For me, my followers' prayer is Mahmrityunjay Mantra: Bal Thackeray editorial

Mumbai, Nov 17: In an editorial published in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna written in his name, party supremo Bal Thackeray says, hearing slogans and prayers of his followers from his sickbed is as good as listening to Maha Mrityunjay Mantra and Gayatri Mantra recitation for him. The editorial mentions the "blessings of Maa Jagdamba" several times. "The blessings of God means the blessings of Goddess Jagdamba. Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj got her blessings. Who else was fortunate to have got her blessings?"The editorial further states: "Some rich men struck with diseases love to lie on the soft bed in hospitals, but not even a dog goes there to enquire about his health. The illness of such men is restricted to the crumbs of power and ill-gotten money. But here outside Matoshree thousands upon thousands of people are coming, praying for me. Which emperor can be so fortunate like me? Such a vast wealth of love cannot accrue to the rich, the industrialists, even the Prime Minister, the President, the Chief Minister or a bureaucrat. I am fortunate to have acquired this vast wealth. I am now wealthy. What more blessings could Maa Jagdamba or God give to me? "My trust is not in ignorance but in science. Science has made the lives of human beings safer. The age-level of humans has increased. Science was not there during the times of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Shivaji Maharaj. I am taking advantage of science, that's why I listen to the slogans of victory even today with my own ears. This is as good as Maha Mrityunjay Mantra or Gayatri Mantra recitations. This is the real blessing of Maa Jagdamba and God." "It's said, the world runs at the mercy of God, but there is always a dilemma in my mind - to give importance to mercy or to work (karma). I am a fighter and struggle has been my philosophy. I hate words like 'mercy' and 'begging'. I love the war cries and slogans of vicgtory", the editorial says.