Important Places in Shirdi – Khandoba Mandir

This temple is situated on the main road. In front of this temple Baba was welcomed by Poojari Mhalsapati, of this temple, saying “Aao Sai”, when Baba stepped in Shridi. In this temple there are icons of Khandoba, Banai and Mhalsai Important Places in Shirdi – Khandoba Mandir

Important Places in Shirdi – Khandoba Mandir

Khandoba was the tutelary deity of the Mhalsapati family, and Mhalsapati was the temple’s hereditary priest. Khandoba, originally a pastoral deity, is popular in Maharashtra and is now worshipped as a form of Shiva. The temple here was a simple, rural temple; presnently, it is a small, well-maintained and neatly kept building.

The idol of Khandoba a colourful image  is flanked on either side by one of his two wives. On the right sits Mhalsa, and on the left is Baanai, who represents the business community. Mhalsa is worshipped as a form of Parvati and Baanyani is venerated as a form of Goddess Ganga. Important Places in Shirdi – Khandoba Mandir

Baba like to stay some time at Khandoba Temple on his way back from Rahata (which was then a village, five kilometers away from Shirdi). Important Places in Shirdi – Khandoba Mandir

On the entrance to the temple is a large banyan tree which is mentioned in the ‘Shri Sai Satcharitra’ as the place where the bullock cart halted. It is now commemorated with a small shrine and ‘padukas’ at its base.

 A great devotee of Shri Sai Baba,Upasani Maharaj, spent about two years here, as instruction received  from Sai nath to stay in Shirdi for four years. Baba told Shri Upasani that he would win the grace of Khandoba on completion of the four years’ tenure. Later, in the 1920s, Upasani Maharaj sponsored the renovation of the temple as a gesture of gratitude for the benefit he had derived there. Important Places in Shirdi – Khandoba Mandir

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