Despite this, on Sunday, 4 May 1958, Baba gave darshan on the verandah of Guruprasad as some of the Poona group sang bhajans. Many availed themselves of the occasion, including the owner of Guruprasad, Maharani Shantadevi of Baroda, 44, who on that day had Baba's darshan for the first time. For a long while, she sat near Baba's chair. Maisaheb Sitabai Patwardhan, the Rani of Kurundwad, 57, also happened to come for darshan.1 All were supposed to leave after taking darshan and not linger there but, as the darshan was in progress, Deshmukh brought the Rani of Kurundwad's son (the current Maharaja) and had him sit near Baba. Baba did not like it and so asked four of the very poorest lovers present to sit beside him.
Maharani Shantadevi was greatly impressed by Baba, and she remained faithful in her heart to his cause. After permitting her to sit by him for some time and speaking with her a little, Baba asked Shantadevi to depart. From that time on she began coming to Baba often, and each year made Guruprasad available to him.
Meanwhile, Koduri Krishna Rao of Andhra had commissioned a bronze statue of Baba by the Bombay sculptor B. Talim. This was meant for a temple dedicated to Baba, which he was constructing in Kovvur. Adi was involved with the Kovvur temple project and would periodically go to Bombay to examine the progress of the statue. He also corresponded with Talim and, in one letter, the sculptor suggested that a cast be made of Baba's feet. Adi thought this was an excellent idea and forwarded the letter to Mahabaleshwar, where it was read to Baba. A cast of Baba's right hand had been made in England in 1932, so Baba agreed to this also. He said that when they went to Guruprasad, he would fix a date for Talim to come.
Talim's son/assistant Harish arrived on the 4th for this purpose while Baba was giving darshan. Despite this, Baba permitted him to proceed with his work, and Baba patiently sat for half an hour or so on the verandah of Guruprasad while the plaster casts dried on his feet.
He remarked, "Just see my plight! Another crucifixion for me!"
Unfortunately, that day Baba's feet were swollen, and consequently the resultant casts of his feet look bigger, as Baba's feet were usually slim and beautiful even in his last years. The casts, however, serve as testament to the God-Man's physical suffering when, for our sakes, he comes down in human form.2
Footnotes
- 1.The Rani of Kurundwad had met Baba in the 1940s, and Baba had once visited her at her palace near Kolhapur.
- 2.Talim's son also took an impression of Baba's palms, but these did not come out well apparently.