2. Story of Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi - Mumbai - 2

It is learned that a very pious saint named Akkalkot Swami Samarth prophesied the appearance of Ganesha at the current place of temple. 

Akkalkot Swami Samarth asked his disciple named Ramakrishna Jambhekar Maharaj to bring some divine idols. He asked Ramakrishna to burry two divine idols in the courtyard of Maath (hermitage) of Shri Cholappa who was another disciple of Swami Samartha. At that time Swami Samartha was temperorily residing in the hermitage of Shri Cholappa. He foretold Ramakrishna that twenty one years later, a Samyambhu Ganesha would appear on the holy tree of Mandar Tree.

Thus, it happened. After twenty one years, a Mandar Tree grew at the spot. Since the Ganesha appeared from the Earth, He is referred to as svayambhu Ganesha. This idol  of Ganesha had a right side trunk is now installed as the prime deity in the Siddhivinayak Temple.

Ramakrishna was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha. He mediated rigorously for many years seeking Ganesha's blessings with chanting of Ganesha and Gayatri mantras. Consequently, he attained Assyssinian (siddhi). 

The math (abode of sage) of Ramakrishna is located near sea-shore in Dadar, Mumbai.