Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles and the offspring of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and his consort the goddess Parvathi. Several myths detail his birth and acquisition of the elephant head. These myths vary by region, tradition, and sect. A popular story about Ganesha’s birth begins with the goddess Parvathi, who is lonely and longing for affection. Thus, she creates a son from clay and ghee (clarified butter) and gives him life while her partner Shiva is meditating on Mount Kailash.
One day, Parvathi goes to bathe, asking her son to stand guard. While she bathes, Shiva returns only to be prevented entry by the young son he had yet to meet. Angered, he cut off his head and went to find Parvathi. Soon realizing what he had done, Shiva searched for the first being he could find, an elephant, and placed that head on the boy, naming him “Ganesha” or “lord of the elephants.” He then decreed that he would be the remover of obstacles, always worshipped first in any ritual.