How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head - Hardcover

Johari, Harish; Sperling, Vatsala

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1591430216 ISBN 13: 9781591430216

Publisher: Bear Cub Books, 2003

Synopsis

The magical story of how Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati, was brought back to life with the head of an elephant

• The story of one of the most beloved characters in Indian lore, made accessible for Western children

• Illustrated throughout with paintings from the classic Indian tradition

Any Indian child can tell you how the beloved god Ganesh got his elephant’s head--now American children can know as well. For centuries Indian children have grown up hearing Ganesh’s story--how his mother, Parvati (an incarnation of the great mother goddess), created a small boy from sandalwood soap and commanded that he guard the palace against all intruders while she took her bath. How her husband, Shiva (the fearsome god of destruction), didn’t take kindly to being barred from his own home. How Shiva beheaded the boy during the cosmic war that followed, but then, when he realized that the balance of the entire universe was at stake, brought the boy back to life by grafting an elephant’s head onto his body and made him the people’s intercessor against the powers of destruction.

Ganesh’s timeless story teaches children about the steadfast power of dedication to duty, the awe-inspiring power of a mother’s love for her child, and the gentle power of compassion, which holds the world together. Accompanied by rich, color illustrations prepared according to the traditional Hindu canon, How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head will transport children to a magical world filled with ancient wisdom.

About this title

About the Author

Harish Johari (1934-1999) authored many books that bring Eastern spiritual traditions to Western audiences. Vatsala Sperling, a native of India, was trained in traditional Brahmin religious rites and is fluent in Sanskrit. She is the coauthor ofA Marriage Made in Heaven and lives in Vermont with her husband and son. Pieter Weltevrede, who began his artistic studies with Harish Johari in 1977 and also studied with Shri Chandra Bal, is a social scientist by training. He lives in Holland with his wife and two children and travels to India annually.

From the Back Cover

FOLKLORE

Ganesh, the elephant-headed god, has the body of a chubby little boy and the head of a baby elephant. Known as the god who removes all obstacles, he is one of the most beloved characters in Indian folklore.

Ganesh didn’t always have an elephant head, but he was never an ordinary boy, either. His mother, Parvati (the great mother goddess), created him from sandalwood paste and magically brought him to life to guard her palace against all intruders. When the boy stopped her husband, Shiva (the fearsome god of destruction), at the door, Shiva did not take kindly to being barred from his own home.

Shiva attacks the boy, infuriating Parvati and touching off a cosmic battle between the gods and the goddesses that threatens the balance of the entire universe. When the boy is later transformed into the elephant-headed god, family harmony is restored and the order of the universe renewed.

Ganesh’s timeless story teaches children about the power of dedication to duty, the awe-inspiring love of a mother for her child, and, finally, how compassion holds the world together. Accompanied by rich, color illustrations prepared according to the traditional Indian wash technique, How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head will transport children to a magical world filled with ancient wisdom.

HARISH JOHARI has authored many books that bring Eastern spiritual traditions to Western audiences, including Little Krishna, Chakras, and The Monkeys and the Mango Tree.

VATSALA SPERLING, fluent in five Indian languages and Sanskrit, learned these traditional stories at her mother’s feet. Before marrying and moving to the United States, she was the chief of Clinical Microbiological Services at the largest children’s hospital in India. She is the coauthor of A Marriage Made in Heaven and lives in Vermont with her husband and son.

PIETER WELTEVREDE, who began his artistic studies with Harish Johari in 1977 and also studied with Shri Chandra Bal, is a social scientist by training. He lives in Holland with his wife and two children and travels to India annually. He is also the illustrator of Little Krishna and The Monkeys in the Mango Tree.

Reviews

Grade 4-6-Ganesh, a Hindu god who is "loved as much as he is worshipped," is the subject of this traditional tale from India. The authors trace his creation from the hands of the goddess Parvati to his ultimate status as a brave and wise god, and explain how he came to have the body of a boy and the head of an elephant. Unfortunately, the stilted, formal language and an overly moralistic tone detract from what is an otherwise intriguing story. Lush, detailed watercolor illustrations, done in a traditional Indian style, do much to advance the plot. Added features such as a "Cast of Characters" of Indian gods and goddesses and a reproducible line drawing of Ganesh are welcome additions; wordy, overly long passages, including an extended introduction; a note to parents and teachers; and a step-by-step explanation of how the illustrations were made, are not.
Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gr. 1-4. This book brings together the story of how the beloved Hindu god Ganesh got his elephant head and one of the most well-known tales from his childhood, his contest with his brother to circle the universe. Told in an exciting and interesting voice, this story mostly holds true to the original legend; minor inconsistencies in the text do not detract much from the authenticity of the tale. The illustrations, done in a traditional nine-step Indian process, are beautiful and authentic. They bring to life the various multiheaded, multilimbed Hindu gods and goddesses and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the book. Public and school libraries can boost their scant collections of Hindu mythology with this fascinating look into that world. Linda Perkins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Shiva, God of Destruction, was married to the beautiful mother goddess Parvati. He loved his wife deeply and passionately but he cared nothing for the schedules or dress codes or manners of a household. Clad in a tiger skin, with serpents coiled around his waist and shoulders, and a crescent moon tucked in his long, matted hair, he roamed the wilderness for weeks at a time, with nothing but animals for company.

Parvati loved Shiva anyway, just the way he was. When he appeared unexpectedly at all hours of the day or night, she would welcome him patiently. She tried not to complain about his long absences, his abrupt departures, his unruly ways. The only time she protested was when he interrupted her in her bath. "Shiva," she would cry in exasperation, "have you no respect for privacy? Please, leave me in peace!"

One afternoon after a long day of household duties, Parvati lay soaking in warm tub. Shiva had been gone for weeks. When would she see him next? Would he burst through the door right then and there? The thought of him barging in so rudely made her cranky.

“I know!" she thought. “I'll make myself a little figure of a boy to guard the door." She hopped out of the tub and found a bail of modeling clay With deft fingers she fashioned a head, a cute button nose, big eyes. Working quickly, she gave the child sturdy legs and arms. Really, it looked quite lifelike!

She took a breath, and blew gently all over it. Something stirred in her hand. Suddenly a little boy sprang forth, as strong and handsome as could be. He jumped lightly to the floor and turned to face her. "Dear Mother," the boy said to her, "now that I am here, what can I do to help?"

"Dear son! Please, just stand at the door while I finish my bath, and do not let anyone in." She gave him a little wand to hold. "Here," she said with a smile. "Just wave this at anyone who tries to enter."

The little boy was proud and pleased. He had no idea that Parvati was a goddess or that the stick in his hand was magic. He was happy just to march back and forth, wand in his hand like a baton, prepared to stop anyone who tried to disturb his newfound mother. And so, when Shiva, true to form, strode up to the door, he found a sturdy youngster with a strong voice and determined eyes barring his way.

"Entry denied, sir!" said the boy.

Shiva was puzzled. Who was this child? And why was he, Lord Shiva, God of Destruction, experiencing such difficulty getting past him? He found he couldn't even step forward toward the door! There was some strange, powerful force keeping him hack. As usual, however, he was in a hurry to return to the forest, so he asked his pet bull, Nandi, to investigate for him. The bull, backed up by Shiva's helpers, a band of ruffians called the Shivaganas, lowered his long horns to attack. But the brave little boy waved his wand, once, twice, thrice--and before they knew it, Nandi and his cohorts were in full retreat. They were mortified. This was the very first time anyone had dared to stand up to them. And worse yet, they had been defeated by a pudgy little boy!

They found Shiva wandering in the forest. "I'm sorry, Lord Shiva." Nandi said, hanging his great head in shame. "The boy just waved his wand! We could not advance. It must have been very powerful magic!"

Edition details

• Publisher: Bear Cub Books
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1591430216
• ISBN 13: 9781591430216
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Weltevrede Pieter
• Number of pages: 32