Parvati yearned for a child, a son to shower her tenderness on. Shiva was an ascetic, a warrior, and spent most of his time in meditation or fighting evil-doers.

And though he continued to be Parvati's object of desire, her maternal instinct remained unsatisfied. So one day while having her bath, with the fragrant herbs and powders and oils, she fashioned a little boy out of the dirt of her body and then playfully threw the child into the Ganges, where he grew so large that he extended himself as big as the world. Both Ganga and Parvati therefore have the right to call him "son," which gives him yet another name, 'Gangeya.'

Shiva was unaware of Ganesh's arrival on the scene.When he returned from the long period of asceticism, he was about to enter his wife's inner rooms when he was stopped by a little boy who refused to allow him to go further. Enraged by this child's obstinate stand, in spite of Shiva telling him who he was, Shiva raised his trident and struck off Ganesha's head.

Parvati when she saw her son had fallen to the ground, wailed loudly. Shiva could not understand why she behaved as if she were bereaved. She was determined to destroy all the gods in her rage and grief. Shiva tried desperately to propitiate her, and promised to restore the severed head. He sent his army of 'ganas' to the north and bade them return with the head of the first creature they saw there. This happened to be an elephant and Shiva revived Ganesha by fitting the head on the lifeless body and imbuing him with his own energy,(tejas), recited Vedic mantras to bring him back to life. When Parvati saw that her son was restored to life,she was overjoyed and she promised that Ganesh should receive the worship of all, and remove all obstacles.