Which Hindu deity has the head of an elephant?

Ganesha is the Hindu deity recognized by his elephant head.

Ganesha, also called Ganapati or Vinayaka, is associated with new beginnings, wisdom, good fortune, and the removal of obstacles. He is traditionally honored at the start of ceremonies, journeys, studies, and enterprises, earning him the title Pratham Pujya, meaning the one worshipped first.

In one of the best-known birth stories, Parvati creates Ganesha from clay or bodily material to guard her privacy. When Shiva encounters the boy and is refused entry, he beheads him. After learning that Ganesha is Parvati’s son, Shiva restores him by placing an elephant’s head on his body. Other texts and regional traditions tell the episode differently, so the details are not identical everywhere.

Ganesha is often shown with four arms, a large belly, a broken tusk, sweets called modaks, and a mouse as his vehicle. His popularity extends across Hindu communities and into Jain and Buddhist traditions. He is especially celebrated during Ganesh Chaturthi, when images are installed, worshipped, and later immersed in water.