Ganesa 12 B - Ashtavinayaka 2 B - The Legend Of Ballaleshvara Vinayaka Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Sri Ganesa was pleased with Ballala's faith and devotion.
He appeared before him disguised as a young boy.
The young boy untied Ballala and
Released him from the tightly fastened rope.

Suddenly, Ballala felt that all his pain was gone.
The wounds caused by severe beating had miraculously
Disappeared too. Ballala was fully healed.
The divine touch of the boy cured him.
Soon, Ballala recognised the young boy.
He was none other than Lord Vinayaka Himself.
Ballala prostrated at the feet of Vinayaka and
Thanked him profusely for bestowing His Grace on him.

Lord Ganesa hugged Ballala and blessed him.
He also granted a boon of long life of devotion and worship.
Lord Ganesa declared that his father -
Kalyan Seth should be punished for his cruel deeds.
Ballala cursed his father to become blind, deaf and dumb.
Additionally, he was severely afflicted with leprosy as well.
The mother ran to her son Ballala urging him to save his father.
But Ballala was firm and declared that
His father should suffer for all his wrong doings.
There was no escape from bad karma for anyone,
Be it his own father.

Ballala urged Lord Sri Ganesa not to the leave their place
But to remain there forever and bless him.
Lord Vinayaka agreed to Ballala's wishes and blessed him.
Ever since, Sri Ganesa remained in Pali forest.
The Lord merged into the stone idol constructed by Ballala.
Thus, the place Pali became famed as Ballala Vinayaka.
Or Sri Ballaleshvara temple.
The idol which was thrown away by Ballala's father -Kalyan Seth
Came to be known as Dhundi Vinayaka.
This idol faces the west side of the temple.
All those who come to this temple first pay their respects
To Dhundi Vinayaka, the stone idol worshipped by Ballala
As a child, before proceeding to the main deity of Sri Ballaleshvara.

A story poem in prose format and free style