Hindu
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Above: a copper sculpture of the Hindu god Shiva Nataraja, India, eleventh century. See the original in the Cleveland Museum of Art. Below: the elephant-headed god Ganesha. See the original bronze statue in the Cleveland Museum of Art. The god Ganesha is the Lord of Success. He is the Remover of Obstacles, hence he is worshipped before starting any new venture. He is also the god of education, wisdom, literature, and fine arts. |
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Ganesha is the son of the god Shiva and the goddess Parvati. The myth describing how he came to have the head of an elephant tells how Parvati, wishing to bathe, set her son Ganesha to guard her privacy. His father Shiva approached, and Ganesha told him on Parvati's instruction not to enter. Angered by Ganesha's interference, Shiva beheaded him, but Parvati demanded that Shiva restore their son to life immediately. Shiva sent his servants to bring him the first living thing that they could find to supply a replacement for the head which he had just severed from Ganesha, and the first creature they found was an elephant, whose head Shiva was then obliged to use in restoring the boy to life. It was however an entirely auspicious event: in Hindu belief, the elephant embodies wisdom. |