Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir

The Shirdi Saibaba Temple, located at Shirdi, Maharashtra, India attracts millions of devotees of all religions, castes and creed who come to pay homage to Shri Sai Baba. The temple is a beautiful shrine that was built over the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba. Shirdi is not only the famous place in Maharashtra but in India and pilgrims come to Shirdi to worship the Sai Baba. The temple is a huge one and is recently renovated in 1998-99. The temple including premises is around 200 Sq.mtrs. Sai Baba lived here till the last minute of his life. Sai Baba took personal interest in looking after the local temples. Sai Baba personally took interest in the construction of Maruti Temple and Shani Temple .



Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur, a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. Gopalrao wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar here. However, Baba himself became Murlidhar and the Mandir became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. 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 Sai Baba's marvelous statue made of Italian marble, which shows him seated on a throne. This idol was made by the late Shri Balaji Vasant. This statue was installed on 7th October 1954. Above the statue is an open, silver umbrella. The front of the Mandir has an assembly hall where about 600 devotees can be accomadated. Here is a showcase where various things handled by Baba are kept. On the first floor of the Mandir are pictures that depict Baba’s life.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.
Sai Baba were known to many people around the period of 1913. Sai Baba laid down his body on Dashera 15th October 1918 here. Samadhi - The place where sacred body of Baba is resting. A beautiful statue of Shri Sai Baba was installed in 1954 , replacing a photograph of Shri Sai Baba. This is the main temple of Shri Sai Baba and also known as "Buttiwada". The holy place of Shri Sai Baba's Samadhi and a large statue of Shri Sai Baba can be seen in this main temple. The main attraction here is all such things handled by him are on display here. The main temple is the Samadhi Temple ,the Samadhi place of Shri Sai Baba. While visiting here some instructions are to be followed by the devotees.



Some important places to visit here are:

1.Dwarkamai Temple : This is the place where Shri Sai Baba used to spent much of his time. All the things from His time are still kept as they were used to. It includes, Dhuni (lighted by Shri Sai Baba), Chul (clay stove), Bathing Stone, Jata (Grinding Stone), and the stone on which Baba used to sit.


2.Lendi Baug : : Baba used to stroll daily at this place - of dense shrubs and bushes. Baba used to come here to get some rest and isolation. Baba himself had planted a "Pimpal Tree" at this place. A beautiful "Datta Temple" is located here. "Baba's Shiwadi"(a well) is also located in this place. A light named Nandadeep is kept lightened all the time, near the "Pimpal Tree".





3.Gurusthan : This place of Shri Sai Baba's Guru is famous as "Gurusthan". Sai Baba at the age of 16 was seen here firstly. The well known "Neem Tree" can also be seen here. It is believed that, the devotees can get what they pray for if "Udi" and "Agarbatti" is lightened at this place, every Thursday and Friday.




4.Chawadi : The place next to Dwarkamai is Chawadi where Baba's used to sleep on alternate nights. The cot and chair, used by Shri Sai Baba are kept here. Some more temples which are also located in the Samadhi Temple's premises and must to visit are like Shri Ganesh, Shri Mahadev Mandir and Shri Shani .Maruti Temple was one of the favorite temple of Sai Baba as he regularly visits this temple. 


No comments:

Post a Comment