Why Did Lord Shiva Killed Ganesha
When Parvati, the goddess of love, first created you out of clay, Ganesha instantly fell in love with her elephant-headed son. As a devoted mother, she cherished you and was fiercely protective.
The Birth of Ganesha and Parvati’s Protective Love
One day, as Parvati was bathing, she asked you to guard the door and not let anyone in. When Lord Shiva, Parvati’s husband and your father, returned home, he found the door blocked. Despite requesting entrance several times, you refused, following your mother’s orders.
Angered at being denied access to his own home, Shiva beheaded you in a rage. Parvati emerged from her bath and, upon seeing you slain, was overcome by grief. She lamented the loss of her beloved son and threatened to destroy the universe in her sorrow.
To appease Parvati and revive you, Shiva promised to find you a new head. The first living being Shiva came upon was an elephant. He placed the elephant’s head upon your shoulders, bringing you back to life.
Parvati’s joy at having her son restored knew no bounds. She embraced you and declared that you would be worshiped before all other gods. And so you were reborn as the deity of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune – the remover of obstacles. All thanks to a mother’s boundless love and a father’s quick thinking.
Shiva’s Fury Upon Returning Home and Finding a Stranger
When Shiva finally returned home from his meditation, he was eager to see his beloved family. However, upon entering his home, he found a strange boy guarding the entrance. Shiva did not recognize this child and grew angry that an unknown person was in his sacred space.
In a rage, Shiva summoned his trusted trident and hurled it at the boy, cutting off his head. The head of Ganesha, his son, rolled to the floor. Parvati screamed in anguish at seeing her son decapitated and explained that this was the child she had crafted from sandalwood paste and asked to guard the entrance.
Shiva was overwhelmed with regret and sorrow. He promised Parvati he would bring their son back to life. Shiva ordered his followers to find the head of the first creature they came across facing north. They found an elephant kid and brought back its head.
Shiva placed the elephant’s head on Ganesha’s body and breathed life into him immediately. Ganesha was resurrected, now with an elephant’s head and a human body. From that day onward, Ganesha is worshiped by chanting Ganesh chalisa as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom.
Though it was a tragic mistake, Shiva’s quick thinking and powers as a deity allowed Ganesha to be revived and continue playing an important role in people’s lives. The loving bond between father and son was restored, demonstrating the power of forgiveness and family.
The Grief and Regret of a Devastated Father Who Lost His Son
Shiva was devastated after realizing he had beheaded his son, Ganesha. The grief of losing his devoted son was unbearable for the loving father.
- Regret and Sorrow
Shiva was filled with deep regret and anguish over his rash action. In a fit of rage, he had killed his child without verifying the facts. Now, there was no way to undo the damage and bring back his son. Shiva’s pain knew no bounds as he mourned the loss of Ganesha.
Shiva’s wife, Parvati, was heartbroken at the death of her son. She lamented the cruelty of fate that snatched away her child. Parvati rebuked Shiva for acting in haste and not recognizing their son. Shiva pleaded for forgiveness from his grief-stricken wife but knew his mistake was unpardonable.
The devas watched in silence, saddened by the tragedy that had befallen their revered lord. The cosmos resonated with the grief of the bereaved parents over the unjust death of their blameless son.
- A Son Returns
On seeing his parents’ sorrow, Ganesha agreed to give up the elephant head of the demon and return to them. Shiva and Parvati were overjoyed at getting back their son. Their happiness knew no bounds as Ganesha came back to life.
Shiva learned a hard lesson that day. He realized the importance of controlling one’s anger and verifying facts before taking irreversible actions. The unfortunate incident taught Shiva to be judicious in his decisions and brought him closer to his son. Ganesha, for his part, had proved his devotion to his parents was greater than his own life.