Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c9.6

v1.c9.6

"The news of the destruction of her son was conveyed to Pārvatī by the sage Nārada; and on hearing it she became so angry that she created a thousand fighting goddesses to bring trouble on all those that took part in the destruction of her Vighnēśvara. These goddesses attacked the gods and made them feel very miserable. To rescue the gods from this pitiable condition, Nārada and other sages prayed to Pārvatī, who promised to restore peace as soon as her son was brought back to life. Śiva on hearing this, ordered the gods to proceed to the north at once and bring the head of the first living being they met and fix it on the neck of the beheaded son of Pārvati. The gods immediately proceeded and came across an elephant; they cut off its head and brought it and attached it as directed to the trunk of Vighnēśvara. That elephant had only one tusk, and Gajānana (the elephant-faced Vighnēśvara) has therefore only one tusk even to-day, and is known by the name of Ekadanta. When Pārvati saw her son brought back to life in this manner, she felt pleased and took him to the presence of Śiva. Vighnēśvara apologised to Śiva and the other gods for his past remissness in conduct and bowed in deep reverence to his divine father. Śiva was thereby highly gratified and conferred upon Vighnēśvara the commandership over his own demon-hosts, and anointed him as Gaṇapati. It is thus that Vighnēśvara became Gajānana and Ekadanta and Gaṇapati.”