Parvati was not pleased with the elephant’s head of her son. She thought Ganesha would be the butt of jokes everywhere. But Shiva tried to reason with Parvati. “Tell me; I will do whatever that will make you happy,” he said. Parvati asked him to pass an order that all gods and humans should show great respect to her son. Also, every worship (puja) or sacrificial ritual (yajna) should start with the worship of Ganesha. “Make him the head of your ganas, too,” she insisted. Shiva consented happily to all her demands. He also blessed Ganesha that whoever worships him with devotion would be free from trouble. Parvati was very happy. She embraced her son lovingly, “O my Gajanan (elephant-headed), my Ganpati (Gana-chief), my Ganesha!” A delighted Parvati then brought Ganesha some sweetened cereal balls (laddoos or modaks). He quickly gobbled down all of them! Since then, Ganesha is worshipped first before beginning any religious festivals or auspicious events or rituals.
Ganesha Becomes Lord Ganesha
