A colorful illustration of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu elephant-headed god, sitting on a pink lotus flower, holding a pink lotus flower in one hand and a bowl of sweets in another, with a mouse at his feet and a serene sky in the background.
A colorful illustration of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu elephant-headed god, sitting on a pink lotus flower, holding a pink lotus flower in one hand and a bowl of sweets in another, with a mouse at his feet and a serene sky in the background.

GANESH

Ganesh is the deity of wisdom, good fortune, and new beginnings. He is the remover of obstacles and is often depicted holding an axe, a noose, sweets, and the mudra of fearlessness. His vehicle is the mouse, Mushika. Ganesh was created by the goddess Parvati to guard her while she bathed. When Shiva, unaware of Ganesh’s identity, was denied entry, he beheaded him. Realizing his mistake, Shiva restored Ganesh to life by replacing his head with that of an elephant and declared that Ganesh would be honored before all other deities at the beginning of rituals. To learn more, read Ganesha.

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