The legend goes that Goddess Parvati created a small figurine out of sandalwood paste and made it come to life. She was going to have a bath and asked the boy to guard the place. When Lord Siva came home, the little boy promptly stopped him from entering the bathing area. An enraged Siva, not knowing that the handsome child before him was his son, lopped off Ganesha's head for daring to forbid him access to his wife, Parvati. Parvati ordered that the boy be brought back to life lest she destroy the world with her powers. To appease the grieving mother, Lord Siva deputed his 'Ganas' (let's say, his team) to fetch the head of any living being with its head facing north; they come back with the head of an elephant. That's how Lord Ganesha is supposed to have got his head and his name (Lord of the Ganas, Ganapati). In this Ganesh statue, a muted red/orange hue Ganesha is depicted on a lotus. He holds a goad, a noose, his tusk and a mango in his hands and his trunk holds a modak. The Ganesh sculpture measure 24 inches high and 12 inches wide. Painted in antique finish by hand, minor variations and defects are common and add to the artistic individuality of the piece.