Ganesha and Shiva's Chariot

There were once three asuras who built three fortress-cities called Tripura: one of iron, one of silver, and one of gold. These asuras would attack the gods and then retreat behind their city walls.
The gods turned to Shiva for help. He agreed to ride forth to fight the demons, but he forgot to offer prayers to Ganesha, the God of Beginnings. In his anger, Ganesha broke the axle of Shiva's chariot, bringing him to a halt.
Shiva realized his mistake and offered prayers to Ganesha, who then repaired the axle, allowing Shiva to ride forth and conquer the demons.

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Inspired by: Stories of Lord Ganesha
Notes: This story is associated with various temples in India, including the Aksheeswaraswamy Temple of Acharapakkam in Tamil Nadu, India. There is much more to the stoyr of Shiva and the Tripura; you can read more at Wikipedia. You can also read about Shiva's chariot and the Tripura in this comic book: Tripura: The Three Impregnable Cities of Maya.