THE STORY OF GANESHA

There are many stories regarding birth of Ganesha. In folk tales Ganesha's birth has taken a human touch. Parvati produced Ganesha out of "Ubatan", a paste for smearing the body. She asked her son to stand at the gate as a door keeper, Shiva returned after a long period of his meditation. The boy at the door introduced himself as Parvati's son. He did not allow Shiva to enter the home as his mother was bathing. Shiva felt offended. He thought how Parvati can produce a child without his union. He took it a case of adultery and behaded the boy. Parvati related him the story as how she produced Ganesha out of her heavenly power to guard her Shiva's absence. Shiva was sorry for his act. He said, "Bring the head of any being whose mother is not sleeping in opposite posture along with her offspring." Incidentally, a female elephant was sleeping in opposite posture along with it's calf. In a way the calf was not under the protection of its mother. It was beheaded easily and its head was put on Ganesa's body. Since then Ganesha became Elephant-faced being. The female elephants whose calf's head was put on Ganesha's body. Since then Ganesha became Elephant-faced being. The female elephants whose calf's head is born by Ganesha, is known as his second mother.