Ganesha, also known as ganapati and vinayaka, is one of the best known and most worshiped deities. Ganeshas elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha 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 rites and ceremonies. Ganesha is also invoked as patron of letters and learning during writing sessions. Vinayaka is a common name for ganesha that appears in the puras and in buddhist tantras his name is reflected in the naming of the eight famous ganesha temples in maharashtra known as the ashtavinayak . He may be portrayed standing, dancing, heroically taking action against demons, playing with his family as a boy, or sitting down on an elevated seat, or engaging in a range of contemporary situations. Ganesha has the head of an elephant and a big belly. This statue has four arms, which is common in depictions of ganesha. He holds his own broken tusk in his lower right hand and holds a delicacy, which he samples with his trunk, in his lower left hand.