What deities are invoked at the start of Shri Sai Satcharitra and for what purpose?

Chapter 1 of Shri Sai Satcharitra begins with a Mangalacharan, or auspicious invocations, to several deities for the obstacle-free completion of the work. The author states the purpose is to remove all obstacles and fulfill the desired goal. Salutations are first offered to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who holds an axe to clear the path for devotees. This is followed by invocations to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of speech and knowledge, whose grace is essential for writing. The author also bows to the family deity Narayana, the creators Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and ultimately identifies Sadguru Sainath with all these divine forms.