But who is this creature with terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws?
He has knobbly knees, and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose.
His eyes are orange, his tongue is black; he has purple prickles all over his back.
Ganesh is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies. Ganesh is also invoked as patron of letters and learning.