The celestial omniscient Lord Ganesha

Ganesha, Ganapathi, and Pulaiyar are various names for one of the most cherished gods. Ganesha's popularity and fame are universal. Ganesha is worshiped by all religions. The universe is a cosmic machine, according to Hindu texts, and the various Gods described in the Vedas are likened to administrators of said machine. Each deity represents some aspect of life.

- RAMAA SHANKER

Ganesha is prominently known as the remover of obstacles and is worshiped. Before starting any venture. He also removes barriers on the soul's spiritual journey and, therefore, is prayed to by aspiring transcendentalists worldwide.

Ganesha is also known as the guardian of esoteric knowledge and is considered the presiding deity of astrology. Practitioners of the Vedic science believe he controls the planets which affect the karma and destiny of each soul. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati, and the story of how he acquired an elephant head is well known. Parvati had used her sacred turmeric, and a little clay near her feet to carve out a little son, energizing it with her divine energy. Shiva after chopping Ganesha's head following the confrontation with his son Ganesha, replaced it with an elephant's head. Ganesha endeared himself to everyone from all three worlds. Ganesh Chaturthi heralds his birth, and because he was molded with clay and turmeric, symbolically, even today Ganesh statues are molded with clay. One worships him for ten days and then immerses him in a holy river or sea where he will join his mother, who is sitting underwater in meditation. The Visarjan or immersion is done to symbolize the concept of moksha" absolute unchanging' that is why we create Ganesha out of clay, worship it, and later submerge it in water, to be one with divine consciousness. This in a way, signifies human birth, and moksha too. Parvati had already blessed Ganesha when he was born, that no worship or endeavour would be successful till Ganesh was worshiped first. The immersion of Ganesha also signifies the destruction of all obstacles and impediments faced by the worshiper. Known for his wisdom and intelligence, he helped Vyasadeva, as a scribe, to complete the Indian Epic Mahabharata. Ganesha also loved food and according to legends, could consume endless quantities of ladoos and a special sweet similar to the Modak made by Parvati.