A large picture of Bala Ganesha with Shiva and Gauri can help to bring this story to life.
Ganesha's mother was Gauri and his Dad was Shiva. Shiva and Gauri lived in a forest in the Himalayas. Once his father went away on a long long journey. One day Gauri took some clay and she made it into a beautiful doll, a beatiful boy doll. Then she took the doll and breathed into the doll and guess who came - Ganesha! Beautiful baby Ganesha was standing before her. He was just about as tall as you all. She loved her son so much and Ganesha loved her too. Just like you all love your mom.
Gauri was so proud of her son. She said 'Look how strong you are. I want to go for my bath. Will you stand in front of the door and make sure nobody gets in?'. Ganesha said 'Yes of course Mom. I can do that' and stood in front of the door of the house.
After some time Shiva came back from his travel. He came near the door and what did he see? Ganesha was standing there and would not let him in. Shiva said 'Hey, this is my house, stand aside. I need to go in'. Ganesha said 'But my Mom said I cannot let anyone in. So you cant come in'. Shiva said, 'Oh - stop acting silly. Let me in'. Ganesha said, 'No I wont'.
Now Shiva got really angry. He got out his sword and chopped off poor Ganesha's head.
Gauri came running out and started crying. 'What did you do? You cut off our son's head'. Shiva felt so sorry. So he sent his ganas -those are his servants- 'Go find the head of the first being that crosses your path. If we put the head back on fast Ganesha will be as good as ever'. All the Ganas went out and searched and searched and could not find any. Finally they found an elephant. So they cut off the elphant's head and brought it back. Shiva put the elephants head on Ganesha's body and Ganesha came back to life.
Shiva was so happy and relieved. Shiva blessed Ganesha and said 'If any person wants to do something good if they first pray to you before starting, then nothing will go wrong. They wil be able to do a good job and complete the full job. Then Gauri felt happy.
Thats why even now, when we always have to pray to Ganesha before starting any work. Thats why we are learning all about Ganesha today.
Ganesha's mother was Gauri and his Dad was Shiva. Shiva and Gauri lived in a forest in the Himalayas. Once his father went away on a long long journey. One day Gauri took some clay and she made it into a beautiful doll, a beatiful boy doll. Then she took the doll and breathed into the doll and guess who came - Ganesha! Beautiful baby Ganesha was standing before her. He was just about as tall as you all. She loved her son so much and Ganesha loved her too. Just like you all love your mom.
Gauri was so proud of her son. She said 'Look how strong you are. I want to go for my bath. Will you stand in front of the door and make sure nobody gets in?'. Ganesha said 'Yes of course Mom. I can do that' and stood in front of the door of the house.
After some time Shiva came back from his travel. He came near the door and what did he see? Ganesha was standing there and would not let him in. Shiva said 'Hey, this is my house, stand aside. I need to go in'. Ganesha said 'But my Mom said I cannot let anyone in. So you cant come in'. Shiva said, 'Oh - stop acting silly. Let me in'. Ganesha said, 'No I wont'.
Now Shiva got really angry. He got out his sword and chopped off poor Ganesha's head.
Gauri came running out and started crying. 'What did you do? You cut off our son's head'. Shiva felt so sorry. So he sent his ganas -those are his servants- 'Go find the head of the first being that crosses your path. If we put the head back on fast Ganesha will be as good as ever'. All the Ganas went out and searched and searched and could not find any. Finally they found an elephant. So they cut off the elphant's head and brought it back. Shiva put the elephants head on Ganesha's body and Ganesha came back to life.
Shiva was so happy and relieved. Shiva blessed Ganesha and said 'If any person wants to do something good if they first pray to you before starting, then nothing will go wrong. They wil be able to do a good job and complete the full job. Then Gauri felt happy.
Thats why even now, when we always have to pray to Ganesha before starting any work. Thats why we are learning all about Ganesha today.
