Give me the real Gold – Sai Baba

Om Shri SatChitAnand SadGuru SaiNath Maharaj Ki Jai!

Om Shri Sai!

Recently, i received a email from a Sai Baba devotee, with pictures  of Sai Baba idol. The devotee wanted to donate the idol to a Temple, were Sai Baba’s idol would be loved.

I looked at the pictures and the idol looked amazingly alive.

Since long i wanted to write an article, that would be helpful as guide for devotees building a temple of Sai Baba and requiring a Sai Baba idol for Sai Baba’s worship. The thought of writing the same came, when a devotee friend of mine wished to donate a Lord Duttatreya idol to a Sai Baba temple. He wanted to donate the idol with the best marble and best craftsmen. For this he made number of trips to Jaipur, where the best craftsmen of marble idol are found,and the best deals. As there are no traders in between. So i thought of putting his experience as a guide to those who would want to buy a good Sai Baba idol, directly from the manufacturer or the artist.

So, if you wish to buy a carved idol, or statue or Murti of Baba for home temple or Sai Baba Temple. Below is the list you can lookout for. These manufacturer also make statue and idols of other forms of Hindu Gods and other decorative marble handicrafts. (Important : This is just a guide from our own experience and efforts. Those who want to buy must visit these manufacturers and see the work first. We also have requested the listed below manufacturers to give the best possible rates to the devotees looking for their beloved Sadguru’s idol.)
All the idols in this post are of the idol lovingly carved by Naresh Bhardwaraj.  

Also please see more guidelines on shirdisaitrust.org

1.  Naresh Bhardwaj
    Address : 4th Crossing, Khazane Walon Ka Rasta,
       Chandpole Bazar, Jaipur-1
       Phone: +91 141 2317449 (O & R)
       Mobile : 9414042028
Websites : http://www.omsaiart.com/index.htm
                http://www.omsaiart.net/
                http://www.omsaiart.co.in/
                http://www.saibabamoorti.com/


2. Talim's Art Studio
    381-C, V. P. Road
    Nr. Congress House
    Mumbai 400004
   Tel: +912223869395
    Contact: Mr. Rajiv Talim
E-mail Talim Art Studio


The title of the blog post does not seem to go with this blog post or the article. No! It is!

Since i forwarded the two Sai Baba idol manufacturers or craftsmen’s details to the devotee. Pictures of Sai Baba’s idol from both of them were sent to me along with the prices for guidance.

This brought me a reminder of a wish to write a blog post with the  title “Give me the real Gold.”

I have a small Sai Baba idol about 5”, which i had bought from Shirdi. It might have cost about Indian Rupees 200/-. Marble powder molded idols available in many shops in Shirdi. This idol is in the home’s puja room. 

Once a desire arose in the heart to place a bigger and more beautiful idol of Baba in Puja room for worship. I called the devotee friend who had roamed about for best idol. Talked with him, about my desire just before sleeping, and that i would require his help for the same. Talked about the cost of idol of Sai Baba which was in some thousands of Indian Rupees. It was not a matter as it could have comfortably been paid, if i told it to my Dad.

Then it was time to sleep with mental and heart-full chant of Sai Baba name.  And mentally in Dwarkamai near the dear and divine Baba. All the time in my mind Baba seemed to tell me, “Give me the real gold. You may get a most wonderful and expensive idol, perhaps an idol of material gold or any other costly metal. It does not matter a least to me. What i want is the gold that i want. Your love and devotion towards me.”

Naturally, the plan for another better(? ) idol ended there.

We have seen this in Intense love is what Sai Baba or God needs. Sai Baba’s love for garland and prasad from poor old women devotee. Baba loved, appreciated and accepted prasad from these devotees leaving aside other gifts and prasad, which would seem far more better to our gross eyes and taste. It was and is, a lesson to us that intense love matters most. Offerings with love, whether they appeal to gross eyes or not, whether they have any value in material world or not, it does not matter. What matters is love towards Guru, a thankful heart towards Guru, a surrendered heart towards Guru, a heart, full of reverence.

Sai Baba in Shri Sai SatCharitra chapter 50, says to Nanasaheb Chandorkar while expounding a verse from Gita, “Do not do service with the feeling that i have a choice of doing this service to Guru. This body and mind belongs to Guru and it exist for service of Guru, such should be the bhava feelings, while serving Guru.”

Selecting Sai Baba’s idol

i was also put a very tough job of selecting a Sai Baba idol from few. This is very tough part. The mind can say that this looks good to the gross eyes. For heart, any idol of Baba or picture is as beautiful. The heart gets filled with love and joy. The head bows in reverence, the moment it sees any idol or picture of Baba. It may be an old picture with maybe tore borders and wrinkles on it. It does not make any difference to the heart.

Related posts : Shirdi Sai Baba and gold
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Parable of gold told by Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sai surrounded with Gold