The Broken Tusk: Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha

I bought this book because I wanted to know the meaning of the symbol on my yoga mat. I think we should all understand the symbols we display on our bodies, clothing, homes, etc...but I digress.This book is a colorful and interesting collection of stories about Ganesha. I am only 1/3 through it, but I have learned a great deal. For instance there is no learning of just one Hindu God. The lessons to the reader are conveyed through the interaction of many Gods, and people. I have thoroughly enjoyed the book so far, and I would definitely want to learn about other Indian Gods if similar books were available. Now, every time I look at the head of my yoga mat, it has such great meaning.Full disclosure: I am a westerner who enjoys being exposed to other cultures. My review is meant to be helpful to others with a similar background. I am sure people raised as Hindu's may have a different view of this book. I am grateful to have found it.

This is the most delightful book of stories about Ganesha! Every one makes me smile. Highly recommended. (Theoretically, the book is for children. But I am reading it with an adult who is learning English as a second language - and both my student and I have enjoyed every single story.)

I used this book as a source for a research that I had to do, and I fell in love with it. The stories are beautiful and Ganesh is one of my favorite Hindu deities. I can't wait to read this to my kids for their bedtime story :)

great book for kids and adults alike!

The Broken Tusk tells seventeen different stories of Ganesha in easy reader format for second grade and up. The stories also lend themselves well to the read-aloud format for younger children. Many of my old favorites are here including the ones about how Ganesha got his elephant head and about how he made a "pradakshina" around his parents, into a trip around the world. Some might find the versions of certain stories here to be different from what they know. That is understandable considering how many of these have been passed along strictly through oral tradition. There are also some rarer stories here including one borrowed from Buddhist folklore.Krishnaswami has done a thorough professional job with this one. She has prefaced the book with a brief introduction to Hindu mythology and to the god Ganesha himself. Also complementing the stories are a glossary of terms, a list of characters (kids would appreciate that!), a list of other names for Ganesha, and a pronunciation guide.Krishnaswami finishes every story she narrates with a line or two that ties the legend to modern day reality. For example, after the story about Ganesha's head, Krishnaswami explains that in Indian (especially South Indian) temples today, sometimes elephants are fed and maintained reverentially. These acts, Krishnaswami explains, probably acknowledge the sacrifice made by the elephant in the original story. Small explanations like these place the stories in context, a service that I think is especially useful. The last word belongs to the wonderful old-world illustrations by Maniam Selven that complement the stories wonderfully.With this book, Krishnaswami demonstrates that she is not only a gifted storyteller, she is also a thorough one. The Broken Tusk will get an enthusiastic nod not only from the young reading set but also from their grateful parents. This book is as charming as the elephant god himself!

As we all know How old is our Hindu Religeon ! If you see the Lord Ganesha or children say's elephant trunk god with a big belly..Do you relaize that The science was developed at that time as well as surgery too.Lord Shiva was a Doctor ( Master of Surgon) and he cloned the elephant head witha human body ? Do you believe it..Yes you have to be !

This book was written to be a children's book, but in fact it is probably the best collection of storytelling about the mythology of Ganesha that that I have ever found. The Hindu parthenon's mythology has always been passed along from generation to generation by tales of the Deity in it's various forms. This exquisite book has all the well-known tales of Ganesh as well as some obscure stories and some tales from other lands and religions. I don't have kids but do delight in the simple stories that bring the attributes of Ganesha into light in simple, vivid parables of joy. If you love Ganesh like I love Ganesh, then this is a 'must have.' If you are a storyteller, this is the book that will be a Ganesh guide. If you just want a book that you can read story's in occasionally just to smile and search for meaning in, again, here'tis. This is a delightful exposing of this beloved Deity into Western civilization in our time. GAM.

This a great introduction to Ganesha for kids. My daughter is five and she loved all the stories.

Great stories, well written, and well drawn. Some old favorites and some new additions. Good for young and old alike.

This is a good read if yo want to have some interesting to tell your kids. The stories are usually very common and may already be known to you, but reading them helps get some details right and improve your narrative.

nice book