Yes, you read that right! In the small town near Koothanur, Tamil Nadu, stands a truly unique and ancient shrine. The Adhi Vinayaka Temple, also known as the Nara Mukha Vinayaka Temple. And what sets it apart? The idol of Lord Ganesha here has a human face, not the elephant head we’re all familiar with!

This rare five-foot-tall idol, adorned with a Naghabharanam (serpent ornament) around its waist, represents Nara Mukha Vinayak, which means “Vinayak with a human head.” It’s believed to be one of the oldest forms of Ganesha, dating all the way back to the 7th century.



Before the well-known tale of Ganesha receiving an elephant’s head, he was said to have had a human one. Remember the story where Lord Shiva unknowingly beheaded Ganesha while he was guarding Goddess Parvati’s chambers? It was only later that Shiva replaced the head with that of an elephant, because it was the first creature found sleeping with its head facing north.

But very few know that temples like Adhi Vinayaka still honour this original, human-faced form of Ganesha. Surprising, isn’t it?


Where is Lord Ganesha’s human head?

According to numerous mythological narratives, the severed human head of Lord Ganesha, following its detachment by Lord Shiva, found its resting place in a cavern within Uttarakhand. Presently named Patal Bhuvaneshwar, this cave holds deep-rooted significance in Hindu mythology.

Tradition holds that Adi Shankaracharya was the revered soul who unearthed this divine cave, thus the deity enshrined within is aptly titled Adi Ganesha. Devotees reverentially believe that within these sacred depths, Lord Shiva, in a specific manifestation, safeguards and watches over the severed head of his beloved son, Ganesha, adding to the mystique and sanctity of Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave.

Source / Image Credit: EPuja , NewBarati, HerZindagi , Sonam Sharma, Times Now