The story goes that during one of her visits to Jamnagar in the late nineties, Kokilaben discovered that most houses in Moti Kowdhi, a village near the Reliance plant, lacked the space to host wedding ceremonies.
This was a constant source of embarrassment for the parents of daughters in the village. Within months, Kokilaben organised the construction of a wedding hall in Moti Kowdhi.
This common-sense approach to a traditional problem so unique to India, Reliance parivar insiders say, is the reason the warring Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, independently announced that they would abide by whatever decision their mother takes on the ownership and management of the Reliance group.
The Reliance 'ownership issue'
Nobody quite knows what Dhirubhai Ambani's 59-year-old widow really thinks of the unfolding battle between her two sons because she is known to be as low profile as she is religious.
But there is no doubt that the daughter of a postmaster in Jamnagar, who spent the better part of her life in a chawl near Babulnath Temple, has been entrusted with one of the most challenging tasks in corporate India.
Indeed, outside observers might well harbour doubts. Her involvement in the group is limited -- in line with family policy, wives do not participate in business, nor is she a board member. But insiders say she will successfully sort out the spat between her sons because "she will generate the power from her belief in herself as well as God".
But it is her practical approach to life rather than a reliance on the divine that might prove the more useful quality in the current imbroglio.
For instance, many remember her efforts to learn English soon after she was married to better follow business conversations between her husband and sons.
Today, she speaks the language fluently, although she studied only up to Class IX in a Gujarati medium school. Over the years, she started attending Reliance annual general meetings to get an idea of how such meetings are conducted.
Once, shareholders close to the family suggested she be inducted on the board because she brought the family good luck. She is also realistic enough to listen to advice from ICICI Bank chief K V Kamath.
In sharp contrast to the high-voltage, fashionable lifestyles of the wives of several of Mumbai's corporate chiefs, Kokilaben leads a simple life. It is religion and religious-based events that keep "Mammi", as she is known within Reliance, the most occupied.
The family's private jet makes frequent trips transporting her to the Dwarka temple in Jamnagar and Nathdwara in Rajasthan.
She is happiest hosting kathas -- recitations from the Mahabharata and Ramayana -- for family and friends for days together at Sea Wind, the Ambani's 14-storey residential complex on Cuffe Parade. A good speaker, she often gives talks at these evenings, that are usually presided over by the family's spiritual guru Ramesh Oza.
The puja room on the 10th floor of Sea Wind is testimony to her religious concerns.
There are large marble statues of Lakshmi Narayana, Radha Krishna, Ram Laxman Sita and Srinathji, to which a statue of the late Dhirubai Ambani has been added. Kokilaben spends at least one and a half hours in the puja room every morning and evening when she is in Mumbai.
Srinathji and Dwarakadish, two avatars of Krishna, are her favourite gods. She usually starts a telephone conversation by saying "Jai Srinathji".
The daily regimen of worship follows her whenever she is away from home -- she has been instrumental in building temples at Hazira, Patalganga and in the Reliance Infocomm campus in New Mumbai. Her Lonavla bungalow, the only property that she inherited after her husband's death, also has a temple attached to it.
Kokilaben's religious pursuits do not, however, prevent her from taking a housewife's pride in her culinary skills. Her own tastes are simple: A strict vegetarian, her favourite dish is a typical Chorwad meal of roti, dal, dhokli and aatyu. Nor is she immune to a fondness for ornaments and good saris (her favourite colour being pink).
She is also a conscientious parent, being particular about attending functions organised by her daughters-in-law -- Nita and Tina.
Although it is said that Mukesh was closer to his father and Anil to his mother, both brothers make it a point to meet her before attending office every morning. It is a ritual that continues despite the tensions.
The fight between her two sons has possibly created the biggest crisis in her life, worse than the death of her larger-than-life husband. But insiders insist only she can resolve it.
Exactly how, nobody can say except to reiterate that the brothers will not be able to reject any decision she takes. The question is whether maternal power is sufficient when a business empire worth Rs 99,000 crore (Rs 990 billion) is at stake.Powered by 
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