Ganesh's Birth

Parvati and Shiva were happy but they had their differences like other normal couples. Kids. Their biggest issue. She wanted to have kids while he was not big on the family side of things.

Past

I do not know how this is going to work. I want kids and Shiva does not. I have always wanted to be a mother. I want kids of my own. I am known as the mother of the world but I have none myself.

I am going to make my own son then. If Shiva does not want to give me one then that is fine. I do not need him, I am the mother of the world. I will do it from the turmeric paste that come off from me when I am showering. I will make the face, his little arms and tiny little fingers. I will made his legs along with the little toes from the paste.

Sometime later

After doing all of that I put life into the body and he turned real. It was the happiest day of my life. He was laughing and running around. Playing with everything around him. His smile made my day. Everything was worth it, the wait, the pain of not having a child. I finally have one. He is perfect and so curious about everything. I told him to go keep guard outside while I shower. I also specifically told him to not let anyone even no matter who they are. I know he will do just that.

Ganesh's point of view

My mother told me to keep guard and not let anyone inside. It is the first thing she ever told me to do so I have to do it right. I cannot mess up at all. She is depending on me to do this for her. She gave life to me, this is the least that I could do for her. There is no one coming so this will be an easy task to complete.

Sometime later

I am so bored. There is nothing left to do while I stand here. I have played in the snow since this is the first time I have seen it. I walked back and forth for a good twenty minutes. I chased a butterfly around for a little bit but then I lost interest. I think I see someone coming. He looks very rough, with matted hair, water coming out of it, he also has a moon on top of his head. Along with a snake wrapped around his neck, he looked very scary. I knew I had to protect my mother from him. What if he tries to hurt her? I cannot let that happen.
Ganesha "Do not try to go in."

Shiva "You cannot try to stop me. I will get in."

Ganesha "I will stop you. I am strong enough to fight you and beat you."

Shiva "Do not be stupid child, you will get hurt. Just let me in and I will forgive you for this."

Ganesha "No! I will not let you in."

Shiva "Do not test my patience. I will hurt you if you do not get out of my way."

Ganesha "No. How many times do I have to tell you.?"

Shiva "That is it" *He throws the trishul at Ganesha's head and separates it from his body.*

Paravati "What is all this noise" "What just happened?"

Shiva "He would not let me in and in anger I killed the annoying child."

Pravati "No! You killed our child. How could you? Do you have no mercy? He was just a little boy. He did not know any better."

Shiva "I tried to tell him to let me in otherwise the consequences would not be good. He did not listen and was stubborn."

Paravati "You were older. You should have been patient and tried to help him understand. He did not know who you were. He was just following my orders. I told him not to let anyone in and he did just that. How could he have known that you were his father and that you could have been let in? This is all your fault. I want my son back!"  *She keeps crying uncontrollably* If you do not get me my son back and healthy again, I will destroy everything!" I am the mother of this world and if I can bring live into it I can take it out too."

Shiva " I cannot bring someone back from the dead. You know this, do not act irrationally. Your anger is already creating havoc into the world."

*At this point all of the gods come in and try to calm everyone down. They wanted to know why the world was getting destroyed*

Author's Note: I saw this story on the calendar art when they were telling Ganesha's story. They talked about this particular story along with his race around the world with his brother. I went with the story of his birth to give everyone a background on how he was born and happened after it since most people would not know it. I did not trail far from the story but I added the details on how he was put on guard and then lost his head. I heard about this part of the story from a story I heard a long time ago. I decided to put the two together and write about it. I chose this particular image because it perfectly shows the anger on Shiva's face and the impulse that caused him to behead a child in a fit of anger.

Seven Secrets From Hindu Calendar Art: Devdutt Pattanaik (2009)

Ganesha Losing his Head (2012-2015)