Traditionally the vehicle of Indian royalty, in peace as well as war, they also usually decorate the entrances of major temples. Just how high the elephant is placed in Hindu sentiments is evident from the Hindu God Ganesha, who adores an elephant head. To add to this curiosity, Lord Ganesha is pot bellied, has four arms and is escorted by a mouse, as his transport vehicle.

According to Hindu mythology, Ganesha is the child of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. Lord Shiva is the God of destruction who resides in the famous Mount Kailash. There are many stories leading to the elephantisation of a God’s head but most accepted amongst them talks about Parvati having asked Ganesha to guard her while she was bathing. She told him not to allow anyone to enter the house. It was that opportune moment when Shiva decided to arrive and demanded attendance. The ideal son refused him entry into the house on which, an angry and provoked Shiva be-headed his own son. Parvati, on coming out and getting to know of what had happened, got extremely furious at Shiva and demanded her son back. Shiva promised to bring Ganesha back to life and decided to replace the head by the head belonging to the next passer-by that, unfortunately, happened to be an elephant. That’s how Ganesha got his present form.