Ghanapathy teaches us that he's the God of beginnings, he's the God of auspiciessness, he's associated with wisdom, the things he holds in his hands. So he has an ax, which is supposed to cut the bondages of material life. He has a news in his hand, which shows us the bindings that we are trapped in. Of course, he has the modaks, which shows us the material senses. He sometimes has a Lotus in his hand, which, of course, represents spiritual wisdom.