Om Sai Baba

Annam Brahma-Food itself is Brahma

2016-10-30T22:16:00.000+05:30

हे न जाणावे साधारण ।
अन्‍न ब्रह्मरूप जाण ।
जे जीवनहेतु कारण ।
विश्‍वा यया ।। – श्री भावार्थदीपिका (श्री ज्ञानेश्‍वरी ३:३३)
“A Guide is always necessary to show us the right way in small or great matters; and no quest can be successfully carried out on an empty stomach. Unless God wills it, no one meets us on the way. Do not discard offers of food; served dish should not be thrust away. Offers of bread and food should be regarded as auspicious signs of success."

CHANA LEELA

Chapter XXIV

Chana-Leela
In Shirdi, bazar was held every Sunday, and people from the neighbouring villages came there, erected booths and stalls on the street, and sold their wares and commodities. Every noon, the Masjid was crowded more or less; but on Sunday, it was crowded to suffocation. On one such Sunday, Hemadpant sat in front of Baba, shampooing His Legs and muttering God's name. Shama was on Baba's left, Vamanrao to His right - Shriman Booty and Kakasaheb Dixit and others were also present there. Then Shama laughed and said to Annasaheb - "See that some grains seem to have stuck to the sleeve of your coat". So saying he touched the sleve and found that there were some grains. Hemadpant straightened his left fore-arm to see what the matter was, when to the the surprise of all, some grains of gram come rolling down and were picked up by the people who were sitting there.
This incident furnished a subject-matter for joke. Everybody present began to wonder and said something or other as to how the grains found their way into the sleeve of the coat and lodged there so long. Hemadpant also could not guess how they found an entrance and stayed there. When nobody could give any satisfactory explanation in this matter, and everybody was wondering about this mystery, Baba said as follows :-

Baba - "This fellow (Annasaheb) has got the bad habit of eating alone. Today is a bazar-day and he was here chewing grams. I know his habit and these grams are a proof of it. What wonder is there is this matter?"

Hemadpant - "Baba, I never know of eating things alone; then why do you thrust this bad habit on me? I have never yet seen Shirdi bazar. I never went to the bazar today, then how could I buy grams, and how could I eat them if I had not bought them? I never eat anything unless I share it with others present near me".
Baba - "It is true that you give to the persons present; but if none be near-by, what could you or I do But do you remember Me before eating? Am I not always with you? Then do you offer Me anything before you eat?"
Moral
Let us mark and note carefully, what Baba has taught us, by this incident. He has advised us that before the senses, mind and intellect enjoy their objects, he should first be remembered, and if this be done, it is in a way an offering to Him. The senses etc. can never remain without their objects, but if those objects are first offered to the Guru, the attachment for them will naturally vanish. In this way, all the Vrittis (thoughts) regarding Desire, Anger, Avarice etc. should first be offered and directed to the Guru and if this practice be followed, the Lord will help you in eradicating all the Vrittis. When before enjoyment of the objects, you think that Baba is close by, the question whether the object is fit to be enjoyed or not will at once arise. Then the object that is not fit to be enjoyed will be shunned and in this way our vicious habits or vices will disappear and our character will improve. Then love for the Guru will grow and pure knowledge will sprout up. When this knowledge grows, the bondage of body - consciousness (we are the body) will snap and our intellect will be merged in spirit-consciousness (we are the spirit). Then we shall get Bliss and contentment. There is no difference between Guru and God. He who sees any difference in them, sees God nowhere. So leaving aside all ideas of difference, we should regard Guru and God as one, and if we serve our Guru as stated above, Lord (God) will be certainly pleased and purifying our minds He will give us self-realisation. To put the matter in a nut-shell, we should not enjoy any object with our senses etc. without first remembering our Guru. When the mind is trained in this way, we will be always reminded of Baba, and our meditation on Baba will grow apace. The Sagun Form of Baba will ever be before our eyes and then devotion, non-attachment and salvation will all be ours. When Baba's Form is thus fixed before our mental vision, we forget hunger, thirst, and this samsar; the consciousness of worldly pleasures will disappear and our mind shall attain peace and happiness.
Sudama's Story
When the above story was being narrated, Hemadpant was reminded of similar story of Sudama, which illustrates the same priciple and, therefore, it is given here.
Shri Krishna and His elder brother, Balarama, were living with a co-student, named Sudama, in the ashram of their Guru, Sandipani. Once Krishna and Balarama were sent to the forest for bringing fuel. Then the wife of Sandipani sent also Sudama for the same purpose with some quantity of grams for the three. When Krishna met Sudama in the forest, he said to him - "Dada, I want water as I am thirsty". Sudama replied - "No water should be drunk on an empty stomach, so it is better to rest a while". He did not say that he had got grams with him and that He should take some. As Krishna was tired, He lay down for rest on the lap of Sudama and was snoring. Seeing this, Sudama took out the grams and began to eat. Then Krishna suddenly asked him - "Dada, what are you eating, whence is the sound?". He replied - "What is there to eat? I am shivering with cold and my teeth are chattering. I can't even repeat distinctly Vishnu-Sahastra-Nama". Hearing this, the Omniscient Krishna said - "I just dreamt a dream, in which I saw a man, eating things of another, and when asked about this, he said - "What earth (dust) should he eat?", meaning thereby that he had nothing to eat? The other man said - "Let it be so". Dada, this is only a dream. I know that you won't eat anything without Me; under the influence of the dream I asked you what you were eating?" If Sudama had known a bit of the Omniscient, Shri Krishna and His Leelas, he would not have acted, as he did. Therefore, he had to suffer for what he did. Though he was a chum of Shri Krishna he had to pass his later life in utter poverty. But when he later offered Krishna a handful of parched rice, earned by his wife with her own labour, Krishna was pleased and gave him a golden city to enjoy. This story should be remembered by those who have the habit of eating things alone without partaking them with others.

The Shruti also emphasizes this lesson, and asks us to offer things first to God and then enjoy them after they are renounced by Him. Baba also has taught us the same lesson in His inimitable and humorous way.

'MITTHE CHAVAL' (SWEET RICE) AND 'PULAVA' WITH MEAT

Chapter XXXVIII

Baba's Handi
Different sadhanas (means of accomplishments) are prescribed in our scriptures for different ages. Tapa (Penance) is recommended for Krita age, Jnana (Knowledge) for Treta age, Yajna (Sacrifice) for Dwapara age and Dana (Charity) for Kali (present) age. Of all the charities, giving food is the best one. We are much perturbed when we get no food at noon. Other beings feel similarly under similar circumstances. Knowing this, he who gives food to the poor and hungry, is the best donor or charitable person. The Taittiriya Upanishad says that "Food is Brahma; from food all the creatures are born and having been born, by food they live, and having departed, into food again they enter." When an Atithi (uninvited guest) comes to our door at noon, it is our bounden duty to welcome him by giving him food. Other kinds of charities, viz., giving away wealth, property and clothes etc., require some discrimination, but in the matter of food, no such consideration is necessary. Let anybody come to our door at noon, he should be served forthwith; and if lame, crippled, blind and diseased paupers come, they should be fed first and the able-bodied persons and our relations afterwards. The merit of feeding the former is much greater than that of feeding the latter. Other kinds of charities are imperfect without this Anna-dana (giving of food) as stars are without the moon, a necklace without its central medal, a crown without pinnacle, a tank without a lotus, bhajan without love, a married lady without the kumkum-mark, singing without a sweet voice or butter-milk without salt. Just as varan (Pulse-soup) excels all other dishes, Anna-dana is the best of all merits. Now let us see how Baba prepared food and distributed it.
It has been stated before that Baba required very little food for Himself and what little He wanted, was obtained by begging from a few houses. But when He took it into His mind to distribute food to all, He made all preparations from beginning to end, Himself. He depended on nobody and troubled none in this matter. First He went to the bazar and bought all the things, corn, flour, spices etc., for cash. He did also the grinding. In the open courtyard of the Masjid, He arranged a big hearth and after lighting a fire underneath kept a Handi over it with a proper measure of water. There were two kinds of Handi, one small and the other big. The former provided food for 50 persons, the later for 100. Sometimes He cooked 'Mitthe Chaval' (sweet rice), and at other times 'pulava' with meat. At times in the boiling varan (soup), He let in small balls of thick or flat breads of wheat flour. He pounded the spices on a stone-slab, and put the thin pulverized spices into the cooking-pot. He took all the pains to make the dishes very palatable. He prepared 'Ambil' by boiling jawari-flour in water and mixing it with butter-milk. With the food He distributed this Ambil to all alike. To see whether the food was properly cooked or not, Baba rolled up the sleeve of His Kafni and put His bare arm in the boiling cauldron without the least fear, and churned (moved) the whole mass from side to side and up and down. There was no mark of burn on His arm, nor fear on His face. When the cooking was over, Baba got the pots in the Majid, and had them duly consecrated by the moulvi. First He sent part of the food as prasad to Mhalasapati and Tatya Patil and then He served the remaining contents with His own hand to all the poor and helpless people to their hearts' content. Really blessed and fortunate must be those people who got food prepared by Baba and served by Him.
Somebody may raise a doubt here and ask - "Did Baba distribute vegetable and animal food as prasad alike to all His devotees?" The answer is plain and simple. Those who were accustomed to (take) animal food were given food from the Handi as prasad and those who were not so accustomed, were not allowed to touch it. He never created in them any wish or desire to indulge in this food. There is a principle well established that when a Guru himself gives anything as prasad, the disciple who thinks and doubts whether it is acceptable or otherwise, goes to peridition. In order to see how any disciple has imbibed this principle, Baba at times proposed tests. For instance, on an Ekadashi day He gave some rupees to Dada Kelkar and asked him to go in person to Koralha to get mutton from there. This Dada Kelkar was an orthodox Brahmin and kept all orthodox manners in his life. He knew that offering wealth, grain and clothes etc., to a Sad-guru was not enough but that implicit obedience to and prompt compliance with His order was the real Dakshina that pleased Him most. So Dada Kelkar dressed himself and started for the place. Then Baba called him back and said, "Don't go yourself, but send somebody." Then Dada sent servant Pandu for the purpose. Seeing him starting, Baba asked Dada to call him back and cancelled that programme. On another occation Baba asked Dada just to see how the saltish `Pulava' (mutton dish) was done. The latter said casually and formally that it was alright. Then Baba said to him - "Neither you have seen it with your eyes, nor tasted in with your tongue, then how could you say that it was good? Just take out the lid and see." Saying this Baba caught his arm and thrust it into the pot and added, "Draw out your arm and taking a ladle, put some quantity in the dish without caring for your orthodoxy and without blustering." When a wave of real love rises in a mother's mind, she pinches her child with her hand and when it begins to cry and shout, she hugs it close to her bosom. Similarly Baba, in a true motherly way pinched Dada Kelkar in this fashion. Really no saint or guru will ever force his orthodox disciple to eat forbidden food and defile himself thereby.

The Handi business went on for some time till 1910 and was stopped thereafter. As stated before, Das Ganu spread the fame of Baba by his kirtans far and wide in the Bombay Presidency and people from that part of the country began to flock to Shirdi, which became in a few days a place of pilgrimage. The devotees brought with them various articles for presentation and offered various dishes of food as naivedya. The quantity of naivedya offered by them was so much that the fakirs and paupers could feed themselves to their hearts' content, leaving some surplus behind.

KALA (HODGE-PODGE) -SANZA (WHEAT-PUDDING), PUREES, RICE, SOUP, AND KHEER (SWEET RICE)

Chapter XXXVIII

Kala (hodge-podge)
To revert to the distribution of the naivedya. - After the arati was over and after Baba sent away all the people with Udi and blessings, He went inside and sat with his back to the Nimbar for meals, with two rows of the Bhaktas, one on each side. The Bhaktas who brought naivedya thrust inside their dishes containing a variety of food such as Puris, Mande, Polis, Basundi, Sanza, fine rice etc., and kept waiting outside for prasad consecrated by Baba. All the foods were mixed in a hotch-potch and placed before Baba. He offered it all to God and consecrated it. Then portions of the same were given to the persons waiting outside and the rest was served to the inner party with Baba at the centre. The Bhaktas sitting in two rows then dined to their hearts' content. Baba asked Shama and Nanasaheb Nimonkar daily to serve the consecrated food to all the persons sitting inside and look to their individual needs and comforts. This they did very carefully and willingly. Every morsel of the food thus partaken gave them nutrition and satisfaction. Such sweet, lovely and consecrated food it was! Ever auspicious and every holy!

SANZA (WHEAT-PUDDING)

Chapter XXVII

Mr. and Mrs. Khaparde
Let us close this Chapter with a description of the Khapardes. Once Dadasaheb Khaparde came with his family and lived in Shirdi for some months. (The diary of his stay has been published in English in the Shri Sai Leela Magazine first Volume.) Dadasaheb was not an ordinary man. He was the richest and the most famous advocate of Amraoti (Berar) and was a member of the Council of State, Delhi. He was very intelligent and a very good speaker. Still he dared not open his mouth before Baba. Most devotees spoke and argued with Baba off and on, but only three, viz. Khaparde, Noolkar and Booty kept always silent. They were meek, modest, humble and goodnatured. Dadasaheb, who was able to expound Panchadashi (A well-known Sanskrit treatise on the Adwaita Philosophy by the famous Vidyaranya) to others, said nothing or uttered no word when he came to the Masjid before Baba. Really a man, however learned he may be even in Vedas, fades away before one, who was realised Brahman and become one with it. Learning cannot shine before Self-reaisation. Dadasaheb stayed for four months, but Mrs. Khaparde stayed for seven. Both were highly pleased with their Shirdi stay. Mrs. Khaparde was faithful and devout, and loved Baba deeply. Every noon she brought naivedya herself to the Masjid, and after it was accepted by Baba, she used to return and take her meals. Seeing her steady and firm devotion, Baba wanted to exhibit it to others. One noon she brought a dish containing Sanza (wheat-pudding), purees, rice, soup, and kheer (sweet rice) and other sundry articles to the Masjid. Baba, who usually waited for hours, got up at once, went up to His dining seat and removing the outer covering from the dish began to partake of the things zealously. Shama then asked Him - "Why this partiality? You throw away dishes of others and do not care to look at them, but this You draw to You earnestly and do justice to it. Why is the dish of this woman so sweet? This is a problem to us." Baba then explained - "This food is really extra-ordinary. In former birth this lady was a merchant's fat cow yielding much milk. Then she disappeared and took birth in a gardener's family, then in a Kshatriya family, and married a merchant. Then she was born in a Brahmin family. I saw her after a very long time, let Me take some sweet morsels of love from her dish." Saying this, Baba did full justice to her dish, washed his mouth and hands, gave out some belches as a mark of satisfaction, and resumed His seat. Then she make a bow and began to shampoo Baba's legs and Baba began to talk with her and knead her arms which were shampooing His Legs. On seeing this reciprocal service Shama began to joke and said - "It is going on well, it is a wonderful sight to see God and His Bhakta serving each other. "After being pleased with her sincere service, Baba asked her in low and fascinating tone to chant 'Rajarama, Rajarama' then and always, and said - "If you do this, your life's object will be gained, your mind will attain peace and you will be immensely benefited." To persons unfamiliar with spiritual matters, this might appear as affair, but really it was not so. It was a case of, what in technically called, 'Shakti-pat', i.e. transference of power from the Guru to the disciple. How forcible and effective were Baba's words! In an instant, they pierced her heart and found lodgement there.
This case illustrates the nature of the relations that should subsist between the Guru and the disciple. Both should love and serve each other as One. There is no distinction nor any difference between them. Both are One, and one cannot live without the other. The disciple placing his head on the Guru's feet is a gross or outward vision; really and internally they are both one and the same. Those who see any difference between them are yet unripe and not perfect.
Chapter XXVIII
Sanza
At noon when Lakhamichand was sitting for meals he got some sanza (wheat-pudding) from a devotee as Prasad. He was pleased to have it. Next day also he expected it, but got nothing. So, he was anxious to get it again. Then on the third day at the noon Arati time, Bapusaheb Jog asked Baba, what naivedya he should bring. Baba told him to bring sanza. Then the Bhaktas brought two big potfuls of sanza. Lakshamichand was very hungry and there was some pain in his back. Then Baba said to him - "It is good that you are hungry, take sanza and some medicine for the pain in the back." He was again wonderstruck to see that Baba again read his mind and spoke out what was passing therein. How omniscient was He!

PURAN-POLIS

Chapter XXXII

Fasting and Mrs. Gokhale
Baba never fasted Himself, nor did He allow others to do so. The mind of the faster is never at ease, then how could he attain his Paramartha (goal of life)? God is not attained on an empty stomach; first the soul has to be appeased. If there is no moisture of food in the stomach and nutrition, with what eyes should we see God, with what tongue should we describe His greatness and with what ears should we hear the same? In short, when all our organs get their proper nutrition and are sound, we can practise devotion and other sadhanas to attain God. Therefore, neither fasting nor overeating is good. Moderation in diet is really wholesome both to the body and mind.
One Mrs. Gokhale came to Shirdi with an introductory letter from Mrs. Kashibai Kanitkar (a devotee of Baba) to Dada Kelkar. She came to Baba with a determination to sit at Baba's Feet observing a three days fast. The day previous, Baba said to Dada Kelkar, that He would not allow his children to starve during the Shimga, i.e., Holi holidays, and that if they had to starve, why was He there? Next day when the woman went with Dada Kelkar and sat at Baba's Feet, Baba at once said to her, "Where is the necessity of fasting? Go to Dadabhat's house, prepare the dish of Puran POlis (wheat rotis with gram-flour and jaggery), feed his children and yourself too." Shimga holidays were on. Mrs. Kelkar was then in her menses and there was nobody to cook in Dadabhat's house. So Baba's advice was very timely. Then Mrs. Gokhale had to go to Dadabhat's house and prepare the dish as directed. She cooked that day, fed others and herself. What a good story and how beautiful its import!

RAISINS (DRIED GRAPES WITH SEED)

Chapter XXXV

Kaka Mahajani's Master
Kaka was the Manager in the firm of Thakkar Dharmasey Jethabhai, a solicitor of Bombay. Both the Master and the Manager were on intimate terms. Mr. Thakkar knew that Kaka was often going to Shirdi, staying there for some days and returning, when Baba permitted him. Out of curiosity and just to test Baba, Mr. Thakkar decided to go to Shirdi with Kaka during Shimga holidays. As Kaka's return was uncertain, he took another man with him as an associate. The three started together and Kaka bought two seers of raisins (dried grapes with seed) on the way for presentation to Baba. They reached Shirdi in due time, and went to the Masjid for darshan. Then Babasaheb Tarkhad was there, Mr. Thakkar asked him why he came there. "For darshan", Tarkhad replied. Mr. Thakkar asked if miracles took place there. Tarkhad replied that it (to see miracles) was not his attitude, but the earnest intentions of the Bhaktas were satisfied here. Then Kaka prostrated himself before Baba and offered the raisins to Him. Baba ordered them to be distributed. Mr. Thakkar got a few of them. He did not like the raisins and he was advised by his doctor not to eat them without washing and cleaning them. So he was in a fix. He did not like to eat them, nor could he reject them. To keep up formalities, he put them into his mouth, but did not know what to do with the seeds. He could not spit them out on the floor of the Masjid, so he pocketed them against his wish. He then said in his mind that if Baba was a Saint, how could He be ignorant of his dislike for the raisins and could He force them on him. When this thought arose in his mind Baba again gave him some more raisins. He could not eat them, but held them in his hand. Then Baba asked him to eat them up. He obeyed and found, to his surprise, that they were all seedless. He wanted to see miracles and here was one. He knew that Baba read his thought; and as per his wish converted raisins (with seeds) into seedless grapes. What a wonderful power! Again to test further he asked Tarkhad, who was sitting by and who also got some raisins, "What kind of grapes you got?" He replied "They variety with seeds." Mr. Thakkar was still more surprised to hear this. Then to confirm his growing faith Thakkar thought in his mind that if Baba was a real Saint, the raisins should be now given to Kaka first. Reading this thought also, Baba ordered that distribution should be commenced from Kaka. These proofs were sufficient for Thakkar.

Khichadi (Rice Cooked With Dal And Salt)

Chapter XXVIII

Burhanpore Lady
Now let us turn to another sparrow (Baba's word meaning devotee). One lady in Burhanpore saw in her dream Sai Baba coming to her door and begging khichadi (rice cooked with dal and salt) for His meals. On awakening she saw no body at her door. However, she was pleased with the vision and told it to all including her husband. He was employed in the Postal Department and when he was transferred to Akola, both husband and wife, who were devout, decided to go to Shirdi. Then on a suitable day they left for Shirdi and after visiting Gomati Tirth on the way, reached Shirdi and stayed there for two months. Every day they went to the Masjid, performed Baba's worship and passed their time happily. The couple came to Shirdi to offer Khichadi as naivedya but for the first 14 days, somehow or other, it could not be offered. The lady did not like this delay. Then on the 15th day she came at noon to the Masjid with her khichadi. There she found that Baba and others were already sitting for meals, and that the curtain was down. Nobody dared enter in when the curtain was let down, but the lady could not wait. She threw up the curtain with her hand and entered. Strange to say that Baba seemed that day, hungry for khichadi and wanted that thing first and when the lady came in with the dish, Baba was delighted, and began to eat morsel after morsel of khichadi. On seeing the earnestness of Baba in this respect, everybody was wonderstruck and those, who heard the story of khichadi, were convinced about His extraordinary love for His devotees.

ONION

Chapter - XXIII

Yoga and Onion
Once it so happened, that a sadhak of Yoga came to Shirdi with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He had studied all the works on Yoga, including the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali, but had no practical experience. He could not concentrate his mind and attain samadhi even for a short time. He thought that if Sai Baba be pleased with him, He will show him the way to attain samadhi for a long time. With this object in view he came to Shirdi, and when he went to the Masjid he saw Sai Baba eating bread with onion. On seeing this, a thought arose in his mind - `How can this man, eating stale bread with raw onion, solve my difficulties and help me?' Sai Baba read his mind and said to Nanasaheb - "Oh Nana, he who has the power to digest onion, should eat it and none else". Hearing this remark, the yogi was wonder-struck and then he fell at Baba's Feet with complete surrender. With pure and open mind, he asked his difficulties and got their solution from Baba. Thus being satisfied and happy, he left Shirdi with Baba's Udi and blessings.

BHARIT

Chapter - IX

Mrs. Tarkhad
Let us now take up the case of Mrs. Tarkhad herself. She offered three things, viz. (1) Bharit (roasted brinjal egg plant mixed curds and spice). (2) Kacharya (circular pieces of brinjal fried in ghee), (3) Peda (sweetmeat ball). Let us see how Baba accepted them.
Once Mr. Raghuvir Bhaskar Purandare of Bandra, a great devotee of Baba started for Shirdi with his family. Mrs Tarkhad went to Mrs. Purandare, and gave her two brinjals and requested her to prepare Bharit of one bringal and Kacharya of the other, when she went to Shirdi and serve Baba with them. After reaching Shirdi, Mrs. Purandare went with her dish of Bharit to the Masjid when Baba was just about to start his meals. Baba found the Bharit very tasty. So He distributed it to all and said that He wanted Kacharyas now. A word was sent to Radha Krishna-Mai, that Baba wanted Kacharyas. She was in a fix, as that was no season of brinjals. How to get brinjals was the question? When an enquiry was made as to who brought the Bharit, it was found that Mrs. Purandare was also entrusted with the duty of serving Kacharyas. Everybody then came to know the significance of Baba's enquiry regarding Kacharyas, and was wonderstruck at Baba's all-pervasive knowledge.

KACHARYA

Chapter - IX

PEDA

Chapter - IX

In December 1915 A.D., one Govind Balaram Mankar wanted to go to Shirdi to perfrom the obsequies of his father. Before he left, he came to see Mr. Tarkhad. Then Mrs. Tarkhad wanted to send something with him to Baba. She searched the whole house but found nothing, except a Peda, which had already been offered as naivedya. Mr. Mankar was in mourning. Still out of great devotion to Baba, she sent the Peda with him, hoping that Baba would accept and eat it. Govind went to Shirdi and saw Baba, but forgot to take the Peda with him. Baba simply waited. When again he went to Baba in the afternoon, he went empty-handed without the Peda. Baba could wait no longer and, therefore, asked him straight, "What did you bring for me?" "Nothing" was the reply. Baba asked him again. The same reply came forth again. Then Baba asked him the leading question, "Did not the mother (Mrs. Tarkhad) give some sweetmeat to you for Me at the time of your starting?" The boy then remembered the whole thing. He felt abashed, asked Baba's pardon, ran to his lodging, brought the Peda and gave it to Baba. As soon as Baba got it in His hand. He put it into His mouth and gulped it down. Thus the devotion of Mrs. Tarkhad was recognized and accepted. "As men believe in Me, so do I accept them" (Gita, 4-11) was proved in this case.

WALPAPADI

Chapter - XXIX

(3) Captain Hate
Captain Hate, who was staying in Bikaner, was a great devotee of Baba. Once Baba appeared to him in his dream and said "Did you forget Me?" Hate then immediately held Baba's Feet and replied, "If a child forgets his mother, how could it be saved?" Then Hate went into the garden and took out fresh walpapadi vegetables, and arranging 'shidha' (ghee, wheat-flour and dal etc.) and Dakshina, was about to offer all this to Baba when he was awakened and came to know that the whole thing was a dream. Then he decided to send all these things to Baba at Shirdi. When he came to Gwalior some days afterwards, he sent Rs.12/- by money order to a friend, with instructions that Rs. 2 should be spent in buying shidha articles and walpapadi vegetables, and those should be offered to Baba with Rs. 10 as Dakshina. The friend went to Shirdi and purchased the things mentioned, but walpapadi was not available. In a short time a woman turned up with a basket on her head, which curiously enough contained the vegetables. It was purchased and then all the things were offered to Baba on behalf of Captain hate. Mr. Nimonkar prepared the 'naivedya' (rice and walpapadi vegetables) next day and offered the same to Baba. All the people were surprised to see that Baba while dining, took and ate walpapadi, and did not touch rice and other things. Hate's joy knew no bounds when he heard of this from his friend.

Butter-Milk

Chapter XXXVIII

At times in the boiling varan (soup), He let in small balls of thick or flat breads of wheat flour. He pounded the spices on a stone-slab, and put the thin pulverized spices into the cooking-pot. He took all the pains to make the dishes very palatable. He prepared 'Ambil' by boiling jawari-flour in water and mixing it with butter-milk. With the food He distributed this Ambil to all alike.
Cup of Butter-Milk
Once Hemadpant had eaten his full in this company, when Baba offered him a cup of butter-milk. Its white appearance pleased him, but he was afraid that there was no space inside for it. He, however, took a sip which proved very tasty. Seeing his faltering attitude, Baba said - "Drink it all, you won't get any such opportunity hereafter." He drank it off then, but found that Baba's words were prophetic, for He passed away soon.
Now, readers, we have certainly to thank Hemadpant. He drank the cup of butter-milk, but has supplied us with sufficient quantity of nectar in the form of Baba's Leelas. Let us drink cups and cups of this nectar and be satisfied and happy.

Chapter XLII
Baba Pervading All Creatures
This Laxmibai Shinde was a good and well-to-do woman. She was working in the Masjid day and night. Except Bhagat Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was allowed to step in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was sitting in the Masjid with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and saluted Baba. The latter said to her - "Oh Laxmi, Iam very hungry." Off she went saying - "Baba, wait a bit, I return immediately with bread." She did return with bread and vegetables and placed the same before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a dog. Laxmibai then asked - "What is this, Baba, I ran in haste, prepared bread with my own hands for You and You threw it to a dog without eating a morsel of it; You gave me trouble unnecessarily." Baba replied - "Why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same, though some speak and others are dumb. Know for certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as an exiomatic Truth." This is a ordinary incident but Baba thereby propounded a great spiritual truth and showed its practical application in daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From this time onward Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the remainder with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's remnant prasad. This bread-story should not be considered as a digression; it shows, how Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them. He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal.
Baba remembered Laxmibai's service. How could He forget her? Just before leaving the body, He put His hand in His pocket and gave her once Rs.5/- and again Rs.4/-, in all Rs.9/-. This figure (9) is indicative of the nine types of devotion described in chapter 21 or it may be the Dakshina offered at the time of Seemollanghan. Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman and so she was not in want of any money. So Baba might have suggested to her and brought prominently to her notice the nine characteristics of a good disciple mentioned in the 6th verse of chapter ten, skandha eleven of the Bhagwat, wherein first five and then four characteristics are mentioned in the first and second couplets.* Baba followed the order, first paid Rs.5/- and then Rs.4/- in all Rs.9/-. Not only nine, but many times nine rupees passed through Laxmibai's hand, but Baba's this gift of Nine, she will ever remember.

Houses Of Sai Baba Devotees

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Houses Of Sai Baba Devotees

Source:"Experiencing Sai Baba's Shirdi-A Guide" By -Alison Williams

Colour Photos Taken By me on 11th July 2015

Although the face of Shirdi has changed dramatically since Sai Baba was physically present here, some of the buildings (Sathe Wada (Now Demolished,Dixit Wada,Abdul Baba's Cottage ,Abdul Baba's Cottage, Bhagoji Shinde's House, Mhalsapati's House, Madhav Rao Deshpande's ("Shama") House, )from that era still remain. As they include the houses of some of his closest followers with whose names devotees will be familiar, we include them here. Among them were two purpose-built wadas constructed by devotees from outside Shirdi. A third, Booty Wada, became the Samadhi Mandir.

The Houses Of The Five Blessed Ones From Whom Baba Took Bhiksha

Right up to his last days, Baba used to beg for his food. He usually confined his bhiksha rounds to the same five houses which were all within a few metres of Dwarkamai, and went several times a day. On rare occasions when he was unable to go himself, Baba sent someone in his place. Baba would stand outside and call for bread, but he never went into the houses. Baba collected the food all together in a cloth bag and any liquids in a tin mug, then took it back to Dwarkamai. He would offer some at the dhuni and empty the rest into a pot (the kolamba) by the fire, where any creature could take from it. Only later would Baba eat a small amount himself.

The first two houses Baba used to go to were those of Vaman Gondkar and Vaman Sakharam Shelke, beside the Chavadi. Both were wealthy landowners. These two substantial houses were demolished in 2001, though the small Narasimha Temple beside them, with its three little samadhis, still stands.

Vaman Gondkar's house appears in one of the leelas in the Sri Sai Satcharitra. Hemadpant narrates that one day at noon, Baba suddenly got up and went and stood near Radhakrishnayi's place and asked some men to bring a ladder and lean it against the wall of Gondkar's house. Baba then climbed up, walked over the roof and the adjacent one (which was Radhakrishnayi's), got them to move the ladder there, and then climbed down again. As Hemadpant says, "No one could understand this mystery." For one thing, "Baba could only walk if two people on either side of him supported him. When he himself was so feeble, from where did this strength come?" Secondly, for this small service, Baba paid the owner of the ladder the then princely sum of two rupees! When asked about this, Baba simply replied that we should never take anybody's labour for free. It so happened though, that the owner of the ladder later prospered and had two sons, having been childless until then. Villagers also wondered if Baba had done something for Radhakrishnayi's benefit, as she had been suffering from malaria at the time.

Source:"Experiencing Sai Baba's Shirdi-A Guide" By -Alison Williams

Making of Saibaba’s Idol

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Making of Saibaba’s Idol

Source:http://www.saiprayas.org/about-saibaba/making-of-saibabs-idol/

Sai Baba’s Statue in Shirdi, which has become the most mesmerizing divine image of Baba, was installed on 7th October`1954, Vijayadashami Day – 36 years after Baba’s Mahasamadhi.

Balaji Vasanth Talim was born in 1888 in Hyderabad. His father Vasanth Rao was a building contractor for the Nizam of Hyderabad. His father died early, leaving behind his wife Saraswathi, and three small children who migrated to Mumbai.

After primary education Balaji joined the J.J School of Art to learn sculpture. He won the “Dolly Khurshatjee” scholarship thus enabling him to complete his education. Balaji was a brilliant sculptor and painter, portraits being his speciality. In 1918 ‘Thalim’s Art Studio’ was established. He won many prestigious awards, gold medals, and accolades. Balaji was a highly spiritual, religious, philosophical and a man of principles.

The statue, which has become such a famous and well-loved image of Baba, was not installed until 1954, and there is an intriguing story behind it. Some white marble arrived from Italy at the Bombay docks, but nobody seemed to know anything about it – who it was for, or why it had come. In the absence of a claimant, the dockyard auctioned it and the purchaser offered it to the Shirdi Sansthan (temple authorities). Impressed by the quality of the marble, they wanted to use it for an image of Baba and gave the commission to Balaji Vasant Talim.

However, Balaji Vasant Talim had only one black-and-white photo of Baba to use as his model and was struggling to get the likeness. One night Baba came to him in a dream, remarked on his difficulties and then showed him his face from various angles, encouraging Talim to study it thoroughly and remember it well. This gave Talim the fillip he needed and after that the work flowed easily and the result exceeded all expectations.

Shri.Balaji Talim testified about this to Sri Sai Narayan Baba, as to how Baba himself had directed the Sculpting of the Statue and how at every stage, he could very clearly hear the divine voice of Baba guiding him.

The Shirdi Sai Sansthan immediately approved this Mud Statue of Baba, on the basis of which the present Italian Marble Statue of Sai Baba was carved and installed in the Samadhi Shrine.

In 1954, while working with his workers at the finishing stages of Sculpting the almost ready Marble Statue of Sai Baba, Shri.Balaji Talim found an Air Pocket in a small additional portion below the Left Knee of Baba’s Statue, which had to be removed. It seemed dangerous, as in removing an Air Pocket from a Finished Statue, there was every risk of the entire portion coming down, thus leaving the Statue Khandit (Broken), which therefore could not be worshiped at all.

So the work stopped and Shri.Balaji Talim hesitated to strike and chisel out the additional portion.He feared that the entire Statue might get destroyed and all his labour & time would go waste.He became nervous and prayed to Baba, “Baba have mercy on me. Your Murti is ready. Please Baba have mercy on me.” Just then he then heard a voice within saying “Balaji, Carry on”.

So Balaji instructed his workers to carry on and chisel out the additional portion, but the workers refused to do so fearing that the entire knee portion would just drop out.

Eventually & quite nervously, Shri.Balaji Talim took the chisel & hammer himself and while praying “Baba, help me” gave a small stroke, touching the additional portion of the marble below the Left Knee. And to his great surprise, only the additional portion of the marble came down leaving the rest of Baba’s Statue intact. Seeing this, tears rolled down his eyes and he prostrated before Baba, started dancing and distributing sweets to all.As, he experienced such a wonderful miracle of Sai Baba.

The 5′ 5″ finished Idol of Sai Baba was taken throughout the village with pomp & ceremony.Baba’s Idol was so Life like that devotees like Swami Sri Sai Saranananda & Laxmibai, who had personally been with Baba, felt as if Baba had come back alive in the form of his Idol.

On 7th October`1954, Vijayadasami Day, this lifelike Marble Statue of Sai Baba was installed on the platform of the Samadhi Shrine’s western side behind Baba’s Samadhi and the due formalities of Prana Pratistha were done by Swami Sri Sai Saranananda who had met Baba before His Mahasamadhi.

At the time of preparation of Baba’s Statue, one day Baba gave Darshan to Shri.Balaji Talim and said, “Finish the work and you will not do any other Idol in future.” So Talim did not prepare any other Idol since then and finally at the age of 82 on 25th December`1970 he breathed his last.

Must collect while you are in Shirdi

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Must collect while you are in Shirdi

Shri Sai SatCharitra
Sai Satcharitra is something that you must buy once you are in Shirdi, be it for yourself or to distribute among other new devotees. The advantage of purchasing this holy book from here is that you can sanctify it from the very temple where Baba presides. It is believed to be a very sacred practice to offer the book to people who needs it. Mostly among people who newly turn to devotees of The Shri Sai and want to learn more about His life and philosophies.
It can be purchased at a nominal rate and usually people buy it in bulk from the shops in Shirdi.
Bibhuti from the Dhuni
Bibhuti (ashes) from the Dhuni in Dwarkamai is distributed inside the temple complex in the Santhans office. This bibhuti is not really a thing to purchase because it is offered for free. It is a very sacred ash that is brought from the everlasting burning fire otr the Dhuni inside Dwarkamai.

Souvenirs
Many other things like books, bhajan c.ds, effigies of Sai baba, pictures, clothes, shawls etc can be picked up as souvenirs from Shirdi.

Remember, Sai Baba always helped the poor and needy. He himself used to beg for alms, in return of which he would bless the donor. So, you too must try and dole out some to the poor. You can buy clothes and other at a nominal value from the shops at Shirdi that you may donate to the beggars.

Things to Do in Shirdi

A temple dedicated to Saturn

The Shani/saturn Temple in Shanishinganapur is one dedicated to the planet Saturn. There are no priests and no poojas performed here. One can buy some flowers, sesame oil and black sesame and offer it directly inside the temple.
The ill effects of Saturn are believed to cause untold miseries in one's life. To ward off these ill effects people throng this temple and offer sesame oil and seeds to the deity here. It is about 70 kms from Shirdi.
It is interesting to note that the houses in this town have no doors or locks. There are no thieves or robbery. The presiding deity is believed to be the custodian of the town and so people do not lock their houses.

Visit Triambakeshwar Temple
Considered one of the 12 Jyothirlingams of India, this is a beautiful temple which is at least 400 years old. Built by the Peshwas, it houses a sacred Lingam/ form of Lord Shiva. Be prepared to stand in long queues to enter the temple.
There are guides who offer to take you directly into the temple. This is not totally possible. However for a sum of Rs.100/person you can by pass the long queues and go inside the temple but have to join an inner queue. This is still worth it, to save time.

Local sightseeing

Apart from the Sai Baba Mandir there are a few small temples around Shirdi. You can cover the following --

Kopargaon is regarded as a holy place by many as it is located on the banks of the river Godavari. Saints who have considered the place holy include Janardhan Maharaj and Jungli Maharaj. The famous temple of Sai Baba at Shirdi is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the town. There are two more famous temples of Sai Baba in Kopargaon itself, one of which is known as Saidham & another is Sai-Tapobhumi. Also,The famous temple Shani Shingnapur, which is only 86 km (53 mi) from Kopargaon.

Asthalakshmi / Mahalakshmi Temple
Janardhan Swamy temple
Godavari River view
Sakori Ashram
Glass Jain Temple
Panchamuki Ganesh Temple
Khandoba Temple

Sant Janardhana Swamy Mandir

This is also on the way to Sai Tapobhoomi Mandir in Kopargaon

This Tapobhoomi mandir is said to have been in the name of Shirdi Sai who first visited this place before entering Shirdi. It is also believed that Shri Sai Maharaj spent lot of time in Meditation

This is an unusual formation of Lord Ganesh on a tree in the Mandir complex. This Mandir is hardly few kilometers from the Main Shirdi Temple.

Sakori Ashram

Upasni Maharaj began residing in Sakori, a place nearly five kilometers from Shirdi, during July 1917. When Sai Baba dropped His physical form in 1918 Sakori, a small poor village, had already become spiritually rich, with the presence of Upasni Maharaj and a growing fleet of disciples. Maharaj looked after the last rites of Sai Baba as His chief disciple. Maharaj always welcomed hardships.

Panchamukhi Vinayaka

Source:http://www.saiamrithadhara.com/panchamukhivinayaka.html

Panchamukhi Vishnu Ganapati Temple is located about 2 Kms from Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan. The temple has a nice idol of Panchamukhi Vishnu Ganapati. Mr.Bejan Daruwalla, India's famous astrologer is a staunch believer and follower of Ganesha. On 13th June 2002, at the age of 70, he emraced the statue of the Panchamukhi Vishnu Ganapathi at Shirdi.

Panchamukhi Vishnu Ganapathi

Instructed and guided at every step by the holy pundits, helped by the prayers of thousands, he along with others, installed and consecrated the Ganesha statue in the new temple.“ This PANCHMUKHI VISHNU GANAPATHI ”has been installed with such a tremendous and transparent sincerity, and a mighty love of common humanity, that anybody who prays here will have his wishes fulfilled. On February 11, 2004, the final “Kalash Kumbh Abhishek” was performed by Swami Shri Paripuranad Saraswati.

An Idol of Mouse is placed at the entrace of the Panchamukhi Vinayaka Temple. It is believed that the devotee needs to whisper his/her wish in the left ear of the mouse but should not disclose it to anybody and that the wish would be fulfilled by the God.

A temple dedicated to Shirdi Saibaba and Annapoorneshwari is situated opposite to Panchamukhi Vinayak Temple.

A temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman is present behind the Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple. A Life size idol of Hanuman is present there.

Daily free meals for the poor, an old age home, a community marriage hall for the villagers, and forty rooms where devotees can stay, all these are planned in land spread over 2 acres.

Jangli Maharaj Ashram

Located on Shirdi-manmade state highway, the ashram is 7kms away from Shirdi. Managed and maintained by Spiritual Guru Om Gurudev, it is also a co-educational residential school for children. 'Anygraha' a religious program is conducted every Poornima that goes on throughout the night in the presence of Sadguru Janglidas Maharaj.

The Samadhi Temple is surrounded by markets that have everything from huge rose garlands, flowers, idols, laminated photos, sweets, books, CDs, souvenirs - everywhere there is Baba. Rightly so, since every activity of this town revolves around the vast temple complex dedicated to Sai Baba.

Source:http://www.myyatradiary.com/2010/12/markets-of-shirdi.html

Flowers for offering to the Baba

Idols of Sai Baba

Books and CD's on Sai Baba

Laminated photos, keychains and other souvenirs

There's something for the kids too!

Sweets for Baba

And juicy Guavas are also available to

satiate you after all the shopping!

Fresh sugarcane juice

The other important thing one should have there is nice, fresh sugarcane juice on the way and at Shirdi.

Dont forget to have Resins ,Groundnuts,Pomegranates & Malai Kulfi

‘Go back to Bhivpuri. Build a temple and place this replica there. Start all the functions there and do not come to this place again.’ Sai baba

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SHRI SAINATH MANDIR (BHIVPURI ROAD) TRUST

Regd. No.A-2024 (Bom.)

BHIVPURI ROAD, VILLAGE: UKROOL

POST: CHINCHVALI

TALUKA: KARJAT, DIST: RAIGAD

(Bhivpuri Road is a Railway Station between Karjat & Neral on Central Railway Suburban Section. Temple is only one Km. from Bhivpuri Road Railway Station)

Travellers going from Bombay to Poona, on the Central Railway, might have noticed the board “Bhivpuri Road” on a small station just before Karat. If you get down on this station and look at the East side, you will notice a small dome of a temple surrounded by fields. This is the dome of the Sainath temple at Bhivpuri Road. The way to this temple passes through fields and you can reach the Mandir within about five to seven minutes.

The history of this temple is very interesting and the devotees of Shri Sai Baba will be happy to know how Shri Sai Baba converts people and creates devotion in their minds. Late Shri Keshav Ramchandra Pradhan, was the founder of this Mandir. Nobody will believe that Shri Pradhan, who later on became a staunch devotee of Shri Sai Baba, was an atheist from the beginning of his life.

Shri Pradhan was working on a Pedhi of a Parsee gentleman in Bombay; but he was residing at Bhivpuri Road and used to go to Bombay every day. As an employee of the aforesaid Pedhi, Shri Pradhan was required to visit very often places like Manmad, Nasik, Kopargaon etc. for recovery of the bills. One close friend of Shri Pradhan, was a staunch devotee of Shri Sai Baba and hence he used to visit Shirdi very often for paying his respects to Shri Baba. This friend naturally used to request Shri Pradhan to accompany him to Shirdi for the darshan of Shri Baba. As however Shri Pradhan was not a believer either in god or a saint, he would decline his friend’s request to accompany him to Shirdi. Ultimately Shri Pradhan agreed to accompany his friend on one condition that he would not step into the Masjid (Dwarakamayee) as in his opinion it was something against the ethics of the Hindu religion. The friend agreed to Shri Pradhan’s condition and the latter thus started for Shirdi.

After reaching Shirdi, Shri Pradhan and his friend took one room and halted there. When it was time for Baba’s Aarati, the friend went to the Masjid for Baba’s darshan, while Shri Pradhan did not move out of the room. The Masjid was crowded by Shri Baba’s devotees and exactly at twelve noon the bells stared ringing for Aarati. All the devotees were full engrossed in Aarati and they were driving deep in the sea of devotion. Though Shri Pradhan had decided not to go to the Masjid for Aarati, still as the sound of the bells went on increasing. Shri Pradhan started getting restless. Ultimately his restlessness increased to such as extent that before Shri Pradhan could know what he was doing, he started for the Masjid and setting aside his own condition, he joined the crowed in the Masjid and became one with it. The Aarati got over and the devotees were leaving the Mandap, one by one, after taking the Udi and Prasad from the hands of Shri SAI BABA; but Shri Pradhan was in his own trance. He was not at all aware that the Mandap was being vacated by the devotees. His sight was however fixed on Shri Sai Baba and he was gazing at him with concentration. After some time Shri Baba called Shri Pradhan and unexpectedly asked for Dakshina. As good luck would have it, Shri Pradhan had about two thousand and five hundred rupees in his pocket, which he had collected out of the dues of his Pedhi. In his trance, before Shri Pradhan knew what he was doing, he straight away took out the entire amount from his pocket and placed it in the hands of Baba. Shri Pradhan returned to his room in that same trance. After some time, Shri Pradhan woke up from his trance and came to his normal mood. He that time at once remembered about the money of the Pedhi, collected by him and when the thought of paying the money struck him, was simply stunned and could not think of any remedy to pay the same. He was at a loss to know what to say after going to Bombay and how to pay the money that belonged to the Pedhi. Shri Pradhan was so much short of money that he had not enough money even to come back to Bombay. In the meanwhile his friend also had returned to Bombay; but when favours of Shri Sai Baba are showering on you, what would you need? You will have no difficulties. All your wants would be taken care of by him.

Shri Pradhan got in a Tanga to go to Kopargaon station. He had no hard cash to pay the fare of the Tanga; but luckily he had a gold ring on his finger. He therefore offered the same to the driver of the Tanga and requested him to take his fare out of that amount, which would be realised out of the sale proceeds of the ring; but in the meanwhile one gentleman, in up-to-date dress, came on the scene and knowing the difficulty of Shri Pradhan, immediately paid the Tanga fare. He further purchased a ticket for Shri Pradhan and made his arrangements to go to Bombay.

Because of the aforesaid arrangements, Shri Pradhan reached Bhivpuri; but he did not know what to do about paying the money of the Pedhi. He was sure that the question of paying the money would come up immediately on his resumption. He therefore sent a word to his owner that because of his ill health he was not able to resume duty and that he would not attend his duties for some time more. On getting this message the owner sent back a word to Shri Pradhan that he has received double the money that he has recovered from the customers in the country and that Shri Pradhan should not hurry up to resume duty. He may do so when he is fully recovered. On getting this message from his owner, Shri Pradhan got stunned again with the marvelous powers of Shri Sai Baba and his leela. He simply did not know what to say about this miracle and was overwhelmed with the favour that was shown by Shri Sai Baba only on his first visit to Shirdi. It is needless to say that the atheist in Shri Pradhan disappeared at the very moment and he became a sincere devotee of Shri Baba from that time. On receiving the message from his owner he said, “Oh Baba, I am a sinner. So far I remained away from you and did not accede to the request of my friend to come to your lotus feet; but you have now favoured me by your grace and I am sure all my sins must have now been wiped out.”

After that incident Shri Pradhan started visiting Shirdi as often as possible. Every time he used to request Shri Baba to come to Bhivpuri. Once in 1916 when Shri Pradhan had gone to Shirdi, Shri Sai Baba one day, picked up one of his replicas, given to him by a devotee, and handing it over to Shri Pradhan said, ‘Go back to Bhivpuri. Build a temple and place this replica there. Start all the functions there and do not come to this place again.’

Shri Pradhan brought the replica to Bhivpuri along with him; but he did not carry out Shri Baba’s orders. When he visited Shirdi next, venerable Shri Baba reminded him of his last orders and said, “When I have come to your house, why have you come here? Bhivpuri is your Shirdi now”.

Shri Baba’s above words also did not satisfy Shri Pradhan, but after some days he erected a small temple near his house and placed the replica there after due consecration. The daily worship and offerings began to be observed and some functions used to be performed there occasionally.

The temple has good natural surroundings. There are big trees all around. By night there is perfect peace and silence. However, after the temple was built by about midnight the noise of the opening of the temple door used to be heard and Shri Sai Baba used to be seen going about in the precincts of the temple. Sometimes he used to be seen resting under a tree. At about 3 a.m., in the early morning, the noise of closing of the temple door used to be heard. This was noticed not only by Shri Pradhan and his family members, but even some guests who came to Shri Pradhan, also saw this miracle. The doubts in the mind of Shri Pradhan were completely removed in this incident and he became a confirmed Sai devotee from that time, and cost of thousands of rupees Shri Pradhan built a beautiful Shrine room, a specious hall, a wide verandah and a guest house.

Shri Sai Baba went into Maha Samadhi in 1918, but the worship of Shri Pradhan continued with the same devotion. In 1924, Shri Pradhan’s daughter was married to Shri A.V.Gupte of Dadar, Bombay. As Shri Gupte was himself a very pious man, he started taking keen interest in all the functions that were held at Bhivpuri and also encouraged many of his friends to come to visit the temple there. This resulted in the increase of the number of visitors coming to Bhivpuri.

Shri Gupte visited Shirdi in 1936. He was so much impressed by the grandeur of the Samadhi Mandir there, that with folded hands he prayed to Sai Baba that such a grand temple should come up at Bhivpuri very soon. As Shri Sai Baba is famous for granting the sincere prayers of his devotees, the above request of Shri Gupte was immediately granted by Shri Baba and from that time the Bhivpuri temple of Shri Sai Baba became more and more famous.

Shri Pradhan expired in 1939, leaving the responsibility of the temple to his sons and son-in-law. For perpetuating the functions of the temple, an institution under the name “Shri Sadguru Sainath Seva Sanstha” was formed in the same year and seven trustees wee appointed to manage the temple affairs.

Due to influx of more and more pilgrims, the old temple was found to be inadequate to accommodate all of them. The work of renovation and extension of the same was started; but though the brick work was completed, the work of construction of the roof was held up due to shortage of funds and material. In order to find a way out, late Shri Narayan Purohit, a Sai devotee started “Parayan” of Sai Satcharitra. After four days Shri Baba appeared in his dream and said, “Where is my Dhuni? If there is no Dhuni, how can this be Shirdi? How will the temple be complete?” As this dream was repeated, Shri Purohit informed Shri Gupte about it and in consultation with the other trustees, it was decided to start a Dhuni at the temple. A place was therefore fixed for construction of the Dhuni and Shri A.R.Walawalkar, the grandson of Shri Dabholkar, the author of Shri Satcharitra lit the fire and the Dhuni for the first time on 07.04.1949, the day of Ramnavami, at about 10 a.m.

Shri Kumarsen Samarth, offered to pay all the expenses of the roof and other structures around the Dhuni. Like the Dhuni in the Dwarakamayee at Shirdi, this Dhuni also burns continuously. Various functions are held at the temple throughout the year and the functions on Ramnavami and the Samadhi day are celebrated with special pomp and show. Late Prof. D.D.Parchure, the former Executive Editor of the magazine, Shri Sai Leela who was a sincere Sai devotee, used to remain present at the time of both these special functions and perform Keertan expounding the life and teachings of Sai Baba.

Many great personalities visit the temple and give the financial help. The trustees are grateful to all the visitors for their devotion and financial help. Due to this wonderful story of this temple, it is now a living centre of the spiritual influence of Sai Baba and it is no wonder that persons who visit it once, come to Bhivpuri for the Darshan of Sai Baba with renewed devotion

A TO Z OF SHIRDI TRAVEL GUIDE

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A TO Z OF SHIRDI TRAVEL GUIDE
AND INFORMATION WITH PHOTOGRAPHS

Source:http://www.saibabaofindia.com/a_to_z_of_shirdi_guide_with_photos.htm

~~ SHIRDI TEMPLE PREMISES GUIDE MAP ~~
SHIRDI TEMPLE GUIDE MAP LABELLED WITH "A to Z" ALPHABETS AGAINST SMALL "x" MARKS,
TO ENABLE YOU TO FIND THE EXACT SPOT OF THE CORRESPONDING PLACE IN & AROUND THE SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE PREMISES.

A ON MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
QUEUE FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" ONLY AND ROAMING IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES EXCEPT LENDI BAGH & BABAS WELL.

A ON PIMPALWADI ROAD -
DEVOTEES ENTRANCE NEAR MAIN GATE NO.2, FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT PASSES.
THE ARROWS IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALLS INDICATE THE DIRECTION DEVOTEES HAVE TO MOVE TO REACH BABA'S SAMADHI.

B - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1
C - THE P.R.O OFFICE.
D - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 (CLOSED...NOT USED NOW)
E - SHIRDI SANSTHAN'S BOOK STORE FOR SELLING BABA'S BOOKS, CALENDARS, VCD / DVD etc
F - THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL".
G - "SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" STALL.
H - DURING PEAK PERIODS, ENTRY GATE FOR N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONALS / V.I.P's.
I - SHOP SELLING POOJA ITEMS / MUSTARD OIL & SWEET PRASAD TOO.
J - HUGE WINDOWS FOR A VIEW OF THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN THE STAIRS.
K- DURING PEAK PERIODS ITS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SPECIAL ENTRY GATE.
L - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3
M- "THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM".
N - "SAI-COMPLEX" COMMERCIAL SHOPPING COMPLEX.
O - "DAKSHIN-MUKHI MARUTI TEMPLE"
P- ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE.
Q - ENTRY FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" OF BABA'S IDOL.(ONE CANNOT GO TOWARDS BABA'S SAMADHI FROM HERE)
R - EXIT AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE EXIT GATE FOR DISABLED / SENIOR CITIZENS.
S - DONATION OFFICE.
T - "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" - (FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM).
U - TELEVISION IN THE OPEN AIR THEATRE FOR DEVOTEES STANDING OUT TO HAVE LIVE DARSHAN.
V - WATER COOLER (BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE), FOR DEVOTEES TO DRINK THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN.
W - REAR EXIT DOOR AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE ENTRY GATE FOR V.I.P PASS HOLDERS.
X- "SAIBABA'S MUSEUM'.
Y - UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM (NEXT TO ABDUL BABAS / NANAVALIS / TATYAS SAMADHI).
Z - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4

THE BLACK LINE FROM ARCHWAY NO.4 CUTTING ACROSS LENDI BAGH UPTO THE EXIT AT MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH FROM NANDADEEP.

CANDLES - PLACE IN NANDADEEP WHERE DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES.

- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1 -

ON THE WEST SIDE, ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD IS "ARCHWAY NO.1" ,
WHICH IS USED ONLY AS AN ENTRY GATE INTO THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND OR FOR BABA'S MUKH DARSHAN
i.e., DARSHAN OF BABA'S FACE FROM A DISTANCE (FROM, NEAR THE RAISED PLATFORM BEHIND IN THE TEMPLES SANCTUM).
AFTER, ENTERING THRU ARCHWAY NO.1, ONE CAN FREELY ROAM IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES i.e, CAN TAKE UDHI,
SEE ABDUL BABA'S / TATYAS & NANAVALIS SAMADHI, SAI BABA'S MUSEUM & CAN GO STRAIGHT TO DWARKAMAI
BUT CANNOT GO TO LENDI BAGH OR BABA`S WELL. THIS ARCHWAY NO.1 IS OPPOSITE THE TEMPLES P.R.O OFFICE
AND BESIDES NANDA-DEEP. ONE CANNOT MAKE AN EXIT FROM THIS GATE.

- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 -

ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD, IS ARCHWAY NO.2 ,
WHICH WAS EARLIER USED AS AN ENTRY & EXIT GATE BUT AT PRESENT IS CLOSED & NOT IN USE.
INSTEAD, JUST BESIDES IT ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD ITSELF IS THE ENTRY GATE FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT ANY PASSES.
THIS ENTRY TAKES ONE DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRST WAITING HALL FROM WHERE THE DARSHAN QUEUES,
AFTER MOVING ALONG THROUGH SPIRALING LONG STRETCH OF STEEL BARRICADED HALLS & BY STAIRS UP & DOWN,
FINALLY LEADS UPTO THE SAMADHI OF BABA.

- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3 -

ON THE EAST SIDE, IN THE LANE GOING INSIDE FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS "ARCHWAY NO.3",
WHICH IS USED MAINLY FOR EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TOWARDS DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE
& BABA'S SHRI CHAVADI. IF ONE ENTERS THROUGH THIS ARCHWAY, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE COMES THE "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY,
WHILE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS AN ENTRANCE USED FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS SPECIAL ENTRY DURING PEAK PERIODS.
THIS ARCHWAY IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES WHO ARE UNABLE TO WALK.

LUCKY TIP - ONE NORMAL ADULT IS ALLOWED TO ESCORT THEIR AGED / HANDICAPPED DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER
BY THIS ARCHWAY & A DEPENDENT KID CAN ALSO GO ALONG IF HE / SHE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER.
IF LUCKY ENOUGH, THEN N.R.I & FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN TOO MAKE AN ENTRY BY THIS ARCHWAY
IF THEY SHOW THE GUARDS THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR NRI STATUS i.e., PASSPORT COPIES etc

- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4 -

ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS "ARCHWAY NO.4" WHICH IS MAINLY USED FOR SOUTH EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO DWARKAMAI,
WHEREAS THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY, WITH A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH AND NANDADEEP
IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF DEVOTEES ENTER BY THIS GATE THEN THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TOWARDS LENDI BAGH,
BABA'S WELL AND THEN STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
SO, IF FROM LENDI BAGH IF ONE WANTS TO GO TO NANDADEEP, THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT OUT OF
THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND THEN AGAIN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM ARCHWAY NO.1 FOR NANDADEEP.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS BANG OPPOSITE THE SAMADHIS OF NANAVALI / ABDUL BABA / & TATYA PATIL.

~~ VIP DARSHAN PASSES ~~

DURING WEEK DAYS

THE VIP DARSHAN PASSES HAVE BEEN BANNED DURING WEEK DAYS BY THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN.
SO, THE N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's & OTHER VIP's WILL HAVE TO QUEUE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DEVOTEES,
IF THEY WANT TO GO FOR BABA'S DARSHAN. HOWEVER, DURING OFF PEAK PERIODS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED
ARE ALLOWED ENTRY DIRECTLY INTO THE SAMADHI SHRINE BY A SPECIAL GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "R" IN MAP ABOVE) .

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DURING WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS

THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN HAS INTRODUCED THE "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" FOR WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS.
SO NOW, A NOMINAL FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR VIP DARSHAN PASSES, BY WHICH DEVOTEES CAN SKIP THE REGULAR
DARSHAN QUEUE AND HAVE THE DIVINE DARSHAN OF BABA.
DEVOTEES CAN GET THESE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O OPPOSITE GATE NO 1.

THIS "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" IS FOR ALL N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's / SENIOR CITIZENS & OTHER VIP's.
IT WILL BE APPLICABLE ON THURSDAYS / SATURDAYS / SUNDAYS / PUBLIC HOLIDAYS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK PERIODS.

THE CHARGES FIXED BY THE SHIRDI SAI TRUST FOR THESE PAID DARSHAN PASSES ARE :

1) FOR KAKAD AARTI : Rs.500/- per person.
2) FOR MADHYANA AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
3) FOR DHOOP AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
4) FOR SHEJ AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
5) FOR NORMAL DARSHAN (Not during any of the Aarti's) : Rs.100/- per person.

THE TIMINGS TO PURCHASE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O ARE:

1) 07:30 Am to 11:00 Am
2) 02:30 Pm to 05:00 Pm
3) 07:30 Pm to 10:00 Pm

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~~ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAID DARSHAN SYSTEM ~~

1) THIS SYSTEM OF PAID DARSHAN COMMENCED FROM SATURDAY 13th MARCH`2010.
2) A TOTAL NUMBER OF 1600 DEVOTEES CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE TEMPLE,
SO THE PAID PASSES LIMIT FOR AARTI'S HAS BEEN FIXED AT 140 DEVOTEES AT A TIME.

3) DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON CHARGES TO THE DEVOTEES IN ADVANCE
AND NO PRIOR BOOKING WILL BE MADE OF SUCH PASSES.

4) SENIOR CITIZENS TOO HAVE TO PURCHASE A DARSHAN PASS NOW, LIKE THE VIP's etc.

5) ONE GENERAL DARSHAN PASS CAN BE USED TWICE DURING THE SAME DAY FOR GENERAL DARSHAN ONLY & NOT DURING ANY AARTI.

6) EVEN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE, CELEBRITIES, N.R.I`s OR FOREIGN NATIONALS
AND JOURNALISTS etc ARE NOT SPARED FROM THESE CHARGES.

7) THE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE LIMITED
TO AROUND 10% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE TEMPLE.
FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE ARE A 1000 DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE TEMPLE, THEN ONLY 100 DEVOTEES WILL BE ALLOWED
TO GO IN FOR BABA'S DARSHAN, WITH A PAID PASS. AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THEIR DARSHAN AND MOVE OUT,
ONLY THEN, THE NEXT BATCH OF PAID DARSHAN PASS HOLDERS WILL GO INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR DARSHAN.

PRE-REQUISITE - TO AVAIL THE PAID DARSHAN PASS, ONE HAS TO HAVE A REFERENCE LETTER OF ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY / ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc REQUESTING FOR THE SAME.

ONE REFERENCE LETTER FOR DARSHAN PASSES IS ENOUGH FOR ONES FAMILY/FRIENDS COMBINED.
ALTERNATIVELY, ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY HAS TO BE SHOWN, FOR EVERY SINGLE DEVOTEE FOR WHOM A PASS IS BEING TAKEN.

- ENTRY GATE -

MOSTLY, THE GATE FOR THE VIP PASS HOLDERS IS OPPOSITE THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD SHANI / LORD GANESHA
AND LORD MAHADEV (MARKED AS "H" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).
HOWEVER, THIS GATE MAY DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.
BUT IF THE N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONAL OR THE V.I.P IS HANDICAPPED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED OR A SENIOR CITIZEN,
THEN THEY DO NOT NEED ANY SPECIAL PASS AS THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE BY THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE MEANT
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (MARKED AS "K" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).
THIS GATE MAY ALSO DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.

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DARSHAN PASSES PROCEDURE :

THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN APPROACH THE P.R.O. OFFICE TO ARRANGE FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES
FOR WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO SHOW THE ORIGINAL OR COPIES OF THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY i.e, PASSPORT / GREEN CARD
OR ANY OTHER PROOF OF RESIDENCE TO THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O OFFICER.
FOR SAFETY REASONS THEY SHOULD CARRY COPIES OF THEIR ORIGINAL PROOF OF RESIDENCE DOCUMENTS.

WHEREAS, THE V.I.P's / SENIOR CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO SHOW A REQUEST FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES LETTER FROM ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY OR ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc OR ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY.

ALWAYS SPECIFY FOR WHICH TIME OR AARTI THE PAID PASSES ARE REQUIRED
i.e, KAKAD, MADHYAN, DHOOP OR SHEJ AARTI OR THE SIMPLE DARSHAN AND PAY THE CHARGES ACCORDINGLY.

THE DEVOTEE SHOULD ALSO SPECIFY IN ADVANCE, THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS GOING TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER ON THE PAID PASS,
AS ACCORDINGLY ONLY THOSE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THAT MEMBER, WILL BE GIVEN ENTRY FOR DARSHAN IN THE TEMPLE.
ANY EXTRA MEMBER OF THE PASS HOLDER IS REFUSED ENTRY FOR DARSHAN, IF NOT PAID FOR BEFORE HAND AT THE P.R.O.

IF THE N.R.I.'s WANT TO ARRANGE FOR PASSES BEFORE THEY TOUCH DOWN IN INDIA, THEY CAN CONSULT THE SANSTHAN P.R.O.
FOR THE PROCEDURE IF POSSIBLE OR THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVE IN INDIA TO ARRANGE FOR THE SAME BEFORE HAND.
P.S - THE P.R.O. IS NOT OPEN THE WHOLE DAY BUT HAS SPECIFIC TIMINGS,
SO PLEASE ACCORDINGLY BE THERE TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR PASSES IN ADVANCE.

MY WISH - THE SYSTEM OF ALL DARSHAN PASSES SHOULD BE ABOLISHED WHAT-SO-EVER
AND BE IT POLITICIANS / ACTORS / V.I.P's / N.R.I's / FOREIGNERS ANYBODY SO TO SPEAK, LET EVERYONE STAND IN THE NORMAL QUEUE
FOR DARSHAN...AS PASSES IS DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN SECTS OF PEOPLE...A THING WHICH BABA NEVER PREACHED.
SO "DON'T GIVE PASSES BUT GIVE PREFERENCE"
ALL PHYSICALLY DISABLED / TERMINALLY ILL / AGED & SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD BE GIVEN FIRST PREFERENCE FOR DARSHAN.

MY VIEW - KARMICALLY SPEAKING, THE PASS HOLDERS EAT AWAY SOME OF THEIR GOOD KARMAS BY
ARRANGING A SMOOTH-n-EASY DARSHAN FOR THEMSELVES UP AGAINST THE OTHER DEVOTEES STANDING FOR HOURS IN QUEUE'S ONLY
TO BE BACK-DROPPED DURING DARSHAN IN THE MAIN SANCTUM.

- SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED -

ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED & AGED DEVOTEES NOW DO REQUIRE SPECIAL PASSES FOR DARSHAN
AND THEY ARE GIVEN DIRECT ENTRY TO THE TEMPLE FROM A SEPARATE GATE BY WHICH THEY CUT OUT THE LONG STANDING IN QUEUES.
THIS SPECIAL ENTRY GATE FOR SENIORS / AGED DEVOTEES CHANGES DEPENDING UPON THE INFLOW OF DEVOTEES.

IN NORMAL PERIODS, WHEN IT ISN'T MUCH CROWDED, THE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED DIRECTLY INSIDE THE MAIN TEMPLE
BY THE ENTRY OPPOSITE THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM, NOW THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM.

BUT DURING HOLIDAY SEASONS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK TIMES WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES TURN UP FOR DARSHAN,
THE ENTRY GATE FOR THE SENIOR / DISABLED DEVOTEES CHANGES TOO i.e, AT PRESENT IT IS A GATE JUST BENEATH THE
WIDE ARCHWAY NO.3 STRUCTURE ITSELF AND OPPOSITE A BLACK COLORED GRANITE NOTICE BOARD.
WHEN ONE ENTERS THROUGH ARCHWAY NO.3, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE FALLS THE "MUKH DARSHAN" GATE & ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
WAS THE FORMER SHOE STAND AREA...AND JUST ADJACENT TO THIS FORMER SHOE STAND AREA IS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ENTRY GATE.

DURING PEAK PERIODS,HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER GETTING A ENTRY FOR DARSHAN FROM THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE,
THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED HAVE YET TO WALK DOWN A FEW STAIRS WHERE THEY JOIN THE PASS HOLDERS AND
THE REST OF THE OTHER DEVOTEES, WITH WHOM THEY THEN CLIMB UP A FEW STAIRS TO FINALLY REACH BABA'S SAMADHI SANCTUM.
AND THE QUEUE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS DEVOTEES STARTS FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE SQUARE WINDOWS
(FROM WHERE ONE CAN SEE THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN-STAIRS) OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE.
IF THE SENIOR CITIZEN IS UNABLE TO GO ALONE DUE TO ANY DISABILITY OR ILLNESS OR IS ON WHEEL CHAIR THEN
ANY ONE FAMILY MEMBER (YOUNG OR OLD) IS ALLOWED TO ACCOMPANY HIM /HER THROUGH THIS SENIOR CITIZENS GATE.
AND, IF THIS RESULTS IN ANY DEPENDENT MINOR WHO IS WITH THEM TO BE LEFT ALONE,
THEN THAT MINOR TOO IS ALLOWED TO GO WITH HIS / HER FAMILY THROUGH THIS ENTRY.

MY WISH - IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SEASON / TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF DEVOTEE INFLOW,
ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER BY THE GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM (FORMER UDHI ROOM) LIKE BEFORE.

- MUKH-DARSHAN -

FOR DEVOTEES WHO WANT TO JUST HAVE A DARSHAN OF BABAS SAMADHI IDOL FROM FAR,
THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM A DOOR - MARKED AS "Q" ON THE SHIRDI GUIDE MAP ABOVE.
THIS ENTRY IS JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF ARCHWAY NO.3 ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.
AND AS ONE ENTERS BY THIS DOOR, ONE STANDS BETWEEN A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE
BETWEEN THE FRONT & BACK SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, LIKE AN AISLE. THUS, ONE CANNOT GO FROM HERE FORWARD FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN.
HE WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THIS "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY DOOR AND GO AND STAND IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE IF HE WANTS TO DO SO.

- DARSHAN WAITING HALLS -

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THE HALLS WHERE THE QUEUES LINE UP SPIRALING ACROSS THE STEEL BARRICADES HAVE WATER COOLERS AND
ADEQUATE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE DEVOTEES.
ALSO, PRESENT ARE TELEVISION SETS RUNNING DIRECTLY LIVE FEED OF BABA'S SAMADHI, DWARKAMAI, CHAVADI AND GURUSTHAN,
FOR DEVOTEES TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SANCTUM WHILE WAITING IN QUEUES FOR HOURS CHANTING BABA`S NAME.

- DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE -

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THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE WHICH IS IN THE LANE THAT RUNS BETWEEN DWARKAMAI & THE CHAVADI,
HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND A NEW TEMPLE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN ITS PLACE.
THIS SOUTH FACING TEMPLE, ORIGINALLY HAD TWO HANUMAN IDOLS HERE BUT NOW THESE TWO IDOL SHAVE BEEN REPLACED
WITH A SINGLE IDOL MADE FROM BLACK MARBLE. THE TWO OLD HANUMAN IDOLS HAVE BEEN NOW PLACED IN THE SAIBABA MUSEUM.

- SHREE CHAVADI -

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BABA'S "SHREE CHAVADI" HAS NOW BEEN DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS.
THE LEFT PORTION IS "FOR LADIES" WHILE THE RIGHT PORTION IS "ONLY FOR GENTS" WHERE NO LADIES ARE ALLOWED, AS BEFORE.

- SAIBABA MUSEUM -

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VISIT THE "SAIBABA MUSEUM" JUST BESIDES THE DIXIT WADA.
IT HAS MANY RARE ITEMS WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED BY BABA HIMSELF
i.e, HIS UTENSILS, KAFNI, GRAMOPHONE RECORD'S & PLAYER, HIS CHILLUM, A BIG PALAQUIN WHICH WAS GIFTED TO BABA BUT NEVER USED BY HIM,
ALL THE PALKHI PROCESSION THINGS, BABAS PADUKAS, HIS WHEAT GRINDING STONE, TWO POTS WITH WHICH HE COOKED & FED THE HUNGRY,
THE COT ON WHICH BABA'S LAST BATHING TOOK PLACE AFTER HIS DEMISE, BABA'S ORIGINAL CHIMTA,
THE EARTHEN WARE WITH HE USED TO ASK FOR FOOD etc. THIS MUSEUM IS SPREAD ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS THE FIRST FLOOR.

- LADU PRASAD -

THE LADU PRASAD SALE COUNTER IS NOW LOCATED TO THE NORTHERN SIDE OF "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2, NEAR THE CAR PARKING.
THE TIMINGS FOR THE SALE OF THE LADU PRASAD IS 06:00 Am TO 10:00 Pm.(22:00Hrs).
A DEVOTEE CAN BUY ONLY ONE PACKET OF LADU AT A TIME
AND IF MORE PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN THE QUEUE FOR IT.

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- UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM -

THE NEW PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM IS NOW LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI,
OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4. THE OLD UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM WHICH WAS BANG OPPOSITE THE MAIN ENTRY OF
THE SAMADHI TEMPLE AND ADJOINING THE DONATION OFFICE IS NOW CONVERTED INTO AN "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" ROOM.
ONLY ONE PACKET OF UDHI IS GIVEN TO EACH DEVOTEE AND IF MORE PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN THE QUEUE FOR IT.

THE TIMINGS FOR UDHI DISTRIBUTION ARE -
07:00Am To 11:30Am
13:00Pm To 18:00Pm
19:00Pm To 22:00Pm
(AFTER DHOOP AARTI)

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- NANDADEEP -

1) TO THE LEFT OF NANDA DEEP THERE ARE TWO NEEM TREES.
2) NANDA DEEP (LAMP OF BLISS) WAS ORIGINALLY LIT BY BABA HIMSELF.
3) TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE PIPAL TREE ON WHICH THERE IS A FORMATION IN THE SHAPE OF LORD GANESHA.
OWING TO THE NINE LARGE BRANCHES AND NINE ROOTS OF THIS PIPAL TREE, BABA HAD INSTALLED A NAVGRIHA IN THIS TREE.

DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES OR DIYAS IN FRONT OF NANDADEEP, ON THE GRILL FENCING OPPOSITE IT.
AS, BABA TOO EVERY EVENING WOULD LIGHT A DIYA HERE.

BUT TODAY, ONE OF THIS TREE DUE ITS HEIGHT OR GROWTH, HAS BEEN CHOPPED OFF BY THE TRUNK ITSELF FROM THE TOP
AND ALL THAT'S LEFT IS A HUGE LOG (TREE TRUNK) WHICH WILL BUT NATURALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO GROW BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM.

MY VIEW - WONDER WHAT HAVE THEY DONE WITH THE CHOPPED PORTION OF THE TREE AS,
I THINK WE DEVOTEES WOULD HAVE TREASURED EVEN ONE LEAF OR TWIG OF BABA'S BLESSED TREE.

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- SHOE STAND -
THERE ARE SHOE STANDS JUST OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE WHERE ONE CAN KEEP THEIR FOOTWEAR FOR A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE,
IN EXCHANGE FOR A TOKEN. BUT MANY DEVOTEES REMOVE THEIR FOOTWEAR INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES ITSELF
IN ANY CORNER OR BELOW SOME STRUCTURE. IT IS CONVENIENT BUT NOT CORRECT TO DO SO AS THESE PLACES ARE NOT MEANT
TO PARK ONE`S FOOTWEAR, SO THEY MIGHT BE BRUSHED ASIDE BY ANYONE OR EVEN MIGHT GO MISSING FROM THERE.
SO REMOVE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba wallpaper
-Trust in Me

- TELEVISION - LIVE DARSHAN -
TELEVISION SETS TELECASTING LIVE IMAGES FROM THE SAMADHI SHRINE`S INNER SANCTUM & DWARKAMAI DIRECTLY,
HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE ENTIRE TEMPLE PREMISES, INSIDE & OUTSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE ALSO, FOR DEVOTEES WHO CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE
AND WATCHING THE KAKAD AARTI ON THE TV SETS ESPECIALLY IN THE OPEN AIR THEATER IS MORE FUN,
AS YOU GET GOOD CLOSE UPS AND BETTER VIEW SITTING COMFORTABLY RATHER THAN FROM INSIDE WHERE DUE TO THE RUSH
ONE HARDLY CAN GET A CLEAR VIEW OF BABA WHILE THE AARTI OR MANGAL SNAN GOES ON.

- OPEN AIR THEATRE -

Shirdi Sai Original Photo wallpaper

THE OPEN AIR THEATRE, IS A OPEN SPACE STANDING FROM WHERE DEVOTEES CAN HAVE A VIEW OF BABA'S SAMADHI IDOL THROUGH A WINDOW.
ALSO, PRESENT HERE IS A TELEVISION SET FOR DEVOTEES TO ENJOY THE LIVE DARSHAN OF BABA WHILE ANY AARTI / PROGRAM
GOES ON INSIDE THE SAMADHI SANCTUM. THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE WAS ONCE A RAISED PLATFORM WITH A GARDEN & FOUNTAIN BEHIND IT,
HAS NOW CHANGED TOO. THE RAISED PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED LEAVING BEHIND A FLOOR LEVEL TILED GROUND MINUS THE GARDEN,
FOUNTAIN & THE WATER FALLS.

MY VIEW - THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE OF BENCHES TO SIT IN THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE AS
THIS IS THE ONLY OPEN SPACE IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES WHERE ONE CAN SIT BUT AS IT IS GROUND LEVEL SO A BIT DIFFICULT
FOR AGED/SENIORS TO SIT DOWN. THAT`S WHY NOW ONE CAN FIND DEVOTEES SITTING ON THE TWO LONG STRETCH OF STAIRS
IN THE GURUSTHAN AREA AND ALSO, OPPOSITE NEAR THE DIXIT WADA GIVING THE PLACE A VERY CROWDED LOOK.
THE SMALL COVERING WALL OF THE TWO TREES OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FULL OF DEVOTEES SITTING.

- SHOPS IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -

Only SAI BABA can....Photo

"SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" ( APPROVED BY SSST,SHIRDI) HAS A STALL INSIDE
THE TEMPLE PREMISES FOR SELLING COLD DRINKS / ICE-CREAMS / MINERAL WATER / MASALA MILK / LASSI / PRASAD PEDHA / NAVGRAHA DHOOP
AT VERY NOMINAL PRICES. IT IS SITUATED NEXT TO ARCHWAY NO.2 OUTSIDE THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALL.

ALSO, THERE IS A SHOP NEAR THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD GANESHA, LORD SHANIDEV & LORD MAHADEV.
THIS SHOP SELLS SOME PRASAD & LOTS OF DIFFERENT POOJA ITEMS INCLUDING MUSTARD OIL FOR POURING IT ON LORD SHANIDEV.

Shirdi Sai Baba

- SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL -
THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL" IS THE PLACE WHERE ON THE 1st FLOOR BABA'S ABHISHEK POOJA IS DONE BY DEVOTEES
& ON THE GROUND FLOOR DEVOTEES PERFORM THE "SATYANARAYAN POOJA" AFTER REGISTERING THEMSELVES
FOR IT AT A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE OF Rs.101/- ONLY.

THE ABHISHEK POOJA TIMINGS ARE :
1St Batch 07:00 Am to 08:00 Am
2nd Batch 09:00 Am to 10:00 Am
3rd Batch 12:30 Pm to 01:30 Pm

- SAI COMPLEX -

Shiva Sai

AT A PLACE, JUST BESIDES THE TEMPLE COMPLEX, THERE WAS A PRIMARY SCHOOL WHICH NOW HAS BEEN MOVED AWAY
AND IN ITS PLACE A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX CALLED "SAI COMPLEX" HAS COME UP.
IT IS JUST 20 FEET FROM THE GATE OF SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE STARTING FROM OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.2 STRETCHING RIGHT UP TO
THE END OF THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.3.
SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS OPENED AN ADDITIONAL DONATION OFFICE & AN OFFICE FOR THE SALE OF SAI BABA CALENDARS IN THE GROUND FLOOR
OF THIS "SAI COMPLEX" TOGETHER WITH TWO MORE OFFICES ALL BESIDES EACH OTHER IN A ROW.

MY VIEW - "WE LOVE SHIRDI IN IT`S SIMPLICITY BUT SEEMS SOON SHIRDI WILL BECOME SIMPLY A CITY" !!!

Shirdi Sai Baba

- MOBILE CLOAKROOM -
BESIDES ARCHWAY NO.2 & IN THE LANE LEADING TO THE ARCHWAY NO.3 FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS
"THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM" WHERE DEVOTEES HAVE TO DEPOSIT THEIR MOBILES
AT A NOMINAL CHARGE OF RS.2/- PER MOBILE. THEY GET A TOKEN IN RETURN AGAINST WHICH THEY CAN GET THEIR MOBILES BACK,
AS MOBILES / CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.

- SAI PRASADALAYA -

"SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA"
BEHIND POLICE STATION, SHIRDI,
NIMGAON SHIV ROAD,
NIMGAON KORHALE,
SHIRDI

Sri Sai Baba - Gold Letters

THE FACILITY OF PRASAD BHOJAN OF THE "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" WHICH WAS EARLIER SITUATED NEXT TO THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,
HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SHIFTED TO A NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BY THE "SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST" ON 08th JAN`2009.
DAILY A BUS REGULARLY SHUTTLES FROM THE "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2 (NEAR THE CAR PARKING) TO THE NEWLY
BUILT "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" CARRYING DEVOTEES TO & FRO FROM THE TEMPLE TO THE PRASADALAYA FREE OF CHARGE.

NORMAL MEAL PASSES:
ON ENTERING THE PRASADALAYA AND THEN GOING TOWARDS THE LEFT FROM THE MAIN GATE,
A WAITING HALL COMES WHERE THE COUNTER FOR THE SALE OF NORMAL MEAL PASS IS PRESENT.
THE CHARGES FOR A NORMAL MEAL PASS IS Rs.10/- FOR ADULTS AND Rs.4/- FOR CHILDREN.
THE HUGE HALL FOR NORMAL MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE GROUND FLOOR ITSELF.

VIP MEAL PASSES:
ONE CAN PURCHASE THE VIP MEAL PASS FROM THE PRASADALAYA'S OFFICE WHICH IS SITUATED RIGHT OPPOSITE THE MAIN GATE OF
THE PRASADALAYA. THE CHARGES FOR A VIP MEAL PASS IS Rs.40/- ONLY PER PERSON.
THE HALL FOR VIP MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR
AND FOR WHICH AN ELEVATOR IS ALSO PRESENT FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT WALK THE STAIRS UP.

TIMINGS:
FOR MEAL PASSES - 09:30 Am SHARP to 09:30 Pm SHARP. (AFTER WHICH NO PASSES ARE ISSUED)
MEAL IS SERVED - 10:00 Am to 10:00 Pm.

- "DWARAVATI" BHAKT NIWAS -

Sai Shubratri

SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN, SHIRDI HAS BUILT A NEW BHAKT NIWAS CALLED"DWARAVATI" WHICH WAS INAUGURATED
ON THE MAKAR-SANKRANTI - 14TH JAN`2009 BY SRI SRI RAVISHANKARJI.
SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS SPENT Rs.19 CRORES ON THIS "DWARAVATI" PROJECT WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 1600 DEVOTEES CONVENIENTLY.

IT HAS 334 SELF-CONTAINED INDEPENDENT & WELL VENTILATED ROOMS, SPREAD OVER FOUR FLOORS PACKED WITH ALL BASIC AMENITIES.
ON THE FOURTH FLOOR THERE ARE 80 ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE AIR-CONDITIONED.
THERE IS A LARGE WAITING ROOM FOR DEVOTEES ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
THERE IS A BIG PARKING SPACE & BOARDING FACILITIES FOR DRIVERS TOO.
"DWARAVATI" HAS FOUR LIFTS WHICH HAVE A CAPACITY OF CARRYING 10 PEOPLE AT A TIME.

LATEST TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM & RAIN WATER HARVESTING FACILITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTED.
"DWARAVATI" HAS A BIG GENERATOR FOR A 24 HOUR UN-INTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY
FOR DEVOTEES RECREATION, THERE IS A BIG GARDEN ON THE FRONT SIDE.

CLOSE BY ONLY, IS THE "BHOJAN-SHALA" WHERE THE FOOD IS COOKED USING SOLAR HEATERS & SO,
THE FOOD SERVED IS AT VERY NOMINAL RATES.
ALSO, LIKE THE OTHER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE SHIRDI SANSTHAN IN SHIRDI,
THERE IS NO ADVANCE BOOKING FOR ROOMS AS ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE ONLY ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
IT IS SITUATED ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD, NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL".

- WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX -

Sai Navaratri - Devi Ma

SHIRDI BOAST'S PROBABLY THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX.

THE SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN & SULABH INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION, MAHARASHTRA BRANCH
HAVE GOT CONSTRUCTED AN AESTHETICALLY APPEALING TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX AT A COST OF Rs.1.53 CRORES.
THIS COMPLEX IS SPREAD OVER AN AREA OF OVER 2 ACRES.

THIS TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX HAS 120 WC's, 108 BATHING CUBICLES, 28 SPECIAL TOILETS,
6 DRESSING ROOMS, ROWS OF URINALS ALL IMMACULATELY LAID OUT TO AVOID CONGESTION.
THE COMPLEX IS CAPABLE OF SERVING APPROXIMATELY 30,000 USERS EVERYDAY.
THE SELF-SUSTAINING COMPLEX HAS 3 EXCRETA BASED BIO-GAS-GENERATING THE SULABH PLANTS WHICH PROVIDE ELECTRICITY
TO THE ENTIRE COMPLEX FOR ILLUMINATION & WATER HEATING.
THE WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE COMPLEX IS RE-CYCLED FOR IRRIGATING THE BEAUTIFULLY LAID OUT GREEN AREA.

TO PROVIDE A SYLVAN TOUCH TO THE COMPLEX A VARIETY OF TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED ALL AROUND THE AREA.
TELEPHONE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTERS AND
PROVISION FOR 5000 LOCKERS HAS BEEN MADE TO FACILITATE THE TOURISTS FOR SAFE KEEPING OF THEIR BELONGINGS.

- MESSAGE BOARDS WITHIN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -

Sai Baba Our Guru

1) DONATION BOXES AND WATER DRINKING FACILITIES ARE PLACED EVERYWHERE AROUND THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
2) WHEELCHAIR'S ARE AVAILABLE FOR HANDICAPPED DEVOTEES FOR WHICH ONE CAN CONTACT THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O.

3) FOR PRESERVATION OF BABA'S IDOL, MILK, ROSE-WATER, HONEY ETC IS NO MORE USED FOR THE SACRED BATH OF SAI BABA,
AS PER EXPERTS ADVICE SO DEVOTEES SHOULD TOO REFRAIN FROM OFFERING THE ABOVE.

4) PLEASE HANDOVER FLOWERS, GARLANDS TO TEMPLE STAFF BEFORE OR IN THE SAMADHI SHRINE ITSELF.
5) OFFERING OF GARLANDS, PRASAD etc SHOULD BE MADE BY DEVOTEES ONLY AFTER 07:00Am & BEFORE SHEJ AARTI.

- HANDLING THE RUSH OF DEVOTEES -

OWING TO THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES IN THE SAMADHI TEMPLE ESPECIALLY DURING KAKAD AARTI & BABAS MANGAL SNAN,
TO ACCOMMODATE MORE & MORE DEVOTEES INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM DEVOTEES ARE NOW REQUESTED
TO REMAIN STANDING THROUGH OUT WHILE THE AARTI / MANGAL SNAN GOES ON, AS STANDING OCCUPIES LESS SPACE
THAN SITTING SO MORE DEVOTEES CAN BE PULLED INSIDE THE TEMPLE DURING AARTI ETC.

INSIDE THE TEMPLES SANCTUM, GENTS SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,
WHILE THE LADIES SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,
SO AS TO GO AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO BABA'S IDOL DURING DARSHAN AND THEN MOVE OUT FROM THE REAR DOOR EXITING
TOWARDS THE GURUSTHAN RATHER THAN STANDING TOWARDS THE AISLE AS THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A "U" TURN AFTER DARSHAN
AND THEN FROM THE AISLE (CENTRE) PASSING THE NANDI'S IDOL, THEY WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THE DOOR OPPOSITE
THE PRESENT "ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM" WHICH WAS THE FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM.

MY VIEW - AS FIRST STANDING FOR HOURS IN DARSHAN LINE QUEUE / SPIRALING DOWN A FEW HALLWAYS
AND THEN STANDING THROUGH OUT THE KAKAD ARTI & MANGAL SNAN, CAN BE VERY TIRING,
SO MY PERSONAL ADVICE IS TO AVOID TAKING SMALL KIDS AND AGED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS.
EVEN BABA WOULD NEVER WANT THIS AS HE TOO COULD NEVER SEE HIS DEVOTEES BEAR PAIN FOR HIM.

AS THERE ARE THREE OPENINGS FOR BOWING DOWN TO DO PRANAM ON BABA`S SAMADHI i.e., ONE FOR LADIES, ONE FOR GENTS
AND ONE IN BETWEEN, DEVOTEES BOW DOWN AND TAKE TIME TO GET UP AND MOVE FORWARD THUS DELAYING OTHER DEVOTEES BEHIND,
THEREFORE ON THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, OTHER FESTIVALS / OCCASIONS AND HOLIDAY SEASONS
WHEN THERE IS A HUGE FLOW OF DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI, THE THREE OPENINGS ON BABA'S SAMADHI ARE ALSO ENCLOSED
WITH GLASS SHIELDS, SO ONE CANNOT BOW DOWN OR TOUCH THE SAMADHI AND SO MOVES ON FASTER.
BUT ONE CAN SURELY TOUCH THE OUTER SIDE OF BABA`S SAMADHI WHILE PASSING BY AS BABAS PRESENCE IS EVERYWHERE !

LIKEWISE, SOMETIMES THE DHUNI-MAA PORTION OF DWARKAMAYI, REMAINS CLOSED FOR DARSHAN
SO THE DEVOTEES ENTER DWARKAMAYI AND HAVE DARSHAN OF DHUNI MAA AREA WITHOUT CLIMBING THE STEPS AND
MOVE AHEAD TOWARDS THE SACRED STONE ON WHICH BABA SAT.
THIS ALSO SPEEDS UP THE DARSHAN QUEUE WHICH NOW-A-DAYS GOES ALMOST ALL OUT TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD !

THE NEW GURUSTHAN, NANDA-DEEP ARE ALSO ENCLOSED IN STEEL BARRICADES TO SPEED UP THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES.

THE TEMPLE GUARDS MIGHT SOUND RUDE WHILE ASKING YOU TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN THE DARSHAN LINE
BUT REMEMBER THE THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES WHO ARE STILL WAITING BEHIND YOU FOR THEIR TURN OF DARSHAN
AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE / PATIENCE THE GUARDS HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH, WHILE KEEPING THE FLOW OF DARSHAN
GOING SMOOTHLY FOR HOURS EVERYDAY.

MY VIEW - EVEN THOUGH ANY AARTI OR BABA'S MANGAL SNAN IS GOING ON,
THE QUEUES OF DEVOTEES SHOULD BE KEPT MOVING FORWARD CONSTANTLY FOR DARSHAN & THEN MOVE OUT SO THAT
THE WAITING TIME IN THE LONG QUEUES GETS REDUCED AND MORE PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO HAVE DARSHAN SOONER THAN BEFORE.
AND THEN, THE TIME MADE UP IN KEEPING THE QUEUE MOVING ON CAN BE UTILISED BY ALLOWING DEVOTEES
TO BOW THEIR HEADS ON THE SAMADHI FOR SOME TIME WHICH AT PRESENT IS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

- TIPS FOR KAKAD AARTI & MANGAL SNAN -

THE MANGAL SNAN OF BABA NOW ONLY LASTS FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES,
WITH A BUCKET OR TWO OF HOLY WATER FIRST ON THE SAMADHI FOLLOWED BY A BUCKET ON BABA'S IDOL.
AND AS SOON AS THIS GETS DONE...DEVOTEES ARE ASKED TO START MOVING AHEAD FOR DARSHAN,
EVEN WHILE BABA'S IDOL IS BEING PAT DRY...SO MAKE SURE AS YOU REACH NEAR THE SAMADHI,
FEEL THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN FROM THE TOP OF THE SAMADHI OR THE GROUND NEAR IT WHERE SOME WATER
USUALLY SPILLS WHILE THE HOLY BATH IS ON.

MY VIEW - FOR THIS ALWAYS LADIES & GENTS WHILE IN QUEUE INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM
SHOULD TRY AND STAND ON THEIR RIGHT AND LEFT RESPECTIVELY SO AS TO REACH THE SIDES OF BABA`S SAMADHI & GET A
CHANCE TO TOUCH THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S MANGAL SNAN WHICH USUALLY FALLS DOWN ON THE SIDES WHILE THE SNAN GOES ON.

A VERY BLESSED TIP WANT TO TAKE A SIP OF BABAS MANGAL SNAN`S (HOLY BATH) WATER?
IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR THE KAKAD AARTI & BABA`S MANGAL SNAN
OR IF YOU DO MAKE IT INSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE FOR KAKAD AARTI BUT ARE PUSHED OUT SOONER THAN YOU THINK,
DON'T WORRY AS IT MAY BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE !

JUST BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE (TO THE EAST OF DIXIT WADA) & JUST OPPOSITE THE REAR EXIT OF THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,
ALSO KNOWN AS THE GURUSTHAN EXIT IS AN EMPTY WATER COOLER WHERE THE BLESSED WATER AFTER BABA`S MANGAL SNAN
IS POURED IN, FOR THE DEVOTEES TO DRINK. NOT MANY GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER ALSO,
AS BY THE TIME DEVOTEES START COMING OUT AFTER DARSHAN THIS HOLY WATER IS ALREADY OVER.
SO, THE SOONER YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THIS COOLER, BETTER IT WOULD BE, AS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER.
BUT MAKE SURE THIS HOLY WATER IS NOT SPILLED DOWN, AS MOST OF IT USUALLY DOES BECAUSE MANY DEVOTEES
JUST PICK THIS COOLER UP AND TILT IT DOWN SO AS TO FILL THEIR BOTTLES ETC BUT IN DOING SO MOST OF THIS
HOLY WATER SPILLS & IS WASTED & OTHER DEVOTEES ARE LEFT BEHIND FROM A CHANCE OF GETTING A SIP OF THIS WATER ALSO.

ALSO, JUST AFTER THE KAKAD AARTI GETS OVER THERE IS PRASAD OF WHITE BUTTER MIXED WITH SUGAR BEING DISTRIBUTED
AT THE PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI, OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4
SO MAKE SURE, YOU MAKE IT HERE ALSO, AFTER DRINKING THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH.
THIS WHITE BUTTER PRASAD LIKE THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH IS ALSO VERY LIMITED,
SO ONLY THE FIRST LUCKY FEW DEVOTEES MAKE IT HERE.

- TIPS FOR DWARKAMAI -

WHEN AT DWARKAMAI, HAVE THE BLESSED TEERTH (WATER) FROM THE BLACK COLORED EARTHEN POT KEPT ON A HIGH STAND.
THIS POT HAS NO TAP SO USE THE BIG SPOON KEPT ON TOP OF IT, TO TAKE SOME TEERTHA AND DRINK IT.
ONE HAS TO TAKE THIS TEERTH HIMSELF, AS NO ONE SERVE`S IT. THUS, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE ABOUT IT &
GO AWAY WITHOUT HAVING A SIP.

- HOUSES OF BABAS DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI VILLAGE GUIDE MAP -

MAP SOURCE

DO VISIT THE SHIRDI VILLAGE JUST A WALK AWAY FROM THE SAMADHI SHRINE.
ONE CAN VISIT BAIJAMAA'S HOUSE, LAXMIBAI'S HOUSE & HER SAMADHI WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE,
SHYAMA'S HOUSE, ABDUL BABAS KUTI & MAHALSAPATIS' HOUSE WHERE YOU CAN SEE
THE PADUKAS / 3 COINS / SATKA GIVEN BY TO MAHALSAPATI BY BABA HIMSELF.
ALL ARE JUST A FEW STEPS STRAIGHT AHEAD OF DWARKAMAI.
ONE CAN ALSO VISIT THE 5 BLESSED HOUSES THAT BABA TOOK BHIKSHA FROM.

ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE

SHAMA'S HOUSE

LAXMIBAI SHINDE'S HOUSE
(HER SAMADHI RIGHT INFRONT OF IT)

BAYAJABAI'S HOUSE
(BABA USED TO STAND ON THE STONE SEEN IN FRONT OF THE DOOR)

MAHALSAPATI'S HOUSE

ONE CAN ASK THE LOCAL PEOPLE / KIDS THERE TO GUIDE THEM & THEY WILL MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.
THEY WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL THE HOUSES, THE NINE COINS GIVEN BY SAIBABA TO LAXMIBAI,
THE PLACE WHERE BABA'S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY FOR 3 DAYS, THE SHOP OF THE MAN WHO HAD REFUSED TO GIVE BABA OIL TO BURN DIYA'S.
THEY ALL ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, JUST A STRAIGHT WALK IN THE LANE BANG OPPOSITE THE DWARKAMAI ENTRANCE.

TRY NOT TO VISIT THESE HOUSES IN THE MORNING AS THEY ARE USUALLY CLOSED AT THAT TIME.
KEEP THIS VISIT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE DAY.
ALSO, FEEL FREE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE, AS PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE MAIN TEMPLE PREMISES
BUT OUTSIDE IN THE SHIRDI VILLAGE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS !

- SAMADHI'S OF DEVOTEES -

OPPOSITE THE ARCHWAY NO.4 AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "Y" IN THE MAP)
ARE THE SAMADHI'S OF ABDUL BABA / NANAVALI / BHAU MAHARAJ KUMBHAR & TATYA'S SAMADHI.
WHILE THE SAMADHI OF AMIDAS BHAVANI MEHTA IS NEAR LENDI BAUG.

- KHANDOBA TEMPLE -

HAVE THE DARSHAN OF LORD KHANDOBA AT THE KHANDOBA TEMPLE,
JUST CLOSE BY NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL" ON THE MAIN ROAD ITSELF.
IT HAS THE IDOLS OF LORD KHANDOBA , BANAI & MHALSAI.

Sairam

Shirdi Sai Baba-Jivan Tumne Diya Hai Sambhaloge Tum

2014-10-19T12:50:00.000+05:30

Jivan Tumne Diya Hai Sambhaloge Tum

Jivan tumne diya hai sanmbhaloge tum - (2)
 Aasha hame hai vishwas hai, har mushkil se vidhata nikaloge tum
 Jivan tumne diya hai sanmbhaloge tum
 Aasha hame hai vishwas hai, har mushkil se vidhata, nikaloge tum
 Jivan tumne diya hai sanmbhaloge tum
 
 Saye me ham aap hi ke pale, satkarm kee rah par ham chale
 Sare jahan kee bhalayi kare, ham naa kisiki burayi kare
 Iss duniya ke dukhon se bacha loge tum - (2)
 Aasha hame hai vishwas hai, har mushkil se vidhata, nikaloge tum
 Jivan tumne diya hai sanmbhaloge tum
 
 Har pal agar tumhara sath hai, phir humko darne kee kya bat hai
 Kathanayiyo se naa harenge ham, tumko hamesha pukarenge ham
 Apne gale se hame bhee lagaloge tum - (2)
 Aasha hame hai vishwas hai, har mushkil se vidhata, nikaloge tum
 Jivan tumne diya hai sanmbhaloge tum
 
 Chhaya kahee toh kahee dhup hai, hai nam kitne kayi rup hai
 Har shay me tum ho samaye huye, ham sab hain tumhare banaye huye
 Ham jo ruthe kabhee toh manaloge tum - (2)
 Aasha hame hai vishwas hai, har mushkil se vidhata, nikaloge tum
 Jivan tumne diya hai sanmbhaloge tum

Yeh Kaun Chitrakar Hai



 Haree haree wasundhara pe nila nila yeh gagan
 Ke jis pe badalo kee palakee uda raha pawan
 Dishaye dekho rangbharee, chamak rahee umang bharee
 Yeh kis ne phul phul pe kiya singar hai
 Yeh kaun chitrakar hai - (3)
 
 Tapaswiyo see hain atal yeh parawato kee chotiya
 Yeh sarpa see ghoomeradar, gheradar ghatiya
 Dhwaja se yeh khade huye hain wariaksh dewadar ke
 Galiche yeh gulab ke, bagiche yeh bahar ke
 Yeh kis kavee kee kalpana kaa chamatkar hai
 Yeh kaun chitrakar hai..........
 
 Kudrat kee iss pavitrata ko tum nihar lo
 Iss ke guno ko apne mann me tum utar lo
 Chamakalo aaj lalima, apne lalat kee
 Kan kan se jhankatee tumhe chhabee virat kee
 Apnee toh aankh yek hai uss kee hajar hai
 Yeh kaun chitrakar hai.........

HOUSE OF SRI GOVINDRAO DABHOLKAR ( HEMADPANT )

2014-05-30T22:03:00.000+05:30

Sri Govindrao Dabholkar

1856 - 1929

HOUSE OF SRI GOVINDRAO DABHOLKAR ( HEMADPANT ) MUMBAI

Built in 1911,Sai Niwas in Bandra (W)`Mumbai is the residence of Shri.Govindrao Raghunath Dabholkar (Hemadpant), who scripted the book "Shree Sai Satcharitra", a composition of 9,308 verses in Marathi, on the life & teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba.In Sai Niwas, in the corner of the prayer room just below the original photo of Sai Baba,is the Desk which was used by Shri.Hemadpant while scripting 'Shree Sai Satcharitra'. Also present in a glass topped box, are the Two Coins given to Hemadpant by Baba.

- SAI NIWAS -

St.Martin Road,

Bandra (West),

Mumbai: 400053

Maharashtra`India

DARSHAN TIMINGS:
Morning: 08:00 A.m - 01:00 P.m everyday except Thursdays.
Evening: 04:30 P.m to 10.00 P.m everyday except Thursdays.
Thursday's: 08:00 A.m to 04:30 P.m
Aarti: Everyday @ 07:00 P.m followed by Chanting.

Govindrao Dabholkar
1856 - 1929

- HOW SAI BABA GUIDED HEMADPANT TO MUMBAI -
In the year 1910, when Govindrao Dabholkar was posted in Anand`Gujarat, Kakasaheb Dixit wrote a letter to him describing a few Leelas of Sai Baba. Govindrao was highly impressed with Baba after reading Kakasaheb Dixit's letter. A desire arose in his heart to have Darshan of Baba as soon as possible.

He applied for leave for 30 days but was rejected by the Commissioner of Southern Division. Then Govindrao thought that if his job would be get transferred from Gujarat to Maharashtra, it would become easier for him to visit Shirdi for Baba's Darshan. So he requested the Commissioner for a transfer to Maharashtra, but the Commissioner refused his request on the grounds that as he had aready worked before in Bandra`Mumbai, he could not be posted there once again as per the official rules of the Govt. But in the course of time an unexpectable thing happened!
Only few days had passed since the Commissioner had left Anand`Gujarat for Thane`Maharashtra, that suddenly the Deputy Collector of Bandra`Mumbai died due to a heart attack. So, now there was an urgent need of a responsible and trustworthy person for the Bandra Office. The Commissioner who had earlier denied Govindrao Dabholkar's transfer to Mumbai, immediately sent him a telegram & got him finally transferred to Bandra in Mumbai`Maharashtra.

- THE POTHI -

When Govindrao Dabholkar finally shifted to Bandra`Mumbai, as per the rules of the Government, his pending leave request was also sanctioned and thus he was able to plan his trip to Shirdi for Baba's darshan.
In 1910, when Shri.Dabholkar first came to Shirdi, he saw Baba grinding wheat, only to later scatter it all around the village boundary, to stop the cholera epidemic. His curiosity was aroused, and he wished with all his heart to write the 'Satya Charitamrit' of Baba's life. He sought permission through Madhavrao Deshpande alias Shama and it was granted. Sai Baba told him: "You have my full consent to write My life. Take notes and keep them. If My Leelas are recorded, sins commited through ignorance will be dissolved, when these are heard and or read with love and devotion, the cares and troubles of worldly life will be forgotten."

So, Dabholkar set about, writing, hearing and seeing the leelas of His Guru. With Love & devotion he kept a record of them. As in 1916, Baba had finally given him the permission to write his biography, so by the time Baba took Mahasamadhi, Hemadpant had barely written two or three chapters. Most of his work was written after 1918. He actually started writing 'The Pothi' in 1922 and it was published in 1929 after he took samadhi. The Marathi Pothi is written Ovi Meter, like Eknath's Bhagwat. It is usually sung rather than read.
On 26th November`1930, the first edition of Shri Sai Satcharitra was published in Marathi by the Shirdi Sai Sansthan and had approximately 900 pages, in vertical size of 8x5, and was priced at Rs.3/- only. Later it was translated verse to verse in many different languages.

- BABA'S SIMGA MEAL @ SAI NIWAS -

On the full moon morning of the festival of Holi in 1917, Hemadpant had a vision. Sai Baba appeared to him in his dream in the form of a Sannyasi, woke him up, and said that He would come to him for meals that day. This awakening constituted a part of the dream. When he fully awoke, he saw no Sai nor any Sannyasi.
But when he began to recollect the dream, he remembered each and every word the Sannyasi uttered in his dream. Though he was in contact with Baba for seven years and though he always meditated on Baba, he never expected that Baba would come to his house for meals. However, he went to his wife and informed her that being the festival of Holi, a Sannyasi guest was coming for meal and that some more rice should be prepared. She enquired about the guest, who he was and whence he was coming. Hemadpant told her all about the dream. She doubtingly asked whether it was possible that Baba should come there (Bandra) from Shirdi, leaving the dainty dishes there for accepting their coarse food. Hemadpant then assured her that Baba might not come in person but He might attend in the form of a guest and that they would lose nothing if they cooked some more rice.
After this, preparations for the dinner went on and it was quite ready at noon. The Holika-worship was done & the leaves (dishes) were arranged with 'Rangoli' marks around them. Two rows were put up with a central seat between them for the guest. The full family came and occupied their proper seats and the serving of the various articles commenced. While this was being done, everybody was watching for the guest, but none turned up though it was past noon. The door was then closed and the anna-shuddhi (ghee) was served.
Formal offering of the food to the Vaishwadeva (Fire) & Naivedhya to Shri Krishna was done.
But as they were about to begin, foot-steps in the staircase were distinctly heard.

Hemadpant went immediately and opened the door and saw two men Ali Mohammed and Moulana Ismu Mujavar. These two persons, seeing that meals were ready and all the members were about to begin eating,
apologized to Hemadpant and requested him to excuse their interference. They said - "You left your seat and came running to us, others are waiting for you, so please take this Thing and I shall relate all the wonderful tale about it later on at your convenience." So saying he took out from his arm-pit a packet wrapped in an old newspaper cover and placed it on the table. Hemadpant uncovered the packet and saw, to his great wonder and surprise, a big nice picture of Sai Baba. Seeing it, he was much moved, tears ran from his eyes,
he bent and placed his head on the feet of Baba in the picture. He felt blessed by Baba.

Out of curiosity he asked Ali Mohammed whence he got this picture. He said that he bought it from a shop and that he would give all the details about it later on and wished that as all the members were waiting for him, he should go and join them. Hemadpant thanked him, bade them good-bye and returned to the dinning-hall. The picture was placed on the central seat reserved for the guest and after the due offering of the Naivedya, the whole family commenced eating.

At Shirdi, the same day and at the same time Sai Baba told Shama that he had a sumptuous meal at Bandra in Hemadpant house. Shama could understand Baba's words only after sometime when Hemadpant came to Shirdi.

- HOW BABA'S PHOTO REACHED SAI NIWAS -

A long time back, a saint by name Abdul Rehman gave a lifesize framed photo of Sai Baba to Ali Mohammed. After sometime, Ali's brother-in-law fell sick. Someone suggested that if the photos of saints were put in the sea, the illness would subside. So Ali asked his manager to collect all such photos in his relatives house and put them in the sea. After some days Ali Mohammed came home and was surprised to find that Baba's photo was still there in the wall. He began to think to whom it should be given and then as per Baba's order given to him through his thoughts, the photo was handed over to Hemadpant.

Source: Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba - Chapter XXIX

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2014-01-16T23:25:00.000+05:30

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