by Mason

We were walking on a cobblestone street when I spotted a temple.  The temple was covered in red powder and a lot of flowers.  When I looked inside there was a statue of a pot-bellied, four-armed, elephant-headed god named Ganesha.  Lord Ganesha is possibly the most loved Hindu god.  He is always seen with a mouse at his feet, his vahana or vehicle.  This mouse named Mushak symbolizes a busy mind.  Ganesha has the power to overcome a busy mind, as well as other obstacles.  

Each Hindu god has a myth told about them.  One version of Ganesha’s story is that when his mom Parvati was taking a bath she asked Ganesh to guard the door and not let anyone in.  During this time his father Shiva returned from a long journey and did not recognize his son Ganesha.  When Ganesh refused to let his father enter, Shiva got mad and beheaded him.   Parvati came out from her bath and she was sad and furious with Shiva.  Shiva felt bad, so he sent his trusted friend and vehicle Nandi the bull into the jungle and told him to bring back the head of the first creature he saw.  Nandi came back with an elephant head.  Shiva set the head on Ganesh’s body and that is how this very beloved god was born.