- 🪄I believe Sai Baba fully, as HE just dashed the satka on the ground, got water, and thrust the prong into the ground to get a live ember.
- 🌌I will always utter Allah Malik (God is the sole owner).
- 🪔I am unperturbed even in scarcity, because Sai Baba can perform the miracle of turning water into oil.
- 🧿I surrender my ego completely and accept Sai Baba’s authority, knowing that He leads me to the highest end: self-realization.
- 🙏I will be meek and humble, as Sai Baba, though a Siddha (one with powers), acts like a Sadhaka (aspirant).
- 🦶I believe that Padukas (footprints) under the Shirdi Temple Neem tree grant blessings and are the feet of the Sai Baba’s Guru.
- ⛱️My resting place is Shirdi; I will go there and offer my worship to Sai.
Tag: Neem tree
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Self-Affirmation from Chapter V of SSSC for Sai Baba devotees
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Entry Pass at Gate 4 of Shridi Mandir
New special initiative for devotees and local citizens.
An entry pass system has been implemented at Gate No. 4 of Sai Baba Mandir in Shirdi. This initiative has facilitated access to the temple premises; yet, it does not grant entry into the Main Mandir.
- Devotees engaging in visits
- to the Shree Shanaishwar, Shree Ganesh, and Shree Mahadev temples
- for meditation purposes (at the Reading and Meditation Hall)
- as visitors in the Administration Office
- all occurring within the Samadhi Mandir premises
(You) can use Gate No.4, avail this Entry pass and go for the above purposes
- Devotees engaging in visits
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Earlier Years at Shirdi II-Food & Residence
Baba, noting Mahlsapathy’s attitude, left the place (Khandoba temple), and went to the gode- neem tree, which he used as his halting place off and on. He went about the village and the surrounding lands and had no particular arrangements for food.
Luckily the village head, Ganapat Rao Patil Kothe and his wife Bayaji Bai, were greatly attracted by Baba’s personality, and from the very beginning of his stay there, they undertook to feed him, even when he was running about. Gradually he gave up roaming and then went about the streets, halted at four or five places and from there collected whatever food was brought to him.
For his stay and sleep, the dilapidated mosque of the village was the only place, and it soon became his residence. He was never for wholly deserting society and living in mountain caves and deserts.
Mosque where Baba lived -
Baba’s Earlier Years at Shirdi I-Khandoba temple
Baba’s earliest years at Shirdi were passed in complete obscurity. Baba had no home; Fakirs have none. Hermits are, therefore, to reside either at a tree-foot or chavadi or temple or other public places.
When he came into Shirdi, first Baba visited Khandoba temple at the outskirts of the village, and then noting how solitary and calm a place it was, exclaimed, ‘What a nice place this, for ascetics like me to live in.’ Mahlsapathy, the man then in charge objected to this observation and said that no Mohammadan would be allowed to put his foot into the Khandoba temple.
He was evidently thinking that Baba was a Muslim and that he would break the images and defile the temple. But Baba was just the opposite.
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Baba and Others Saints
Para Number in the Book -BCS & Baba’s appearance in the form of other saints
- Keshav Naik of Tardev, when Akkalkote Maharaj was passing away
(about 1878) thus addressed him: Maharaj, if you go away, what support have we?
Akkalkote Maharaj (giving his shoes to be worshiped): My Avatar (spirit) will be at Shirdi in Ahmadnagar District. Go there always. Be devoted there. If you do so, you will not remember me. And you will be happy
When Akkalkote Maharaj passed away, Keshav Naik and his son
Ramachandra Naik, accompanied by two orthodox Brahmins went to Sai Baba at Shirdi. On the way the Brahmins referred to Baba as a mad moslem fakir to whom no Brahmins could bow. When all four reached Baba.
Baba to Keshav Naik: You and your son may come and visit me, if you like.
(Pointing to the other two); These are Karmata Brahmins.
Baba to Ramachandra Naik: Fetch Margosa (Neem) leaves.
Ramachandra Naik brought some leaves. Baba distributed the leaves to the four.
Baba: Eat the leaves. How do they taste?
Brahmis (with a wry face): Very bitter.
The two Naiks: The leaves are sweet. We ate plenty of the leaves.Thus Baba parted his sheep from the goats, and confirmed the statement of Akkalkote Maharaj.
I am at Mirzgaon (‘Fakir Bua’)
Why come here? (To Kusa Bhav)
I am Bandra Moulana.
[I am Nanded Moulana] You have already given me Rs.3-14-075. I am with you wherever you may be. I do not require conveyance to take me.
- Baba (May 1914) addressing Mrs. T., a Bandra lady and her son Master T. : “Mother, I have to go thrice a day to your house.”
Mrs. T.: Yes, Baba
A local lady was astonished at this statement. She saw Baba daily at Shirdi. She said “Baba, what is this strange thing you say?”
Baba: I do not speak falsehood. I am Mahalaxmi. Mother I come to your house. You give me things to eat, is that not true?
Bandra Lady: Yes, Baba
Shirdi Lady: Truly, does Baba go to you and do you feed him? Bandra Lady: Yes.
Baba to Master T.: Do I not come to your house?
Master T.: Yes, Baba.
Baba to Shirdi Lady: Yes, mother, I go easily to Bhav’s house
(at Bandra). In the middle, there is a wall. Jumping over it, next comes the railway line, and then Bhav’s house. (Here Baba described the crow’s flight from Shirdi to the lady’s house at Bandra).
I have to fly across walls and excavations. - Mrs. Tendulkar of Bandra daily heaped up garlands of bakul (flower) over
Baba’s picture in her house at Bandra for two months and then went to Shirdi.
Baba : Hallo, Kaka (ie.To H.S. Dixit) these two or three months I have not been at Shirdi at all. This mother has smothered me with bakul flower and I was quite dizzy, and unconscious of myself. Now I am slowly coming around. - I went to Bandra and saw Bhav left nothing for me to eat, so I have returned hungry.
- Do you think of me, at meal ? Am I not present near you ? Do you give me a morsel ?
- I am not at Shirdi, but in all.
- He who thinks that (Sai) Baba is in Shirdi (alone) has totally failed to see (i.e., know) Baba.
- Why do you (weep and) behave so madly. Am I not there (at Bombay) by your side?
- He (Sai) who is at Shirdi now is also at Machandragad here. It is to teach you this, I sent you here. (To Manker)
- I have just been to Kasi and had a bath.
I was at Jejuri, Bagat.
I was at Dhulia, did you not see me? (To Upasani’s son)
When you heard my voice, why doubt? Bolted doors do not bar access to me. (To Megha) - I will go with you (invisibly). Do not worry. Mother, I take thought for your family. Well, Go. I am by your side.
- I am myself sitting there (invisibly), guarding you (Purandhare) and your wife.
- Wherever you may be, think of me, and I am by your side.
- Wherever you may be, whatever any of my devotees think, say or do, that very instant I am aware of it.
(cf Quran-“And when my servants ask thee concerning me, then I nigh unto them and answer the cry of him that crieth unto me” - I look equally on all. Not a leaf moves, except by my grace. I look on all with equal eye.
- Keshav Naik of Tardev, when Akkalkote Maharaj was passing away
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Baba’s Probable Birth-date
None knew or knows the parents and exact birth-date of Sai Baba; but it can be approximately determined by His stay in Shirdi.
Baba first came to Shirdi, when he was a young lad of sixteen and stayed there for three years.
Then all of a sudden He disappeared for some time.
After some time, He reappeared in the Nizam state near Aurangabad,
and again came to Shirdi with the marriage-party of Chand Patil, when He was twenty years old.
Since then, He stayed in Shirdi continuously for a period of sixty years, after which Baba took His Maha-Samadhi in the year 1918.
From this we can say that the year of Baba’s birth is approximately 1838 A.D.
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TIPS relate to Shirdi and Mandir Visits
Day and Time:
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are least crowded, normally.
Fridays from 12 Noon-8 p.m. & Daily from 3 to 4 p.m. are also less crowded.
The best day to visit is on Thursday; many people visit the temple and fast for nine consecutive Thursdays (referred to as the Sai Vrat Pooja). You do visit on Thursdays, but be prepared for the crowd.
Other busy times are on weekends and celebration like Holi, Guru Purnima, Dussehra, Ram Navami festivals. The temple is kept open overnight during these festivals.
Months
Best period to visit Shirdi is October to March.
But crowd is more, during the festive months ie September to December; and maximum during Dussehra and Diwali
Others
- There’s a procession of Sai Baba’s chariot around 9.15 p.m on Thursdays.
- The main temple (Samadhi Mandir) is open from 5am to 10.30pm,
- where as Dwarkamayi Masjid, Chavadi, Gurusthan are closed around 8.30pm.
- But first ‘darshan’ of the day starts, after the morning program of worship (Morning aarti and others ), at around 7am.
- There is no restriction on darshan during the day in Dwarkamayi Masjid, Chavadi, Gurusthan, and Nanda deep.
- However, there are a few minutes of restriction during Dhuni Pooja or while offering food to Shri Sai.
PLACE:
- Free Bus is also available from Sai Nivas and Mandir to here.
- Mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices aren’t permitted inside the temple area.
- Have “Mukh darshan” of Baba Face, adjoins Dwarkamayi . DO mediation here, while leaving Shirdi pilgrimage, by sitting few minutes. (Quick one, as small queue, but some distance darshan)
- The Museum displays articles used by Sai Baba. Do not forget to visit it, near Gurusthan.
- FREE food provided at Prasadalaya. Devotees and visitors can take unlimited food (rice, vegetables, dal with Sweet). The capacity of Prasadalaya is huge and 1000s of people come every day. It is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Free Food Token Counter
- In Chavadi, ladies are not allowed to enter the section where Baba used to sleep.
Accommodation:
Accommodation Booking Counter - Avoid the touts for getting any accommodation.
- It is advisable to approach any hotel/lodge directly, ONLY if not available accommodation i)through https://online.sai.org.in/ OR ii)directly at Mandir Accommodation Offices.
- There is a wide choice of hotels/lodges in Shirdi, suiting the budget of all.
Don’t go to any shop for keeping Mobile, Free Slippers and Luggage, BUT USE Trust’s counters, very near to Gate No. 2 to keep all these.
Be cautious about the prices while taking the garland, coconut etc particularly as a package from the nearby shops and avoid being overcharged by them.
Prasadam and Books:
- BUY Prasadam at SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI” stall, near Sai Commercial Complex and
- Buy Books at Official Book stall at Mandir, then offer at Mandir if allowed there, and take home for your family and friends. Your can also buy Books and other publications from Temple Management.
Donation:
Each gift item must be registered in the Donation Office of the temple. Devotees can donate at SRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST Office
- cash either in the Donation Office, with due receipt or
- put into directly any of the donation boxes, placed at all important places of temple complex or
- Crossed and A/C payee Cheques, Demand Drafts, Indian Postal Orders, Foreign Postal Order, Travelers Cheques or Money Orders are accepted. Transactions are handled only at the Official address of Sansthan.
- Andhra bank is authorized to collect the donations for Nitya Prasadalaya Annadan (Free Food Scheme) through their network of branches. But then, official receipt is issued by Sansthan itself.
Prior registration is mandatory before you make any offering at the temple.
Communication:
Devotees are requested to call, ONLY 02423-258500 for any information regarding Saibaba Sansthan. 2] For all Online Services please do contact on 02423-258956/63 & WhatsApp-07720077203
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Interesting Spot in and around Shirdi Mandir
INTERESTING PLACEs MUST VISIT IN AND NEAR SHIRDI
- WITHIN/CLOSE TO SHIRDI MANDIR
- Samadhi Mandir
- Gurusthan [Neem Tree]
- Lendi Baug
- Dwarkamai
- Chavadi
- Dixit Wada Museum
- Meditation Hall
- Nanda Lamp
- Ganapthy, Siva_Parvathy & Sani Temples
- Maruti Mandir
- Abdul Baba cottage
- Thursday Palki procession
- WITHIN SHIRDI TOWN
- Narashimar Temple (when get down Chavadi, turn left)
- Sai Baba’s Art Gallery (Free @ Sai Complex, I Floor)
- Laxmi Temple (opp Gate No.2)
- Khandoba Mandir (near Bus stand)
- House of Laxmibai Shinde (opp Chavdi)
- Free Prasad-Food at Prasadalaya
- Sai Heritage Village (INR 150 per person*)
- Wet n Joy WATER PARK (INR 1200 per person*)
- Sai Teerth Devotional Theme Park (₹650* per person)
- * Verify their website for the most accurate rates. We are not sponsoring
- AROUND SHIRDI
- 1 Upasani Maharaj Ashram – A serene place for reflection and spiritual growth.
- 2 Shani Shingnapur, (70 kms. Nevasa Taluk, Ahmednagar Dt.) – This temple is dedicated to Lord Shani, related Plant Saturn. Its unique feature is that the houses and shops in the village have no doors or locks. Visitors can perform puja and seek blessings from Lord
- 3 Nevasa, (Nevasa Taluk, Ahmednagar Dt.) – A peaceful area rich in cultural heritage and ancient Mohiniraj (Vishnu) temple.
- 4 Muktidham (Nashik) – A place where the essence of devotion and tranquility beautifully converge. Marble temple. Replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas which have built as per dimension of original
- 5 Kalaram Temple, (Panchavati – Nashik) – An important pilgrimage site for Lord Ram, built in 1782.
- 6 Pandavleni Caves, (Nashik) – These are ancient caves. Buddhist monks built them in these serene surroundings. They date back to the 2nd century.
- 7 Ramkund, (Panchavati – Nashik) – A sacred water spot that invites introspection and calm.
- 8 Manmad Thumbs Up Mountain Trek – A thrilling adventure surrounded by breathtaking nature.
- 9 Ellora Caves, (Aurangabad) – A remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site, showcasing the grandeur of ancient art and architecture.
- 10 Daulatabad, (Aurangabad) – A historic fort that stands as a testament to the strategic brilliance of the past.
- 11 Coin Museum, (Anjaneri Village – Nashik) – A fascinating place that takes you on a journey through history via rare coins.
- 12 Trimbakeshwar, (Nashik) – A sacred temple that holds deep significance in the hearts of devotees.
- 13 Alandi, (Khed Taluk– Pune) – A tranquil town that offers peace and spiritual solace such as Dnyaneshwar samadhi
- 14 Bhimashankar, (75 kms. Khed – Pune) – a scenic hill station that offers picturesque views of mountains, valleys, and waterfalls. It is a perfect place for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.
- 15 Nashik: (90 km) A city on the banks of the Godavari River, famous for its historical and religious ancient temples, like Trimbakeshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India
- 15 Ellora Caves: (100 km) An UNESCO World Heritage site, showcase a blend of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain architecture; intricate carvings and sculptures that depict the ancient Indian culture
- 16 Ajanta Caves: (110 km) An UNESCO World Heritage site and showcase exquisite rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments and frescoes that date back to the 2nd century BC
- WITHIN/CLOSE TO SHIRDI MANDIR
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Three Wadas (Big Building)
(1) The site with the Neem tree and surrounding space was bought by Mr. Hari Vinayak Sathe, and on this site a big building styled Sathe’s Wada was erected, at Shirdi Gurusthan
This Wada was the sole resting place for pilgrims, who flocked there. A Par (platform) was built round the neem tree and lofts with steps were constructed.
Under the steps, there is a niche facing south and devotees sit on the Par (platform) facing north. It is believed, that he who burns incense there, on Thursday and Friday evenings will, by God’s grace, be happy. This Wada was old and dilapidated and wanted repairs. The Sansthan has made the necessary repairs, additions and alterations now.
(2) Then after some years another Wada, Dixit’s Wada was constructed. Kakasaheb Dixit, Solicitor of Bombay, had gone to England. He had injured his leg by an accident there. The injury could not be got rid of by any means. Nanasaheb Chandorkar advised him to try Sai Baba. So he saw Sai Baba in 1909 A.D., and requested Him to cure rather the lameness of his mind than that of his leg.
He was so much pleased with the darshana of Sai Baba that he decided to reside in Shirdi. So he built a Wada for himself and other devotees. The foundation of this building was laid on 10-12-1910.
On this day, the night Arti in Chavadi was commenced.
The Wada was complete and was inhabited on the Rama- Navami day in 1911 A.D., with due rites and formalities.
(3) Then 3rd Wada or palatial mansion was put up by the famous millionaire, Mr. Booty, of Nagpur.
Lots of money was spent on this building, but the entire amount was well utilized, as Sai Baba’s body is resting in this Wada, which is now called the Samadhi Mandir.
The site of this Mandir had formerly a garden, which was watered and looked after by Baba. Three Wadas thus sprang up, where there was none formerly. Of these, Sathe’s Wada was most useful to all, in the early days.
"I draw to Me, My man from far off or even across the seven Seas to Shirdi, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet"-Shirdi Sai Baba, Indian Spiritual Guru-God 