A story in which he tied his burst-open belly with a snake is recalled by the eating of sweets called "modak" during the festival commemorating his birth, which also involves dumping lots of idols of him into the nearest body of water.
One story claims that this god briefly blocked Parashurama's path to the Himalayas, resulting in Parashurama throwing his axe at him. The Mudgala Purana describes eight incarnations of this god, two of which have a huge protruding belly. A story in which he tied his burst-open belly with a snake is recalled by the eating of sweets called "modak" during the festival commemorating his birth, which also involves dumping lots of idols of him into the nearest body of water. He once (*) walked around his parents to craftily win a "race around the world" against his brother Skanda. His usual mount is a shrew or a mouse, he assisted Vyasa by transcribing the Mahabharata, and he is widely worshipped as the "remover of obstacles". For 10 points, identify this son of Parvati and Shiva, a Hindu god known for his elephant head.
One story claims that this god briefly blocked Parashurama's path to the Himalayas, resulting in Parashurama throwing his axe at him.
Ganesha [or Vigneshvara; or Ganapati; or Vinayaka; or Pillaiyar; or like fifty other things]