Yantra , Tantra, Mantra

  I could not help but cringe when our Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly exposed his ignorance on Hindu philosopy and the Puranas which deal with the birth of Ganesha.   Just for the record Ganesha is a diety ie a philosophical concept not an actual mortal entity be he animal or human.   I will let a very perceptive and knowledgable Indian American software consultant Kunal Singh speak eloquently on this issue (from the archives of Google groups)     Ganesh was a deity produced by the Shakti cult represented by Parvati, thus Parvati creates him from his own body without Shiva's help.  The Shakti cult also undergoes several reincarnations, Sati being the precursor to Parvati, Durga being another form of Parvati.  A cult can give birth to a new deity in Hinduism.   Ganesh has an elephant head because he is renowed for buddhi which relies on memory represented by the elephant.  His legend is associated with the union of Shiva and Parvati which occurs due to bud