Once, the gods got together to discuss a common problem: whenever they performed holy rituals and acts, demons would disrupt their activities and create mischief. After considerable brainstorming, they came upon a solution: a superior god who would defeat and control the demons and ensure an environment of peace in Heaven. The deities approached Lord Shiva, requesting him to create a celestial power against all evils. The divine union of Lord Shiva and Parvati created a child who was elephant-headed: the controller of all obstacles was born and was named Vighaneshwara -“Vighan” means obstacles -or the “One who Removes all Obstacles”. This story can be found in the Linga Purana. The Shiva Purana gives another version of Ganesha’s birth. Once, Parvati went to a large water pool to bathe. To ensure her privacy, she asked Nandi, the chief of ganas (Shiva’s attendants), to stand guard at the gate of the pool and not let anyone enter the area. A little later, Lord Shiva himself came along and was about to enter the pool area when Nandi, as instructed by Parvati, stopped Shiva. Extremely annoyed at Nandi’s behaviour, Shiva ignored him and continued walking and, needless to say, Parvati was not pleased to see Shiva in the pool area.Soon after, on an impulse, Parvati rubbed some dust off her body and created a male child, a young, handsome boy. She breathed life into his body, and blessed him with all her powers, and instructed him to obey only her orders. She then asked him to stand outside the pool gate and not let anyone enter the area. After some time, Shiva came along and walked towards the pool entrance. At the gate he saw a handsome young boy, who immediately stood in his way, and advised him not to enter the pool precincts. Angered by the attitude of this unknown boy, Shiva severed the child’s head from his body.When shouts and cries of anguish reached Parvati’s ears, she came out and seeing her son lying dead on the ground, broke down. She told Shiva about the creation of her son. Shiva repented his act of anger and consoled Parvati, assuring her that he would get the child back to life. He instantly sent for his ganas and instructed them to set forth and return with the head of the first living being they come across. The team trooped out and the first animal they came across was a baby elephant; the ganas cut his head and presented it to Lord Shiva. He then fixed the head to the child’s body and invoked life in him. The boy immediately came back to life and resumed all powers that his mother had bestowed on him, and he became an elephant- headed god. Ganesha is also known as Gajanan, which means “The Elephant-headed One”. Incidentally, Ganesha means “King of Ganas”; this name was given by Shiva.
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