Shiva vs. Ganesha — What's the Difference?

Ascetic God.

Remover of Obstacles.

Nataraja.

Lord of Beginnings.

Shiva Lingam.

Elephant-headed God.

Mahadev (Great God).

Vighnaharta.

Destroyer and Transformer.

Patron of Arts and Sciences.

Shiva (; Sanskrit: शिव, lit. 'The Auspicious One' [ɕɪʋɐ] (listen), IAST: Śiva), also known as Mahadeva (; Sanskrit: महादेव:, lit. 'The Great God'), is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism.Shiva has pre-Vedic tribal roots, and the figure of Shiva as we know him today is an amalgamation of various older non-Vedic and Vedic deities, including the Rigvedic storm god Rudra who may also have non-Vedic origins, into a single major deity.Shiva is known as "The Destroyer" within the Trimurti, the triple deity of supreme divinity that includes Brahma and Vishnu.

Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश, IAST: Gaṇeśa), also known as Ganapati and Vinayaka, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia (Java and Bali), Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Bangladesh and in countries with large ethnic Indian populations including Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, and Trinidad and Tobago.

One of the principal Hindu deities, worshiped as the destroyer and restorer of worlds and in numerous other forms. Shiva is often conceived as a member of the Trimurti, along with Brahma and Vishnu.

The god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles, son of Shiva and Parvati, depicted as a short fat man with an elephant's head.

A seven-day period of formal mourning observed after the funeral of a close relative.

Hindu god of wisdom or prophecy; remover of obstacles

(Judaism) A weeklong period of formal mourning for a close relative.

(Judaism) a period of seven days of mourning after the death of close relative;

The Destroyer; one of the three major divinities in the later Hindu pantheon

Shiva's blue throat, resulting from consuming poison during the cosmic ocean's churning, symbolizes his sacrifice and control over destructive forces.

Ganesha’s elephant head symbolizes wisdom, understanding, and a discriminating intellect necessary to overcome obstacles.

Ganesha plays a central role in Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival that celebrates his birth and his ability to remove obstacles.

Shiva's cosmic dance, Nataraja, signifies the cycles of creation, preservation, and dissolution.

People pray to Ganesha for his ability to remove obstacles and ensure smooth beginnings and successful completions.

Shiva is a major Hindu deity, known as the destroyer within the Trimurti, while Ganesha is his son, known as the remover of obstacles.

Shiva is worshipped through rituals like Maha Shivaratri, focusing on meditation and austerity; Ganesha is celebrated in Ganesh Chaturthi with public festivities.

The Shiva Lingam symbolizes Shiva’s role as the creator, protector, and destroyer of the universe.

Shiva’s forms include Nataraja, symbolizing cosmic cycles; Lingam, representing divine generative energy; and Rudra, a fierce aspect.

Shiva is considered a symbol of the essential goodness, as a protector but also as the destroyer of the universe in a positive sense.

Shiva’s trident represents his mastery over the physical, mental, and spiritual worlds.

The large head of Ganesha symbolizes thinking big and the small mouth signifies talk less.

Shiva’s festival, Maha Shivaratri, involves solemn reflection and meditation, whereas Ganesh Chaturthi involves lively public celebrations.

Ganesha’s vehicle, a mouse, symbolizes the ability to penetrate even the most intricate places to remove obstacles.

Mythologically, Ganesha received his elephant head after Shiva decapitated him and then replaced his head with that of an elephant as a solution to bring him back to life.