When a beloved Ganesh murti is damaged, the Tarkhad family turns to Sai Baba for guidance—and receives a lesson in how love cares for what is wounded.
FaithCompassionTarkhad Family
7 min read
The story
The Tarkhad family came to care deeply for a marble Ganesh murti that had been rescued from being used as a paperweight. Because the murti had a distinctive right-facing trunk, the family sought guidance before installing it in their home shrine. They followed the priest’s advice and made its annual care part of their family worship.
During a period of severe flooding in Baroda, the family placed the murti in a copper vessel on the last remaining step of their bungalow. According to the family account, the water rose to the vessel and then stopped; later, it receded. The family remembered the event as Sai’s protection and continued their worship with renewed faith.
Years later, while the murti was being repainted, part of its arm broke. The family was distressed because a damaged image was traditionally considered unsuitable for worship. They went to Shirdi and waited for Baba’s guidance. When Baba finally called them close, He compared the damaged murti to a child with a fractured hand: a family does not cast the child out; it cares for and nourishes the child until healing is possible.
The family understood the teaching and felt forgiven for approaching Baba only when they were in difficulty. The damaged murti was not treated as disposable. It remained part of the family’s devotion, now carrying an even deeper lesson about care, loyalty, and the patience of love.
What this experience invites us to reflect on
When something precious becomes damaged, do we immediately discard it—or do we make room for repair, patience, and continued care? Baba’s response turns a family crisis into a simple spiritual lesson: love does not abandon what is wounded.
Editorial note: This page paraphrases the account for web presentation. The original narrative remains available in the linked source chapter.