Depicted with a noose and a goad, he is often seen riding a mouse.
One incarnation of this deity, Vigh·na·raja, is served by Shesha, the king of the nagas. His favorite food, modak, is offered to him during his namesake Chaturthi festival. As the Patron of Letters, this god served as scribe to Vayasa, who recited the Mahabharata to him. Depicted with a noose and a goad, he is often seen riding a mouse. He is the first son of Parvati and Shiva, who decapitated him and later gave him another head. Worshiped as the Lord of Beginnings, for 10 points, name this Hindu remover of obstacles with an elephant's head.
One incarnation of this deity, Vigh·na·raja, is served by Shesha, the king of the nagas.
{Ganesha} [accept {Ganapati} before mention, accept {Vinakaya} or {Pillaiyar}]