How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head

I know next to nothing about traditional Hindu mythology, so I was very excited to read this book and learn about one of its beloved figures. The book is exciting, detailed, and feels very authentic to the culture it is portraying. I love traditional mythology, and while I found this book to have a slightly terrifying twist (beheadings all), I still learned more about Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesh than I would have imagined. I will be adding this book to the traditional lit. section of my classroom library, and may use it for a unit on world mythologies and religions.

How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head is a fantastic adaption of Hindu Indian folklore on the story that leads to exactly what you'd expect from the title. Gods and goddesses struggle and battle over the loyalty and courage of a small boy, whose only wish is to be true to his promises to his mother. I learned much about the mythology of Hindu gods and goddesses, and their places within the heavens and Earth. This is a great story to have children learn more about the values of other religions and cultures, or simply learn about the myth of Ganesh. I was delighted by the adaption of the story by Vatsala Sperling and illustrations by Pieter Weltevrede.

How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head is a story about a child’s devotion and
loyalty to his mother, Parvati has created her son to look out for her.
The creation of the boy initiated an unattended war. The war led to her
son beheaded by her husband. In apology the gods who were part of this
destruction begged for Parvati not to destroy the Heavens and the
Earth, which she summoned because of her anger. They promised to find
a suitable head for her son. The gods approached mother elephant who
agreed to give up her baby to prevent a disastrous war. In the mean time
the Shivaganas had stirred up trouble and all the gods had been too busy
to help their people. The gods decided a new god needed to be created
and given the role to help people with morals show more and day to day questions.
The gods decided one of Parvati’s sons should take the role. A rave was
arranges between her new elephant headed son and her first son
Kartikeya. The race began and the goal was to circle the entire universe
and the first to return would be chosen as Shiva’s representative to lead
the Shivaganas on Earth. Kartikeya too off on his peacock to fly around
the world, and the elephant headed son jumped on his mouse and circled
his parents. He was told to keep going that the race had only just begun.
His response was that his parents are his entire universe. “You have given
me life.” With his wise and intelligent insight he was chosen and given the
name of Ganesh, which means, leader of the Shivaganas. His job is now to
help people on Earth whenever they are in trouble or in need. show less

The Indian origin story of Ganesh, the elephant headed god, who is created from sandlewood to guard his mother with unexpected results. A story about familial love and devotion. Contains a list of characters in the front and an author's note that talks about the themes in the book and how to talk about them with children. The art is beautiful and all done through a traditional process detailed at the end of the story.

The story of how Ganesh, a famed god in the Indian culture, got his head is a rather complicated on. Through many battles to protect his mother, Ganesh eventually loses his head. His mother, so distrought from this loss, insists the other gods find a proper head for him.

Great for introducing non European mythology. This is a beautiful story about one of the most famous and important Hindu Gods.

This tells the story of the HIndu deity Ganesh. Ganesh began as a chubby little boy who was created by his mother from sandalwood paste. The little boy was created to guard his mother and he did a wonderful job of keeping intruders away. Soon, people decided to fight back and eventually Shiva and Vishnu cut off the little boys head. The mother is outraged and demands her son back. Vishnu searches for an appropriate head and decides on an elephant. The boy becomes wiser and eventually rules the Sivaganans. Ganesh helps to remove obstacles.