#sciene

Predominately known as the remover of obstacles, he is one of the most widely worshiped deities in India. Lord Ganesha rules over new beginnings, prosperity, wisdom, and the arts, and is usually thought to personify the sacred universal sound Om. He is son of Parvati and Shiva; typically his characteristic elephant head is gained when Parvati gives birth to him alone. Shiva returns home and, upon seeing a mysterious person in his home, slices his head off, but later learns that it is his son and gives him the wise head of an elephant to replace his previous one. It's possible that Ganesha derives from Indo-Greek peoples or is simply a very old deity from ancient India, but regardless his worship has spread outward as Hindus traveled, leading him to have forms in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Ganesha, as a non-sectarian god, is worshiped by almost all Hindus, often when taking on a new venture for good luck and to remove any roadblocks that may come their way.

Pantheon: Hindu, Buddhist

Domain: Good, good luck, fortune, knowledge, art, writing, invention, fate, protection, science, beginnings.

Alternate Names: Lord Ganesha, Ganapati (गणपति), Vinayaka (विनायक), Pillaiyar (பிள்ளையார்).

Character Traits: Intelligent beyond measure, brings prosperity onto all.

Visual Traits: His most notable trait is his elephant head. In his (usually four) hands he can hold various objects including an elephant goad, noose, lotus flower, ax, mala garland, and a bowl of modaka sweets. His most common mount is the mouse or shrew.

Symbolism: Elephant, mouse, lotus, ax, noose, goad, garland, modaka sweets, moon.