Ganesha’s Birth and His Lordship over the Ganas
Long ago, Goddess Parvati fashioned a boy from turmeric paste and breathed life into him. She set him to guard her door while she went to bathe. When Lord Shiva arrived, the boy — not recognizing him — barred his way. Enraged, Shiva severed the boy’s head. Seeing Parvati’s grief, Shiva sent for the head of an elephant, fixed it upon the boy’s body, and restored him to life. When all the gods asked that this child be made chief of the ganas (Shiva’s attendants), Shiva declared that whichever of his two sons — Ganesha or Kumaraswami — circled the three worlds first would receive that honor. Kumaraswami sped off at once on his peacock, but Ganesha simply walked around his own parents, Parvati and Shiva, saying that they alone contained all the worlds. Pleased with his wisdom, they granted him lordship over the ganas.