First temple of Shirdi Sai Baba in Bhivpuri

Temple Highlights

Introduction: Bhivpuri is a small and remote village in the Raigad District. Bhivpuri Road is a Railway Station on the Mumbai Pune railway route and it is in between Karjat Railway Station and Neral. The Temple is at a distance of 2 KMS from the Bhivpuri Road Railway Station. While going from Mumbai to Poona, on the Central Railway, you will the board “Bhivpuri Road” on a small station just before Karat.Get down on this station and look at the East side, you will notice a small dome of a temple surrounded by fields.  This is the dome of the Sainath temple at Bhivpuri Road.  The way to this temple passes through fields and you can reach the Mandir within about five to seven minutes. Bhivpuri – The Holy Palace of First Ever Saibaba Temple In the World   This is the first ever Shirdi Saibaba Temple built in the year 1916 at Bhivpuri by Sri.Keshav Ramachandra Pradhan when Baba was still in his physical Body. Hence, this is a must see pilgrimage centre for all the Saibaba Devotees.  The history of this temple is very interesting and the devotees of Shri Sai Baba will be happy to know how Shri Sai Baba converts people and creates devotion in their minds. Sri.Keshav Ramachandra Pradhan hailed from this village. He owned a house and farmland in this village. He also worked as a Bill Collector in a private finance company to earn his livelihood. His home was next to his farm in an isolated area. The place was very peaceful and had a beautiful flower garden and also surrounded by luscious trees. Next to his house there is a Saibaba Temple which was built later. There is a Tulasi Brindavan, a well and aged trees in the vicinity. In the Flower Garden, there was an old Banyan Tree, a Peepul Tree, two Neem Trees and an Audumbara Tree. Before Pradhan met Baba, he had a great deal of disrespect and contempt for saints. Once his friend was going to Shirdi along with his family. He repeatedly requested Pradhan to accompany them but Pradhan declined. Finally Pradhan agreed to accompany his friend on the condition that he would not bow before Baba and would not drink Baba’s “Pada Teertha” as the very thought repulsed him. They reached Shirdi and went to Dwarakamai to have darshan of Baba. Dwarakamai was fully crowded and hence Pradhan sat in a corner far from the Sanctum Sanctorum. Gradually the crowd became less and the Dwarakamai was empty. His friend was in the Sanctum Sanctorum worshipping Baba. Baba told “bring that irresponsible and contemptuous rascal here” pointing towards Pradhan. His friend brought him before Baba who was still shouting. Then Baba advised him about his behaviour and contempt for ascetics and saints. While Baba was advising him Pradhan got a glimpse of Baba’s omnipresence and his knowledge of every passing thought. Pradhan was touched by Baba’s words and his contempt for saints vanished at once. At that very moment he became an ardent devotee of Saibaba. As the days progressed, the financial position of Pradhan improved by the grace of Baba and he found peace of mind. He started making frequent visits to Shirdi. During every visit, he requested Baba to come to Bhivpuri. On one of his visits, his persistence paid off and Baba said “I will come”.  But, Pradhan was extremely stubborn and adamant by nature. He was repeatedly asking Baba during his frequent visits to Shirdi as to when he would come to Bhivpuri. On one of his visits to Shirdi, Baba gave Pradhan a Bas-relief image of himself and said “Hear, take this and keep it in your home. Truly believe that this is me and do not come to Shirdi hereafter”. Pradhan took the image home but he thought that Baba was joking. So, he went to Shirdi again. As soon as he stepped into the Sanctum Sanctorum Baba said. “I am in your home. Do not come to Shirdi again. Go back to Bhivpuri. Erect a temple and install my Bas-relief image in it. Perform all the festivals there. Do not come back again for that is your Shirdi. Now leave at once, and go home”. Thus on the instructions of Baba, Pradhan stopped going to Shirdi. Pradhan constructed a temple next to his home. Once at midnight he heard the temple doors open. He and his family went to see who it was; everyone was surprised at what they saw. Baba entered the temple and closed the door behind him. Then at 3 a.m. the door opened and Baba left. Pradhan narrated this wonderful event to all his friends and relatives who also came to behold this wonderful event. Once Pradhan had a terrible crisis in his life, and it seemed to be never ending. He could not find a solution for it. At that juncture Baba gave him Sakshatkar or divine vision and patting his back said “Don’t be afraid, I am here to protect you”. Pradhan considered the place that Baba gave him Sakshatkar very sacred. He did not want any one to walk on it. Hence, to preserve the sanctity of the place, he built a Tulasi Brindavan over it. There is a trust which is taking care of the management of this Temple in Bhivpuri. The trust has recently decided to demolish the old buildings and construct a new temple in this place. Dev Baba does Parayan of Shri Sai Satcharithra at Bhivpuri: The ties between Baba and Dev Baba were deep and unfathomable. Dev Baba often went to the Bhivpuri Road Temple and did Parayan or continuous reading of the Shri Sai Satcharitra. On one occasion he completed the Parayan at 11 a.m. The villagers knew that it was the last day of the reading so they had gathered at the temple to receive the Prasad. It is a practice that on completion of the “Shri Sai Satcharithra” a grand feast is offered to everyone. It was 12 Noon and the Aarti was performed. The villagers stayed on to attend the Aarti. Although completely immersed in the Aarti Dev Baba felt a very powerful spiritual presence beside him. He opened his eyes and looked around. A tall man was standing next to him. He was dressed like a shepherd, and looked quite different from the rest of the villagers. At that time the “Mantra Pushpaanjali”  i.e., offering of flowers to the deity (was completed. Everyone went forward to offer flowers to the Idol. But the shepherd stood right where he was, and quietly let the flowers fall on to his own feet. Dev Baba saw this and realized that Baba had blessed him by appearing for the Aarti on the day that the Parayan was completed. With utter devotion he prostrated before him. Details about Shri Sainath Mandir (Bhivpuri Road) Trust: The temple has good natural surroundings. There are big trees all around.  By night there is perfect peace and silence.  However, after the temple was built by about midnight the noise of the opening of the temple door used to be heard and Shri Sai Baba used to be seen going about in the precincts of the temple.  Sometimes he used to be seen resting under a tree.  At about 3 a.m., in the early morning, the noise of closing of the temple door used to be heard.  This was noticed not only by Shri Pradhan and his family members, but even some guests who came to Shri Pradhan, also saw this miracle.  The doubts in the mind of Shri Pradhan were completely removed in this incident and he became a confirmed Sai devotee from that time, and cost of thousands of rupees Shri Pradhan built a beautiful Shrine room, a specious hall, a wide verandah and a guest house. Shri Sai Baba went into Maha Samadhi in 1918, but the worship of Saibaba by Shri Pradhan continued with the same devotion.  In 1924, Shri Pradhan’s daughter was married to Shri A.V.Gupte of Dadar, Mumbai.  As Shri Gupte was himself a very pious man, he started taking keen interest in all the functions that were held at Bhivpuri and also encouraged many of his friends to come to visit the temple there. This resulted in the increase of the number of visitors coming to Bhivpuri. Shri Gupte visited Shirdi in 1936.  He was so much impressed by the grandeur of the Samadhi Mandir there that with folded hands he prayed to Sai Baba that such a grand temple should come up at Bhivpuri very soon.  As Shri Sai Baba is famous for granting the sincere prayers of his devotees, the above request of Shri Gupte was immediately granted by Shri Baba and from that time the Bhivpuri temple of Shri Sai Baba became more and more famous. Shri Pradhan expired in 1939, leaving the responsibility of the temple to his sons and son-in-law.  For perpetuating the functions of the temple, an institution under the name “Shri Sadguru Sainath Seva Sanstha” was formed in the same year and seven trustees wee appointed to manage the temple affairs. Due to influx of more and more pilgrims, the old temple was found to be inadequate to accommodate all of them.  The work of renovation and extension of the same was started; but though the brick work was completed, the work of construction of the roof was held up due to shortage of funds and material.  In order to find a way out, late Shri Narayan Purohit, a Sai devotee started “Parayan” of Sai Satcharitra.  After four days Shri Baba appeared in his dream and said, “Where is my Dhuni?  If there is no Dhuni, how can this be Shirdi?  How will the temple be complete?”  As this dream was repeated, Shri Purohit informed Shri Gupte about it and in consultation with the other trustees, it was decided to start a Dhuni at the temple.  A place was therefore fixed for construction of the Dhuni and Shri A.R.Walawalkar, the grandson of Shri Dabholkar, the author of Shri Satcharitra lit the fire and the Dhuni for the first time on 7th April 1949 on the auspicious day of Sriramanavami, at about 10 a.m. Shri Kumarsen Samarth, offered to pay all the expenses of the roof and other structures around the Dhuni.  Like the Dhuni in the Dwarakamayee at Shirdi, this Dhuni also burns continuously.  Various functions are held at the temple throughout the year and the functions on Ramnavami and the Samadhi day are celebrated with special pomp and show.  Late Prof. D.D.Parchure, the former Executive Editor of the magazine, Shri Sai Leela who was a sincere Sai devotee, used to remain present at the time of both these special functions and perform Keertan expounding the life and teachings of Sai Baba. Many great personalities visit the temple and give the financial help.  The trustees are grateful to all the visitors for their devotion and financial help.  Due to this wonderful story of this temple, it is now a living centre of the spiritual influence of Sai Baba and it is no wonder that persons who visit it once, come to Bhivpuri for the Darshan of Sai Baba with renewed devotion

Shirdi Sai Baba's devotee - Bhikkubai

Sai Mahabhakte Bhikkubai belonged to Marathi community and resided in Shirdi. On 2nd December 1936, she narrated in her own words the experiences she had with Shri Sai Baba to Late Shri.B.V.Narasimha Swamji as below:

My ancestral home is Ahmednagar. I knew Radhakrishna Mai as a friend at Ahmednagar. It was Radhakrishna Mai who had a photo of Sai Baba told me about Him. She was worshipping Sai Baba with Aarti and other rituals. She told me she wanted to go to Him. Radhakrishna Mai's grandfather was a lawyer there and his name was Baba Saheb Ganesh. She stayed with him in Shirdi. I was married to a person from Sangamner and he died at an early age. I came from there when I was 14 years old along with Radhakrishna Mai. She was serving Sai Baba since 1908 in Shirdi.

Gangagiri Baba of Vanjargaon was performing a massive Nama-Sapthaha under the Tamarid Tree near Dixit Wada in Shirdi. There used to be a huge gathering every day and among many pilgrim groups that came, one was from Sangamner and when that group returned to Sangamner, it brought from my friend Radhakrishna Mai a photograph of Sai Baba, a lot of Burfi Prasad and an invitation to me to go over to Shirdi and settle there. I accept the invitation of Radhakrishna Mai and came to Shirdi without any jewels and property. I then went and had darshan of Sai Baba. He told me to live with Radhakrishna Mai and be busy serving the devotees. During the end of 1916 i.e., 1 or 2 months after Radhakrishna Mai died, I had gone to Nagar to draw my pension as the widow of a man that died in the war at rupees 6 per month. On my way back, at Kopergaon, near the banks of River Godavari, I was reminded of the tragic passing away of Radhakrishna Mai, whose body was cremated there. My mind was in a turmoil. I had brought over my garland to Shirdi for offering that to Baba. When I went to place it near Baba, He said, "I don't want this garland of mental uneasiness" (Talha Haar Mala Nako). Baba did not receive the Garland. Hari Sitaram Dixit requested Him to take the Garland as I had brought it all the way from Ahmednagar for Him with such great trouble. I then went near Baba lifting up the garland with both hands. Then as I neared Baba, the garland somehow snapped into 3 parts; one was left in each hand and one fell on the floor. I was at a loss to understand as to how that garland got severed like that into 3 pieces. When this was happening, Baba kept on telling "I don't want it".

I had also brought with me along with the garland a watermelon and some milk sweets and I placed the pedas and the cut fruit before Baba. Baba took them and distributed amongst the devotees who were present at that time inside Dwarakamai. Then I took a slice and cut off the outer skin and presented part of it to Baba and asked Him to eat it. Dixit also requested Him to eat it. Baba then said, "This woman was weeping and shedding tears at Godavari and she has brought it with such a troubled heart and so I will not accept it". The fact was that at the River Bank I was weeping and blaming Baba mentally for not having saved Radhakrishna Mayi and for allowing her to die such a wretched death. Baba knew everything that was in my heart and hence His refusal to accept my offerings.

Baba at His noonday meal daily used to give me a vessel full of food which I used to take home.

On the day of Baba's Maha Samadhi, I was greatly agitated at his leaving me desolate and I was weeping at about 10:00 p.m., in my house saying "Baba, I cannot see you again". I came out and outside my front-door I saw a serpent and felt that It was Baba and said, "I cannot recognize you in this serpent body. I know only your Sai Baba form". On hearing this, Immediately the serpent disappeared.

(Source: Devotees' Experiences of Sri Sai Baba Part I, II and III by Sri.B.V.Narasimha Swamiji)

Shirdi Sai Baba's devotee - Bhagoji Shinde

Bhagoji was a sort of attendant (personal companion) to Baba, engaged in regular service to him. He was the first to enter the mosque in the early morning, and every day he used to massage first Baba's right arm and then his body. Then he would light a chillim and the two of them would share it. Bhagoji also had the privilege of carrying the umbrella for Baba when he went to Lendi.

When Bhagoji came in contact with Baba he had black leprosy so outwardly he looked, miserable and unfortunate. He was indeed very fortunate to do seva and be with Baba constantly.

Once when Baba thrust his hand into the dhuni (the sacred fire) and was badly burnt (thus saving the life of a devotees' baby), Bhagoji was allowed to clean and dress the wound with a bandage. Even though Baba lived for a further eight years after the incident, Bhagoji would daily continue the ritual of bandaging Baba's arm long after it had healed.

His elder brother Raguji says, “Once Bhagoji was suffering from high fever and he was at deaths door and Baba came to our home. He branded Bhagoji with a hot iron rod on his back and temples and he recovered soon after”  It is said that once Baba asked Bhagoji to ask for a boon, of being cured of his Leprosy, however Bhagoji said, “Baba I am not concerned about my physical appearance, or my disease. But I would like you to me this wish, which is that I be allowed to be with you at all times and that I be allowed to come to the Dwarka Mai whenever I wish” and Baba granted him the wish.

Thus Bhagoji was the first person to enter the Dwarka Mai early in the morning when Baba sat in front of the Dhuni, and massage Baba’s burnt hand. After doing his seva he would prepare Baba’s chillum for Him and they would smoke it together. And only after Bhagoji left would the other devotees be allowed to come up. This seva he did without fail every day till 1918. 

Bhagoji had the good fortune of holding the ornamental umbrella for Baba when Baba went to Lendi Baugh. Thus Baba immortalized him because he is seen in the photograph behind Baba holding the umbrella. And when the devotee sees that photo years later they will remember him. 

Bhagoji's house, known as Shinde Wada, is just behind Laxmibai's house. This house is on the right hand side of the "Palkhi Road". It is close to the corner where the palanquin turns while going towards Tajim Khan's darga. The compound of Shinde Wada lies on the righ hand side behind a solid old wooden door.

There are many lesson to be learnt from the life of this remarkable devotee. Bhagoji had transcended body consciousness. He was the least concerned about how he looked he had lost most of the fingers of his hand, and also a part of his nose, and the nose is a prominent feature of the face. Although his body oozed pus and blood, that was fowl smelling he was not unconcerned about the sneers and disgusted looks that the others gave him, nor did the unkind words of people have an effect on him. This is the state of complete "Stitha Pragjna" (equanimity). He was determined to do seva for his Sadguru come what may and he persevered. Never once did he fail to come to massage Baba’s burnt hand regardless of the bitter cold or torrential rain. This is “Druda Buddhi”. In the Nava Vidha Bhakti, Bhagoji is an apt example of “Daasya”  or all kinds of seva to the Sadguru. Bhagoji had surrendered totally at his Sadguru’s feet and thus he was able to soak up Baba’s divine energy by being in His Divine presence, and also being able to touch Him and Baba transferred His divine energy to Bhagoji Shinde’s very soul.

(Source: Holy Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 7, Baba's Anurag by Vinny Chitluri)

Shirdi Sai Baba's devotee - Amidas Bhavani Mehta

. Sai Mahabhakta Amidas Bhavani Mehta hailed from Bhavnagar (Kathewad, Saurashtra) Gujarat. Amidas belonged to the community of Narasingh Mehta. He was an intellectual poet and a devotee of Lord Krishna. He worshipped Lord Krishna everyday with great devotion. And every time he looked at Lord Krishna’s photograph he saw a Fakir superimposing the Lord in the Glass. Seeing this he was perplexed and his curiosity increased day by day. Thus, he started his journey and finally found that it was indeed Sai Baba of Shirdi. Amidas was a very learned man. He was trained in Indian Classical and Vocal Music. He was very rich and was attached to a small king Dayashankar Revashankar Pandya in Kathewad. During those days, this region was ruled by Gujarati Nawabs. He visited Shirdi very frequently and also rented a room there. He used to stay for longer period in Shirdi. He spent most of his time with Sai Baba. He wrote many articles and Books about Sai Baba in Gujarati and was responsible for spreading Baba’s name in Gujarat State. Amidas was poet and wrote many poems describing the likes, dislikes, characteristics of Sai Baba. He also wrote a Biography on Sai Baba titled PURNA PARABRAHMA SRI SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJNI – JANAVAJOG VIGATO TEMAJ CHAMATKARO. Baba liked the gentle nature of Amidas. Whenever somebody fell sick, Baba used to send them to Amidas Bhavani Mehta. He gladly attended to the patient, took utmost care of that person and nursed him back to normalcy. He wished to die in Shirdi in front of his Sadguru. Baba who knew his Mahabhakta’s desire told him that he may die anywhere but he will ever be with Him. During the later part of his life, Amidas was running a Photo Studio  as proprietor of erstwhile M/s.British Photo Enlarging Company at Kalabadevi, Mumbai. He was also appointed as Member of Shri Sai Baba Sansthan in the year 1923 during the Chairmanship of another Sai Mahabhakta Shri. Ganesh Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe alias Das Ganu. Shri Sai Baba Sansthan has honored this Great Sai Mahabhakta by doing his Samadhi in front of Parayan Hall in Lendi Baugh next to the Samadhi of Muktaram. (Source: Baba’s Rinanubandh by Vinny Chitluri and  Shri Sai Leela Magazine Chaitra Shake 1923)

Shirdi Sai Baba's devotee - Abdullah Jaan

Abdulla Jan, originally of Tarbella, Mazra district near Peshawar, was a Pathan, living at Korhale, near Sakori, was a devotee of Baba who had some spiritual and some material touch with Baba. He had left Tarbella as a young boy, as he had none to support him. He simply roamed around and wanted some one to help him to go to Mecca for that is one of the cardinal duties of all Muslims. He walked on and travelled up to Manmad. At Manmad, instead of going to Mumbai, as he originally intended, he heard that Sai Baba was at Shirdi, 30 miles further south and so, as he heard that Baba was showering money on fakirs, he hoped that Baba would send him to Mecca. He went to Shirdi in 1913. When he entered the gate of the Masjid, Baba was in the main building. Their eyes met. At once, he had the feeling that Baba was his Guru. So, he stayed on at Shirdi instead of going to Mecca, as Baba was feeding every fakir abundantly.

Abdulla Jan wanted to live an easy life at Shirdi. He was aged only 17. He had no serious views about life. But as he stayed at Shirdi, there were noticeable changes in his mentality, which illustrate Baba’s way of promoting Hindu-Muslim Unity. When he first came to Shirdi, he like other Pathans regarded Hindus as enemies. After staying 3 years with Baba, this hatred passed away, and he began to view Hindus as his brethren. He gradually absorbed the national feeling and regretted very much that at Mumbai, Hindus and Muslims were fighting with each other destroying Mosques and temples, and he thought that if they wiped each other out the foreigners only would have the whole country to themselves.

When Baba passed away in 1918, he was 22. Even then he was not sufficiently serious to have any development on the religious side. He felt however grieved at Baba’s disappearance and started off on his travels again. In 1926, he was going back North. Then in the Swat valley (Malekand Agency) he found the tomb of a great saint, Akun Baba, who was a Sayyad, a direct descendant of Mohamed. His miraculous powers were the subject of popular legends. That Akun Baba is said to have locked up Lord Roberts on a hill for three months and 11 days. During Abdulla Jan's stay there, one night he had a dream in which a saint appeared. ‘Who was it?’ It was not Akun Baba that he had prayed to, but Sai Baba who was seated on a chair near his head. When he woke, he remembered the dream. So, he found he was still under Baba’s care, though it was eight years since Baba passed away. As Sai was kind enough of his own accord to give him Sakshatkar, 1500 miles away from Shirdi, his reverence for Sai increased and his former idea that Sai Baba had deceived him by giving him no help during the five years of his stay was found to be wrong. At This discovery he returned to India with full faith in Sai Baba.

In 1924 he married and started living at Korhale, four miles from Shirdi. He is lucky enough to have Baba’s appearance before him once in two or four years and he moralises on the past and sees the vanity of human wishes. Baba was surrounded by crowds in his lifetime, and it was hard to find room in the Mosque on account of these crowds of men swarming around him, and a large number of dogs intermingled
in the crowd. Abdulla Jan describes that the Mosque in 1936 looked deserted.

When Baba was in the flesh, Abdulla Jan once expressed his fear that Baba would expire and all his work and influence would pass away with him. Baba said that from within the tomb he would beat with sticks meaning that the death of his body would not terminate his influence or activity.

The five tenets of Islam are  1) uttering the Kalami or declaration of faith, namely, There is no god but God and Mohamed is the Prophet; 2) Panch Namaz, saying the Namaz five times a day, at dawn, at 10 a.m., at 12 noon, at 5 p.m. and at night, kneeling and bending the body at each utterance. 3) Fasting, especially all the forty days of Ramzan and on other occasions about 8 or 10 times in the year; 4) Alms-giving. 5) Haj Yatra that is, going to Mecca. These are the five tenets of Islam. Of these, Baba observed only alms-giving. His alms-giving was a princely scale and he supported over two hundred homeless beggars at Shirdi and distributed not merely vegetarian food, but also meat for non-vegetarians specially prepared as samaradhana from his Hundi, by himself. He also distributed clothes to the poor periodically. In addition to regular donations to certain persons, he also gave liberally to dancers, athletes, acrobats and Ramadasis and all sorts of people that came to him for alms. His reputation as a liberal Maharaj was known very far from Shirdi and attracted people like Madras Ramadasis and this man Tarbella Abdulla Jan.

(Source: Devotees' Experiences of Shri Sai Baba by Late Shri.B.V.Narasimha Swamiji)

Sai's Kafni - robe worn by Sai

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba's Kafni Cloth Leelas – www.shirdisaitrust.org

"Whenever Sai Baba's Kafni or Langot were worn out or torn, he never gave it to anybody, rather he used to burn them to ashes in Dhuni. And it was not compulsory that the clothes of Sai Baba had to be old in order to burn them.

Sometimes he even used to burn clothes which were used for a short time & sometimes he would repair the worn out clothes and use them. When Sai Baba's clothes were torn, Tatya Patil used to tear them more by his fingers.

If Sai Baba wanted to take any devotee high up in the matter of spirituality, then that lucky person got Sai Baba’s old clothes as Prasad. The clothes of Sai Baba had immense powers in it. Once Sai Baba gifted His Kafni to Mhalsapati. The result was that till his death Mhalsapati lived like a sanyasi while also taking care of his family and social attachments.

In another instance, Sai Baba gave his Kafni to a devotee named Muktaram. As the Kafni was dirty, Muktaram washed it and placed it in Wada (Dharamshala) to dry. After this, Muktaram went for Baba's Darshan. Vamanrao was present where the Kafni was kept for drying in Kaka Saheb Dixit’s Wada.

A voice came from the Kafni said - "See, Muktaram has brought me here and hanged upside down."

Vamanrao immediately took the Kafni and wore it himself. After wearing the Kafni, Vamanrao went to Dwarkamai.

Sai Baba got angry when He saw the Kafni worn by Vamanrao. But Vamanrao was determined to take Sanyas. When time came after this incident Vamanrao went high up in the matter of spirituality.

On Tuesday 15th October`1918, the day Baba took Samadhi, an old cloth Bag that Baba never allowed anyone to touch was opened and in it a Green Kafni and a Green Cap (headgear) were found, which were given to him by Kasi Ram, the tailor.

Baba had worn them also but later preferred white robes only. And, along with other items, this bag was also placed with Baba inside his Samadhi.

Nowdays, Baba's other regular worn Kafni’s are kept at the "Sai Baba Museum" in Dixit Wada at Shirdi. – (Source: www.shirdisaitrust.org)

Samadhi Mandir at Shirdi

💐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*