ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mahaganapati

Mahaganapati is a Hindu deity who is mostly worshipped in India. He is known as the God of wisdom, knowledge, and success. When you think of Mahaganapati, you might picture a big, friendly elephant with four arms and a jolly smile.

Mahaganapati is one of the many forms of Lord Ganesha. He is worshipped by people at the beginning of new ventures, whether it be a new job, a new school year, or the start of a new project. People also offer their prayers to him when they are facing challenges in their life and seeking success.

One of the most famous legends associated with Mahaganapati is about how he got his elephant head. According to the story, the Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from the turmeric paste that she used to bathe. She asked Ganesha to guard the entrance of her bathing chamber while she was inside. When Lord Shiva, Parvati's husband, came to visit her and wanted to enter the chamber, Ganesha refused to let him in. An angry Lord Shiva cut off Ganesha's head in the ensuing fight. When Parvati saw what had happened, she was so heartbroken that Lord Shiva was moved to bring her son back to life. In doing so, he replaced Ganesha's human head with that of an elephant.

This story explains why Mahaganapati has an elephant head and also shows the power of the Mother Goddess in bringing life to the dead. Mahaganapati is one of the most beloved and worshipped deities in Hinduism, and he is often invoked at the beginning of any venture to remove obstacles and ensure success.