My friend Mr S Ganesan recently published a book Divine Experience with Lord Siddhivinayak of Prabhadevi compiling 111 spiritual experiences of devotees. In his preface, he asks, “What is this power of Lord Siddhivinayak that makes even celebrities who travel by Mercedes or BMW walk to this temple barefoot for miles, leaving their homes at midnight to make it to its gates early in the morning?” The list is endless of the miracles showered by the compassionate Lord on his devotees.
But this miracle, though not in Mr Ganesan’s book, is a piece of my family history. My husband and I go to the Siddhivinayak temple every Tuesday. I would have loved it if my son, my only child, had also accompanied us. It was not the mere act of going to the temple, as much as accepting the divine power of Siddhivinayak, which I wanted to instill in my son. But he refused to go.
After finishing his law course my son’s sanad (license to practice law issued by the Bar Council of India) was lost in transit. While my son worried, I prayed.
Finally one fine morning, my son got an unexpected phone call from the Bar Council Office, to collect the sanad that very day. Even this wonderful happening did not bring my son to the Lord’s feet. I thought, every day my son bows his head to the judge, a mere mortal; when will he bow his head in humility to Siddhivinayak Ganpati?
One Tuesday, however, my husband had twisted his ankle and could not go with me. I ventured to go alone, though it was quite late. My son did not like me travelling so far alone at night and asked me not to go that Tuesday. But seeing how stubborn I was, he reluctantly said that he would accompany me! When I looked at my practical, aggressive lawyer son standing before Lord Ganapati with folded hands and bowed head, I knew my prayers were answered. My son was moved deeply. There was no need for words between us.
{{/usCountry}}One Tuesday, however, my husband had twisted his ankle and could not go with me. I ventured to go alone, though it was quite late. My son did not like me travelling so far alone at night and asked me not to go that Tuesday. But seeing how stubborn I was, he reluctantly said that he would accompany me! When I looked at my practical, aggressive lawyer son standing before Lord Ganapati with folded hands and bowed head, I knew my prayers were answered. My son was moved deeply. There was no need for words between us.
{{/usCountry}}