Stories Related to Broken Tusk of Ganesha

The god of intellect and inherent wisdom is also an epitome of kindness and strength. He is the destroyer of obstacles and the lord of the lords. Such is the greatness of loving Lord Ganesha, who revered by one and all.

Ekadantaaya Vidmahe Vakratundaaya Dheemahi |

Tannoe Dantih Prachodayaat ||

We devote our thought to the one-tusked Lord. We meditate upon Him who has a curved trunk. May the tusked one guide us on the right path.

Marked by the elephant head and a broken right tusk, Ganesha is known by many names. One of the names he is reckoned with is Ekadantaa – The one with a broken tusk.  It draws many symbolisms like retaining good and letting go of bad and even that the faith is greater than knowledge. However, there are different versions of stories around how Ganesha came to have a broken tusk. Some of them go like this.

As per an excerpt in Brahmanda Purana, after winning the battle against the Kartavirya Arjuna, Lord Parshurama went to Kailash to seek Shiva’s blessings and pay his respect. However as he reached the entrance of Kailash, he was stopped in his path by young Ganesha. Parshurama insisted that he allows him to go through, yet Ganesha did not waver from his resolve.

He insistently said – ‘Hei Gurudev, My father Shiva is resting, hence I cannot allow you to disturb him at the moment. You shall have to wait.’

Enraged by this treatment, he started fighting Ganesha and forcefully hurled his axe towards him. Ganesha at once recognised the axe as his father’s gift to Parshuram. Not willing to dishonour it, Ganesha took the blow of the axe on his right tooth. It immediately broke off and fell on the ground covering it with the blood.

Both Parvati and Shiva rushed to Ganesha’s aid, making Parshuram realise his mistake and humbly surrender. He joined his hands seeking forgiveness and blessed Ganesha ‘Hei Parvatinandan, Pardon me for my ill temper. For your immense patience and righteousness, you will henceforth also be known as Ekadantaa.’

Yet another intriguing story on how Ganesha lost his tusk is related to the epic Mahabharata.  It was Maharishi Ved Vyas who was entitled to write the vivid tale of such magnanimity.  Vyas Muni wanted someone learned and scholarly to pen the classic legend. Upon Lord Brahma’s suggestion, Vyas Muni went to Lord Shiva for help and asked him if the wise Lord Ganesha would agree to such a task.  Both looked at Ganesha who nodded his head and agreed, but with one condition.

‘Hei Maharishi, I would be honoured to be a part of such a grand undertaking. My only wish is that you narrate the entire story at one go, without a break. If you stop in between, so shall I, and then you shall have to search for another writer.’

Vyas Muni agreed to this odd condition and began with the task. Ganesha was dutifully penning down the story with the same vigour as each verse Muni narrated. Suddenly, in between his pen broke, yet Maharishi did not stop and continued to recite the tale. Not wanting to lag behind, Ganesha broke off his tooth without another thought. He resumed penning the grand story with his broken tusk, which over a period of time became one of the famous epics of ancient India.

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Stories Related to Elephant Head of Ganesh

Ekdantam Mahakayam Lambodharam Ganananam |

Vighnanasakaram Devam Herambam Pranamamyaham ||

With one tooth, a great body, a big belly, an elephant’s face, he is the destroyer of all obstacles; a God to whom we bow with all our devotion.

Our beloved Ganesha represents wisdom, discriminative authority and fidelity with his elephant head. The fables of how Lord Ganesha got the elephant head are both intriguing and epic.

One goes as –

It was a beautiful spring morning at the Kailash mountain, when Lord Shiva was away for saadhana and Devi Parvati was about to take a bath. She instructed Nandi to guard the door and not let anyone in. But when Shiva returned, Nandi allowed him to pass through the gates. Angry with this slight, she decided to find someone who would be more loyal to her.

As she prepared for her bath the next day, Parvati created Ganesha – a body with turmeric paste and mud, breathing life into it. Adoring him as her own son, she instructed Ganesha to guard the door. “Do not let anyone enter” – she said to Ganesha who agreed nodding his innocent head. When Lord Shiva arrived, Ganesha confronted him and did not allow him to enter his own home. Lord Shiva, furious with rage ordered his army to destroy the child. When they failed to do so, Shiva violently struck Ganesha with his trident, severing his head.

Enraged Parvati vowed to invoke all yoginis to destroy the entire universe. Lord Brahma pleaded to her to not do so. She agreed on one condition that Ganesha is brought back to life. Shiva asked his clan to bring back the head of first creature lying with his head facing north. They returned with a giant elephant head which Shiva placed on Ganesha’s body and brought him back to life.

Another story from Brahma Purana suggests a different version. Pravati longed to bear a child and observed a yearlong fast to please Lord Vishnu to grant her a son.

Content with Parvati’s penance, Vishnu announced – “I will reincarnate myself as your son.” And Ganesha was born. Thrilled parents invited all Gods to visit Kailash and bless the new-born. As everyone blessed Ganesha, Shani was hesitant to look at his face. When he did look at him upon Parvati’s insistence, Ganesha’s face fell off.  Both parents were stunned in silence with grief.

Lord Vishnu rushed to the banks of Pushpa Bhadra River and brought back the head of a young elephant which was joined to Ganesha’s body, reviving him back to the life.

Yet another famous fable is that of a mighty Asura named Gajasura who bore an elephant head. A devotee of Shiva, he observed stern ‘Tapa’. Pleased by his repentance, Shiva asked for his request.

He replied – “Lord, I want you as inherent part of me and desire you to inhabit my stomach.’ Shiva obliged.

Unable to find her husband anywhere, Parvati felt dejected and seeked Lord Vishnu’s help. He assumed the appearance of a flutist and transformed Nandi into a dancing bull. Staging an exhilarating performance, he enthralled Gajasura. Gajasura asked him what he wanted in return.

“Liberate Shiva from your stomach” – He commanded. Realising that he is no ordinary flutist, Gajasura released Shiva and asked for forgiveness. Gajasura pleaded Shiva –“I only want to be remembered lovingly for my elephant head after my death.”

Shiva acknowledged Gajasura as his devotee, and replaced his son, Ganesha’s head with Gajasura’s elephant head.

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Why Lord Ganesha Has An Elephant Head?

There are as many as 330 million gods in Hindu mythology. But the one who is always worshipped before reminiscing others is Lord Ganesha. He is considered as the one who brings auspicious fortunes and a remover of obstacles. With his soft looks and wisdom, Lord Ganesha is ever so popular and loved by all. He looks all cute and cuddly bearing an elephant head, a long trunk, two large ears, four hands, round big belly with snake tied around and riding his mouse. Each of his physical attributes signifies something important.

There are versions of stories explaining why Lord Ganesha bears an elephant head. It is said that both Lord Shiva and Parvati would now and then observe long episodes of meditation and penance which would last months. Once Lord Shiva went away for dhyana (meditation) and Goddess Parvati was left alone in Mount Kailash. She wanted to go off for a bath but was anxious as she was alone. She scrubbed off her skin of dirt and oil and created a young human form figure. Blowing a soft breath over it, Goddess Parvati brought the young child to life. She considered him as her own son. Goddess Parvati asked him to guard the entrance door and not let anyone pass it as she went inside to bathe.

In the meanwhile Lord Shiva returned home. While entering the house he saw this young child at the door who stopped him from going in. At first Lord Shiva reasoned with the young child that he was Goddess Parvati’s husband and Mount Kailash was his home, hence he had every right to enter his own home. However, the young child, loyal to Parvati and abiding her instructions stopped Lord Shiva in his tracks again saying that he is only performing his duty to Mother Parvati. Furious with rage Lord Shiva challenged the young child to battle and beheaded him with his trident. Hearing the cry of the young kid, Goddess Parvati rushed outside and was stunned by the horrifying sight of her young son lying in pool of blood and decapitated. She lost control of her rage and vowed to destroy all of the earth and heaven. This is when Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva tried to pacify her. Goddess Parvati agreed on two conditions. One – her son should be brought back to life and another – her son should be prayed first before prayers are offered to other deities. Lord Shiva sent his clan with specific instructions to bring back the head of the first living creature found in the north direction (as it is associated with wisdom). His ganas brought back the head of a young elephant they found sleeping with his head in north direction. Lord Shiva placed the elephants head on the body and breathed life into him. He also announced him as a leader of all Ganas (tribes and classes) hence naming him ‘Ganapati’. Lord Brahma blessed him with vardaan that Lord Ganesha will always be remembered before commencing any puja or new ventures for bringing in luck and removing hurdles. 

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