Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, was born while his father was away fighting against the Asuras or devils. When his father returned from war, Ganesha did not recognize him and refused him entry to his mother’s chambers. A fight broke out between the two in which Shiva beheaded his son. Given the mother’s consternation, Shiva went down to earth with a promise to give his son the head of the first being he would find. And it turned out to be an elephant. And so, Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom and knowledge, is believed to be the eliminator of obstacles.
