.: ॐ साई राम :.
Shirdi is a very sacred, powerful and important place of pilgrimage in India. There are many places that are to be seen by every pilgramage.
Khandoba Mandir: This place is near Shirsainath Hospital. Baba
stepped here in Shirdi at the foot of banyan tree near Khandoba Temple
along with Chand Patil's wife's nephew's marriage party. The then Pujari
Mhalsapati welcome Him by calling "Ya Sai".
Gurusthan Mandir: This is the place where Baba first appeared
to the world as a boy of 16 years & this place is supposed to be
Baba's Gurusthan. the famous Margosa (Neem) tree is here. it has a
reference in Shri Sai Sat-charita. Devotees claim that their ailments
are cured by burning incense here on Thursday & Friday.
Sai Baba's Samadhi Mandir: This is the place where Sacred Body
of Baba is resting in Samadhi. The articles handled by Baba are
preserved & displayed here in a special showroom. All rituals
consisting of Pooja. Abhishek & daily four Aratis are performed
here. The Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a
millionaire from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao,
also known as 'Butti Wada'. He wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar
there. However, according to the legends, Sai Baba manifested himself as
Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The Samadhi
of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it are
full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue
made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954. The
temple has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The first floor of
the temple has the pictures depicting the life of the saint. The temple
opens on 5 AM with morning prayers and close down at 10 PM with night
prayers.
Dwarkamai (Masjid): Baba stayed at this place continuously for
60 years. Innumerable devotees got blessing of Baba here. The Shila
(Stone) on which Baba used to sit is located nearby. Also Sacred Fire
(Dhuni) lit by Baba is ever burning here. Baba used to give Sacred Udi
(Ash) to the devotees to solve their problems in life. Udi distributed
to the devotees now is only from this Dhuni. Baba used to cook food here
for distribution to devotees. Main attraction of the site is the oil
paintings of the sage.
Chavadi Mandir: On every alternate day Baba used to proceed in
procession from Dwarkamai to this place at night & halt & sleep
here. Now also on every Thursday Palanquin procession of Baba's Photo.
Holy Padukas & Satka is taken to this place between 9.15 p.m. &
10.00 p.m. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of the
Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a white
chair belonging to him.
Lendi Baug: At some distance from Gurusthan, there is the
Lendi Baug. This garden was made and watered daily by Baba himself. It
got its name from a nullah (a drain), which used to flow there. Baba
used to come here every morning and afternoon and take rest under a neem
tree. Baba dug a pit, 2 feet deep, under the neem tree and kept a deep
(a lighting object) lit in that pit. An octagonal deepgriha (lighthouse)
called Nanda Deep has been built in marble stone in memory of this
place. It constantly burns in a glass box. On one side of the deepgriha
is a pipal tree and on the other side is a neem tree.
Nandadeep: This is the place where Shri Sai Baba used to go
for stroll. Nandadeep is kept constantly burning near the tree
planted by shri sai Baba Himself. There is also Datta Mandir in this
garden & Shri Sai Baba's deloyed Horse 'Shamkarna'(Shamsunder) is
taking Eternal Rest here. There is also a well here called as 'Baba's
Shivdi'.
In addition 3 other Temples are in Temples premises complex :
1) Shri Ganesh Temple, 2) Shri Shani Temple & 3) Shri Mahadev Temple
Other Places: The Samadhis of Shri Tatya Patil Kote, Shri Bhau
Maharaj Kumbhar, Shri V.Padmanabha Iyer, Shri Nanawali & Shri Abdul
Baba who were ardent Bhaktas closely associated with Shri Sai Baba
during His life time are located in Sansthan premises near lendhi Baug.
