Lord Ganesha is the Hindu deity of Obstacles. He is most often known for REMOVING obstacles.
He was created by the Goddess Parvatti to guard her bath. She took mud from the Ganges river and combined it with part of herself, fashioned it into a little boy, named him Ganesh or Ganesha, and brought him to life. She gave him magick and amazing fighting abilities.
Lord Shiva (husband of Parvatti) came back after battle, demanded entrance to her bath. Ganesha did not know him and refused. They fought and Ganesha lost his head.
Parvatti appeared and was outraged and demanded Shiva bring him back to life. He refused. Parvatti created the goddess Kali and a demon to destroy the earth. Humans petitioned the other Gods and they forced Shiva to bring Ganesha back to life. His head could not be found so Shiva commanded some of his servants to bring him the head of the first being they found sleeping with its head to the North. The first being they found was an elephant. They chopped off its head, brought it back, put it on the body of Ganesha and Shiva brought him back to life.
Parvatti was not happy.
The other Gods got together and said that he would have special magickal abilities, be impervious to weapons, be honored before all other deities.
Lord Ganesha LOVES sweets. However, I do not think he likes Mt. Dew or American milk chocolate.
He is invoked at the beginning of the day, before business ventures, when obstacles are blocking your path, etc.
