There is more than 1 version of Ganesha's birth. The best-known story, from the writings of the Shiva Purana, has his mother, Parvati, fashioning him as a beautiful young boy out of a lump of clay. Parvati, you see, was bored and lonely, as her husband, Shiv (a.k.a. the Destroyer of Worlds) would often forsake her for long, million-year stints, meditating in the wilds. So what better company than a child for her to nurture and play with?

God Ganesha grew up a powerful, lovable boy, the apple of his mother's eye. Their idyll though, was rudely shattered when Lord Shiva came back from the wild. Ignorant of his "son's" existence, Shiv barged in, impatiently looking for his spouse. He came upon Ganesha, standing guard dutifully, as instructed by Parvati, who was taking a bath. Ganesha refused to permit the wild-eyed, dusty visitor, whereupon the enraged Destroyer chopped off the Ganesha's head. Hearing the commotion, Parvati emerged... and you can guess the scene that occurred. A chastened Shiv, desperate to make amends, went to Brahma the Creator for suggestion. The child's severed head had flown too far off and was lost. Brahma suggested that Shiva reinstate the head with the first living being he could find whose head faced north. That happened to be a sleeping elephant! Parvati was mollified and she extracted two favors for her beloved son - that he be named the leader of Shiva's army of ganas (hence his other popular name, Ganapati, or leader of the Ganas) and be invoked by all before they began any endeavor.

In another, less known story, Ganesha was born to Parvati as a consequence of her prayers to Vishnu, the Preserver. It was a happy occurrence when all the Gods came to bless Parvati's beautiful son. All except poor Shani (Saturn), son of Surya, the sun-god, who was saddled with the curse of destroying those upon whom his gaze fell. Foolishly, Parvati beseeched Shani's presence. When the dark god Shani glimpsed at Ganesha, the baby's head flew off it is said, to heaven. Seeing the grief-stricken mother, Vishnu mounted Garuda, his eagle, and flew away in search of an alternative. On the banks of the Pushpabhadra River, he chanced upon an elephant, whose head he brought back and attached to the body of Parvati and Shiva's son.

In a yet another legend about how Ganesha got an elephant head the head belonged to a wild demon, Gajasura, who was also a dedicated devotee of Shiv. For all his amazing power as Destroyer of Worlds, Shiva was easily pleased by his worshipers and granted them boons heedlessly, which led him to into some bad situations. This is exactly what happened with Gajasura. When Shiv asked the demon what he wanted, Gajasura replied, "I want you to reside within my body." Stumped, Shiva had no option but to comply. Parvati, after some time, realized exasperatedly that her husband had gone missing again. After a fruitless search, she went to Vishnu for help. Vishnu (who knows All) understood he had to trick Gajasura. Taking Nandi, Shiva's bull, he went to home as a piper and staged a spectacular performance. Gajasura was enchanted by the bull's performance and offered to grant the piper a reward. "Just name your wish, it shall be granted," said Gajasura grandly. "Release Shiv from your belly - now!" Gajasura knew this was Vishnu in disguise; also, that his end was near. Letting Shiva burst out from his insides, the dying demon pleaded for forgiveness. His final wish? That he be remembered forever, by having his head worshipped. Once more, Shivrelented and placed the elephant head upon that of his own son, Ganesha.