Why does Ganesha have an elephant head? | Yours Mythically

I am sure you might have witnessed Lord Ganesha atleast once in your life, be it a statue, mural art or a movie. But in today's episode of Yours Mythically, we ponder the question, Why does Ganesha have an elephant head. The answer explains a lot about Hindu Mythology and also includes gods and goddesses like Vishnu and Parvati so make sure to tune in throughout the video.

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12 img:- Birth Story of Lord Ganesh - Ganesha Idol

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[rudrakhopade-deshmukh]

Shiv cut off his head with his trident. His trident is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe. So when it cuts something apart, the parts cannot be joined back.
From those wondering why he didn't get a human head. It was said that a sleeping child's head had to be brought who had his mother's back turned to him. This means that his head couldn't be cut if the mother was facing the child. After searching and searching the only one they could find was the elephant.

[rudrakhopade-deshmukh]

Gajasura was an ardent devotee of Shiva. He performed intense austerities and performed Tapas for several years. Finally, the harsh penance of Gajasura pleased Shiva who promised him a boon.

The demon requested Shiva to stay in his stomach. Lord Shiva is also Bholenath and he agreed to the wish of his devotee.

Goddess Parvati was devastated and he sought the help of Lord Vishnu. Mother Goddess Parvati and Lord Vishnu stitched together a plan.

Vishnu disguised as a musician, Brahma became a tabla player and Nandi became the dancing bull.

Together they performed before Gajasura.

The dance of Nandi impressed so much Gajasura that he offered him anything he wanted.

Nandi asked Shiva back.

Gajasura agreed even though he knew that this meant his death.

Pleased with his Dharma, Vishnu and Brahma asked him what boon he wanted, he told the gods that he wanted his gajamukha, or elephant face, to be never forgotten by people and everyone should worship it.

The gods gave the boon and when Maa Parvati had a son, he was given the head of Gajasura.

[not-the-body]

wow I just had a dream about these three prior to knowing they're related..

[rudrakhopade-deshmukh]

Shiv cut off his head with his trident. His trident is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe. So when it cuts something apart, the parts cannot be joined back.
From those wondering why he didn't get a human head. It was said that a sleeping child's head had to be brought who had his mother's back turned to him. This means that his head couldn't be cut if the mother was facing the child. After searching and searching the only one they could find was the elephant.

Gajasura was an ardent devotee of Shiva. He performed intense austerities and performed Tapas for several years. Finally, the harsh penance of Gajasura pleased Shiva who promised him a boon.

The demon requested Shiva to stay in his stomach. Lord Shiva is also Bholenath and he agreed to the wish of his devotee.

Goddess Parvati was devastated and he sought the help of Lord Vishnu. Mother Goddess Parvati and Lord Vishnu stitched together a plan.

Vishnu disguised as a musician, Brahma became a tabla player and Nandi became the dancing bull.

Together they performed before Gajasura.

The dance of Nandi impressed so much Gajasura that he offered him anything he wanted.

Nandi asked Shiva back.

Gajasura agreed even though he knew that this meant his death.

Pleased with his Dharma, Vishnu and Brahma asked him what boon he wanted, he told the gods that he wanted his gajamukha, or elephant face, to be never forgotten by people and everyone should worship it.

The gods gave the boon and when Maa Parvati had a son, he was given the head of Gajasura...

[ThatMoon-sn]

Waoh!!!! What a peaceful religion!!! Their God beheaded an innocent animal!! Yet ..they still claim that they are respecting nature and animals!!

[mytamilworldroblox]

Shiva created the Tamil language, the mother of Tamil is Shakti l that’s why many tamils have an shaktism root

[TheLivingChrist]

The story of Ganesha is allegorical myth for our brain stem Cerebellum and Medulla which the story is encoded relating to the kundalini awakening that’s what he’s associated with the Mooladhara chakra because that’s were the kundalini starts before it raises up the spine to the Sahasrara chakra producing sacred secretion
Which give you enlightenment that’s why Ganesha has the elephant head and why he’s associated with intelligence

[kakarotdragneel]

So, he took an innocent kid elephant head, that's messed up.

[sheetalparkar]

I know this story because I am from India. ❤❤❤❤❤

[ashtonfranklin]

I always thought Ganesha was a girl at first because I always use to see a picture of him, and he looked more flamboyant. Shiva should've at least told him that he was Parvati's husbany at least.

[koushik.M]

Your version of 'quickly getting an elephant's head' actually is Shiva asked Nandi to bring back the head of any living being who was not sleeping facing their mother and vice versa and this is how it was an elephant that Nandi saw and brought back his head.

[victoriahasbrouck]

Can you answer this? Could a mortal marry Hephaestus and be with him or is it still just a fling?

[youarebeingtrolled]

When u learn this from uncharted LL😂😂😂

[MrMithiya]

If he was god of gods he could have joined the head again

[infernalone]

Actually there are several different stories about same incident some said that elephant was alerdly dead who's mother not loves him and some said it was a demon elephant which was alerdly dead who's mother k... him

[Theusef]

Why couldn’t she just bring him back to life normal if she made him

[anjusingh]

Shankar miracle nahi .Shakti nahi .why elephant head human mix kya .wrong

[The_FreaksNextdoor]

I’m a Hindu and I though she made Ganesh outta soap XD
And
I get why in the trimerte shiva is the destroyer, poor Ganesh and shiva! Because shiva didn’t know and Ganesh was trying to protect his new mother!
Very sad

(I’m 9 so I don’t know too much yet)

[derskayranzers]

What a story?sounds like it's from the comics, oh boy..

[tonguewarrior]

One should know that the stories mentioned in PURANAS are "not real" events

They are just a METAPHORICAL stories (they never happened)

They are created by our Rishis to help us understand the concepts of ब्रह्म, अहंकार, आत्मा, मोक्ष, बोध, etc..

In reality, No Ganesh was killed and No elephant head was cut off

*Lets DECODE the meanings behind the Ganesh story :*

Whatever your eyes can see is called as "प्रकृति"

Planets, Stars, Mountains, Clouds, Rivers, Farms, Fire, Thunder, Rain, Trees, Birds, etc.. are the elements of प्रकृति

प्रकृति has various Powers called as "शक्ति"

Thundering of clouds, Breathing of Lungs, Burning of the Sun, Shining of the moon, Twinkling of the stars, Growing of seeds into Trees, Pumping of Blood, Beating of Heart, Movements of Body, Sound of Animals, etc... are the different शक्तियां of प्रकृति

Maa Parvati is nothing but representation of "प्रकृति" (mother nature)

In this Ganesh story, she is representing as प्रकृति (mother nature)

Where there is प्रकृति, there is Ego (अहंकार)

Because प्रकृति always gives Birth to Ego (अहंकार)

So in this story, Maa Parvati is giving Birth to Ego by removing her मैल (body dirt)

That Ganesh statue made from Parvati's Dirt is nothing but "Ego"

Ofcourse noone can take Birth from Dirt (its just a story)😉

The nature of Ego (अहंकार) is arrogance, ignorance, and self destruction

This is the reason why Ganesh is shown aurguing and fighting against Lord Shiva

Why Shiva killed Ganesh ??

Because he is the Destroyer of Darkness, Arrogance, and Ignorance

No Ignorance snd darkness can survive against Lord Shiva (it must have to die anyhow)

This is why Lord Shiva destroyed that Egoistic Ganesh

But there is one problem...

प्रकृति loves her Ego and all other tendencies very much

This is why Maa Parvati requested Lord Shiva to anyhow make Ganesh ALIVE

But again there's a Problem...

If Lord Shiva makes that Egoistic Ganesh ALIVE then again he will fight for some other reasons

So Lord Shiva shall have to Kill him again

Again Maa Parvati will cry and request him to make him AlIVE

Continuous Loop !!! 😂

So what is the solution??

The only solution is INTELLIGENCE

Yes, only Intelligence can control the Arrogance and Ignorance of Ego

Hence that's why Lord Shiva ordered to bring head of Elephant

Why Elephant, why not other animal ??

Because Elephant is the most intelligent animal in the jungle

Here Elephant is a symbol of INTELLIGENCE !!

Now Lord Shiva replaces the "EGO" head and places Elephant head over his body

Now who is controlling Ganesh's body made of Dirt (ego) ??

The Intelligence !!!

That's the actual meaning of that Story

Do Elephant head can be placed on Human body by Surgery ??

Its impossible bro !! 😂

So how Lord Shiva did ??

Its just a Story !!!

Why that innocent elephant baby was killed ??

*Its just a STORY !!*

So who is Ganesh ??

The symbol of "victory" of Intelligence over EGO