PHOTOS - MAKING OF SHIRDI SAI STATUE

[Guest guest]

(Photos

courtesy : Sai Bhakta Dr.Vinni, Shirdi- Author

of Ambrosia in Shirdi )

 

SHILPA

MAHARSHI BALAJI VASANTRAO TALIM

 

 

 

His father Vasanth Rao

was a building contractor for the

Nizam of Hyderabad. Balaji was born in

1888 in Hyderabad. His father died

early, leaving .behind his wife

Saraswathi, and three small children

who migrated to Mumbai.

After primary

education Balaji joined the J.J School

of Art to learn sculpture. He won the

"Dolly Khurshatjee"

scholarship thus enabling him to

complete his education. Balaji was a

brilliant sculptor and painter,

portraits being his speciality. In

1918 'Thalim's Art Studio' was

established. He won many prestigious

awards, gold medals, and accolades.

The committee for 'Beautification of

Mumbai' choose him to sculpt the

statues. Mumbai is dotted by his

sculpture from Flora Fountain to the

High Court and everywhere else. The

Britishers appreciated his work and

gave him assignments. Balaji was a

highly spiritual, religious,

philosophical and a man of principles.

The Shirdi Sai Baba

Sansthan gave him the humungous task

of sculpting Baba's idol. Meticulously

he got his tools 'made to order'

from iron-smiths and carpenters.

Zealously and full of religious

fervour he carved Baba's Murthy. He

hoped and prayed saying "If Sri

Sai Baba gives me darshan while making

His Murthy the Murthy will be worthy

and the devotees also will have

feelings of devotion". And sure

enough he got Baba's darshan in the

studio while sculpting. The beautiful

Murthy is world famous. It is

worshipped by devotees who flock lo

the Samadhi Mandir from all over the

world. Caste, creed and a social

status is no bar. The gates of the

Samadhi Mandir are opened to everyone

, the rich and the poor, sophisticated

and the village folk all stand in the

line from the wee hours of the morning

to behold it. If the lines arc too big

devotees crain their neck and jostle

for space to peep at it through the

door in the rear or through the open

windows of the Samadhi Mandir. Just a

glimpse, a passing glance is enough to

fill them with joy. Baba on His part

looks, hears and blesses everyone. It

is the most photographed idol in the

whole world. The height of the idol is

5' 5". The work is commissioned

in 1952 and prathista took place in

1954. At the age of 82 on December

25,1970 he breathed his last. But

Baba's Murthy in Samadhi Mandir lives

on.

 

 

 

AT WORK

 

 

WITH

THE STATUE

 

 

THE

MOULD

 

 

THE STATUE

AFTER INSTALLATION AT SAMADHI MANDIR

WITH ALL SPLENDOUR AND GLORY

 

" IF YOU SOW FAITH, YOU WILL REAP MIRACLES" SOWING - ROHIT BEHAL

Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now