It is a common sight in India to find a Ganesha icon affixed above the main doorway of any Hindu household. It is believed that placing the icon of Ganesha at the doorway will stop evil forces from entering homes.

There are many stories highlighting the role of Ganesha as a guard or a gatekeeper. The most commonly known story is about how Parvati made a figurine out of the layer of dirt on her skin, breathed life into him and posted him in front of her house to guard her home as she went to have her bath. This is the tale which is commonly associated with the birth of Ganesha. But there is another version of the same tale in Skanda Purana, suggesting how Ganesha was created to guard the doorways of heaven.

Many aeons ago, during the twilight that intervened between the Dwapara and Kāli Yugas, all men and women including barbarians and other workers of sin obtained entrance to heaven by visiting the celebrated shrine of Someswara (Somnath in Gujarat). Sacrifices, ascetic practices, charitable gifts, and all the other prescribed ordinances ceased and men thronged only to the temple of Siva. The old and young, those skilled in the Vedas and those ignorant of them, ascended to heaven, until at length it became crowded to excess.

Indra and other Gods, scared and afflicted as they were overcome by men and were nearly expelled from heaven invoked Siva. “O Sankara! By your favour now heaven is crowded with men and we are almost expelled from it. These mortals wander wherever and however they please each exclaiming himself/herself as “am the greatest, am the greatest”. Yama, the lord of Dharma and keeper of their good and evil deeds looks astonished. The seven hells were intended for these mortal wanderers of heaven but by your grace, having visited your shrine their all sins remitted and they attained most excellent life!”