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Shirdi Saibaba Temple
The Shirdi Saibaba Temple, located at Shirdi, Maharashtra, India attracts millions of devotees of all religions, castes and creed who come to pay homage to Shri Sai Baba. The temple is a beautiful shrine that was built over the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba.
The reason for holding this town in great reverence by people is that the town is believed to be the place where Sai Baba lived for a major part of his life and he left for the holy abode from here only. Today, Shirdi houses the Sai Baba Temple.
Shri Khandoba Mandir
Shri Khandoba Mandir is situated near the Shri Sainath Hospital. It enshrines the idol of Khandoba, along with that of Banai and Mhalsai. It is believed that when Sai Baba set his foot in Shirdi for the second time, Khandoba was the first place where he was welcomed.
Shri Gurusthan Mandir
Shri Gurusthan Mandir is the place where Sai Baba was seen, when he appeared in Shirdi for the first time, as a boy of 16 years. Infact, this place is believed to be the gurusthan (seat of the teacher) of Shri Sai Baba, that's why the name. The Neem (Margosa) tree situated here find reference in Sai Sat-Charitra. Devotees believe that if you burn incense at the Shri Gurusthan Mandir, your wishes will get fulfilled.
Dwarkamai (Mosque)
Dwarkamai is the mosque where Sai Baba used to stay, when he came to Shirdi for the second time. It is situated to the right of the entrance of Sai Mandir. Those who visit the mandir make it a point to visit Dwarkamai also. The mosque still houses the shila (stone), on which Baba used to sit. The Sacred Fire that Sai Baba used to light in his lifetime has still been kept burning. It is from this fire that udi (vibhuti) is distributed amongst the devotees.
Chawadi
Sai Baba used to go on a procession, from Dwarkamai to Chawadi, on every alternate day. Thereafter, he used to sleep there only. Today, a palanquin procession of Baba's Photo, Holy Padukas and Satka is taken out every Thursday, to Chawadi. Divided into two parts, Chawadi houses of a huge portrait of Baba, along with his wooden bed and white chair.
Lendi Baug
Lendi Baug is the garden where Sai Baba used to go daily, for watering the plants. He used to go there every morning and afternoon and rest under a Neem tree. Besides the tree is Nandadeep, a deepak (diya) that used to lit by the Baba everyday in the pit dug by him. Today, the pit has been converted into a marble deepgriha (lighthouse), with a glass box in which the deep continues to burn. The other attractions of the Lendi Baug are Datta Mandir (samadhi of Sai Baba's horse, Sham Sundar) and Baba's Shivdi, a well.
Samadhi of Abdulbaba
The man who used to read Quran to Sai Baba was fondly known as Abdulbaba. The people of the town and those of Shirdi have sincere devotion towards Abdulbaba, who was also one of the most fervent followers of Baba. His samadhi is situated inside the premises of Shri Sai Baba Temple. The cottage where he used to live still stands intact and houses the photos and various items handled by him as well as Sai Baba.
Maruti Temple
Maruti Mandir is situated at a few minutes distance from the cottage of Abdulbaba. Sai Baba had a special devotion for the temple and used to visit it on a regular basis. He also conducted satsangs at the Maruti Temple, along with Devidas - a bal yogi, who used to reside in the temple 10-12 years before Baba came in Shirdi.
Shri Tatya Kote Samadhi
Tatya was the son of Bayjabai, the woman whom Sai Baba referred to as his mother. He was also one of the most dedicated followers of Baba and continued serving him till his death. Tatya died in the year 1945 and later, his samadhi was built near Lendi Baug.
Nana Walli's Samadhi
Nana Walli was also counted amongst the most passionate devotees and followers of Shri Sai Baba. He was a little different from the others in the way he behaved. He mainly concerned himself with looking after the daily schedule of Shri Saibaba. Nana Walli breathed his last in the year 1918 and thereafter, his samadhi was also built near Lendi Baug.
Bhau Kumbhar's Samadhi
Last but not the least; we have the samadhi of Shri Bhau Maharaj, another one of the devoted followers of Shri Sai Baba. He left for the holy abode in the year 1938 and his samadhi is also situated near Lendi Baug.
Thursday Palki Procession
During the days when Shri Sai Baba was living in Dwarkamai Masjid, he used to sleep in Chawri. This was on every alternate night between the years 1910 to 1918. This visit at Chawri on every alternate night was prefaced by a ‘palki’ progress. The procession was carried out with all royal appurtenances and Baba was accompanied from Dawakamai to Chawri.
Even now this palki procession continues with the same excitement and veneration. The procession starts from the Samadhi Mandir and proceeds to Dwarkamai Masjid from where it goes to Chawri and returns Samadhi Mandir. After the procession, Shej Aarti is offered to Shri Sai Baba.
House of Laxmibai Shinde
Right from the beginning of his life Sai Baba had a habit of begging food from his neighborhood. Baba remembered the services that Laxmibai bestowed on him. Before Baba left his body, he gave Laxmibai Shinde a 5 rupee note. Then he gave Laxmi four rupees making the total to Rs 9. The figure indicates the nine types of devotion.
Through this act Baba brought to the notice of Laxmibai Shinde the importance of the nine characteristics of a good disciple. Baba had given Laxmibai Rs 9 many times but the last gift of Rs 9 by Baba is always remembered.
Shani Shingnapur
This village is an interesting village in that no houses have doors. The belief of the villagers is that their Lord Shaneshwara will protect them from all evil. This includes robbery and theft. The hamlet is about 65 km from Shirdi.
The image of the lord is large and is made of black stone. Only male devotees are permitted to worship in the temple. The devotees should first take bath in the public bathrooms and then pray with wet dhotis without any upper garment.
The temple is open for worship from 5 am to 10 pm.
Dixit Wada Museum
The Dixit Wada Museum is located at the center of the Sansthan complex. It is a charming and compact museum. The museum contains rare black and white photographs of Sai Baba. Baba’s Kafni that is long robes and his leather padukas and his smoking pipe are also on display. Other things which can be seen at the museum are gramophone records, water tumblers, cooking utensils and bathing stone which were used by Baba.
The museum is open for public to visit from 10 am to 6 pm.
Upasani Maharaj Ashram
The Upasani Maharaj Ashram is situated off the Shirdi-Ahmednagar State Highway. It is the ashram of a great saint of the 20th century. Upasani Maharaj was an ardent disciple of Shri Sai Baba.
The Ashram of Upasani Maharaj is near Shirdi. There were three spiritual heirs of the Maharaj. The samadhi of the Maharaj and the samadhi of one of his disciples is placed inside the ashram. Upasani Majaraj is considered a perfect master. One of his disciples Avtar Mehar Baba called Upasani Maharaj the best and the perfect master.
Jangli Maharaj Ashram
The Jangli Maharaj Ashram is located on the Shirdi-Manmad State Highway. Jangli Maharaj Ashram is about seven kilometers from Shirdi. Spiritual guru Om Gurudev runs the ashram. The ashram has a co-educational residential school for children.
Jangli Maharaj Ashram conducts meditation classes and various other religious and educational fields regularly. On a day before the full moon day a program called Anugraha is arranged. The holy meeting goes on throughout the night in the presence of Sadguru Janglidas Maharaj.
The visitors are allowed to visit the Ashram from 7 am – 10 pm.
Mahadev, Ganesh and Shani Temples
Situated in a row adjacent to each other are these three temples which happen to be few of the oldest temples of Shirdi. These three temples of Shirdi are greatly revered and hence visited by a number of devout Hindus on their visit to Shirdi.
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