3. Story of Shree Ballashwar, Pali

The story of Ballaleshwar appears in the Section 22 of Upasana Khand of Vedic Literature (the other two Khanda are called Aranyakas and Upanishads).

The story of Ballal dates back to Treta Yuga when Pali was known as Pallipur or Pallipuram. 

Once in the village of Pallipur there lived a merchant named Kalyan Shreshthi with his wife Indumati. They remained childless for many years. Indumati and Kalyan offered many prayers to Lord Ganesha seeking His divine blessings for a child. One day by the grace of Lord Ganesha they came to expect a child.

When the child was born, he was named as Ballal meaning the one who is strong. As  Ballal grew up, he began to reveal his strong religious bend of mind. He came to devot himself to worship of Lord Ganesha. 

Ballal's devotion towards Lord Ganesha was unconditional. He often appeared to loose himself in glory of Ganesha. The village children often gathered around him asking him what he was doing. It was then Ballal drew their attention to glorify Lord Ganesha. The children sat together in group singing songs of Ganesha, clapping and chanting prayers. They were often sighted seated under shady trees, temple backwards and mango farms. They sang in unision while travelling in the rickety bullock carts. Sometimes they rallied in narrow lanes of village singing Ganesha songs. At other times they worshipped the stones around as Ganesha. In fact, Ballal's devotion was not just ardent - it was beautifully blind!

One day Ballal and his following friends went besides the village hill. They left no clue about their whereabouts. Besides the hill, Ballal saw a big obliquely shaped stone. He was pulled by his envisioning of Ganesha in the stone. He told all his friends to envisionGanesha in the stone. They all followed Ballal and trusted the stone to be God Ganesha's in disguise.

Ballal and his friends collected collected leaves and flowers from around to make their offerings to Ganesha. He brought 'Durva grass, bhel patras for devotional offering to the stone. Ballal's friends followed him. They build a small temple to abode their God. Then they offered flowers and leaves to Ganesha and began singing songs in his glory. They chanted Ganapati strotras and mantras. Some danced and clapped. One of them narrated a story related to Ganesha's birth, while other told how mouse became his vehicle.  The sound 'Jai Ganesha, Jai Ganesha'echoed all around. The children became so deeply engrossed in the glory of Ganesha that he forgot their hunger and thirst. They could hardly see that the sun was setting and soon there would be dark all around.

On the other hand the families of the children who were with Ballal were worried. They knew that their children were lead by Ballal so all of them went to Kalyan's house. The parents spelled out all anger and anxiety on Kalyan. They blamed his son saying, "Kalyan, your son Ballal had taken our children somewhere. Where is he? It will turn dark soon, we are worried". 

One of them said, "Kalyan, Ballal is spoiling our kids. You should discipline him, else we shall approach the village head on this matter'.

Kalyan felt more humiliated than worried. He was filled with anger and humiliation. He took his bamboo and left his house in search of Ballal and his friends. He searched him all around in village. When he came behind the temple he saw foot trails leading to the other side of the mountain. Ballal followed the footprints. As he approached the hillside, he heard echo of chants. His footsteps became faster and when he neared he saw the entire group of children chanting Ganesha prayers with Balla seated in middle of them.

Kalyan's anger brust. He broke the Temple with his bamboo and shouted at the children, scaring them. The children fled, calling Ballal who was deep in meditation. Ballal was however unaware that his father had arrived in search of his entire group. He kept observed in the glory of Ganesha until his father Kalyan dragged him mercilessly. He abused and thrashed Ballal. He dragged him to a nearby tree and knotted him to it. Ballal was mercilessly beaten by his father.

Kalyan ruthlessly smashed all the offerings made by the children to the God Ganesha in stone form. He stuck hard the stone which Ballal believed was Ganesha in disguise and kicked it in vain. He spoke harshly and thrashed Ballal until he bled all over. He left Ballal alone in the middle of lonely place saying, "Now let me see who protects you".

However, Ballal's devotion towards Lord Ganesha was true. After his father left him, he weapt profusely. He was tormented by the harsh beating. He cried aloud, "O Ganesha. You are called Vighnanashaka. Scriptures say you never forget your devotees. Then why have you forgotten me? Why am I facing so many obstacles in worshipping you My Ganesha?"

Suddenly he saw the stone he had been worshipping was thrown away hunchback. He was now filled with extreme remorse to see that his faith was kicked and insulted. Once again he began calling upon the name of Ganesha and continued until he fainted due to pain, hunger and thirst.

Ganesha was invoked by the devotion and plight of Ballal. He descended the land of Pallipur where Ballal stood fainted against the tree he was tied to. 

Ganesha disguised a Brahmin and touched Ballal. Ballal saw the divinely figure with his eyes half open. The Brahmin extended a healing hand towards Ballal. Ballal was rejuvenated. His pain, wounds, hunger and thirst all vanquished. The rope he was fastened with broke and fell down. Ballal humbly prostrated before the Brahmin. He believed that the Brahmin was Ganesha himself and glorified Him with his true devotional feelings. 

Ganesha in the form of Brahmin said, "Ballal, stay blessed forever. I shall always protect you. What your father did to you will come back to him in his next birth. He shall face misery and will be driven away from his community".

Ballal was however more inclined towards Ganesha's love. He said, "Ganesha, I have always glorified you with my true heart. I believe in Your divine existence more than anything. I pray to you my Lord, stay at this place forever and eradicate the miseries of everyone who comes to you".

Lord Ganesha was once again pleased by the selfless and unconditional devotion of Ballal. He blessed him further saying, "Ballal, I shall remain here forever in my part form and be known as Ballaleshwara after your name".

The Brahmin embraced and blessed Ballal lovingly. While Ballal stood humbly bowed before him, the Brahmin vanished. A brilliant light touched a nearby stone. This stone came to be known as Ballaleshwar and is belived to house Lord Ganesha in part form. He is also known as Ballavinayaka. 

It is interesting to note that the stone which was worshipped by Ballal and his friends, and later smashed by his father Kalyan is called Dhundi Vinayak (dhundi means blind). The idol of Dhundhi is a self emanted (swayambhoo) idol. Dhundi Vinayak is worshipped before Balleshwara.