Ganesha is a pan-Hindu god found in its various traditions. In the Ganapatya tradition of Hinduism, Ganesha is the supreme deity. The principal texts on Ganesha include the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, which are "upapuranas" and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa.

The Ganapati Atharvashirsa is a Sanskrit text. It is a late Upanishadic text dedicated to Ganesha, the deity and asserts that Ganesha is same as the eternal underlying reality, Brahman.

Hindu mythology says that eight elements & self-destructing habits – Kaam, Krodh, Mad, Lobh, Matsar, Moh, Ahankar and Agyan contribute the most to affect human personality.

Four avatars of Ganesha are listed in the Ganesha Purana: Mohotkata, Mayūreśvara, Gajanana and Dhumraketu. Each avatar corresponds to a different yuga, has a different mount and different skin complexion, but all the avatars have a common purpose – to slay demons.

The following are the eight avatars of Lord Ganesha as described in mudgala purana, which have taken place in different cosmic ages: Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Mahodara, Gajanana, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja and Dhoomravarna.

In all these incarnations Lord Ganesha is depicted as having an elephant trunk. The elephant head is symbolic of intelligence, discriminative power, fidelity etc thought to be had by elephants. The large elephant ears denote wisdom and the ability to listen to his devotees. In five out of eight incarnations Lord Ganesha is symbolized with Mouse as his vahana. In the other three incarnations he is said to have used Lion, Peacock, and Serpent as his vehicle/ Vahana.

In each incarnation a philosophical concept/dosha is highlighted as the main theme. Lord Ganesha is said to have fought in each incarnation with a demon symbolized as a weakness.

Demons symbolize negative qualities present in humans. Victory over them is also a symbolic mastery over all these negative aspects of the human personality.

Ganesha Purana states that Mohotkata avatar had Lion as his mount, Mayuresvara had Peacock as his mount, Gajanana with Mouse as his mount and Dhumrakethu with Mouse as his mount.

The Ganesha Purana also describes the 32 forms of Lord Ganesha and among them, Mahaganapathi is widely worshiped. The first 16 forms of Ganesha are known by the name “Shodasa Ganapati” and the later ones are known as “Ekavimsathi” with each form having special powers and characteristic features.

In some parts of India Ganesha is depicted as celibate, but in others he is said to be married to both Buddhi (“Intelligence”) and Siddhi (“Success”). Yet other traditions give him a third wife, Riddhi (“Prosperity”).

The set of 108 names of Ganesha is referred to as the Ashtottara Shatanamavali.

The Ganesh chaturthi festival culminates on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, when the idols are immersed in the most convenient body of water. Some families have a tradition of immersion on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, or 7th day.

When we immerse Ganesha’s idols during the visarjan at the end of Ganesh Chaturthi, we also let go our negative traits, be it pride, arrogance, desire, delusion, greed, anger, jealousy or self-love. Ganesha’s potbelly is large enough to take away all our flaws and sufferings. May he grant us strength and fill our lives with happiness and love.