God Of Multi Religions - Shirdi Sai Baba

Original Photo

Shirdi Sai Baba

 

In fact no one knows the date Sai Baba was born, but he was alive physically until October 15, 1918. Sai Baba's real name is unknown. The name "Sai" was given to him upon his arrival at Shirdi, a town in the west-Indian state of Maharashtra. Mahalsapati, a local temple priest, recognized him as a Muslim saint and greeted him with the words 'Ya Sai!', meaning 'Welcome Sai!'.However 'Sai' may also refer to the Sanskrit term "Sakshat Eshwar" or the 'divine'. The honorific "Baba" means "father; grandfather; old man; sir" in Indo-Aryan languages. Thus Sai Baba denotes "holy father"or "saintly father".

Original Photo Of Sai Baba In 1910.

Temple Complex : 

The temple premises of Shri Saibaba is spread in approximately 200 sq. mtrs. It is situated in the heart of Shirdi village and is a major center of pilgrims from all over the world.

On an average, daily 25,000 devotees visit Shirdi village, to have the Darshan of Shri Saibaba. In the festival season, more than 1,00,000 devotees visit the Temple everyday. The Temple premises is renovated in the year 1998-99 and now is equipped with all necessary facilities like Darshan Lane, Prasadalay (Lunch and Dinner), Donation Counters, Prasad Counters, Canteen, Railway Reservation Counter, Book Stall etc. The accommodation facilities are also provided by the Sansthan. 

The names of the places to visit:

KHANDOBA TEMPLE  

This is the place where Sai Baba first set His foot in Shirdi. Khandoba temple is situated at the outskirts of the village. The priest of this temple had welcomed that young nameless fakir as 'Aao Sai' (Welcome Sai!).

 

GURUSTHAN 

This is a small place under the blessed Margosa tree towards the west of the Samadhi temple. Shri Sai was first seen sitting under this tree in the outskirts of the village of Shirdi. Later Baba himself referred this as a Holy and sanctified resting-place of his spiritual Master. Therefore, this place is known as ‘Gurusthan’ or Abode of the Master. While going or coming from Lendi garden Baba used to bow to this place from a distance. The leaves of this neem tree are said to have lost its bitterness. This old neem tree is guarded and maintained by the Trust today. There is a small temple erected under this tree with a portrait of Sai Baba, a small idol of Him and ‘sacred feet’ of the Master.

SAMADHI MANDIR 

Sai Baba's Samadhi Mandir is the place where Sacred Physical Body of Baba is resting in Samadhi. The articles handled by Baba are preserved and displayed here in a special showroom. All rituals consisting of Pooja. Abhishek & daily four Aratis are performed here. The Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao, also known as 'Butti Wada'. He wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar there. However, according to the legends, Sai Baba manifested himself as Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The Samadhi of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it are full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954. The temple has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The first floor of the temple has the pictures depicting the life of the saint. The temple opens on 5 AM with morning prayers and close down at 10 PM with night prayers.The daily routine of the temple starts at 5 o'clock in the morning with Bhoopali, a morning song, and closes at 10 o'clock in the night after the Shejarati is sung. Only on three occasions the temple is kept open overnight i.e. on Gurupoornima, Dassera, and Ramnavmi. Every Thursday and on each festival, a Palakhi with Baba's photo is taken out from the temple.

DWARKAMAI

Shri Sai Baba came to Shridhi with a marriage procession. He stayed at  Dwarkamai till the very end of his life. Dwarkamai is situated on the right side of the entrance of Samadhi Mandir. Here he solved problems of the people, cured their sickness and worries. Before Baba's arrival in Shirdi, Dwarkamai was an old mosque in a dilapidated condition. Baba turned it into Dwarkamai and proved that God is one.

CHAVADI 

 

Baba used to sleep here every alternate day. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a white chair belonging to him. Baba, along with his nearest followers, used to stay here at every alternate nights. Because of this reason, this place has achieved a great importance. Every Thursday the Palakhi from DwarkaMai arrives here. Baba's Photograph, his Paduka (slippers), and Satka are kept in the Palakhi. The chair, on which Baba used to rest, and the bed, on which Baba had his last bath, are also kept in this temple.The first level of Chawdi has a portrait of Baba and a big stone on which Baba used to sit. This level has two rooms. One contains the chariot and the second a palkhi. Just in front of the room where the chariot is kept is a small temple.  A saffron flag flies over it.

LENDI GARDENS

 

Lendi is significant as the place which Baba used to visit every day. It contains some tombs, a shrine, and most importantly, the perpetually burning lamp lit by Baba and placed between the two trees he planted. A few months. 

Shirdi is a place where you find people belonging to all traditions namely., hindu, muslim, christism,sikkism and many other come to a single place of worship and worship a single god 'Sai Baba'.