Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Sai Baba of shirdi

Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sai Baba of Shirdi

India 20th century
Shirdi Sai Baba sitting
Full name	Sai Baba of Shirdi
Born	Unknown Shirdi, India
Died	October 15, 1918
School/tradition	Advaita Vedanta

Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838 – October 15, 1918), also known as Shirdi Sai Baba, was an Indian guru and yogi, regarded by his followers as an incarnation of God. Some of his Hindu devotees believe that he was an incarnation of Shiva or Dattatreya. Many devotees believe that he was a Sadguru. There are many stories and eyewitness accounts of miracles he performed. He is a well-known figure in many parts of the world, but especially in India, where he is much revered.
The name 'Sai Baba' is a combination of Persian and Indian origin; Sāī (Sa'ih) is the Persian term for "well learned" or "knowledgeable", usually attributed to Islamic ascetics, whereas Baba (honorific) is a word meaning "father; grandfather; old man; sir" used in Indo-Aryan languages. The appellative thus refers to Sai Baba as being a "holy father" or "saintly father".[1] His parentage, birth details, and life before the age of sixteen are obscure, which has led to a variety of speculations and theories attempting to explain Sai Baba's origins. In his life and teachings he tried to reconcile Hinduism and Islam: Sai Baba lived in a mosque which he called Dwarakamayi, practised Hindu and Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions and was buried in a Hindu temple in Shirdi. One of his well known epigrams says of God: "Sabka Malik Ek" ("One God governs all") which traces its root to Islam in general and sufism in particular. He always uttered "Allah Malik" - Lord is the sole protector. He had no love for perishable things, and was always engrossed in self-realization, which was his sole concern.
Sai Baba taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, devotion to God and guru. His teachings combined elements of Hinduism and Islam and tried to achieve communal harmony between these religions.
Sai Baba remains a very popular saint[2] and is worshiped by people around the world. Debate over his Hindu or Muslim origins continues to take place.[3] He is also revered by several notable Hindu and Sufi religious leaders.[who?] Some of his disciples received fame as spiritual figures and saints such as Upasni Maharaj and Meher Baba.

SAI BABA AARTIS AND BHAJANS

SAI BABA AARTI

Madhyana Aarati

Dhoop Aarati

Shej Aarati

Raham Nazar Karo Aarati

SAI BABA BHAJAN

Amrit Se Man Ka Kalash Bharo

Chali Sai Baba Ki Palki

Jaago Sai Mohan Pyare

Jab Jab Boloun Sai Om

Matka Pyas Bujhaaye Kaise

Mere Man Ke Mandir Ko

Nahin Kamna Mujhe Kisiki

O Sai Baba Mere

Sai Bhola Bhandari

Sai Deva Sai Deva

Sai Dhun

Sai Japo Sai Japo

Sai Kare Man Prarthana

Sai Ke 108 Naamavali

Sai Sai Sai Ram

Sai Se Man

Shirdi Ko Jaane Waale

Shirdiwale Sai Baba

Sunte Hain Jo Aaya Kabhi

Tu Hai Hamara

Tu Hai Ik Pinjare Ka Pancchi

Tujh Ko Sab Kuchh Mila

Aisee aaj dua de Baba

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 LIVE TELECAST FROM SHIRDI MANDIR

WATHCH LIVE TELECAST OF SHIRDI MANDIR

Sai Baba of Shirdi is the most revered Saint who lived a century ago in a small village called Shirdi in the west central Indian province of the Indian Sub-continent, presently known as the state of Maharashtra, India. The land that gave many seers and seekers, India has produced the unique Saint whose message is unanimously accepted as Universal both in the East and in the West. Sai Baba of Shirdi's message of Universal brotherhood, Religious tolerance, Love and compassion to the fellowmen embodies the eternal truth in simple terms.

Baba's vachan

Baba boley: I was born to serve mankind and to make Shirdi a blessed place, where the rich and the poor, literate and illiterate, the pious and the saintly, the wordly and the wise could assemble and remember the higher spirit of things as manifested by the Supreme Being who is omnipresent.

I live in one and all. I live in Shirdi, but I also live in the heart of each and every devotee who worships me and pays obeisance to me.
My message is simple: Love all and be kind to all because I live and exist in all.
So if you worship all - animals and men alike - you will never fail to serve me.
Be my bhakta and the inheritor of all that I have to give you - blessings, bliss and benediction. Shirdi is holy. My guru stayed here; my friends stayed here; and now you visit here. May God's abundant grace be upon you all.

Sai Baba origins

Saints are rarely born; they are gifted to mankind, for a larger, deeper purpose.

Sai Baba of Shirdi is one such saint, whose presence has helped many. And continues to help and guide, even after he left his human form. Although his birth and origins are shrouded in mystery and myth, his actions and examples have led many to a path of salvation and succour.
India is blessed by many rivers, and through this riverine culture, the spirit and soul of the people and their religious practices and beliefs, manifest. One such river is the Godavari, which cuts across the state of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital. Shirdi nestles close to this river.
Shirdi lies at a distance of 265 km from Mumbai; 210 km from Pune; 120 km from Nasik; 600 km from Hyderabad; 1166 km from Delhi; 310 km from Sholapur; 80 km from Ahmednagar, its district headquarters, and 19 km from the nearest railhead, Kopergaon.
Buses, planes and trains from any major city of India connect to one of the above points. Shirdi, a nondescript hamlet just a hundred years ago, is today the most-visited pilgrim destination for many, after Tirumala-Tirupati.
The spiritual force that put Shirdi on the international map is fondly called Sai Baba. He first came to Shirdi as part of a wedding party. Upon seeing this young, muscularly built, radiant person, Mhalsapati, the village goldsmith who was in-charge of the local Khandoba temple, saluted him and welcomed him with the following words: Aao Sai (Come Sai). The name stuck.
Sai Baba had no formal name, no family to which his origins could be traced and no lineage to which he can be ascribed. He left no Order, no direct disciples or dogma and has no incarnation. Most importantly, he also did not limit himself to either of the two predominant religions of the times, Hinduism and Islam. His life is thus unique.
With the Ahmednagar region being part of the larger Muslim-ruled area, owing allegiance to the Nizams, and with the Godavari riverbelt as the cradle of many Hindu traditions and tenets, what Sai Baba attempted and achieved was the bringing together of two communities increasingly at cross-purposes. He helped assimilate the best of both the cultures and religious practices. He lived in a dilapidated mosque, which he christened Dwarkamai after the Hindu god Krishna's kingdom "Dwarka", and fondly added mai or mother to it. He went door-to-door for food and he gifted what he did not require, including monies given to him as alms. He dressed as a fakeer (mendicant of the Muslim order), recited shlokas (holy hymns) in Sanskrit, prescribed Hindu thought but cried out Allah Malik (God is Lord) when giving a blessing. Initially, this did confuse the innocent locals, but seeing his miracles and benefiting by his medicines, slowly they realized they had among them, a living god.

Sai Baba History

The above is also corroborated by Sai Baba's “biographer�, Govind Raghunath Dabholkar, alias Hemadpant, who wrote Shri Sai Satcharita (originally in Marathi and later translated into English by Gunaji) while Baba was alive. This work is thus treated as the foundation of all writings on Baba, as it was from a direct source.

Realizing what a difficult task it was, Hemadpant appealed to Baba not to make his work more difficult by not cooperating. Baba desired no attention but his bhaktas (devotees) like Hemadpant wished to share their experiences with all. Hemadpant also enlisted the support of Shama, alias Madhavrao Deshpande, Baba's most ardent devotee, to convince Baba about the need for writing his "biography". Once Baba agreed, it was easy to record some of the events, happenings, leela (divine doings, miracles) and messages of Baba.
Hemadpant records that nobody knew of Sai's parents, birth or birth-place. Many a times enquiries were made and questions asked of Baba and others, but no clear or satisfactory answer ever manifested. By one account, he was said to have been born to a Brahmin couple who gave the child away to a Sufi saint, Roshan Shah, for upbringing. But this is not substantiated. Saints like Namdev and Kabir were in the same league; none knew of their birth since they were found as infants in mother-of-pearl shells. Namdev was found on the bank of Bhimrathi River by Gonayi, and Kabir on the bank of Bhagirathi River. Sai was "found" in Shirdi.
In keeping with the Bhakti cult prevalent at the time, it seems Sai Baba was an inheritor of the traditions of Maharashtra that began with Gyaneshwar (also spelt Jnaneshwar). Jnandeva was born between AD 1270-75 and wrote his tome Jnaneshwari in 1290. He was followed by Sopana (1277-96), Muktabai (1279-97), Namdeva (1270-1350), Eknatha (1533-199) and Tukaram (1608-1650). The last great Maharashtrian saint before Baba was Ramadas (1608-1681). Thus, Sai Baba's origins can be found in the rich tradition of saints who are part of Maharashtra's history and culture. Baba was "born" in Marathwada, which was long under Muslim rule. With Karnataka and Tilang-Andhra, this region formed part of the Deccan Plateau. These three regions have a common calendar called Shalivahan Shaka and share a linked cultural heritage. The Satvahanas, Rashtrakutas and the Chalubas ruled over the region during the first twelve centuries.
Even before Jnandeva, two strong religious streams dominated the land: the first was the Mahanubhavas and the other, the Nathas. Namdev, a contemporary of Jnandeva, carried on the Vitthal sampradaya (sect) and was the main fulcrum of Pandharpur, which gained prominence during Namdev's time. Both Namdev and Jnandeva were brothers of the same sampradaya and after Jnandeva's demise in 1296, Namdev proceeded to the north, to be in Punjab for twenty-one years, hence his cult grew in north India too. His outpourings and writings, called abhangs, grew in popularity, especially under Tukaram and Ramadas (whose most famous disciple was Shivaji, the great Maratha leader) and came to be sung in both parts of the country. Such can be the outreach of saints.
The Maharashtra plateau was ruled, since the twelfth century, from Devagiri (Daulatabatl), an ancient fortified capital. The city was built by Bhillana, the fountlcr of thc Yaclava dynasty. He died in AD 1191 and was succeeded by King Jaipal who ruled till 1210.
His rule was followed by Singhana, whose rule extended till Mathura in the north and Kaveri Delta in the south. Towards the end of the thirteenth century, great creative activity took place in Deccan Plateau and many works of literary and artistic excellence emerged.
Between 1318 and 1347, Devagiri was ruled by the Khiljis, and later the Tughlaks (when under Mohammad-bin, the capital was shifted from Delhi to Daultabad). For three hundred years thenceforth, the entire Deccan Plateau came under the influence of Muslim sultans. Hindus and Muslims tried to maintain cordial relations, sometimes by alliances like when the sultan of Bijapur, Yusuf Adil Shah married a Maratha princess. The minister Muhammad Gawan employed Hindus in state services and supported religious tolerance. Emperor Adil Shah (1534-57) went to a neighbouring ruler to pay an official visit to the emperor of Vijayanagara, showing him to be an equal.
Several smaller strains also contributed significantly in maintaining harmony. A Muslim governor in 1326 ordered the reinstallation of a Shiva lingam in Madhukeshwara temple at Kalyani. Allauddin Ahmed II was comforted during illness by a sage of Gangapur, who worshipped Dattatreya.
Later, however, the struggle between the Deccan Sultanate and the Vijayanagara rulers led to the Battle of Talikotta and the destruction of Hampi, the capital city. The Deccan Sultanate fell into oblivion with the coming of Mughal powers from central and north India. By 1636, the Nizam Shahi kingdom was wiped out. The Bijapur kingdom ceased to be an independent entity and became part of the Mughal empire in 1686. Golconda suffered a similar fate in 1687. By then the British, who had come for trade, slowly took over the political domination of many regions of the country. For the next two hundred years, an assortment of European rulers, dominated mostly by the British, ruled the country.
By the time the Sepoy Mutiny or the First War of Independence took place in 1857, Sai Baba was all of just about twenty!

Dwarkamai

Dwarkamai is a mosque where Baba spent about 60 years of his life. In Baba’s early days only upper portion of the mosque was existed and Baba kept the sacred fire (dhuni) all his life and is kept on till to day.

Highly merciful is this Masjid (mosque) Ayi (mother). Once a person climb into her lap, all their troubles are over – Sai Baba.
It was an abandoned & dilapidated mud structure. Once Baba was eating with his devotees, there was a loud crack overheard. Baba raised his hand and said “ Sabar, Sabar” (wait, wait). Noise stopped and group carried on with their meal. When they went out, large piece of roof came crashing.
There are five padukas, puja pillar near dhuni, grinding stone and two big portraits of Baba found in Dwarkamai.
Five padukas located at, one on left near cooking place. Second on the wall where he said to have leaned his arm while cooking. Third near dhuni where he used to sit near dhuni. Fourth where Baba used to sit for meeting. Fifth on the black stone kept at right side of entrance.
Padukas signify the presence of a Saint. Taking lowest part of the Saint’s body, we touched our highest part of body a head as a gesture of obeisance & respect in the act of “namaskaram”.
Puja pillar or Guru Pillar just in front of the dhuni, the silver padukas are at the bottom if it. On the day of Guru Purnia, Baba ordered to bring the puja material to worship that post. It is only Guru Purnima which Baba asked devotees to celebrate.
Central place on the floor is marked with the tortoise white marble tile. Where Baba’s horse Shyam Sunder used to bow to Baba and an original location of black stone on which Baba sat.
There are closed circuit TV camera where one can sit and watched various proceeding of Samadhi Mandir.

Sai Baba Arrival

Sai Baba sat under the neem tree as if he was rooted to the ground. He was, in a way, because the neem tree stood at the spot which was his gurusthan, or abode of (his) gurus. The neem tree itself was behind the old masjid (mosque).

The simple natives of Shirdi wondered who this young lad was who sat under the tree in deep meditation, foregoing food, even water. It was the curiosity and concern on the part of Bayajabai, wife of Kote Patil the village chief, that made her occasionally enquire after the lad's welfare, and soon she started bringing food for him. Thus grew a bond between Sai and Bayajabai, which took on shades of mother-son belonging.
The village priest, Mhalsapati, was often possessed by Lord Khandoba (Kuladevta of the region) and once while in a trance, he uttered that there was a holy spirit amongst them, pointing to the young lad. The young yogi pointed to the tree and said, dig under it. The villagers did as they were told and lo and behold! There, under layers of earth, was a stone slab, under which was a room where a set of oil lamps burned. There was no air, no oil supply underground, then how did this happen? A rosary and agoumukhi kamandal (cow-mouth shaped vessel) too was found in the same vicinity, on a wooden seat. All this established that this was indeed the place of meditation of a great soul.
The lad clarified that this was the place where his guru of previous incarnations had done tapaya (penance) and hence this was his guru's sthan (abode). He further instructed the awe-struck villagers that instead of worshipping him, they should worship this place and leave it untouched, never to be opened again. Till today, the neem tree sprouting Gurusthan is a first-stop on a pilgrimage to Shirdi and the otherwise bitter leaves of neem are sweet here.
Having established the sanctity of this place, Sai left Shirdi, only to return many years later as part of a wedding party. The chieftain of Dhoop village, a well-to-do Mohammedan called Chand Patil, roamed dejected at having lost his mare. In his search, he passed a fakeer, who asked him why he looked so sad. On hearing of his loss, the mendicant, who was none other than Sai Baba, told him to look far his mare along the riverbank. Patil said that he had just come that way and seen nothing. On being told to look again, a desperate Patil did so and to his delight, found his mare grazing by the riverbank. Pleased he went to the mendicant to thank him. Baba was then in the process of preparing his chillum (clay pipe) and was looking for water to wet the cloth for his pipe. Finding none, he just struck the ground with his satka (short stick) and water came gushing! Next, Baba looked for fire to light his pipe and hitting his satka again, up came a flame to light his pipe. Baba offered Chand Patil a smoke and at this point, seeing all these miracles, Patil was beyond himself and fell at the feet of this great soul. Realizing Baba was an aulia (one who answers prayers and is a saintly guide as per Islamic traditions), Patil requested him to come home, so he could return some of his kindness with hospitality.
When saints and god's messengers decide to enter a scene or space, they create circumstances that make their "entry" plausible and their arrival look natural. So it was that Chand Patil hosted Baba for about a month and further requested that he accompany the family to Shirdi as part of the wedding party of Patil's brother-in-law. Thus, Baba came to Shirdi again as a baraati, or an honoured member of the groom's family.
The travel between Dhoop and Shirdi went without any problems or dacoity, otherwise common those days, and the credit for this trip without mishap was given to Baba's presence in the wedding party. The entourage reached the outskirts of Shirdi and parked their carts under a mango-grove near the Khandoba temple.
Sai walked towards the temple when the priest Mhalsapati welcomed him with the words Ya (Aao) Sai! But as Sai was about to enter the temple, Mhalsapati got agitated that a fakeer, a Muslim mendicant, was defiling a Hindu temple by entering it. Such was the rigidity of religious customs and practices those days that lines between the two communities were drawn rather tightly and without reason.
Sai stopped but questioned the priest, saying God has created us all, so why should such distinctions be drawn? Having stated what he set out to, Sai started walking back but Chand Patil took affront to this treatment and asked why had they insulted his aulia? For Chand Patil, as head of another village and head of the wedding-party, to give this place of honour to Sai meant Shirdi and its denizens too had to be respectful to him.
Mhalsapati then realised that he had met the man many years ago as the young lad of sixteen who sat under the neem tree. Sai was now about twenty. Mhalsapati then remembered he was "possessed" by Lord Khandoba when he had first met Sai, and how Sai had helped establish the sanctity of gurusthan. Realising Sai's greatness, he fell at his feet asking to be pardoned. He welcomed him and insisted Sai stay in Shirdi. Never to return to Dhoop. Sai stayed in Shirdi for another sixty years, till his mahasamadhi in 1918. From such events, Hemadpant, his biographer, puts Sai's birth date around 1838, although there is no clear record; and by another account it is ascribed to 1835.
Prior to making an old masjid his home in Shirdi, he lived in a nearby place called Takia, where he often used to dance in ecstasy with small ghungroos (bells) tied on his ankles. This too was a form of worship, akin to dervish dances in the Sufi tradition.

Sai Baba Leelas

On one occasion, he stayed in the Maruti temple, behind the Chavadi, in company of a saint Devidas. Later, saint Jankidas also came to Shirdi and the three of them often discussed spiritual matters sitting in the Hanuman or Maruti temple. After this, Baba mostly made the masjid his home. He called it mother (mai) and christened it "Dwarka", after Lord Krishna's kingdom. Dwarkamai thus came to life. According to Sansthan's communication handler, Dilip Kote, Sai Baba, as an incarnation of Shiva, naturally chose a shamshon (burial ground) for his abode. In keeping with the traditions prevalent in the region, Hindus, (as well as Muslims) are also buried, if cremation (as per Hindu custom) is not preferred. Thus, Baba's own "Samadhi" and those of his close associates, lies in the complex.
Once there was a cyclonic storm and it was wet and cold. A leper by the name of Bhagoji Shinde lived in a small hut that got swept away in the running waters. No one came to his help for fear of contracting leprosy. Baba rescued him and brought him indoors; he hit his stick ) on the ground and in that rainy season a fire sprang from nowhere, providing warmth. Soon Bhagoji's leprosy disappeared and this was taken as Sai's miracle. The same fire continues to burn till today and provides udi or vibhuti (holy ash) to millions of devotees. By giving udi, Baba wished to convey that ultimately our bodies will become ash. All our desires, wants and worldly ambitions will be reduced to ash, so why concentrate on such a life? However, the udi also became a symbol of cure and hope to many because when Baba distributed it, many were helped. Although Baba had all the eight major siddhis (celestial powers) at his command, he rarely used them.
The various miracles and curative powers of the udi are several and many have benefited from it. At a philosophical level, Sai encouraged oblation of ego, desires and wants to the dhuni (burning fire) and it made ash of all these, thus cleansing a human being. Till date, udi is used by devotees to all ends. There are instances where it helped in safe birth during a difficult delivery, as in case of Maina Tai. It helped another devotee Narayan Rao's friend recover from a scorpion bite. On yet another occasion, Shama's brother's wife suffered from plague and the udi helped her. Even doctors like Pillai who suffered from guinea-worms used udi.
Sai chose a dilapidated mosque to be his abode and started living in it. His contact in the early days of stay was with a few chosen people only, like Bayajabai (who brought him food), Mhalsapati (who, as priest had first welcomed him), Appa Bhil (who collected firewood for the fire, later to become holy dhuni), and Kashiram Shimpi (the Kumhar who made unbaked earthen pots for Baba to water his patch of garden). Enlightened masters who came to Shirdi, like Gangagir and Anandnath Maharaj, a disciple of Akkalkot Swami, noted that Sai was no ordinary gardener and stated Shirdi was indeed blessed to have a gem, a kohinoor, like Sai stay there.
This garden today is Lendi Bagh. In his early days at Shirdi, Baba never shaved his head. There was a wrestler in Shirdi called Mohiddin Tamboli. Baba agreed to enter a mock fight with him, in which Baba allowed himself to be defeated. After this Baba changed his dress and mode of living. He wore a kafni (a loose robe), under which he wore a langot (undergarment) and covered his head with a piece of cloth, which was blood-stained. By one account, it was the same cloth with which his Guru Venkusa had saved him after being hit on the head with a brick by those who were jealous that Baba got favoured treatment from the guru. Baba kept the brick and the bloodied cloth and these two were his constant companions.
By another account, Baba went for some time to Rahata to assuage the ego of a pretender Jowahar Ali, who desired to construct an Idgah adjacent to a Virabhadra temple. Due to a quarrel between the Hindus and Muslims, Ali left Rahata and went to Shirdi. He knew the Quran by heart and wanted Baba to be his disciple, in order to impress the people of Shirdi that Baba was under him. Baba played the part for six months after which the fraudulent guru himself left Shirdi forever, when he realized Baba's greatness and when he was tested by Devidas.
Sai's reputation was initially established as a medicine man because he helped various people who were afflicted with diseases. He cured leprosy, eye-infections, cholera and other illnesses that troubled the folks of Shirdi. It was held that due to Sai's presence, no ill could visit Shirdi. Till today, servitor T. Govindan holds that tantric and other tamasic powers cannot enter Shirdi.
This incensed the village vaid, Kulkarni and he looked for a chance to humiliate Sai. This opportunity arose when Sai requested oil merchants to give him some oil as alms for his lamps. After some months of indulging Sai, a few oil merchants decided to stop giving him free oil to light the lamps in Dwarkamai under the growing jealousy of the village vaid Kulkarni.
Sai did not react and filled his earthen lamps with water and lit them. They burned brighter! Such is the power of saints. The village vaid who had instigated the oil-merchants was reduced to poverty, and till today (the year 2004) his house lies in ruins in Shirdi.

Shirdi Pilgrimage

The Shirdi pilgrimage area is rather compact, spread over an area of less than a square kilometer. After alighting from a bus on the main road itself, or at the bus stand near the main gate, one can proceed to any number of lodges, hotels or pest-houses, including those run by the Shirdi Sai Sansthan, and get a room ranging from fifty rupees to five thousand.

There are fancy hotels too, with swimming pool and bars, made mostly for the Bombay film industry folks, many of whom rank as devotees of Baba. For the ordinary pilgrim there is a plethora of budget hotels to choose from.
After checking in and having a refreshing bath or food, a devotee may proceed for darshan of Gurusthan. One can then go to the main Samadhi Mandir, for which there can be serpentine queues depending on the time of the day and season. The queue system is orderly, though suffocating as it is underground. When crowded, the air circulation in the queuing area is poor. Asthma patients, the elderly, the infirm and the sick can go to the PRO Office (Room 6) and get a special pass, so they don't have to stand in long lines. Generally, there are huge crowds on festive occasions like Ram Navami and Urs (April) or Gurupurnima (July) and Dusshera (October). The town of Shirdi and Samadhidarshan looks like a busy beehive and only the truly devoted who have real shraddha and saburi (faith and patience) would venture out for a Shirdi darshan on this occasion. Otherwise too, during the festivals of Holi (March), Diwali (November) and special months like adhikmaas (August) and sankran ti (January) attract lots of crowds.
It may take up to many hours in line to get inside the Samadhi chamber (the original Butti house) to have a glimpse of the great Sai statue and his samadhi. Originally, this was Baba's final resting place and later the commissioned statue was installed. Today, the Samadhi attracts millions.
The day breaks with a holy call at 4.30 am. All over town, loudspeakers ensure that devotees and pilgrims come to the main samadhi complex and await their turn to get into thesamadhi temple hall. At 5.15 am Baba is woken up affectionately and Kakad arti (day- break) is performed, after which his elaborate bath is set-up and he is washed and clad ceremoniously. Only those who stay overnight at Shirdi, or reach before 4am can partake of this sight of Baba being readied for the day.
After the holy-bath and dressing of Baba, various poojas and paths (ritual prayers) take place right uptil noon, when the most importantarti of the day is performed. After this, most visitors go off to have some lunch. So the best time to call on Baba in Samadhi Mandir is actually between 2 and 4 pm when the crowds are less. By less, one means a few hundred. Baba's darbar is never empty, and as he once said, "my devotees will flock to me like ants attracted to nectar".
In the evening around 5pm, those wishing to sing bhajans or verses in praise of Baba, or show gratitude in some way for blessings received or required can sit at the back of the hall and offer their renderings (songs). At 6.30 pm, the main evening arti, begins. This too attracts many, especially those who have arrived during the day after the noon arti. At 10 pm, the Shej arti (night prayers) are performed, after which Baba retires for the night with due ceremony and attention. In winter, he gets a blanket and in summer, a mosquito net! Baba is treated as a father, thus this display of care and concern.

Shirdi Sai Baba

Due to the growing popularity of Sai Baba, the crowds at the Samadhi Mandir are an exercise in management. This, however, is no excuse for over-zealous security guards to treat the pilgrims roughly. What would Shirdi be without pilgrims? wonder many who suffer the security staff. On the whole, the entire staff is rather authoritarian. They must realise that without pilgrims there would be nothing to manage and thus they may have no jobs! Sai Baba provides them with their livelihood. Since September 1, 2004, the Maharashtra government has taken over the management and running of the Shirdi temple complex.
The adjacent Dwarkamai is a house of peace and love, which is where Baba lived and stayed. The humble hall, with its ever-glowing sacred fire from which the holy udi is derived, remains the fulcrum of pilgrims' focus. Here the weary, the bleary, the tired and the tried devotee can "talk" to Baba, touch the objects he touched, and generally feel Baba's presence. Dwarkamai is a restful place; although sometimes too many devotees crowd in, Sai Baba makes room for all. Here one can see the window which Baba looked out of, or the grinding stone Sai Baba used, or theshila (stone) he manifested to sit upon. The story about the stone is interesting because although his associates desired to fetch it from nearby hills, Sai Baba said there was no need to go so far and he just manifested a stone right there, saving them the effort of carting it from some distance. This stone rests near the exit. Sai Baba is strongly present here and the entire atmosphere is soothing, including the attendants and security. A tulsi-plant and a painted-clay tiger decorate the space and Baba's benign presence and blessings are for all to savour.
Coming out of Dwarkamai, as one proceeds ahead towards left, is the Chavadi, where Baba went on alternate days and where he conversed with his "guru" Venkusa. The section where Baba conversed with Venkusa, on the right side, is closed to ladies. As the guru was of paramount importance to Sai, his followers made Thursday Cguruvaar) his day, and on this day devotees assemble and sing songs and perform bhajans. A ceremonial procession is also taken out from Dwarkamai to the Chavadi, every thursday evening. Behind the Chavadi is the ancient Hanuman temple.
Opposite the Chavadi is a green-coloured house that belonged to Abdul Baba. The main room exhibits photos of Baba with Abdul, Swami Chinmayanand with Baba, and many more rare articles. His great grandson, A. Ganibhai Ajij Pathan, sits and serves the memory of his great ancestors, whose mere seva (service) to Sai Baba has assured them a permanent place in Shirdi Sai's lore.
Behind Abdul Baba's house, the alley leads one to important homes like Laxmibai Shinde's, whom Baba gifted nine coins, denoting the nine types of bhakti (see chapter 6). The coins are framed and can be seen even today. The alley also leads to the house of Marthand (Shama's grandson), where Baba installed a Ganesha statue. On the way to these houses one can see the ruins in which the house of the village vaid, Kulkarni, lies. He had conspired against Baba when Baba first settled in Shirdi and he had told the oil-merchants not to give him alms of oil to burn his lamps in the Dwarkamai.
The Shani temple (dedicated to Saturn) at Singnapur, some sixty-five km and one hour away, is an often visited site. If one cannot go that far for the blessings of Shani, three smaller temples within the Samadhi complex, one each for Ganesha, Shiva and Shani, ensure devotees a quick and easy darshan. The Nandadeep and Gurusthan form the opening or closing part of the entire pilgrimage, which can also include a visit to Lendi Bagh. The samadhis of Baba's main attendants and servitors like Abdul Baba, Nanavali, Tatya and Bhau Maharaj are in this complex.
Flower-sellers, rose-water sellers, beads and pictures of Baba abound with small children playing the part of smiling salesmen, when not in school. Remember to ask the children selling pictures and small statues if they go to school or not, for inadvertently you may be contributing to their greed of making a few rupees at the cost of a brighter future through an education. Their parents may be innocent villagers happy at their child earning some extra money, but an educated visitor should not encourage this. Over-zealous women accost pilgrims outside Hanuman temple and the Chavadi, selling milk for dogs or pav (bread) to feed the poor. If one insists on personally feeding, often the dogs are not to be found and the poor have already collected enough pav in their sacks for the day. While alms should be given to deserving poor, many beggars dress up as Baba look-alikes to arouse affection and generous donations. It is up to an individual what path to follow.
Eateries abound in the bylanes of Shirdi and one may wonder which state of India one is in, since cuisine from as far afield as Punjab is available. Gujarati, Tamil and Telugu food dominates with easy snacks and soft drinks.
Buses to and from Shirdi are rarely punctual and most agents and touts act and shout as though it will be the last bus you will get on planet earth! There are plenty of choices, so don't worry, just be sure the company is trustworthy. Even Volvo-type buses start an hour or two later than promised. Rail-links are more dependable and soon a station will come up at Shirdi-Puntamba. Presently, Kopergaon, the nearest railhead, just nineteen kilometers away, provides easy train connections to most directions. At Kopergaon, autos await eagerly to ferry pilgrims to Shirdi.
The Sansthan complex runs a computerized rail reservation office, adjacent to the canteen. Books on Baba and prasad in the form of ladoos are available in this complex. Donations for the various charitable activities of the Sansthan can be made in designated rooms, although one is also free to donate in the huge hundis (collection boxes) provided for the pilgrims.
After Tirumala-Tirupati, Shirdi is the most visited pilgrim place in India today. From a small hamlet, just a little over a hundred years ago, it has grown to a huge centre of pilgrimage. Baba attracted a variety of followers and devotees, but he had no disciples. It is important to understand that Baba has no incarnation, no dogma, no disciples, no ashram, no sect, no order. He did not wish for any of this and did not encourage it. True, several served him and many more desired to be with him and came from far for his darshan, grace or blessing, but on his own Baba never made any claims to teaching or preaching anything in particular.
This is why there is no structured siddhant, or course, on Baba's teachings and faith. More and more people are attracted to him because of the very simplicity of his faith. He desires nothing and demands nothing; he tells no one to offer any particular form of worship; and has left his followers without any head or order. His philosophy is above mantras, vratas, poojas and rituals. All he desires is that we offer our hearts, mind and ego to him. Then the five senses will lose their power over us and we will be able to progress spiritually and away from world's miseries. Shirdi is a pure bhoomi where God, in the form of Sai Baba, manifested himself, stayed and showed his leelas. Sai Baba has no incarnation and never designated a chosen successor. Sai Baba is thus unique.

Eleven teachings of Sai Baba

 Those who step in Shirdi, their sufferings will end.
Those who climb the steps of Dwarkamai, misery will leave them.
I will be vigilant and watchful even after leaving my body.
My samadhi will bless and take care of my devotees.
I will be active and concerned even from my tomb.
Consider me to be alive, always and recognize my presence.
I am always there for those who need me and seek refuge in me.
If you look to me, I look after you.
If you cast your burden on me, I will bear it.
If YOU seek my help, it shall be yours at once.
There shall be no want in the house where I am.



Om Anantakotti Brahmaandanayak Rajadhiraj Yogiraj Prabrahma
Satchidanand Swaroop Sri Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!

Sri Sai Satcharitra

Sri Sai Satcharitra

These are some of the extracts taken from Sai Satcharitra.
The life of a Saint is neither logical nor dialectical. It shows us true and great path.
The simple remembrances of my name as “Sai Sai” will do away with sins of speech & hearings.
I am the mother origin of all beings; nothing will harm him, who trusts his attention towards me.
Baba himself watered the soil for three years and grew a garden where stands present Samadhi Mandir.
Baba always said, “poverty is batter than kingship, for better than lordship. The Lord is always brother of the poor.
Baba always advocated daan (charity) & feeding the poor.
Baba always used to say, “Allah Malik’ (God is the sole owner).
Baba said, “body should neither be neglected nor fondled with and to be taken care to attain God vision or self realization.”
Baba said, “whoever devoutly offers to me a leaf, flower, fruit or water of that pure hearted man, I accept that pious offerings.
Baba always said to all that Ram & Rahim are one and the same.
Baba said, “Woman & wealth are two main obstacles in the way of our spiritual life.
It is on account of  “rinanubandh" (former relationship) that we have come to gather, let us serve each other and be happy.
Saint’s sees scandal monger removes the dirt (fault) of others by his tongue & in a way he obliges the person and is to be thanked.
After performing many deeds of merits you are born as a human. One to lead righteous life with mind calm & composed.
Baba said, “Objects of the sense enjoyment first to be offered to the Guru than attachment for them will naturally vanishes”
Baba often said, “his devotees be at any distance, he will be drawn to Shirdi like sparrow with thread tied to its feet.”
Baba freely allowed worshiping of own deity.
Baba tought by udi (ash) that our body composed of five elements, will fall down after all enjoyment and reduce to ashes.
Guru Purnima was the only festival which Baba asked devotees to celebrate.
Guru can be a good guide but sadguru is an experience.
Baba approved aarti by Madhav Adkar, ‘ Aarti Sai Baba, Saukhyadatar jiva charanarajatali…” sung at noon at 12.00 in the Mandir.