From Back to Godhead
Lord Ganesha is well known for removing obstacles from the path of pure hearted souls.
Gokarna, a temple town in Karnataka, also known as Gokarna Mahabalesvara, is famous for the presence of one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Siva. Lord Ganesha is said to have established this linga. The glories of the deity of Vinayaka Ganesha of Gokarna are described by Sri Vadiraja Mahan in Tirtha prabandhah, paschima prabandhah:
dustanam vighnakarta sucarita
sujanastoma vighnapahar
