LIVE EXPRIENCES OF THE TARKHAD FAMILY WITH SHRI SAI BABA OF SHIRDI -chapter 3

[Guest guest]

Sai the Saviour of Ganesh Murti

"Om Sainathaya Namaha."

In the Sandalwood Mandir there is also one small marble Murti . of |_ord Ganesh.

This is a unique Murti as the Lord's Trunk is turned towards his right. The

Murti is placed on a silver shrine. Separately made for the same. The story of

the Ganesh Murti is very interesting and therefore I feel like stating the same

for you all readers. Of course the existence of the Ganesh Murti is for such a

long time, the credit goes to Shirdi SaiBaba, which I will now narrate to you

all.

My grandfather use to pay visit to an antique shop near Regal Theatre in Mumbai.

On one such visit, while going round the shop he heard an English gentleman

bargaining with the shopkeeper. My grandfather was rather curious that an

English gentleman was bargaining so he took an active interest in the same. The

bargain was for a beautiful marble Murti of Lord Ganesh. It was 9 inch tall

sitting in a lotus flower and painted very appropriately in various colors. The

shopkeeper was asking for Rs.15/-and was giving the justification that it is

from Somnath Temple and very antique hence the price tags. The English

gentleman had started the offer with Rs.5/- and then went on to Rs.8/-. My

grandfather now got attracted towards that

deal, He inquired with the Englishman, out of sheer curiosity as to what he

intend to do with the Murti. The Englishman replied that the beautiful marble

stone he would use as a paperweight on his desk. On hearing that my grandfather

became very angry. He took out Rs.100/-note from his wallet and gave it to the

shopkeeper. He told him to take Rs80/- (i.e. ten times the offer of the

Englishman) and pack the Murti for him. He declared that he would not allow his

God to be used as paperweight to anyone. On further inquiry with the shopkeeper

he learnt that the Murti was from the main entrance gate of the Somnath Temple

and hence very antique. On reaching home he declared that he would wish to

place the Murti in the Sandalwood Mandir so that along with Sai pooja it will

also get worshiped which in any case is much better than being used

Paperweight. The family members agreed with his suggestion. On opening the pack

my grandmother realized that the Murti had a trunk turned on the right

side and this type of Lord Ganesh (Siddhwnayaka) are generally not kept in the

house for pooja as it calls for observance of very strict discipline in all

household activities. They then consulted the priest who advised that they can

worship the Murti on condition that every Ganesh Chaturthy day they will

repaint the same and they can not perform the immersion of the same. Tarkhads

were happy for such solution and on the following Ganesh Chaturthy day they

brought a Silver Shrine for the Murti and consecrated the same ceremoniously in

the Sandalwood Mandir. From then onwards on every Hartalika (one day prior to

Ganesh Chaturthy day) my father would remove the old paint of the Murti with

turpentine. Then give scent water bath to it,. Each one of us would participate

in it and then repaint the same. On Ganesh Chaturthy day he would re consecrate

it back on its Silver Shrine and we all would perform the pooja. I remember

when I was young my school friends use to ask me whether we get

Ganapati in our house. I use to tell them that our Ganapati is permanent. They

would not understand me then. So Tarkhads were transformed from

Prarthanasamajist to Idol Worshippers.

This Ganesh Murti in our house was once put to an acid test by my grandmother.

My grandfather who was well known in the textile industry got an assignment

from Maharaja of Baroda to set up a textile mill in his state. They therefore

shifted to Baroda and were given accommodation in a bungalow on the bank of a

river. In one rainy season it rained heavily overnight and by the time it was

morning their bungalow was under water. This was a new experience for them. My

grandmother was scared as the water level was rising hour after hour. The steps

to the bungalow were submerged in the water except the last step. My grandmother

then brought a flat copper vessel and placed it on the last step. Then she

lifted the "Vighnaharta" from the Silver Shrine and placed it in the copper

vessel and declared that if the Murti submerges in the water then she would

proceed to perform the immersion ceremony of Lord Ganesh in the same waters. Of

course her solemn intentions were that Lord should save them from that dangerous

situation. I think only the staunch devotees can dare to venture into such dare

devil acts and possibly God likes them. The water level rose further and

touched the copper vessel and stopped rising any further. After 3 to 4 hours

later the water level receded and they were all happy. Their "Vighnaharta" had

come to their rescue, as they desired. In that year they performed the Ganesh

Chaturthi celebrations for five days instead of one and half days.

I will proceed further to narrate one more incident about this Ganesh Murti.

This incidence would throw some light on the title of this chapter. On one

Hartalika day (incidentally dear readers my grandmother passed away on

Hartalika day) while removing the old paint the part of the right hand of the

Murti got dislocated from the Ibow onwards. My father was very scared because

as per Hindu religion one cannot worship damaged Murti. However by now it had

become integral part of the family and they would be reluctant to part with it.

They decided to go through the celebrations and then seek advice from SaiBaba.

Thus they proceeded to Shirdi. Dear readers is it not an unfair act on their

part? They had never involved Baba so

far in their business of Lord Ganesh and now in times of distress they wanted

his help. On that occasion when they were in Dwarkamai Baba was unusually

silent with them. They had realized their mistake and were feeling guilty about

not involving Baba from the beginning. They were internally seeking his pardon

for it. They waited patiently. Then as the crowd in the Dwarkamai receded Baba

called them near. He addressed "Oh mother in the event our son undergoes a

fractured hand we do not throw him out of our house. On the contrary we feed

him and nourish him well so that he reaches the manhood." No sooner they heard

this, they instantly fell at his feet and profusely thanked him. Dear readers I

do not find suitable words to describe Baba"s wisdom.. He was really an

"Antardnyani" in the true sense of the term so that he could read what is going

on in your mind.

Great were those Baba's Leelas and great were these mother and son. This is how

Baba saved the Ganesh Murti, which continues to be with the Tarkhad family for

seeking their worship till date

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With Baba Nothing is Impossible

Baba guide us all

Sairam

Manisha

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