Sai Baba’s Statue in Samadhi Mandir
Balaji Vasant Talim alias Bhausaheb Talim of Mumbai, the sculptor was the blessed person chosen for the job. Hence these are not the material forms they represent but Shri Sai Baba himself and many an enigmatic experiences proved thus. The imposing Marble statue of Shri Sai Baba in the Samadhi mandir is made of Italian marble from the Karaka mine in Italy and costed Rupees. 22,000 in 1954. The beautiful statue was installed on 7th October 1954 by Swami Sai Sharanandaji and a great devotee of Sai Baba. Shri Keshav Balvant Gawankar was the President of the Shirdi Sansthan. This statue replaced the old photograph which used to occupy the place of the statue before its installation.
Before the statue was sculpted, Talim had some difficulties in that as he had not seen Baba in flesh, he could not make a proper outline of Baba’s face and how he looked. One morning as Talim was about to open his shop and go inside, Baba appeared physically before him with a smiling face. So stunned was Talim that he fainted. It was only when his neighbors rushed and restored his consciousness he realized he had a Sakshatkara (manifestation of God). The Sakshatkara was momentary however, the face of Baba was firmly implanted in the mind of Shri Talim and accordingly he sculpted the statue which is by all accounts a masterpiece.
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