Thread by @anbezhil12

#MahaPeriyava One day few village leaders had come for Sri Maha Periyava’s darshan. The Ganesha idol in their village temple had been stolen. So, they had come to Periyava to request for a new Ganesha idol that they could install in the temple. They informed Periyava about this

and waited for His response.
“Is there a lake in your village?"asked Periyava.
“Yes"
"Is there water in it?"
The villagers looked at each other and replied, “It has not been cleaned by the Panchayat, and so water is very less”
“If there is plenty of water in the lake, it will be

useful for all people and cattle, is it not?"
The villagers replied in unison, “Yes.”
Periyava replied, “First clean up the lake.” He also gave then prasadam indicating that they had the permission to leave. The villagers at first did not understand that once they had received

the prasadam, they had the permission to leave. Once they understood, they were disappointed. Even if Periyava had told them that He did not have any Ganesha idol for them, they would not have been disappointed. They were puzzled as to why did Periyava give them a totally

different answer that was not related to what they had come for. They also felt that it was the local government’s duty to clean the lake and wondered why the villagers should take responsibility for this. Back at the village there was a big discussion on what needs to be done.

Some elders from the village were able to convince everyone that it was their duty to follow Periyava’s advice. The villagers had to agree to this and the work to clean up the lake started. All the works started on the planned date. Few villagers with their tools went to the lake

and started the cleanup and digging process. Within an hour, when one of the villager digging heard a metallic sound. He immediately called everyone working there. All of them started to carefully dig that area. It was a treasure that they were not expecting! There was a Ganesha

idol sitting there without any damage (not the stolen one, but another). The idol looked as if it belonged to ancient times. It looked as though the Ganesha idol was asking the villagers, Why did you all go so far looking for me? Isn’t the one whom you had approached Sarvesvaran

himself? That is why He knew that I would be found in a lake in a far away village. Actually, you had approached the right person!
The villagers now regained back all their energy and happiness and continued their work. They also realized that it was Periyava’s wish to clean and

dig the lake also and not stop when the idol was found. As they continued their work, there was one more metallic sound when one of the villagers was digging little further away from where the Ganesha idol was found. Again, on digging carefully, they found a Shiva Lingam there.

As they continued their digging they also found Nandi, Ambal, Murugan, Bali Peetam, Nandi and Durga idols. After the villagers saw this, they all started to Kanchipuram to inform this happy news to Periyava. They told Periyava that their request was only for a Ganesha idol but

Periyava had blessed them with an entire temple. Their joy knew no bounds! Periyava asked them to keep all the idols in the bank of the lake, build a thatched roof and then to light lamp and perform Nivedanam daily.
"What about building a temple?"asked the villagers. “Ganesha has

come to you now, is it not? He will take care of it” said Periyava with a mystic smile.

Source: Mahaperiaval Darisana Anubavangal Vol. 6
Narrated by SriMatham Balu Mama
Compiled by Jagadguru Sri Maha Periyava - Kanchi Paramacharya/Fb
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam 🙏🏻