(Ganesha Purana - Prakarana V - Chapters 16 to 18)
Lord Ganapati has taken four different forms in the four yugas. In Krita Yuga he is called as Vinayaka having 10 arms. In Treta Yuga he is white-coloured, six-armed and is called a Mayurarat (riding on peacock). In Dwapara Yuga he is red-coloured, will be riding on a rat (mooshak) and will destroy asuras like Sindura and Vignasura. In Kali Yuga when people will forsake Hindu Dharma, he will take Avatar as Dhumrakethu, possessed of four arms, he will be riding on a horse and with his sword kill all the invaders (mlechhas). He will establish Krita Yuga again.
Now let us come to the Avatars of Vinayaka in Krita Yuga. Brahma Deva was making all his creations and Vishnu was sleeping. At that time two rakshasas Madhu and Kaitabha were created from the dirt in Vishnus ear. They started harassing Brahma Deva. Brahma, Sesha and Prithvi all trembled and in order to awake Mahavishnu, Brahma Deva prayed Nidradevi to leave Vishnu so that he can get up and destroy the demons. Vishnu got up and started fighting with the two asuras alternatively. But he could not kill them even after 5000 years.
Vishnu stopped the war and after pleasing Sankara with his Veena Gayan, asked him to find a way out to kill the demons. Sankara told him that he did not get victory because he forgot to remember Gajanana before starting the war. Then he gave Vishnu the Ganesha Mantra and asked him to go to Siddhi Kshetra to meditate. Vishnu chanted the Mantra for a hundred years at Siddatek. Vinayaka appeared before him and gave him the capacity to destroy Madhu, Kaitabha and other demons. Vishnu built a big temple with four big gates and consecrated a Ganesha idol there made of stone from Gandaki River. That Ganesha is called Siddhi Vinayaka as Vishnu attained his Siddhi there.
The temple is on a hilltop facing north. The idol is Swayambhoo, three feet tall, facing north with its trunk right-turned. On one lap are Riddhi and Siddhi. Face is very calm (shant) and serene.
The pradakshina of this god is said to be very fruitful. One has to travel 5 km to have one pradakshina as the idol is attached to the hill itself.
Vishnu came back to fight with Madhu and Kaitabha and told them, I am pleased by your valour. Ask for any boon. The demons felt insulted and said, We are pleased with your valour. You ask for any boon. Vishnu said, If you are pleased give me a boon that both of you shall meet your death through my hands. The demons were shocked. Seeing water all around they told Vishnu, Kill us at a place which is not surrounded by water. Vishnu took his Vishwarupa (huge form), put them on his thighs (lap) and killed them with his Sudarshana Chakra. A prayer is made at Siddhatek to Siddhi Vinayaka to remove any obstacles faced during Ashtavinayaka Yatra and likely to be faced during the rest of the Yatra.
King Abhijit and his wife Gunavati got a son called Gana who later worshipped Shankara and obtained boons like lordship over the three worlds and escape from death through things possessing three gunas. Once, after his hunting expedition he came to Kapila Rishis ashram for taking rest. Kapila welcomed him and invited him for lunch along with his entire army.
Indra had given Kapila Rishi a jewel called CHINTAMANI. With its help the sage fed the entire army with the tastiest food. But the greedy Gana asked the Rishi to give the jewel to him. When Kapila refused, Gana took away the Chintamani by force.
Kapila worshipped Ganapati who was pleased. There, Gana got a dream that Kapila came with an army and one of Kapilas companions cut Ganas head with his axe. Gana woke up and immediately started with an army to kill Kapila. He was stopped by his father Abhijit who advised him to return the Chintamani to Kapila. Ignoring his appeal, Gana reached Kapila Vana.
Ganeshas Shakti called Siddhi came to the war. She created a warrior with a lakh hands. He was called Laksha. He destroyed Ganas army and arrested his sons. Gana became furious and attacked Vinayaka with all his forces. Vinayaka killed Gana with his axe.
Abhijit returned the Chintamani to Kapila and asked for pardon. He got his grandsons Shulapani and Sulabha released and crowned them in Ganas throne.
Kapila adorned Vinayaka with the Chintamani and worshipped him. From that time Ganapati was called as Chintamani Vinayaka, Kapila Vinayaka or Sumukha Vinayaka. As these incidents took place below a Kadamba tree, the village around it was called Kadamba Thirtha.
After getting Gautamas curse, Indra performed penance here and got released of the curse. Brahma Deva meditated here to subdue his mind, which was wavering. As his worries (chinta) were removed, the idol is called Chintamani. The palace is called STHAVAR (STABLE) or THEUR.
King Rukmangada got cured from KUSHTA ROGA after worshipping Chintamani Ganesa and bathing in Kadamba Thirtha.
Such is the greatness of this temple. The Ganesa idol here is facing east and has its trunk left-turned. (Source Mudgala Purana II Khanda 13th Chapter)
(Ganesa Purana - Prakarana VII - Chapters 22 - 24)
This is the story of a staunch child devotee of Ganapati called Ballala . He was the son of a businessman called Kalyan and his wife Indumati. They were living in Pallipur City of Western India. From childhood itself Ballala was very much addicted to worshipping God. Once the children went outside the village and saw a big stone. At the instance of Ballala, the children treated the stone as Ganapati. Ballala brought Durva, Bilva and leaves of different trees and worshipped Ganesa. Some children started meditating. Some chanted repeatedly the words Jai Gajanan, Jai Gajanan. Some danced. Some started singing stotras with sweet voices. Some built a temple with bamboos and leaves. Some worshipped the idol with flowers and leaves of the forest. One boy started narrating the story of Ganesa heard by him. All of them were so engrossed that they forgot about hunger or thirst or about day and night.
Their parents were waiting for the children at their homes. When they did not return on time they all went to Kalyan Vaishyas house and asked him, Where is your Ballal? Our children have gone outside the village at his instance and have not returned so far. He is their leader. He has spoiled them. You control your boy. Otherwise we will complain to the village officer.
Kalyan Seth became furious. He took a stick and went out. He saw the children listening to Ganesa Purana outside the village. With anger gone to his head he broke the small temple and started chasing the children. Ballals companions fled away. But as Ballal was submerged in meditation, he was caught by his father. He was beaten till blood started flowing from his body. His father tied him to a tree. He also smashed all puja materials and threw away the big stone that the children treated as Ganapati. Let me see which God protects you now. Saying this he went home.
Ballal started entreating Vinayaka, O God, you are called as Vignanashak because you remove the obstacles faced by your worshippers. Vedas and Shastras say that you never forget your devotees. Then why is it that I am facing obstruction in your worship? Ballal was not concerned about his being beaten up or being tied to the tree. But he became very furious seeing the temple smashed and the idol thrown away. He cursed, Whoever has done this, let him become blind, deaf, dumb and hunchback. Though he was affected by pain, hunger and thirst, he kept on chanting the name of Gajanan till he fainted.
Lord Ganapathi was moved by the childs devotion. He appeared in the form of a Brahmin before Ballala and touched him. Immediately the thirst and hunger vanished, wounds were healed and Ballala felt a new vigour moving in his body. He prostrated before the Brahmin whom he recognized as Gajanan and worshipped him. The Lord said, Your curse will come true. In his next birth also he will face misery. His father will drive him away. Now you ask for any boon you want.
Ballala said, Let me have unshaken devotion towards you. You must stay at this place and remove the miseries of the people who come to you.
Ganesa said, I shall ever remain here in my part (ansh) form. I will take your name before mine and be called as Ballal Vinayaka. Then he embraced Ballal and vanished into a nearby stone. That stone statue is called Ballaleshwar. The stone idol which Kalyan Vaishya threw away is also there called as Dundi Vinayak. This is a swayambhoo Moorthi. He is worshipped before Ballaleshwar is worshipped.
Ballaleshwar Mandir is very beautiful and is facing east. During Dakshinayana at sunrise, the Suns rays fall exactly on the Vinayaka. The idol is facing east and its trunk is left-turned. Shining diamonds are embedded in the eyes and navel. The background is of silver where one finds the Riddhi and Siddhi waving the Chamara. Outside stands the rat (Mooshak) with Modhak in its hand facing Ganesha.
The two festivals celebrated here are during Bhadrapada and Magha (Shuddha Pratipada to Panchami). It is the experience with many devotees that Ballaleshwar fulfills all their desires and demands. Hence worshippers throng this Kshetra both to express their desires and to thank him after their desires are fulfilled. Whoever comes here on Bhadrapada Suddha Chaturthi and has my darshan all his desires will be fulfilled, is the boon given by Ganesha to Ballala. On the night of Bhadrapada Chathurthi there is Maha Naivedya and on Panchami there is Anna Santarpana.
Devotees make 21 Pradakshinas of the Ganapati to get their desires fulfilled and problems solved.
There is a firm belief among the devotees that at midnight of Magha Shuddha Chaturthi Shree Gajanan actually comes to the temple to physically partake the food offered as Naivedya. Hence there is heavy rush then.
As per the advice of Lomesa Rishi, Jabali Muni performed Ganesha Vrata for four months drinking only milk. Due to that Balleshwar appeared before him. Jabali induced Vibhandaka who also completed Ganesha Vrata and had Ballaleshwars darshan on Karthiki Purnima.
Such is the greatness of Shri Ballaleshwar who is the most popular among ASHTA VINAYAKA and considered to be very much alive to the devotees aspirations.
( To be concluded ... )
