Chapter 54 - The creation of Ganesa by Siva

Jaimini said to Vyasa,

“The whole World, O Rishi, is populated, in every direction, with the progenies of Brahma and Vishnu. Tell me where the progeny of Siva resides.”

The Rishi said,

“Siva is male and Parvati female They are the cause of creation, and, therefore, every man is the image of Siva, and every woman that of Parvati. There is no separate progeny of Siva, but there does not exist a single being who is void of Siva’s energy. It is his energy which brings everything into existence. Even Vishnu, Brahma and the other gods are filled with his energy.”

After this explanation Vyasa related the following incident:—

Once upon a time, the goddess Girija^[1] felt a keen desire to become the mother of a child,  and said to Sankara,

“Lord, as issueless beings are debarred from all religious rites, I request you to make me conceive and give birth to a child.”

Siva smiled and said,

“Girija, I am not a householder, and have, therefore, no need for issue. It was only through the machinations of gods that you have been installed as my wife. As a wife, however, you are an invaluable friend to me, but offspring would be the cause of my bondage. Haring no death, I have no need for a son (to perform my funeral rites and Sraddha). Does any one who is not suffering from disease need medicine? You and I, as female and male energies, are always present in all the females and males of the world, and are enjoying happiness through them. Although issueless ourselves, we are the cause of all this creation.”

Parvati said,

“Lord, God, I admit the truth of all you say, but, still, I feel desirous to become a mother, and request you graciously to grant my prayer. I shall nourish the child, and he will be no impediment to your Yoga. I am impatient to kiss and fondle my own child, and, as my husband, it is your duty to satisfy my desire.”

Siva said,

“Well, I may give you a son, but I assure you that that son of yours will never marry, and so you will have no descendants through him.”

Saying so, Siva, in a fit of annoyance, rose from his seat and went away. At this the Devi felt disappointed and sat for a long time silently brooding over the disappointment. Her companions, Jaya and Vijaya, were alarmed at her attitude, and, going to Siva, entreated him to make peace with her.

Siva came back to her and said,

“Do not be grieved, my beloved, I am going to give you a child at once. Come, here it is: kiss it as much as you like.”

With these words he drew forth an end of Parvati’s cloth, and placed it on her lap.

Parvati said,

“Lord, this is my red cloth which you have placed on my lap. How can it serve the purpose of a child? Leave jesting aside, my lord, I am not so silly as you take me to be.”

She, however, was in the mood to keep up Siva’s jest, and began to fondle the cloth like a child, when, lo! it fell down from the arms and was converted into a living child and began to cry.

Parvati, in a transport of joy, lifted it up, and cried out, “Live, live, my child.”

She gave it her breasts to suck and milk descended copiously into them immediately.

Parvati hugged and caressed the child with a mother’s tender care for some time, and then addressing Siva, said,

“Take the child, my Lord, In your arms, and be happy. It is through your kindness that I have obtained it.”

Sankara said,

“Parvati, it was a mere jest on my part to place that cloth on your lap, but your exceptionally good fortune has converted it into a living child. Let me see how a piece of cloth has turned into flesh and blood.”

Saying so, Sambhu took the child in his arms, and, after scrutinizing it thoroughly, said,

“Parvati[,] I find that evil planetary influences are working against the child, and it is not, therefore, to live long.”

While Sambhu was thus examining the child, holding its face towards the north, its head fell from the body of its own accord. At this Parvati was sore grieved, and, taking the body of the child in her arms began to cry aloud.

Siva was struck with wonder, but restrained his grief and said,

“Do not be so sorry for the child, my dear, I shall make him alive again.”

Saying so, he picked up the head from the ground and tried to rejoin it to the trunk, but could not succeed in doing so.

He was thinking what was best to be done when he heard a voice from the sky saying,

“Sambhu, as that head has been looked on by an Evil Influence, it cannot be rejoined to the body. Join some other head to the body and then give life to the child. As you were holding the child with his head to the north when it fell to the ground, you should get the head of some living being whose head is at present directed towards the north.”

Hearing this, Sambhu consoled his wife, and ordered his chief servant, Nandi, to go and fetch a head which he might find directed towards the north.

Nandi, accordingly, proceeded to execute his; orders, and travelled through the three worlds till he reached Amaravati, the city of Indra, where he found that god’s elephant, Airavata, sleeping with its head to the norths

Nandi tried to cut off the animal’s head when it began to roar aloud, and Indra and the other gods came to see what the matter was.

Indra asked Nandi who he was and why he was killing his elephant, and Nandi told him the purpose of. his visit, adding that he was determined to carry off Airavata’s head.

Thereupon hot words were exchanged, and-they were followed by a tight. Indra attacked Nandi with a spear which was at once consumed into ashes by the latter. Then Indra threw his mace at Nandi who caught it with his left hand, as if in sport and redirected it towards Indra, saying, “Take back your mace.” It struck Indra on the chest and hurt him, but betook up another spear and threw it at Nandi who cut it into pieces with his sword.

Indra thereupon armed himself with his thunderbolts, and, mounting on Airavata, rushed at Nandi who assumed a dreadful form. The gods all came to Indra’s help and began to shower arrows on Nandi who made his body as big and hard as a mountain, and averted the weapons thrown at him by cutting some of them off with a sword which he wielded with his left hand and by blowing others off with his breath. He also cut off Airavata’s head and the animal’s body fell down on the ground with a thud. Thereupon the gods were inspired with awe, and stood gazing at him in silence.

Nandi brought the head of Airavata to Siva who embraced his servant with great pleasure, and joined the head to the body of the child No sooner was this done than the child came back to life, and became a beautiful four-armed boy with an elephant’s head. All the gods came to see him and found him seated on Siva’s lap, and they installed him as the chief of Ganas^[2]. Brahma also named him Lambodara (or long-bellied).

The boy began to enjoy the distinction of being worshipped first of all the gods. Sarasvati presented him with a pen, Brahma with a rosary, Indra with elephant’s tusks, Lakshmi with a lotus, Siva with the skin of a tiger, Vrihaspati with the sacred thread, and the earth with a mouse to ride upon.

When all this had been done, Indra stood up before Siva and said,

“Obeisance to you, my lord, Mahadeva^[3]. Your servant Nandi has killed my elephant. Excuse me for having fought with him through ignorance. I should have made a present of my own head to you, and beg to. be forgiven for fighting for an elephant’s head.”

Siva readily accepted Indra’s apology and said,

“Indra, cast the body of your elephant into the sea from which it had its origin, and you will get it back with its head and life restored to. it. Since your elephant’s head has been utilized in bringing back my child to life, I shall give you untold treasures in return for it.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A name of Parvati.

[2]:

A class of gods considered as Siva’s attendants. Ganesa or Ganapati means the lord of Ganas.

[3]:

Literally, Great God: A name of Siva.