SHIRDI SAI TEMPLE, Shirdi

India has a history of thousands of years. Flocks of People from different regions of the world came to India and they became one with the Indian culture without losing their own identity because our Vedic seers believed in the philosophy of VASUDHAIV KUTUMBAKAM means the whole world is our family. This way a huge mosaic of culture was created.    Although there are differences in religion, culture, language, art, literature but as Indians, we all are one; it is this diversity which has created a sense of “Unity” among the Indians. And this diversity has enriched our social life as well.

Diversity in terms of religion plays a major role in the Indian way of life. Rituals, workship and other religious activities are very prominent in individual’s daily life; it is also a principal organizer of social life. And one such religious place in India is – “Shirdi”. It is located approximately 296kms from Mumbai, capital of Maharashtra in India.

This place connects with the holy spirits of the people, as it is called the land of “SAI”. Shirdi Sai Baba, who is also known as- “Sai Baba or Sai Ram”, was a great saint of 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Though Sai is a Persian word meaning a - Sufi fakir, Baba and Ram are Hindi words denoting father and Lord respectively. However, both are god’s name and serve as beacon light to show the right path. As the definition of the name goes, the intention of the saint is go towards the Truth.

“Love and devotion” are his two wheels and instruments to teach and infuse spiritualism in the seekers. Lord Krishna has said - “Saints are my living forms”. Hence, Saints are the mirrors of God without any attachment. They have already abandoned to God in consonance with what God wills. They come with a mission and when that is accomplished go nowhere but live in the form of their ideals, teachings, instructions and guide the mankind for the Supreme Being. Sai Baba of Shirdi was such a saint, who had come to this earth in the form of Incarnation to uplift the mankind and when that was completed went on a tour to return later to play and laugh with us.

                                                                                    

Baba’s stayed in Shirdi for more than 60 years. The life of Baba is as wide and deep as the ocean. The belief in simplicity was his greatest virtue. He never called himself God and always uttered “Allah Malik” (God is the Savior).He lived a life of Fakir and mendicancy and called himself to be servant of the God. 

Saibaba of Shirdi was regarded with great reverence by both Hindu and Muslim followers. He lived in a mosque and after his death his body was cremated in a temple. His philosophy ingrained 'Shraddha' meaning - faith and 'Saburi' meaning - compassion. According to him Shraddha and Saburi were the supreme attributes to reach the state of godliness. It is believed that at a tender age of 16 yrs Shri Saibaba arrived at the village of Shirdi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and remained their till his death. After the SaiBaba left the earth for heavenly adobe, his devotees built a temple in Shirdi around, where he used to pray and reside. With the time now it has been converted into a huge temple complex where lakhs of devotees pay visit.

Booty’s stone building came to be known as the Samadhi mandir. ShriSaiBaba was buried here and a beautiful shrine was built over it.

 The Mandir is built with stones and Baba’s Samadhi is built with white marble stones. A railing is built in marble around the Samadhi and is full of ornamental decorations. In front of the Samadhi are two silver pillars full of decorative designs. Just behind the Samadhi is SaiBaba’s marvelous statue made of Italian marble which shows him seated on a throne.

SaiBaba first came to Shirdi in the form of Bal Yogi- a child ascetic. He was first spotted seated under a Neem Tree. This place came to known as “Gurusthan”.The renovation of Gurusthan took place on 30^th Sep, 1941. The present temple was built after this period. There is a small shrine in Gurusthan; on an elevated platform of this shrine a big portrait of Baba is placed. There is a marble statue of Baba besides portrait .The branches of the Neem Tree have came out through the roof of the temple. At a short distance lies Baba’s CHAVADI. Baba used to sleep here every alternate day.

At some distance from Gurusthan there is a “LendiBang”. This Bang was made and watered daily by Baba himself. Baba used to come here every morning and afternoon and take a rest under a Neem Tree.Baba dug a pit , 2 feet deep under the Neem Tree and kept a deep lit in that pit.One octangular Deepgriha called NandaDeep has been built in marble stone in memory of this place. It constantly burns in a glass box. On one side of the Deepgriha is a Peepal Tree and on the other side is a Neem Tree. There are also temples of village deities named Shani, Ganpati and Shankar that are also worth visiting.

Every day thousands of people come to the Sai Darbar, some to test him or some to pay their obeisance but all were welcomed with the universal smile of Baba. Sai respected devotees’ feelings and prayed for their welfare. The warmth’s of His Darshan was such that even agitated and angry mind melted on seeing his form and became one with him. 

The temple premises of ShriSaiBaba are spread in approximately 200sq mtrs.Shirdi being a pilgrimage centre visited by some 20,000 devotees in a day. And during festival seasons, more than 1, 00,000 devotees visit the temple every day. This temple premises is renovated in the year 1998- 1999 and now is equipped with all necessary facilities like – Darshan Lane, Prasada(lunch and dinner), Donation Counters, Prasad counters, Canteen , Railway Reservation Counter, Book Stall etc. The accommodation facilities are also provided by the Sansthan.

The routine of the temple starts at 5 O’clock in the morning with Bhoopali, a morning song and closes at 10 O’clock in night after Shejarati is sung, only on the three occasions the temple is kept open overnight i.e. on Gurupoornima, Dassera and Ramnavami. Every Thursday and on each festival, a Palkhi with Baba’s photo is taken out from the temple.

Aurangabad airport which is 140kms away from Shirdi is the nearest airport. Of recent, train services have also began operation from the different parts of the country for Shirdi, located just about 10kms away from the temple. The newly built railway station of Shirdi now runs many trains from across the country.

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Baba preached at Shirdhi all his life and performed numerous miracles to convince that – “God” exists. He healed people’s diseases provided moral and material comfort to his devotees. Baba helped bring Unity and Harmony between all communities. He said that – “GOD IS ONE”, but called by different names. He said follow your own religion and seek the Truth. His casual talks and behavior created untold happiness on the devotees. Such was the personality of the SaiBaba. Today, in a World where hatred, terror, violence is destroying the very fabric of humanity the life and teachings of SAI BABA is becoming more and more relevant.