![]() Impressed by the quality of the marble, they wanted to use it for an idol of Baba and gave the commission to a sculpture from Bombay, Balaji Vasant Talim. In the absence of a claimant, the dockyard auctioned it and the purchaser offered it to the Shirdi Sansthan (temple authorities). Some white marble arrived from Italy at the Bombay docks, but nobody seemed to know anything about it who it was for, or why it had come. The statue, which has become such a famous and well-loved image of Baba, was not installed until 1954, thirty-six years after his mahasamadhi, and there is an intriguing story behind it. For them, the idol does not merely represent God, it is God and the opportunity to prostrate before it and make oblations may be fulfillment of a lifetime’s ambition. Here, devotees address their heartfelt prayers, beg for help, give thanks and offerings for prayers answered and wishes fulfilled, sign their devotion, and pay humble obeisance to their beloved deity. The pull of the tomb above, which the idol sits, is powerful and intense and is drawing seekers to Shirdi in numbers that increase by the week. ![]() ![]() In this statue, they really do seem to be looking at us and responding!īaba repeatedly assured devotees that he would never cease to answer their call, and that his mission is “to give blessings”. Many have commented on the lifelike quality of the eyes, as these are typically the most difficult feature to portray in a stone sculpture. ![]() Baba sits relaxed, natural and majestic, gazing beningly on the millions of diverse visitors who flock to him for succour. ![]() The statue is admired as an extraordinary and exquisite image, excluding grace and benevolence. ![]()
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