In Vatapinagar, preparations began for celebrating theNavaratri festival" One event was a competition forsculptors" An attractive prize of one thousand gold coinsand a diamond studded necklace was announced for thebest Ganesa sculpture"
The participants included even the royal sculptor, and other well-known artists" Their works were exhibited ina big hall" A young man called Vichitra brought the imagehe had made, but he was not allowed to keep it in thehall, as he could not satisfactorily answer the queries madeby the organisers regarding his family, ancestry and his own qualification to make sculptures"He said: "My only qualificationis my devotion to the Lord"When I was making this idol, Ifelt that I was receivinginstructions from the Lordhimself"
But the organisers were adamant" "We"ve seen you goabout with low caste people""They refused permission toVichitra, who now took theimage outside and kept it in theshade of a tree" Soon peoplegathered in front of the idol andVichitra, in answer to theircurious questions, explained to them how he made thebeautiful image" Those who went round the hall also cameto where Vichitra had placed the image he made" Manyof them were fascinated on seeing the idol"
Somehow the organisers had failed to notice twoyoung women in brilliant clothes and jewellery who werein the hall viewing the exhibits" Nobody had seen them enter the hall" They were seen spending a lot of time infront of each and every exhibit" One of the organisers went up to them" "We are from Kalanandapuri" We are ready to buy whichever is thebest sculpture here for tenthousand gold coins"
Soon they were surroundedby the artists whose works wereon show in the hall" The youngerof the two women told them:"My elder sister, PrasannaVadana, is a great devotee ofLord Ganesa in whose praiseshe composes songs and singsthem" It"s her interest in Ganesaidols which drew us here"
