Ganesh, the elephant faced God, represents the
power of the Supreme Being that removes obstacles and ensures
success in human endeavors. He is worshipped before any venture is
started. He is also the God of education, knowledge and wisdom,
literature, and the fine arts. Ganesha is also one of the five
Gods the worship of whom was popularised by Adi Shankaracharya;
the other four are Vishnu, Shiva, Devi and Surya. The worship of
these five deities is called the pancayatana puja. In some cases,
a sixth God, Skanda is also worshipped. The large head of an
elephant symbolizes wisdom, understanding.
