Ganesha

Shiva offers a divine fruit to whichever son circles the world first. Kartikeya races around the globe. Ganesha simply circles his parents, declaring them his whole world. Wisdom wins over speed.

During the battle with Bhandasura, the demon Vishukra placed a jaya-vighna-yantra that paralyzed Lalitas forces. United with her consort Kameshwara, Lalita created Maha Ganapati specifically to dismantle this magical weapon. After Ganapati removed the obstacle, Lalita proceeded to defeat the remaining demons.

Lord Ganesha broke his own tusk to continue writing the Mahabharata as dictated by sage Vyasa without interruption. When Vyasas stylus broke mid-dictation, Ganesha sacrificed his tusk to ensure no pause in the sacred work, demonstrating his dedication to duty and the preservation of knowledge.

Maharishi Ved Vyasa, born to Sage Parashar and Satyavati, is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He divided the single eternal Veda into four parts, authored the Mahabharata with Lord Ganesha as scribe, and composed the eighteen Puranas.

Parvati creates Ganesha to guard her bath. When Shiva returns, Ganesha blocks him. Shiva beheads him in anger then replaces the head with an elephant. Teaches transformation and acceptance.

After eating many modaks, Ganesha fell off his mouse when the Moon laughed at him. Enraged, Ganesha cursed the Moon to disappear forever. Later, moved by apology, he softened it to waxing and waning - the origin of lunar phases.