Which Hindu god is the father of Ganesha?

Which Hindu god is the father of Ganesha? Shiva is traditionally identified as Ganesha’s father.

Ganesha is widely worshipped as the son of Shiva and Parvati. In many Hindu traditions, this family relationship places him among the best-known members of Shiva’s household, alongside his brother Kartikeya, also called Skanda or Murugan. Ganesha’s elephant head and role as remover of obstacles are central features of his identity.

Puranic stories give several different accounts of Ganesha’s birth. Some say Parvati created him, while others describe him as created by Shiva, by both parents, or appearing in another miraculous manner. In the most famous story, Shiva does not initially recognize Ganesha and beheads him after a confrontation; he later restores the boy’s life with an elephant’s head.

A common mix-up is to assume every tradition tells the same birth story. The details vary by text and region, but Shiva remains the standard answer to the question of Ganesha’s father.