahmavaivarta Purana. After her marriage to Shiva, Parvati wanted a son but remained childless for a long time. Seeing Parvati was sad, Shiva asked her to perform the “punyaka-vrata” in honour of Vishnu to beget a son which she did. Vishnu granted to her a son who was extremely resplendent. Shiva and Parvati both were so much overjoyed decided to celebrate the event with great enthusiasm.T hey invited all gods and goddesses of the pantheon to a feast at Mount Kailash, their celestial abode, and were

shown the infant of extraordinary charm. All of them appreciated the beauty of the child and congratulated the divine parents. After they left, came the nine planetary deities or grahas to see the new born baby. Among them was Surya’s son Shani (the planet Saturn) known for his powerful influence. Shani all the while neither looked at the baby nor congratulated Parvati but stood there with downcast face and eyes fixed on the ground. Everyone was surprised. Parvati was naturally hurt and asked him for the reason. Shani told her that he had a quarrel that morning with his wife who put a curse on him saying the head of any person whom he looked straight or stared at on that day would be cut off and burnt to ashes. Parvati laughed and declared that her son enjoyed immunity from all curses. She out of motherly affection insisted that Shani should look at her son and admire. Encouraged by Parvati’s words, Shani stared in the face of the child. As soon as Shani stared at the child, the head immediately got separated from the body and was burnt to ashes.The baby was dead in an instant. Parvati was shocked and blamed Shani for killing her son and cursed him by which he became a deformed monster. Wailing loudly, Parvati wandered around taking the headless body of her son in her arms. Listening to her heartrending cries that shook the universe, all gods and

goddesses rushed to Mount Kailash. Brahma comforted grief-stricken Parvati and told her that if the first available head was put on her son’s trunk, he would be able to restore his life. Hence, Vishnu mounted on Garuda and flew off to the banks of the river Pushpabhadra in search of a head. There he found an elephant asleep. He severed its head with his Sudarshan chakra and returned with it. He grafted the head on the neck of the child and the child was alive again. Parvati was not satisfied because the new appearance of her son was not altogether pleasing. So she insisted that her son would be first worshipped of all gods as the remover of all obstacles.To placate Parvati, Vishnu bestowed upon the boy the boon that he shall be the first recipient of adoration as remover of all obstacles before all other gods are worshipped. Brahma declared the boy as the Lord of auspicious beginning. Thenceforth, it has become a custom to offer prayer to Ganesha and seek his blessings before any ceremony is begun or any important task is undertaken.

— Himanshu Trivedi