Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

Shirdi – Also known as Shirdi of Sai Baba, was a spiritual master who was and is regarded by his devotees as a Saint, Fakir, Avatar, or Sadguru, according to their individual proclivities and beliefs. He was revered by both his Muslim and Hindu devotees, and during, as well as after, his life on earth it remained uncertain if he was a Muslim or Hindu himself. Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

Sai Baba remains a very popular saint, especially in India, and is worshiped by people around the world. He had no love for perishable things and his sole concern was self-realization. He taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and Guru. He gave no distinction based on religion or caste. Sai Baba’s teaching combined elements of Hinduism and Islam: he gave the Hindu name Dwarakamayi to the mosque he lived in, practiced Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions. Shirdi

The most important source about Sai’s life is the Shri Sai Saccharitra, written in Marathi in 1916 by Govindrao Raghunath Dabholkar, whom Sai Baba nicknamed ‘Hemadpant’. Consisting of 53 chapters, it describes Sai Baba’s life, teachings, and miracles. The book compares Sai Baba’s love to a mother’s love: caring and loving, but reprimanding when needed. It describes Baba’s lifestyle, his selfless attitude, and his love for his devotees. The book describes how one should surrender one’s egoism at God’s feet and trust one’s Guru. It explains how God is supreme and his devotees should trust him and love him. It teaches that God is omnipresent in all living things, so that everything on Earth must be treated with love and respect. Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

For many who come to Shirdi, attendance at Arati is one of the highlights of their visit. It is perhaps during Arati that we can most easily experience the essence of Shirdi and the power of Baba’s presence. Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

Arati is held four times a day at Baba’s Samadhi: at 4.30 am, at noon, sunset (around 6.30) and at 10.30 p.m. A siren resounds throughout the village a few minutes before the noon and sunset Arati, and at four o’clock in the morning. The bell is also rung in Dwarkamai and the ceremony is broadcast by an amplified system throughout the village. To attend Arati it’s best to go early and join those waiting in the Queue Complex, where there will be a separate line from the regular Darshan queue. Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

IMPORTANT FESTIVALS

The three main festivals are celebrated in Shirdi. They are Ram Navami, Guru Purnima, and Vijayadashami. These festivals are celebrated with great passion.  The Samadhi Mandir remains open all night during one of these days with Dwarkamai being open the previous night and there are all night Bhajan and Qawali sessions at various locations in the village. Sai Temple – Shirdi – Maharashtra

• Shri Ram Navami – 07.04.2014 to 09.04.2014
• Shri Gurupournima – 11.07.2014 to 13.07.2014
• Shri Punyatithi – 02.10.2014 to 04.10.2014

There are some important places in Shirdi , one who is planning to visit Shirdi must go –

• Important Places in Shirdi – Samadhi Mandir

• Important Places in Shirdi – Chavadi

• Important Places in Shirdi -Gurusthan

• Important Places in Shirdi – Dwarkamai

• Important Places in Shirdi – Khandoba Mandir

• Important Places in Shirdi – Mahalaxmi Temple

• Important Places in Shirdi – Laxmibai Shinde Mandir