💐II 🕉 Sairam II💐
*The Samadhi.*
The Samadhi is 6’ long, and 2’ wide. Surrounding it is an alter 9’ by 9’ with a height of 3’. Three steps lead to this alter; on the 3rdstep these words are inscribed
*“Shri Sai Baba hey mithi Ashwin sudh 10 roji mangalwar dinak 15 October, 1918 roji samadhisth zale”* (Roughly Translated) In the month of Ashsvin sudh 10th day on Tuesday the 15th of October 1918 Shri Sai Baba took Samadhi. This is the inscribed in Marathi on the central portion of the step. On either side there are Urdu inscriptions. On the left is the Islamic Tariq. The inscription reads *“Tariq vafat Sai Baba 9 Mohorrum 1339 Sun higari nanil”.* On the right side is inscribed *“Likhe ek jaane majmun khali aur Sikander mohib dar duniya dono haath khale”*
The rough translation is “It is written in a well known article that both the learned philosopher and Sikander (Alexander) entered this world empty handed and left this world with both their hands empty”
Many questions arise from this inscription. When was this added on? As the photographs in the old Shri Sai Satcharita do not show this, only the central inscription is there. Why should this be written on the step of Baba’s Samadhi? If its’ meant to be a sort of epitaph, then judging from the crowds Baba is fulfilling every ones desires, and no one returns empty handed. Is it a note of caution for us to remember the ultimate truth that finally after asking him for a thousand things and receiving them, we will leave this world empty handed?
Everyday mangal snan is performed to Baba’s murty and the Samadhi, and then alankar is done with ashtagandh. Then theSamadhi is covered with a beautiful shawl, care is taken to cover the Samadhi, and the murtywith a warm shawl during the winter months, while a cotton shawl is used in summer. Meticulous care is taken be give Baba a warm shawl starting from Diwali Padava i.e. Karthik(October-November) through the winter. The use of the warm shawl is discontinued on Holi in Phalgun(March).
On Monday, 8-3-1936 duringKakad arati it was noted by Shama and numerous devotees that the warm shawl covering the Samadhi had on its own accord moved aside. Thus leaving only the cotton shawl to cover it, the significance of this was that Baba was feeling hot and had pushed the woolen shawl away. This is the reason meticulous care given to change the fabric of the shawl on those particular dates.
Ref Sai Leela Magazine Ank 1,2,3. Year 13, Shake 1858 (1936).
This routine is also followed in the Dwarka Mai. The other caring practice is to place a kerosene lantern through the night next to Baba’s murty. A copper Zaari (container with a spout used for water) filled with water is placed next to the lantern. Radha Krishna Mai, lovingly did this during Baba’s sojourn in Shirdi.
After Sej arati a mosquito net covers the murty and the Samadhi. It is removed just before Kakad arati the next morning. Baba’s murty is offered butter sweetened with sugar at Kakad arati. The significance of butter, it is present in milk in the invisible form. After certain irrevocable process it becomes visible. Once the butter is formed it floats and does not dissolve either in milk or water. Baba wants us to offer ourselves as butter sweetened with sugar of “Total Surrender” to him.
Every living being on earth is as pure as milk at birth. But as one grows the family and society influence and adulterate that human being with illusions of Maya to ‘set as curds’. At this juncture only the grace of the Sadguru can churn this curd from which butter of ‘self realization’ can be extracted. Once the butter surfaces it will float on this ‘Bhavsagar’ without being dissolved.
Breakfast is given before thelaghu arati “Shirdi majhePandharpur”. Lunch is given before the noon arati.
Dinner is given before Dhup aratiit is usually “Jhunka Bhakar” with raw onions. On Ekadashi he is offered ‘upavas’ food. Ekadashi is a day of fasting (upavas)
Upavas means “to stay near the almighty” i.e. to concentrate on him. A person can concentrate when his indriyas are not working outwardly. The first step is to have ‘satvic aahar’. We have to give ‘satvic aahar’ to our minds by doing Puja, naam smaran etc.
Baba’s food is cooked in the Naivedya Koti which was a room in the rear of the Samadhi Mandir. The Naivedya Koti is now moved upstairs.
*Baba’s Murty*(idol)
Baba’s murty is hewn from a single block of marble, it cost 22,000 rupees. The murty’s faces east, and the face is tilted towards ‘ishanya disha’ (north east). This is the abode of Lord Vishnu. Every devotee who goes to the Samadhi Mandir feels that Baba is looking only at him or her, no matter where they stand. In fact Baba is not just looking at them but he is searching for them with his benevolent gaze.
On the 7th of October 1954, the idol was installed next to the western wall, on the platform, behind Baba’s Samadhi.
*THE BRICK*
This brick was Baba’s, constant companion, his ‘Sangani’. Mhalsapati, Kashiram Shimpi and Madhu Fasle performed mangalsnan and worshiped it every day. One day, accidentally the brick broke. The breaking of the brick is symbolic of death. A detailed account of the brick is given in the book titled Baba’s Rinanubandh.
Baba was distraught and said, “It’s not the brick, but my fortune that is broken. She was my constant companion! Now that she has gone, so I too will leave.” Thereafter Baba’s health stared deteriorating and on the 5th day he took Mahasamadhi. Mention of this incident is made in the ShriSai Satcharita chapter 44.
*Source : Baba’s Gurukul compiled by Vinny Chitluri. For copies contact 9902388699.For all copies by Vinny chitluri please contact Sada Ghode @ 09822856666 / 9975455835 in Shirdi*
*The Samadhi.*
The Samadhi is 6’ long, and 2’ wide. Surrounding it is an alter 9’ by 9’ with a height of 3’. Three steps lead to this alter; on the 3rdstep these words are inscribed
*“Shri Sai Baba hey mithi Ashwin sudh 10 roji mangalwar dinak 15 October, 1918 roji samadhisth zale”* (Roughly Translated) In the month of Ashsvin sudh 10th day on Tuesday the 15th of October 1918 Shri Sai Baba took Samadhi. This is the inscribed in Marathi on the central portion of the step. On either side there are Urdu inscriptions. On the left is the Islamic Tariq. The inscription reads *“Tariq vafat Sai Baba 9 Mohorrum 1339 Sun higari nanil”.* On the right side is inscribed *“Likhe ek jaane majmun khali aur Sikander mohib dar duniya dono haath khale”*
The rough translation is “It is written in a well known article that both the learned philosopher and Sikander (Alexander) entered this world empty handed and left this world with both their hands empty”
Many questions arise from this inscription. When was this added on? As the photographs in the old Shri Sai Satcharita do not show this, only the central inscription is there. Why should this be written on the step of Baba’s Samadhi? If its’ meant to be a sort of epitaph, then judging from the crowds Baba is fulfilling every ones desires, and no one returns empty handed. Is it a note of caution for us to remember the ultimate truth that finally after asking him for a thousand things and receiving them, we will leave this world empty handed?
Everyday mangal snan is performed to Baba’s murty and the Samadhi, and then alankar is done with ashtagandh. Then theSamadhi is covered with a beautiful shawl, care is taken to cover the Samadhi, and the murtywith a warm shawl during the winter months, while a cotton shawl is used in summer. Meticulous care is taken be give Baba a warm shawl starting from Diwali Padava i.e. Karthik(October-November) through the winter. The use of the warm shawl is discontinued on Holi in Phalgun(March).
On Monday, 8-3-1936 duringKakad arati it was noted by Shama and numerous devotees that the warm shawl covering the Samadhi had on its own accord moved aside. Thus leaving only the cotton shawl to cover it, the significance of this was that Baba was feeling hot and had pushed the woolen shawl away. This is the reason meticulous care given to change the fabric of the shawl on those particular dates.
Ref Sai Leela Magazine Ank 1,2,3. Year 13, Shake 1858 (1936).
This routine is also followed in the Dwarka Mai. The other caring practice is to place a kerosene lantern through the night next to Baba’s murty. A copper Zaari (container with a spout used for water) filled with water is placed next to the lantern. Radha Krishna Mai, lovingly did this during Baba’s sojourn in Shirdi.
After Sej arati a mosquito net covers the murty and the Samadhi. It is removed just before Kakad arati the next morning. Baba’s murty is offered butter sweetened with sugar at Kakad arati. The significance of butter, it is present in milk in the invisible form. After certain irrevocable process it becomes visible. Once the butter is formed it floats and does not dissolve either in milk or water. Baba wants us to offer ourselves as butter sweetened with sugar of “Total Surrender” to him.
Every living being on earth is as pure as milk at birth. But as one grows the family and society influence and adulterate that human being with illusions of Maya to ‘set as curds’. At this juncture only the grace of the Sadguru can churn this curd from which butter of ‘self realization’ can be extracted. Once the butter surfaces it will float on this ‘Bhavsagar’ without being dissolved.
Breakfast is given before thelaghu arati “Shirdi majhePandharpur”. Lunch is given before the noon arati.
Dinner is given before Dhup aratiit is usually “Jhunka Bhakar” with raw onions. On Ekadashi he is offered ‘upavas’ food. Ekadashi is a day of fasting (upavas)
Upavas means “to stay near the almighty” i.e. to concentrate on him. A person can concentrate when his indriyas are not working outwardly. The first step is to have ‘satvic aahar’. We have to give ‘satvic aahar’ to our minds by doing Puja, naam smaran etc.
Baba’s food is cooked in the Naivedya Koti which was a room in the rear of the Samadhi Mandir. The Naivedya Koti is now moved upstairs.
*Baba’s Murty*(idol)
Baba’s murty is hewn from a single block of marble, it cost 22,000 rupees. The murty’s faces east, and the face is tilted towards ‘ishanya disha’ (north east). This is the abode of Lord Vishnu. Every devotee who goes to the Samadhi Mandir feels that Baba is looking only at him or her, no matter where they stand. In fact Baba is not just looking at them but he is searching for them with his benevolent gaze.
On the 7th of October 1954, the idol was installed next to the western wall, on the platform, behind Baba’s Samadhi.
*THE BRICK*
This brick was Baba’s, constant companion, his ‘Sangani’. Mhalsapati, Kashiram Shimpi and Madhu Fasle performed mangalsnan and worshiped it every day. One day, accidentally the brick broke. The breaking of the brick is symbolic of death. A detailed account of the brick is given in the book titled Baba’s Rinanubandh.
Baba was distraught and said, “It’s not the brick, but my fortune that is broken. She was my constant companion! Now that she has gone, so I too will leave.” Thereafter Baba’s health stared deteriorating and on the 5th day he took Mahasamadhi. Mention of this incident is made in the ShriSai Satcharita chapter 44.
*Source : Baba’s Gurukul compiled by Vinny Chitluri. For copies contact 9902388699.For all copies by Vinny chitluri please contact Sada Ghode @ 09822856666 / 9975455835 in Shirdi*
