Ballal was lost in deep prayers and did not see his father approach. Furious at Ballal, his father tied him to a tree and hit him mercilessly. He then went home, leaving his son in the wild. Ballal was having severe pain all over his body, but he still did not stop chanting the mantras. Suddenly, a Brahmin appeared before him. Ballal’s wounds were healed and he was freed from the tree, too. The Brahmin lovingly embraced Ballal who realised that this was ‘Omkar Ganesha’ and fell at his feet. He pleaded with Lord Ganesha to appear before him in his original form. Pleased with Ballal’s devotion, Ganesha appeared and told him to ask for a wish. Ballal wanted Ganesha to stay there permanently, and protect the villagers. Ganesha did as requested, and disappeared into the stone. The next morning, Ballal’s father was surprised to see that the stone Ballal had worshipped had magically turned into Ganesha’s statue. Ballal’s father was repentant of his misdeed. This idol was named ‘Ballaleshwar’.
Ganesha as Ballaleshwar
