Ever wonder why Ganesh has an elephant head? MC Yogi illuminates the tradition in the lyrics to “Son of Shiva” on his Elephant Power album:

Son of Shiva

High up in the Himalayan mountain peaks /
their lived a beautiful goddess named Parvati /
Parvati was the wife of the god named Shiva /
the king of all yogi’s who destroys all demons /
now Shiva loved to practice yoga deep in the forest /
away from the world and all the things that lure us /
often meditating for weeks and months /
practicing detachment completely untouched /
but whenever Shiva left, Parvati stayed home /
often feeling sad and all alone /
so one day she prayed and made a wish /
for a son who she could have fun and play with /
the very next morning to her surprise /
a little baby laid right in front of her eyes /
Parvati could hardly control her joy /
for the gods had blessed her with a beautiful boy /

chorus

Son of Shiva & Parvati, with an elephants head and a fat belly

One day when Parvati was taking a bath /
she instructed her son to protect the path /
so he stood in the door just like a guard /
there to make sure no one entered the yard /
it was at that time when Shiva returned /
not knowing that his wife recently gave birth /
when he saw the boy he told him to move /
not knowing who his father was the boy refused /
now Shiva’s like this, truth consciousness and bliss /
but he’s crazy when he’s angry so don’t get him pissed /
feeling dissed by the boy Shiva started a rumble /
an epic struggle that shook the jungle /
then out of nowhere Shiva’s trident went chop /
and that’s when the boy’s head was cut off /
when Parvati heard the noise coming from outside /
she rushed to find that her boy had died /

chorus

Son of Shiva & Parvati, with an elephants head and a fat belly

All the gods quickly rushed to the scene /
as soon as they heard Parvati’s scream /
she turned toward her Shiva with tears in her eyes /
and painfully explained how the boy was there child /
when Shiva realized the size of this mess /
he became stressed upset and depressed /
that’s when the god Vishnu came up with a plan /
to find another head so the boy could live again /
Shiva said we’ll take the first head that we find /
but we really need to hurry cuz we’re running out of time /
deep in the jungle the gods met an elephant /
a wise old being who attained enlightenment /
he offered his life so the gods took his head /
and quickly returned to where the boy laid dead /
they placed it upon the boys body /
and at first it looked funny and even ungodly /
but Parvati said the head fit just like a glove /
truly a face only a mother could love /
when Shiva saw the boy becoming refreshed /
he embraced his son and named him Ganesh /

chorus

Son of Shiva & Parvati, with an elephants head and a fat belly