Dear readers you must be aware that Baba never allowed anyone to photograph him with a camera hence getting his portrait was a big task. But the Tarkhad's were confident that the dream was Baba's creation and he would therefore fulfill the same.
As per their habit one Friday afternoon they visited Chorbazar in Mumbai. They would dress up in a fixed attire i.e. Babasaheb in Coat Trousers with an English Hat and Jyotindra in Coat & Trousers with Black colored Gandhi cap on his head. While they were going round in lanes of Chorbazar something unique happened. One Muslim shop keeper came shouting at them and said “Hey Gentlemen, all these days I was looking forward to meeting you as I have a parcel for you in my shop." Babasaheb and Jyotindra were taken aback and were worried that the shopkeeper might dump some stolen article on them. They questioned him on how he selected them out of so many people. The shopkeeper then requested them to move to his shop where he could explain everything. On reaching his shop he informed them that a few days ago one Saintly looking elderly gentleman visited his shop and handed a parcel to him. He told him that on Friday one Hindu father and son would come to this place. Father would wear an English Hat and Son would wear a Black Gandhi Cap. He handed over one parcel for them and also paid Rs.50/-as service charges.
I was therefore keeping watch on the people moving in pairs and located you rightly so. They were then beginning to get convinced by his explanation. He then brought the parcel and handed over to them. But they were still doubtful about the stolen material so they made him open the parcel before taking the delivery of it. He unpacked the parcel and it was a black & white Portrait of Lord Sai enclosed in a nice Wooden Photo Frame. Both of them were in tears and they confirmed to the shopkeeper that it is their Parcel. They profusely thanked him and offered to pay some money in return. The shop keeper declined to accept any money as he had strict instructions from the Donor. They used to travel in a Studebekar champion car and they could carry the photo frame safely to Bandra. They had another pleasant surprise as the photo frame fitted exactly in the Sandalwood Mandir without calling for any alteration. The entire Tarkhad family was overwhelmed with joy, which had no bounds. They then consecrated Sai Baba's Photo in the Sandalwood Mandir.
My father used to religiously wake up early morning and at 5 a.m. he would perform the Pooja with sandalwood paste to Baba's forehead and light a lamp and scented sticks. Sugar cubes were offered as prasad, which they all used to consume at lunch time. Now they all were eagerly waiting for their next trip to Shirdi.
As usual they entered the Dwarkamai and presented their offerings to Baba. He told them to be seated over there. One of the Sai devotees who was stationed in Shirdi and was frantically trying to take out a Camera photo of Sai for past few days and was unsuccessful came to Baba and requested for the last try. Baba suddenly became angry and shouted at him and said, “Hey, why are you craving for my photo. Please go to my Bhau's place and you will find me alive in that photograph in his Mandir. No sooner my father heard this they were more than pleased for what all they had done in their house. Baba was confirming that he is receiving their worship daily. My father immediately got up and prostrated in front of Baba. My father prayed to Lord Sai internally stating that he may be granted a boon that he shall never be able to forget Sai and shall keep singing only his prayers and nothing but his prayers (HECHI DAAN DEGA DEVA TUZA VEESARA NA VHAVA).
So this is the way Shirdi Sai Baba got himself consecrated into Sandalwood Mandir at Tarkhad's residence. This Mandir is available for Darshan at the residence of my late brother Ravindra at Vasai.
Sai the Saviour of Ganesh Murti:
In the Sandalwood Mandir there was also one small marble Murti of Lord Ganesh. This is a unique Murti as the Lord's Trunk is turned towards his right (Balmuri). 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 Sai Baba, which I will now narrate to you all.
My grandfather used to visit 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 intends to do with the Murti. The Englishman replied that the beautiful marble stone would be used 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 would also get worshiped which in any case is much better than being used as a 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 could worship the Murti on condition that every Ganesh Chaturthi day they would repaint the same and they would not perform the immersion of the same. Tarkhads were happy for such a solution and on the following Ganesh Chaturthi 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 Chaturthi 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 Chaturthi 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 they can get Ganapati from our house. I used to tell them that our Ganapati is permanent. They would not understand me then. So Tarkhads were transformed from Prarthana samajist to Idol Worshippers.
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