Animal Statues

On each side of photo is a statue of an animal to the right a tiger and to left the horse. Just one week before Baba's Mahasamadhi, a band of traveling dervishes brought a tiger to him which they were exhibiting and there by earning money. The animal had fallen sick, and is described as "very ferocious". After trying various remedies saint of Shirdi hoping it would be cured by darshan of a mahatma. The group paid obeisance to Baba and told him of his suffering," said Baba "Bring him here!" The dervishes wheeled the cage in to the court yard of the mosque. The tiger, which was tied up tightly with chains, was taken out for Baba to see. The tiger approached the steps and stared at Baba, who returned its gaze. It then thrashed its tail on the ground three times ,gave out a terrific roar and fell down dead.Baba consoled them saying that the tiger was "meritorious" and that it had been destined to die there on that day and had achieved permanent bliss by doing so. "The tigers debt incurred to you in a former birth is cleared," said Baba.He also helped that dervishes financially by giving them 150 rupees. Baba told the dervishes to bury the tiger in front of the nearby Mahadev temple and you can see its Samadhi by Nandi.

The story of the horse is remarkable, though some what milder. The horse was given to Baba in fulfillment of a vow by a Kasam, in about 1909.Kasam's mare had not produced a foal for a long time and so he resolved to give the first born to Baba if she foaled. This came to pass and Shyam Karni(meaning "black ears", Baba's name for him) became a great favourite with Baba who lavished much love on him. One day, when Baba was in the mosque, he suddenly exclaimed in pain, "Oh they are killing that horse! Go quickly and fetch him". It turned out that the trainer had been beating him severely, but perhaps what is more extraordinary is that when Baba revealed his back, the livid marks of a whipping could be seen on his own skin.

Shyam Sundar outlived Baba; his Samadhi is in Lendi Gardens.