Why Śrī  Gaṇeśa carries the head of an elephant ? Why was he not given his original head ? Thirty two forms of Vināyaka

🕉️Why Śrī  Gaṇeśa carries the head of an elephant ? Why was he not given his original head ? Thirty two forms of Vināyaka

🦜 This question is often asked by children and makes lot of sense. When Śrī  Śiva can fix him with the head of an elephant then why didn’t he put his original head back ? He could have done it easily.

However, there is an interesting excerpt from śabdakalpadruma (Vol 4, PP 401-2). It is a samvāda between Prajāpāla and Mahātapa. The Gods and Sages were disturbed by obstacles that proliferate auspicious deeds and they were worried because immoral and evil people accomplished the same with ease. They verily begged Śrī  Śiva  to do something about it.

A thought passed through Śrī  Śiva’s  mind, that all four elements have some forms in world while the ākāśa has no form. This fifth element provided support to all other elements. This thought caused a smile on his face and from that flash emerged a lovely boy who illumined all the directions like he was Śiva himself. His beauty enchanted all women folk including Pārvatī.

This enraged Śrī  Śiva and he cursed the boy to become elephant headed, pot bellied and decorated with serpents. His body throbbed with anger and out of his body emerged many Vināyaka each elephant headed and potbellied. They carried multiple weapons. These Vināyaka started troubling the world. However, Brahma saw some sense in the event. He explained how ākāśa has taken birth. So, Śrī  Śiva granted boon to Śrī  Gaṇeśa that he will be the chief of these terrible Vināyaka and his function is to create obstacles in all undertakings whether sacred or secular unless he is propitiated first.

Here we must understand that Vināyakas are not the same as Śrī  Gaṇeśa. According to smṛti manuals like yājñavalkya smṛti Vināyakas are evil spirits and they can possess human beings. These Vināyakas are controlled by propitiating Śrī Gaṇeśa. In later texts they become one.

According to several ancient manuscripts there are thirty-two different forms of Vināyakas with different śakti as well. All have different powers and different ḍhyān slokas. 🦜