The more popular version of his birth has Parvati growing tired of the passionate advances of her husband. She creates a son out of her perspiration and appoints him guardian of her bathing-chamber, so she can be naked in peace for once. Siva comes looking for his wife, and this fierce little boy tells him he can't go in. Siva gets mad and chops off Ganesa's head.
Parvati, furious and heartbroken, sends forth all the demigods to find a new head for her son. They are to go north and take the head of the first living being they find. What they find is an elephant. Everyone expects Parvati to be upset about her elephant-headed son, but she is thrilled.