Ganesa 11 - Ashtavinayaka 1 - The Legend Of Varada Vinayaka Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

There is an interesting legend of
Varada Vinayaka temple in Mahad.

Sage Vachaknavi had a pretty wife named Mukunda.
They lived a contented life with prayers and meditation
In an Ashrama or forest abode.

Once Prince Rugmangada,
A great devotee of Sri Ganesa
While on a journey stopped by
At Rishi Vachaknavi's Ashrama.
When Mukunda's eyes fell on
The handsome Prince Rugmangada,
She was so attracted to him that
She fell in love with him instantly.

Mukunda unabashedly expressed her feelings
To Prince Rugmangada,
Pleading with him to accept her as his love.
The Prince was quite shocked at Mukunda's plea.
He firmly refused her advances and told her
That his sole aim in life was devotion to Lord Ganesa,
And under no circumstances, he would stoop down so low,
As to have an affair with her, That too
Behind the back of her husband Vachaknavi,
An evolved Sage with high moral values.

Mukunda felt insulted and frustrated
As she was rejected by King Rugmangada.
Meanwhile, Lord Indra, who watched the whole scene
From the heavens, was fascinated by Mukunda.
On a moonlit night, Lord Indra disguised himself
As Prince Rugmangada entered her chamber.
Though surprised at Rugmangada's change of mind,
She gave in wholly to the amorous embraces of Lord Indra,
All the while thinking it is King Rugmangada.
Of their union, a beautiful and brilliant child was born.

The Rishi, unaware of his wife's unfaithfulness,
Never for a moment, doubted that the child
Born to Mukunda was not his son.
He rejoiced at the birth of the child
And named him Grutshmadha.
Rishi Vachaknavi raised him up with
high morals, ethics, skill and learning.

When Grutshmada grew up, he went on a journey
To attend a congregation of Sages to perform a ritual.
During the ceremony,
A priest pointed a finger at Grutshmadha's lineage
He blurted out the truth that
Grutshmada was not the son of Rishi Vachaknavi.
The youth was shocked and shaken up to hear this.
He rushed back home and questioned his mother
Of her infidelity and deceit. Mukunda had no answer.
In great anger the son cursed his mother
To become a thorny, fruitless tree.

Grief stricken, Grutshmadha left for Bhadrakavana,
A dense forest, where he meditated on Lord Ganesa.
He prayed intensely to atone the sin committed by his mother.
So also others, who were involved in this game of betrayal.
He wanted to purify himself too, from the burden of karma.
His prayer was granted by Sri Ganesa and
And thus, was absolved of all the sins.

Ganesa or Vinayaka blessed Grutshmadha.
As this happened in Bhadrakavana,
Now known as Mahad, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra,
A temple was built for Varada Vinayaka therein.
Varada Vinayaka of Mahad assures the devotees
Of fulfillment of all desires
A lamp in this temple is said to be burning continuously,
Glowing uninterruptedly for over hundred years.

A story poem in prose format in free style