The remover of obstacles and the harbinger of new beginnings.
Moolaganapathy is different from the Lord Ganesha who is the son of Shiva and Parvathy and has been there even before the emergence of Lord Ganesha. Moolaganapathy, sitting in the Asurakon or South-West corner of the temple, protects the temple and devotees. Ganapathy is the Lord of Moolaadhaara, which is a chakra found about the lower end of the spinal column approximately between the anus and genitals of a person. The Moolaadhaara of the Vastupurusha also coincides with this corner of the temple as the Vastupurusha is lying with folded legs with his head to the northeast. Hence the corner is significant and this has caused the Moolaganapathy to be called as Kannimoolaganapathy which means the Ganapathy in the south-west corner. The word Moola also has meanings like source, root, origin, base, basis, etc and this points to the importance of the Devata Ganapathy in a temple. The Moolaadhaara is like a four-petalled lotus and hence the number 4 has become significant to Moolaganapathy. For eg. the fourth Lunar Day, every fortnight is important.
It is also said that the Moola Ganapathi, which existed before the birth of Ganesha, is believed to have been worshipped by Devi Parvathi. Legend has it that she sought the blessings of Moola Ganapathi to have a son like him, which eventually resulted in the birth of Lord Ganesha.