Shiva represents Universal consciousness (cit-svarūpam) his great temple is known as Cit-sabhā.
He is married to Umā (which means “do not ask”) the daughter of the mountains which are pointing towards the cosmos. He too resides on the peak of Kailāśa (the sporting place).
Gaṇeśa represents knowledge which is born from consciousness and inquiry and so in the myth, the transition from childhood to adulthood from immaturity to maturity, from ignorance to wisdom represents a compete change of perspective - sometimes drastic - represented by their battle.
To change one’s mind and to abandon cherished “beliefs” when presented with empirical and rational evidence requires a major internal battle which is likened to changing heads!
The childish/foolish head is removed and the head of wisdom replaced - the elephant is a symbol of grace, strength and insight. It is the only animal to have all five of its senses in the one organ - the head.
So that’s why Shiva replaced the head of his son with that of an elephant after removing it with the sword of wisdom.
Jai Ganesha!
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