Shirdi

Sai Baba of Shirdi or Shirdi Sai Baba (circa 1838 - October 15, 1918), (real name, birth place, and date of birth unknown), He was born in a Brahmin family and was an Indian guru, yogi and fakir, who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint. Some of his Hindu devotees believe that he was an Avatar of Shiva, Dattatreya, a satguru and the next incarnation of Kabir.

In his life and teachings he tried to embrace and reconcile Hinduism and Islam: Sai Baba lived in a mosque, was buried in a Hindu temple, practised Hindu and Muslim rituals, and taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions. One of his well known epigrams says of God: "Allah Malik" ("God is Master").

Sai Baba taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, devotion to God and guru. His philosophy was Advaita Vedanta and his teachings consisted of elements both of this school as well as of bhakti and Islam.

Some disciples of Sai of Shirdi have received fame as spiritual figures and saints.
Sai Baba is also one of the most popular of Indian saints (worshipped mainly in Maharashtra, southern Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh) and revered by several notable Hindu, Sufi and Zoroastrian religious leaders.

Daily Schedule at the Mandir

Events                             Time
Bhupali                            5.00 am
Kakad Aarti                    5:15 am
Holy Bath of Baba          6:00 am
Darshan Begins              7:00 am
Abhishek                         9:00 am
Satyanarayanpuja         9:00 am
Afternoon Aarti             12:00 noon
Pravachan                       4:00 pm
Dhupa Aarti                    Sun-set
Shejarati                         10:00 pm


Places to Visit


Samadhi Mandir
It was initially owned by Shreemant Gopalrao he was from Nagpur, he was also a big Sai devotee. The Mandir is made up of stone and the Samadhi is of White Marble. The railing which surrounds the Samadhi is full of ornamental decorations. The two silver pillars in front of the Samadhi are beautiful with artistic designs on it. There is also a marble statue of Sai Baba.
Above the statue is an open, silver umbrella. The front of the Mandir has an assembly hall which can accommodate about 550 people. You can see pictures on the first floor which depict the life of Sai Baba.

Dwarkamai
This is the masjid where Sri Sai Baba lived continously for sixty years. Sai Baba had come to Shridi with a marriage procession. Here he cured the sick. There are two levels of Dwarkamani. The first level has a big stone on which Sai Baba used to sit. There are two rooms over here, one has a Palkhi and the other has a Chariot. The second level has that stool on which Sai Baba used to sit while having bath. There is a beautiful painting of Sai Baba sitting in a carved wooden Shrine.

Gurusthan
It is the place where Sai Baba was first seen sitting under a Neem tree. Sai Baba first came to Shridi in the form of Bal Yogi. The present day temple in Gurusthan was renovated in 1941. There is a big portrait of Baba on a elevated platform of this shrine. Shivling and the Nandi are just in front of the portrait.
At a short distance from here is the Chavadi where Sai Baba used to sleep every alternate days. This place is divided in to two parts. One of which has a large portrait along with a wooden bed and a white chair which belonging to him. There is also a cottage of Abdul Baba. From a little distance from the cottage is a Maruti temple.

Lendi Baug
The Baug got its name after a Nalla which once upon a time was flowing there. Every morning and evening Baba use to come here to have rest under a Neem tree. Baba had dug a hole under the Neem tree and kept a Deep lit in it. In memory of this place a Nanda Deep has been built which burns all day. This place also has a Samadhi of the horse which belonged to Baba & the well dug by Baba.