Reading Notes: Storybook preperation

Story of the Birth of Ganesha

by Team tell-a-tale

-The patron of art and science, he removes all obstacles

-Shiva was gone serving penance in the Himalayas, leaving Parvati alone 

-Parvati took Tumeric paste and created a human form, by breathing life into it this form became Ganesha. She ordered him to watch over the front gates until she concluded her bath

-upon Shiva's return, Ganesha would not allow him into the house so Shiva removed his head

-There's opportunity for great dialogue between Shiva and Ganesha here

-the impact of Shiva's weapon was so great that it was impossible to rejoin the original head to the body

-because Ganesha died protecting his mother, his new head would come from the first animal his Vahana Nandi found away from its mother

- cosmic balance is restored in this way

-Because of Parvati's sadness at her sons elephant head and her fear that he would not be accepted among the gods, Shiva called the gods to grant the child boons

-This is when Ganesha actually receives his name from Shiva

-Translation: Leader among all classes of beings

Boons include:

-being the first God worshiped before any ritual

-master intellect and wisdom (wise elephant)

Ganesha on his Vahana