Lord of Beginnings

These are the stories of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, son of the great god Shiva and the goddess Parvati. There are several versions as to how Ganesha received the head of an elephant and why his right tusk is broken. In Maharashtra, Ganesha is depicted as having two wives: Siddhi and Buddhi, while in Tamil Nadu, he is an inveterate bachelor waiting for the perfect bride.

This book is filled with beautiful, colourful illustrations that show the light-hearted, playful character of one of India's favorite deities. Ganesha eats huge amounts of food, visits with the humans on Earth, and is carried everywhere by his faithful servant Mushaka, the mouse! (Not a simple task for a tiny rodent!)