Q 01/05

Ganesha is usually shown with four of which body part?

A) Heads

B) Arms

C) Tusks

D) Eyes

Answer · why

B) Arms

Arms. Four became the standard, though early images of him, such as fifth-century carvings in central India, show only two, and a few later forms have...

Q 02/05

Ganesha is most widely revered as the remover of what?

A) Obstacles

B) Past sins

C) Family debts

D) All sickness

Answer · why

A) Obstacles

Ganesha is revered as Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, and as Vighnaraja, lord of obstacles, who can both place them and clear them away.

Q 03/05

In a famous story, how did Ganesha win a race around the world against his brother?

A) By taking a secret shortcut

B) By borrowing a faster mount

C) By circling his parents

D) By setting off a day early

Answer · why

C) By circling his parents

By circling his parents. He explained that they were his whole world, while his brother was still racing round the real one; the prize varies by telli...

Q 04/05

In the most common story, Ganesha received his animal head after which god beheaded him?

A) Shiva

B) Vishnu

C) Indra

D) Brahma

Answer · why

A) Shiva

Shiva. He struck off the boy's head in a rage, then, to calm the grief-stricken Parvati, brought him back to life with the head of the first creature ...

Q 05/05

In the best-known story, why did Parvati create Ganesha?

A) To lead the gods into battle

B) To keep her company in exile

C) To carry her prayers to heaven

D) To guard her door while she bathed

Answer · why

D) To guard her door while she bathed

To guard her door while she bathed. She shaped the boy from material rubbed from her own body, which is why this telling makes him the child of Parvat...