Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Ganesha
The introductory discussion describes Ganesha as a kindly, approachable god of success and worldly wisdom, honoured at the beginning of undertakings. It associates him especially with desires and practical human affairs. A later narrative makes him a son of Shiva and Parvati whose head is destroyed by Saturn’s glance. Brahma advises replacing it with the first available head, explaining the elephant form through a story of loss and restoration.
Also known as Gaṇeśa · Ganapati
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalThe introductory discussion describes Ganesha as a kindly, approachable god of success and worldly wisdom, honoured at the beginning of undertakings. It associates him especially with desires and practical human affairs.
Further detail
TraditionalA later narrative makes him a son of Shiva and Parvati whose head is destroyed by Saturn’s glance. Brahma advises replacing it with the first available head, explaining the elephant form through a story of loss and restoration.
Context & interpretation
Ganesha’s attributes and head-restoration legend follow this collection. Its speculative discussion of the antiquity of his worship is not adopted as settled historical chronology. Success and obstacle removal remain religious associations rather than promised effects of worship.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the god of success and of worldly wisdomOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 40
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0040
- Original scan leaf
- 40
- Recorded leaf number
- 40
- Current Reader position
- 31
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the god of wisdom and the remover of obstaclesOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 362
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0362
- Original scan leaf
- 362
- Recorded leaf number
- 362
- Current Reader position
- 353
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
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The young war god born to bring the gods victory over Taraka.
Same subject and traditionAshvins
The twin divine physicians whose gift of youth earns a place in the gods’ offerings.
Same subject and traditionBalarama
Krishna’s brother, associated in the collection with the serpent Shesha.
Same subject and traditionBrahma
The creative aspect of the divine, distinct in the collection from the absolute Brahman.