Ganesa

Description

Ganesa, son of Siva and Parvati, is one of the most popular Hindu deities. Revered as a god of wisdom and protector of households, he is invoked before all major religious ceremonies except funerals.¸The legend which accounts for Ganesa's elephant head and infant's body is described in the sacred "Puranas." Parvati, before bathing, created Ganesa from her own body and placed him in the doorway to guard the entrance. When Siva returned home and could not enter, he was so enraged he cut off the head of their newborn child. Parvati begged Siva to replace his head, but since another child's head could not be found, he attached an elephant's head to the body of the baby. In addition, Ganesa is always depicted with several arms suggestive of infinite human potential.