Why does Lord Ganesha have one broken tusk? The answer lies in one of the most memorable stories associated with the Mahabharata. According to Hindu tradition, Sage Ved Vyasa wanted someone capable of writing down the epic as he recited its verses. Lord Ganesha agreed, but he placed one condition: Vyasa must not stop dictating. The writing continued until Ganesha’s writing instrument broke. Instead of stopping the work, Ganesha is said to have broken one of his own tusks and used it to continue writing. This is one of the stories behind his name Ekdant, meaning “one-tusked.”
