The story of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles

Thus spake Sage Narada extolling the virtues of Lord Ganesha:

Vidyarthee labhate vidyam
Dhanarthee labhate dhanam
Putrarthee labhate putram
Moksharthee labhate gatim

(One who seeks education acquires it, 
one who aspires material wealth gains it 
one who desires progeny begets it 
one who seeks salvation attains it...)

No wonder that Ganesha is the venerated and propitiated deity of the Hindu pantheon. Reputed to be the remover of obstacles, no fresh venture whether it is the building of a new house, the writing of a book, the beginning of a journey or the starting of a new business is undertaken without first seeking Ganesha's blessings.

He is also known as the God of wisdom and prudence; this is exemplified by his two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi. His knowledge of the scriptures is legendary. When Vyasa Dev, the author of the great epic Mahabharata  was  looking for someone who could pen his thoughts in a clean hand, without breaking stride, he turned to Ganesha, who in turn stipulated that the diction should never falter. Thus the legend goes the largest epic in the world came into existence.

The story goes that Shiva and Parvati were leading an idyllic life at Mount Kailash . The only hitch in the entire proceedings was that Shiva used to disappear for meditations leaving Parvati very lonely. She prayed to Lord Vishnu to grant her a boon, which the Lord happily obliged. Ganesha was a very beautiful child and all the Gods came to bless him.

Only Shani Dev, his maternal uncle, failed to make an appearance for he was cursed that if he looks at anybody, his head would be instantly dismembered. When Parvati insisted, much to his reluctance he gazed upon Ganesha's visage and to his horror found his nephew's head get torn away from the body.

Lord Vishnu tried to remedy the situation. On the foothills of Mount Kailash, he found an elephant and immediately beheaded the creature and imposed the pachyderm's head onto Ganesha's body. Parvati was dismayed at the entire proceedings. In order to alleviate her sorrow at her son's mutilated head, Shiva granted his son, Ganesha, a boon that his presence will be invariably invoked whenever any new undertaking is carried out.

Ever since then Ganesha has been worshipped as Vinayak (knowledgeable) and Vighneshwer (remover of obstacles). He blesses those who meditate upon him.

Courtesy: Ganeshaspeaks.com