Two Pictures and Two Devotees
Following two pictures are perhaps, the most popular pictures of Shirdi Sai Baba:
In this short article, let us look at the two devotees who are closely associated with these two pictures.
Picture 1 is a painting from Sri Shyama Rao Jayker.
Shyam Rao Jayker was a painter who lived in Ville Parle, Mumbai. Baba’s devotee M W Pradhan, who wanted a life like oil painting of Baba, brought Shyam Rao Jayker to Shirdi in 1913.
Baba’s permission was needed for the painting and it was not was not easy to obtain Baba’s permission. Sri Shyama made the request on Sri Pradhan’s behalf. Then Baba replied “Why should I, a poor fakir, have an oil painting of me? You, Shama, you may get a portrait of yourself”. Ultimately, with Sri Shyama’s efforts, Baba gave His permission for the painting.
Sri Jayker painted three paintings instead of one as requested initially by Sri Pradhan (presumably, this painting was done in Dwarakamai itself). Two paintings were taken by Sri Pradhan and third-one touched by Baba himself was given to Sri H S Dixit.
Sri Jayker painted a forth painting (presumably at his studio in Mumbai), this time a large one, which was unused for some time and later kept in Dwarakamai where now it receives prayers of millions of people.
Picture 2 is a photo taken by Sri D D Neroy:
Sri D D Neroy was born in the year 1896 at Mumbai and learnt the art of printing from England and Germany. He was devotee of Baba and visited Shirdi as a young lad and in 1918 took the photo of Baba sitting on the stone in Dwarakamai. After the demise of his father, owner ship of the D B Neroy & co was passed down to him.
Sri D D Neroy was devoted to Sri Kamu Baba of Girgaum, Mumbai. Sri Neroy got the large portrait of Baba measuring 6 ftx4ft and mounted it on an ornate frame. He gifted this portrait to Sri Kamu Baba, who suggested that it should be kept in Dwarakamai. Sri D D Neroy took three years to make the portrait and one and half months to get it framed. This portrait since then is placed in Dwarakamai Sabha maptap and receives the prayers of millions of devotees.
Sri D D Neroy made many photo prints of this portrait with one of Baba’s saying printed below them. Usually he would print – “If you look to me, I look to you”. Sri Neroy distributed freely several copies of these photos and his family still continues the tradition.
Although, it is Baba who is getting this seva done through the devotees, we, the present day Sai devotees owe our gratitude to Sri Jayker, Sri D D Neroy and many such devotees because of whom we are able to behold the beautiful form of our beloved Guru.
For more information on Sri Shyama Rao Jayker refer here.
For more information on Sri D D Neroy refer here.
Jai Sairam !