Ganesha

Elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, remover of obstacles, lord of beginnings

Parentage

Recorded default; alternative parentage accounts are listed separately below.

• parent: Shiva
• parent: Parvati

Parentage accounts

Each account is a separate source claim. The parentage and children listed outside these accounts use the recorded default. Selecting an account in the interactive app updates its lineage, descent classification and inherited-power candidates. Linked pedigree accounts are selected together; other records retain their recorded parentage. Claims of ancestry are not proof of biological descent or attested powers.

• Śvetakalpa: Pārvatī calls her creation her son (not biological birth)

  deity by descent in this account.

  • mother: ParvatiShiva Purana 2.4.13.5–6, 20–28 and note 3 (primary)
  Shiva Purana 2.4.13.5–6, 20–28 and note 3 (primary)

Children

• Kṣema
• Lābha

Variant accounts

• originThe text explicitly distinguishes birth accounts by kalpa. In its Svetakalpa narrative Parvati creates the boy, names him her son, clothes him, and gives him a staff to guard her doorway.Shiva Purana 2.4.13.5–6, 20–28 and note 3 (primary)

Domains

• obstacles
• beginnings
• wisdom

Powers

• Remove or place obstacles in any undertaking
• Transcribe the Mahabharata in unbroken dictation

Epithets

• गणपति sanskrit · Gaṇapati · stotraLord of the gaṇas (Shiva's hosts)Ṛgveda 2.23.1 (gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ); Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa (primary)
• विघ्नेश्वर sanskrit · Vighneśvara · epithetLord of obstacles; remover and master of impedimentsGaṇeśa Purāṇa; Mudgala Purāṇa (primary)
• विनायक sanskrit · Vināyaka · epithetThe supreme leader/guideYājñavalkya Smṛti 1.271; Gaṇeśa Purāṇa (primary)
• गजानन sanskrit · Gajānana · epithetThe elephant-faced oneGaṇeśa Purāṇa; standard dhyāna verses (primary)
• एकदन्त sanskrit · Ekadanta · stotraThe single-tusked oneGaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa; Mudgala Purāṇa (primary)

Relations

• sibling: KartikeyaFull sibling — shares the same attested parentage (Shiva & Parvati) per the figures' cited genealogy.
• spouse: SiddhiShiva Purana 2.4.20.1–8, 23–37 and editorial note 3 (primary)
• spouse: BuddhiShiva Purana 2.4.20.1–8, 23–37 and editorial note 3 (primary)
• created by: ParvatiIn the Svetakalpa account Parvati fashions him from material from her body and calls him her son; this is not sexual generation.Shiva Purana 2.4.13.5–6, 20–28 and note 3 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Ganapati Atharvashirsha (primary); Ganesha Purana (primary)