Lord Ganesha

Article 2

Why did Lord Shiva not put a humanoid head on the beheaded child?

We all are quite familiar with the story of how lord Ganesha got his 'elephant head'. But I've heard several people saying how Mahadev could be so brutal to behead a child that was not his own one. Or, if he knew the science of head transplant, then why did he only put an elephant head? Why not something else? Afterall there's nothing impossible for God!
I have also struggled with such thoughts for a few years, but I did my research and came to a conclusion.
As you've read in the first chapter, Ganesha existed even before being born as the son of Shiv and Shakti. He has originally existed with his elephant head from even before time was invented. Even in his previous 'avtars', he assumed an elephant head. As the Ganesh Puran proves, he is the Supreme Lord.
An elephant head translates to 'Gaj' in Sanskrit. And the word 'gaj' is alphabetically the opposite of 'jag' meaning 'the world'. This implies that the essence of his existence is that he takes the least interest in the worldly materialisms. He doesn't have a body that qualifies the norms of the society.
For a person, his face is his identity, his pride. But Ganesha doesn't believe on the outer qualities. He believes in strength and purity of our soul. That's why despite of not qualifying the body standards of the society, he is known as 'mangal murti', his inner wisdom and purity makes him beautiful in an auspicious way. And he is never insecure about his appearance.
In several instances, for example, during his leela with Ravana or with Daksha's son, he assumes a human head to hide his identity. This proves that he still possesses the ability to assume whatever form he likes! But he likes his head the way it has been since ages. He doesn't want an eye pleasing typical beautiful face.
Lord Ganesha is the physical manifestation of the formless existence of God, who is, partly participating into the world.
His elephant head signifies the 'nirgun nirakar brahm' (formless God) and his human body signifies the 'sakar brahm' (when the lord assumes a material form).

So, when Goddess Parvati created his head as a human head out of dirt, naturally, Mahadev did this leela to give him his original head.
Also, as that head was created out of dirt, it signified 'mal buddhi' but then, Shiva gave him his auspicious head back.

Many people also say that this event also happened because of the curse of Maharishi Kashyap.

As referred to in chapter 1, Ganesha was worshipped and invited as a guest to the wedding of Shiv and Parvati, and even then he came with his original elephant head, way before his avtar as their son and way before the war between Shiva and Ganesha.

There's also another story which proves that an elephant head is the destiny of the cute Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha has appeared as the son of Shiv and Parvati for a total of around three times. In one of his 'avtars' as the son of Shiv-Shakti, his human head was destroyed by Shani Dev and this time, lord Vishnu goes on a search for a new head. This time also, he finds an elephant!

Hence, the stories of the puranas are mostly metaphorical and mostly very deep and calculated.
They deliver huge philosophies if one tries to ponder upon the stories. The nature of the puranas is such that they compliment eachother.

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