Story

One day, Goddess Parvati created a boy from sandalwood paste and breathed life into him. She instructed the boy to guard her while she bathed. When Lord Shiva returned and tried to enter, the boy stopped him, unaware of Shiva’s identity.

Angered by the refusal, Shiva severed the boy’s head. When Parvati discovered what had happened, she was devastated. To calm her grief, Shiva promised to restore the boy’s life.

Shiva instructed his followers to bring the head of the first living being they encountered, which happened to be an elephant. The boy was revived with the elephant head and named Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. This story highlights Shiva’s justice, compassion, and the importance of wisdom over ego.