A to Z of Shirdi - Guide with photographs

8/14/2019 A to Z of Shirdi - Guide with photographs

1/52

~~ OMSHRISAINATHAYANAMAHA ~~

" FOR THIS ARTICLE BABA IS MY INSPIRATION,ALL THE WORDS ARE MY PERSPIRATION,FOR EVERY DEVOTEE OF EVERY NATION,

HAVING A LONG DESIRED DIVINE ASPIRATION,TO GO TO SHIRDI IN THE VACATION.

SO, NOW MOVE ON... AS "SAI-EXPRESS" IS WAITING IN ANTICIPATION,TO TAKE YOU TO "SAINAGAR" RAILWAY STATION !

OH, WHAT A MOTIVATION !!! " - rOhit beHaL

~~ SHIRDI TEMPLE PREMISES GUIDE MAP ~~SHIRDI TEMPLE GUIDE MAP LABELLED WITH "A to Z" ALPHABETS AGAINST

SMALL "x" MARKS,TO ENABLE YOU TO FIND THE EXACT SPOT OF THE CORRESPONDING

PLACEIN & AROUND THE SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE PREMISES.


2/52

AON MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -QUEUE FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" ONLY AND ROAMING IN THE TEMPLE

PREMISES EXCEPT LENDI BAGH & BABAS WELL.

AON PIMPALWADI ROAD -DEVOTEES ENTRANCE NEAR MAIN GATE NO.2, FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN

FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT PASSES.THE ARROWS IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALLS INDICATE THE DIRECTION

DEVOTEES HAVE TO MOVE TO REACH BABA'S SAMADHI.

B - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1C - THE P.R.O OFFICE.


3/52

D - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 (CLOSED...NOT USED NOW)E - SHIRDI SANSTHAN'S BOOK STORE FOR SELLING BABA'S BOOKS,

CALENDARS, VCD / DVD etcF - THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL".

G - "SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

LTD, SHIRDI" STALL.H - DURING PEAK PERIODS, ENTRY GATE FOR N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONALS

/ V.I.P's.I - SHOP SELLING POOJA ITEMS / MUSTARD OIL & SWEET PRASAD TOO.J - HUGE WINDOWS FOR A VIEW OF THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN

THE STAIRS.K- DURING PEAK PERIODS ITS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY

DISABLED DEVOTEES SPECIAL ENTRY GATE.L - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3

M- "THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM".N - "SAI-COMPLEX" COMMERCIAL SHOPPING COMPLEX.

O - "DAKSHIN-MUKHI MARUTI TEMPLE"P- ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE.

Q - ENTRY FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" OF BABA'S IDOL.(ONE CANNOT GOTOWARDS BABA'S SAMADHI FROM HERE)

R- EXIT AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE EXITGATE FOR DISABLED / SENIOR CITIZENS.

S - DONATION OFFICE.T - "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" - (FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION

ROOM).U- TELEVISION IN THE OPEN AIR THEATRE FOR DEVOTEES STANDING OUT

TO HAVE LIVE DARSHAN.V - WATER COOLER (BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE), FOR DEVOTEES

TO DRINK THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN.W - REAR EXIT DOOR AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS

ITS THE ENTRY GATE FOR V.I.P PASS HOLDERS.X- "SAIBABA'S MUSEUM'.

Y - UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM (NEXT TO ABDUL BABAS /NANAVALIS / TATYAS SAMADHI).

Z - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4

THE BLACK LINE FROM ARCHWAY NO.4 CUTTING ACROSS LENDIBAGH UPTO THE EXIT AT MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -

STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH FROMNANDADEEP.

CANDLES - PLACE IN NANDADEEP WHERE DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES &LIGHT CANDLES.


4/52

- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1 -

ON THE WEST SIDE, ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD IS "ARCHWAYNO.1" ,

WHICH IS USED ONLY AS AN ENTRY GATE INTO THE TEMPLE PREMISESAND OR FOR BABA'S MUKH DARSHAN

i.e., DARSHAN OF BABA'S FACE FROM A DISTANCE (FROM, NEAR THERAISED PLATFORM BEHIND IN THE TEMPLES SANCTUM).

AFTER, ENTERING THRU ARCHWAY NO.1, ONE CAN FREELY ROAM IN THETEMPLE PREMISES

i.e, CAN TAKE UDHI, SEE ABDUL BABA'S / TATYAS & NANAVALIS SAMADHI,SAI BABA'S MUSEUM AND CAN GO STRAIGHT UP TO DWARKAMAI

BUT CANNOT GO TO LENDI BAGH OR BABA`S WELL.


5/52

THIS ARCHWAY NO.1 IS OPPOSITE THE TEMPLES P.R.O OFFICE ANDBESIDES NANDA-DEEP.

ONE CANNOT MAKE AN EXIT FROM THIS GATE.


ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD, ISARCHWAY NO.2 ,

WHICH WAS EARLIER USED AS AN ENTRY & EXIT GATE BUT AT PRESENT ISCLOSED & NOT IN USE.

INSTEAD, JUST BESIDES IT ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD ITSELF IS THEENTRY GATE FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT ANY PASSES.


6/52

THIS ENTRY TAKES ONE DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRST WAITING HALL FROMWHERE THE DARSHAN QUEUES,

AFTER MOVING ALONG THROUGH SPIRALING LONG STRETCH OF STEELBARRICADED HALLS & BY STAIRS UP & DOWN,FINALLY LEADS UPTO THE SAMADHI OF BABA.



7/52

ON THE EAST SIDE, IN THE LANE GOING INSIDE FROM THE PIMPALWADIROAD IS "ARCHWAY NO.3",WHICH IS USED MAINLY FOR EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES

TOWARDS DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE& BABA'S SHRI CHAVADI. IF ONE ENTERS THROUGH THIS ARCHWAY, ON

THE LEFT HAND SIDE COMES THE "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY,WHILE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS AN ENTRANCE USED FOR THE SENIOR

CITIZENS SPECIAL ENTRY DURING PEAK PERIODS.THIS ARCHWAY IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS /

PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES WHO ARE UNABLE TO WALK.

LUCKY TIP - ONE NORMAL ADULT IS ALLOWED TO ESCORT THEIR AGED /HANDICAPPED DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER

BY THIS ARCHWAY & A DEPENDENT KID CAN ALSO GO ALONG IF HE / SHEHAS NO ONE ELSE TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER.

IF LUCKY ENOUGH, THEN N.R.I & FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN TOO MAKE ANENTRY BY THIS ARCHWAY


8/52

IF THEY SHOW THE GUARDS THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR NRISTATUS i.e., PASSPORT COPIES etc


ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS "ARCHWAY NO.4" WHICH IS MAINLY USED FORSOUTH EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES.

TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TODWARKAMAI,

WHEREAS THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICHLEAD UP TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.

THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY, WITH A STEELBARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH AND NANDADEEP


9/52

IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF DEVOTEES ENTER BY THIS GATE THEN THEYWILL AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TOWARDS LENDI BAGH,

BABA'S WELL AND THEN STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TO THEMANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.

SO, IF FROM LENDI BAGH IF ONE WANTS TO GO TO NANDADEEP, THEN

THEY WILL HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT OUT OFTHE TEMPLE PREMISES AND THEN AGAIN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM

ARCHWAY NO.1 FOR NANDADEEP.THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS BANG OPPOSITE THE SAMADHIS OF NANAVALI /

ABDUL BABA / & TATYA PATIL.

~~ VIP DARSHAN PASSES ~~

DURING WEEK DAYS

THE VIP DARSHAN PASSES HAVE BEEN BANNED DURING WEEK DAYS BYTHE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN.

SO, THE N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's & OTHER VIP's WILL HAVE TOQUEUE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DEVOTEES,

IF THEY WANT TO GO FOR BABA'S DARSHAN. HOWEVER, DURING OFF PEAKPERIODS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED

ARE ALLOWED ENTRY DIRECTLY INTO THE SAMADHI SHRINE BY A SPECIALGATE BANG OPPOSITE

THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "R" IN MAP ABOVE) .

DURING WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS

THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN HAS INTRODUCED THE "PAID DARSHANPASSES CONCEPT" FOR WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS.

SO NOW, A NOMINAL FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR VIP DARSHAN PASSES,

BY WHICH DEVOTEES CAN SKIP THE REGULARDARSHAN QUEUE AND HAVE THE DIVINE DARSHAN OF BABA.

THIS "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" IS FOR ALL N.R.I's /

FOREIGN NATIONAL's & OTHER VIP's.IT WILL BE APPLICABLE ON THURSDAYS / SATURDAYS / SUNDAYS /

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK PERIODS.


10/52

THE CHARGES FIXED BY THE SHIRDI SAI TRUST FOR THESE PAID DARSHANPASSES ARE :

1) FOR KAKAD AARTI : Rs.500/- per person.2) FOR MADHYANA AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.

3) FOR DHOOP AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.4) FOR SHEJ AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.

5) FOR NORMAL DARSHAN (Not during any of the Aarti's) : Rs.100/- perperson.

~~ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAID DARSHAN SYSTEM ~~

1) THIS SYSTEM OF PAID DARSHAN COMMENCED FROM SATURDAY 13thMARCH`2010.

2) A TOTAL NUMBER OF 1600 DEVOTEES CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THETEMPLE,

SO THE PAID PASSES LIMIT FOR AARTI'S HAS BEEN FIXED AT 140DEVOTEES AT A TIME.

3) DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON CHARGES TO THEDEVOTEES IN ADVANCE

AND NO PRIOR BOOKING WILL BE MADE OF SUCH PASSES.

4) EVEN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE,CELEBRITIES, N.R.I`s OR FOREIGN NATIONALS

AND JOURNALISTS etc ARE NOT SPARED FROM THESE CHARGES.

5) THE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL THE PAIDDARSHAN PASSES WILL BE LIMITED

TO AROUND 10% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WAITING IN THETEMPLE.

FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE ARE A 1000 DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE TEMPLE,THEN ONLY 100 DEVOTEES WILL BE ALLOWED

TO GO IN FOR BABA'S DARSHAN, WITH A PAID PASS. AFTER THEY HAVEHAD THEIR DARSHAN AND MOVE OUT,

ONLY THEN, THE NEXT BATCH OF PAID DARSHAN PASS HOLDERS WILL GOINSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR DARSHAN.

PRE-REQUISITE - TO AVAIL THE PAID DARSHAN PASS, ONE HAS TO HAVEA REFERENCE LETTER OF ANY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY / ANY HIGH RANKING INDIANOFFICIAL etc REQUESTING FOR THE SAME.


11/52

- ENTRY GATE -

MOSTLY, THE GATE FOR THE VIP PASS HOLDERS IS OPPOSITE THE THREETEMPLES OF LORD SHANI / LORD GANESHA

AND LORD MAHADEV (MARKED AS "H" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).HOWEVER, THIS GATE MAY DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH

AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.BUT IF THE N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONAL OR THE V.I.P IS HANDICAPPED /

PHYSICALLY DISABLED OR A SENIOR CITIZEN,THEN THEY DO NOT NEED ANY SPECIAL PASS AS THEY CAN ENTER THE

TEMPLE BY THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE MEANTFOR SENIOR CITIZENS (MARKED AS "K" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).

THIS GATE MAY ALSO DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH ATTHAT GIVEN PERIOD.

DARSHAN PASSES PROCEDURE :

THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN APPROACH THE P.R.O. OFFICE TOARRANGE FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES

FOR WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO SHOW THE ORIGINAL OR COPIES OF THE

PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITYi.e, PASSPORT / GREEN CARD

OR ANY OTHER PROOF OF RESIDENCE TO THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.OOFFICER.

FOR SAFETY REASONS THEY SHOULD CARRY COPIES OF THEIR ORIGINALPROOF OF RESIDENCE DOCUMENTS.

WHEREAS, THE V.I.P's WILL HAVE TO SHOW A REQUEST FOR THE PAIDDARSHAN PASSES LETTER FROM ANY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY OR ANY HIGH RANKING INDIANOFFICIAL etc.

ALWAYS SPECIFY FOR WHICH TIME OR AARTI THE PAID PASSES AREREQUIRED

i.e, KAKAD, MADHYAN, DHOOP OR SHEJ AARTI OR THE SIMPLE DARSHANAND PAY THE CHARGES ACCORDINGLY.


12/52

THE DEVOTEE SHOULD ALSO SPECIFY IN ADVANCE, THE NUMBER OFMEMBERS GOING TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER ON THE PAID PASS,

AS ACCORDINGLY ONLY THOSE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THAT MEMBER,WILL BE GIVEN ENTRY FOR DARSHAN IN THE TEMPLE.

ANY EXTRA MEMBER OF THE PASS HOLDER IS REFUSED ENTRY FOR

DARSHAN, IF NOT PAID FOR BEFORE HAND AT THE P.R.O.

IF THE N.R.I.'s WANT TO ARRANGE FOR PASSES BEFORE THEY TOUCHDOWN IN INDIA, THEY CAN CONSULT THE SANSTHAN P.R.O.

FOR THE PROCEDURE IF POSSIBLE OR THEY SHOULD HAVE SOMEREPRESENTATIVE IN INDIA

TO ARRANGE FOR THE SAME BEFORE HAND.P.S - THE P.R.O. IS NOT OPEN THE WHOLE DAY BUT HAS SPECIFIC

TIMINGS,SO PLEASE ACCORDINGLY BE THERE TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR PASSES IN

ADVANCE.

MY WISH - THE SYSTEM OF ALL DARSHAN PASSES SHOULD BEABOLISHED WHAT-SO-EVER

AND BE IT POLITICIANS / ACTORS / V.I.P's / N.R.I's / FOREIGNERSANYBODY SO TO SPEAK,

LET EVERYONE STAND IN THE NORMAL QUEUEFOR DARSHAN...AS PASSES IS DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN SECTS OF

PEOPLE...A THING WHICH BABA NEVER PREACHED.SO "DON'T GIVE PASSES BUT GIVE PREFERENCE"

ALL PHYSICALLY DISABLED / TERMINALLY ILL / AGED & SENIOR CITIZENS

SHOULD BE GIVEN FIRST PREFERENCE FOR DARSHAN.

MY VIEW - KARMICALLY SPEAKING, THE PASS HOLDERS EAT AWAY SOMEOF THEIR GOOD KARMAS BY

ARRANGING A SMOOTH-n-EASY DARSHAN FOR THEMSELVES UP AGAINSTTHE OTHER DEVOTEES STANDING FOR HOURS IN QUEUE'S ONLY TO BE

BACK-DROPPED DURING DARSHAN IN THE MAIN SANCTUM.

- SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED -


13/52


14/52

ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED & AGED DEVOTEES DO NOTREQUIRE ANY SPECIAL PASSES FOR DARSHANAS THEY ARE GIVEN DIRECT ENTRY TO THE TEMPLE FROM A SEPARATE

GATE BY WHICH THEY CUT OUT THE LONGSTANDING IN QUEUES. THIS SPECIAL ENTRY GATE FOR SENIORS / AGED

DEVOTEES CHANGESDEPENDING UPON THE INFLOW OF DEVOTEES.

IN NORMAL PERIODS, WHEN IT ISN'T MUCH CROWDED, THE SENIORCITIZENS ARE ALLOWED DIRECTLY INSIDE THE MAIN TEMPLE

BY THE ENTRY OPPOSITE THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM, NOW

THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM.

BUT DURING HOLIDAY SEASONS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK TIMES WHENA LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES TURN UP FOR DARSHAN,

THE ENTRY GATE FOR THE SENIOR / DISABLED DEVOTEES CHANGES TOOi.e, AT PRESENT IT IS A GATE JUST BENEATH THE


15/52

WIDE ARCHWAY NO.3 STRUCTURE ITSELF AND OPPOSITE A BLACKCOLORED GRANITE NOTICE BOARD.

WHEN ONE ENTERS THROUGH ARCHWAY NO.3, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDEFALLS THE "MUKH DARSHAN" GATE &

ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WAS THE FORMER SHOE STAND AREA...AND

JUST ADJACENT TO THIS FORMERSHOE STAND AREA IS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ENTRY GATE.

DURING PEAK PERIODS,HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER GETTING A ENTRY FORDARSHAN FROM THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE,

THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED HAVE YET TO WALK DOWN A FEW STAIRSWHERE THEY JOIN THE PASS HOLDERS AND

THE REST OF THE OTHER DEVOTEES, WITH WHOM THEY THEN CLIMB UP AFEW STAIRS TO FINALLY REACH BABA'S SAMADHI SANCTUM. AND THE

QUEUE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS DEVOTEES STARTS FROM JUSTOUTSIDE THE SQUARE WINDOWS

(FROM WHERE ONE CAN SEE THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN-STAIRS)OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE.

IF THE SENIOR CITIZEN IS UNABLE TO GO ALONE DUE TO ANY DISABILITYOR ILLNESS OR IS ON WHEEL CHAIR THEN

ANY ONE FAMILY MEMBER (YOUNG OR OLD) IS ALLOWED TO ACCOMPANYHIM /HER THROUGH THIS SENIOR CITIZENS GATE.

AND, IF THIS RESULTS IN ANY DEPENDENT MINOR WHO IS WITH THEM TOBE LEFT ALONE,

THEN THAT MINOR TOO IS ALLOWED TO GO WITH HIS / HER FAMILYTHROUGH THIS ENTRY.

MY WISH - IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SEASON / TIME AND THE AMOUNT OFDEVOTEE INFLOW,

ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SHOULDBE ALLOWED TO ENTER BY THE

GATE BANG OPPOSITE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM (FORMER UDHI ROOM)LIKE BEFORE.

- MUKH-DARSHAN -


16/52

FOR DEVOTEES WHO WANT TO JUST HAVE A DARSHAN OF BABAS SAMADHIIDOL FROM FAR,

THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM A DOOR - MARKED AS "Q" ON THESHIRDI GUIDE MAP ABOVE.

THIS ENTRY IS JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF ARCHWAY NO.3 ON THE LEFTHAND SIDE.

AND AS ONE ENTERS BY THIS DOOR, ONE STANDS BETWEEN A STEELBARRICADED PASSAGE

BETWEEN THE FRONT & BACK SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, LIKE AN AISLE. THUS,

ONE CANNOT GOFROM HERE FORWARD FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN. HE WILL HAVE TO EXIT

FROM THIS "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY DOORAND GO AND STAND IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE IF HE WANTS TO DO SO.

- DARSHAN WAITING HALLS -


17/52

THE HALLS WHERE THE QUEUES LINE UP SPIRALING ACROSS THE STEELBARRICADES HAVE WATER COOLERS AND

ADEQUATE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMFORT OF THEDEVOTEES.ALSO, PRESENT ARE TELEVISION SETS

FOR DEVOTEES TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SANCTUM WHILEWAITING IN QUEUES FOR HOURS CHANTING BABA`S NAME.

- DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE -

- BEFORE -


18/52

- NOW -

THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE WHICH IS IN THE LANE THATRUNS BETWEEN DWARKAMAI & THE CHAVADI,

HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND A NEW TEMPLE HAS BEENCONSTRUCTED IN ITS PLACE.

THIS SOUTH FACING TEMPLE, ORIGINALLY HAD TWO HANUMAN IDOLSHERE BUT NOW THESE TWO IDOL SHAVE BEEN REPLACED

WITH A SINGLE IDOL MADE FROM BLACK MARBLE. THE TWO OLD HANUMAN

IDOLS HAVE BEEN NOW PLACED IN THE SAIBABA MUSEUM.


19/52

- SHREE CHAVADI -

BABA'S "SHREE CHAVADI" HAS NOW BEEN DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS.THE LEFT PORTION IS "FOR LADIES" WHILE THE RIGHT PORTION IS "ONLY

FOR GENTS"

WHERE NO LADIES ARE ALLOWED, AS BEFORE.

- SAIBABA MUSEUM -


20/52


21/52


22/52

VISIT THE "SAIBABA MUSEUM" JUST BESIDES THE DIXIT WADA.IT HAS MANY RARE ITEMS WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED BY BABA

HIMSELFi.e, HIS UTENSILS, KAFNI, GRAMOPHONE RECORD'S & PLAYER, HIS

CHILLUM, A BIG PALAQUIN WHICH WAS


23/52

GIFTED TO BABA BUT NEVER USED BY HIM, ALL THE PALKHI PROCESSIONTHINGS, BABAS PADUKAS,

HIS WHEAT GRINDING STONE, TWO POTS WITH WHICH HE COOKED & FEDTHE HUNGRY,

THE COT ON WHICH BABA'S LAST BATHING TOOK PLACE AFTER HIS

DEMISE, BABA'S ORIGINAL CHIMTA,THE EARTHEN WARE WITH HE USED TO ASK FOR FOOD etc.

THIS MUSEUM IS SPREAD ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS THE FIRST FLOOR.

- LADU PRASAD -

THE LADU PRASAD SALE COUNTER IS NOW LOCATED TO THE NORTHERNSIDE OF "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2, NEAR THE CAR PARKING. THE

TIMINGS FOR THE SALE OF THESE LADU PRASAD IS 06:00Am TO10:00Pm.(22: 00Hrs)

- UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM -


24/52

THE NEW PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM IS NOW LOCATED RIGHTNEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI,

OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4. THE OLD UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM

WHICH WAS BANG OPPOSITE THE MAIN ENTRY OFTHE SAMADHI TEMPLE AND ADJOINING THE DONATION OFFICE IS NOW

CONVERTED INTO AN "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" ROOM.

THE TIMINGS FOR UDHI DISTRIBUTION ARE -

07:00Am To 11:30Am13:00Pm To 18:00Pm19:00Pm To 22:00Pm(AFTER DHOOP AARTI)

THE LINE FOR TAKING UDHI ALSO GOES TO QUITE A STRETCHAND ONLY ONE SMALL PACKET OF UDHI IS GIVEN TO EACH DEVOTEE SOREFRAIN FROM ASKING FOR ANOTHER.

- NANDADEEP -


25/52


26/52

1) TO THE LEFT OF NANDA DEEP THERE ARE TWO NEEM TREES.2) NANDA DEEP (LAMP OF BLISS) WAS ORIGINALLY LIT BY BABA HIMSELF.3) TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE PIPAL TREE ON WHICH THERE IS A

FORMATION IN THE SHAPE OF LORD GANESHA.OWING TO THE NINE LARGE BRANCHES AND NINE ROOTS OF THIS PIPAL

TREE, BABA HAD INSTALLED A NAVGRIHA IN THIS TREE.

DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES OR DIYAS IN FRONT OFNANDADEEP, ON THE GRILL FENCING OPPOSITE IT.

AS, BABA TOO EVERY EVENING WOULD LIGHT A DIYA HERE.

BUT TODAY, ONE OF THIS TREE DUE ITS HEIGHT OR GROWTH, HAS BEENCHOPPED OFF BY THE TRUNK ITSELF FROM THE TOP

AND ALL THAT'S LEFT IS A HUGE LOG (TREE TRUNK) WHICH WILL BUTNATURALLY

TAKE SOME TIME TO GROW BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM.


27/52

MY VIEW - WONDER WHAT HAVE THEY DONE WITH THE CHOPPEDPORTION OF THE TREE AS,

I THINK WE DEVOTEES WOULD HAVE TREASURED EVEN ONE LEAF OR TWIGOF BABA'S BLESSED TREE.

- SHOE STAND -THERE ARE SHOE STANDS JUST OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE WHERE ONE CAN

KEEP THEIR FOOTWEAR FOR A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE,IN EXCHANGE FOR A TOKEN. BUT MANY DEVOTEES REMOVE THEIR

FOOTWEAR INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES ITSELF

IN ANY CORNER OR BELOW SOME STRUCTURE. IT IS CONVENIENT BUTNOT CORRECT TO DO SO AS THESE PLACES ARE NOT MEANTTO PARK ONE`S FOOTWEAR, SO THEY MIGHT BE BRUSHED ASIDE BY

ANYONE OR EVEN MIGHT GO MISSING FROM THERE.SO REMOVE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.

- TELEVISION - LIVE DARSHAN -TELEVISION SETS TELECASTING LIVE IMAGES FROM THE SAMADHI

SHRINE`S INNER SANCTUM & DWARKAMAI DIRECTLY,HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE ENTIRE TEMPLE PREMISES, INSIDE & OUTSIDE THE

SAMADHI SHRINE ALSO, FOR DEVOTEES WHO CANNOT MAKE ITINSIDE AND WATCHING THE KAKAD AARTI ON THE TV SETS ESPECIALLY IN

THE OPEN AIR THEATER IS MORE FUN,AS YOU GET GOOD CLOSE UPS AND BETTER VIEW SITTING COMFORTABLY

RATHER THAN FROM INSIDE WHERE DUE TO THE RUSHONE HARDLY CAN GET A CLEAR VIEW OF BABA WHILE THE AARTI OR

MANGAL SNAN GOES ON.

- OPEN AIR THEATRE -


28/52


29/52

THE OPEN AIR THEATRE, IS A OPEN SPACE STANDING FROM WHEREDEVOTEES CAN HAVE A VIEW OF BABA'S SAMADHI IDOL

THROUGH A WINDOW. ALSO, PRESENT HERE IS A TELEVISION SET FORDEVOTEES TO ENJOY THE LIVE DARSHAN

OF BABA WHILE ANY AARTI / PROGRAM GOES ON INSIDE THE SAMADHISANCTUM. THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE

WAS ONCE A RAISED PLATFORM WITH A GARDEN & FOUNTAIN BEHINDIT, HAS NOW CHANGED TOO.

THE RAISED PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED LEAVING BEHIND A FLOORLEVEL TILED GROUND MINUS THE GARDEN,

FOUNTAIN & THE WATER FALLS.

MY VIEW -THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE OF BENCHES TO SIT IN THISOPEN AIR THEATRE AS

THIS IS THE ONLY OPEN SPACE IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES WHERE ONE CANSIT BUT AS IT IS GROUND LEVEL SO A BIT DIFFICULT

FOR AGED/SENIORS TO SIT DOWN. THAT`S WHY NOW ONE CAN FINDDEVOTEES SITTING ON THE TWO LONG STRETCH OF STAIRS

IN THE GURUSTHAN AREA AND ALSO, OPPOSITE NEAR THE DIXIT WADAGIVING THE PLACE A VERY CROWDED LOOK.

THE SMALL COVERING WALL OF THE TWO TREES OPPOSITE THE DONATIONOFFICE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FULL OF DEVOTEES SITTING.


30/52

- SHOPS IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -

"SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD,SHIRDI" ( APPROVED BY SSST,SHIRDI) HAS A STALL INSIDE

THE TEMPLE PREMISES FOR SELLING COLD DRINKS / ICE-CREAMS /MINERAL WATER / MASALA MILK / LASSI / PRASAD PEDHA / NAVGRAHA

DHOOP etc AT VERY NOMINAL PRICES. IT IS SITUATED NEXT TO ARCHWAYNO.2 OUTSIDE THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALL.

ALSO, THERE IS A SHOP NEAR THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD GANESHA,LORD SHANIDEV & LORD MAHADEV.

THIS SHOP SELLS SOME PRASAD & LOTS OF DIFFERENT POOJA ITEMSINCLUDING MUSTARD OIL FOR POURING IT ON LORD SHANIDEV.


31/52


32/52

AND IN ITS PLACE A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX CALLED "SAI COMPLEX" HASCOME UP.

IT IS JUST 20 FEET FROM THE GATE OF SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE STARTINGFROM OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.2 STRETCHING RIGHT UP TO THE END OF

THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.3.

MY VIEW - "WE LOVE SHIRDI IN IT`S SIMPLICITY BUT SEEMS SOONSHIRDI WILL BECOME SIMPLY A CITY" !!!

- MOBILE CLOAKROOM -BESIDES ARCHWAY NO.2 & IN THE LANE LEADING TO THE ARCHWAY NO.3

FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS"THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM" WHEREDEVOTEES HAVE TO DEPOSIT THEIR MOBILES

AT A NOMINAL CHARGE OF RS.2/- PER MOBILE. THEY GET A TOKEN INRETURN AGAINST WHICH THEY CAN GET THEIR MOBILES BACK,AS MOBILES / CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TEMPLE

PREMISES.

- SAI PRASADALAYA -

"SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA"BEHIND POLICE STATION, SHIRDI,

NIMGAON SHIV ROAD,NIMGAON KORHALE,

SHIRDI


33/52

THE FACILITY OF PRASAD BHOJAN OF THE "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA"WHICH WAS EARLIER SITUATED NEXT TO THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,

HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SHIFTED TO A NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BYTHE "SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST" ON 08th JAN`2009.


34/52

- "DWARAVATI" BHAKT NIWAS -

SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN, SHIRDI HAS BUILT A NEW BHAKT NIWASCALLED "DWARAVATI" WHICH WAS INAUGURATED

ON THE MAKAR-SANKRANTI - 14TH JAN`2009 BY SRI SRI RAVISHANKARJI.SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS SPENT Rs.19 CRORES ON THIS "DWARAVATI"

PROJECTWHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 1600 DEVOTEES CONVENIENTLY.

IT HAS 334 SELF-CONTAINED INDEPENDENT & WELL VENTILATED ROOMS,SPREAD OVER FOUR FLOORS PACKED WITH ALL BASIC AMENITIES.

ON THE FOURTH FLOOR THERE ARE 80 ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE AIR-CONDITIONED.

THERE IS A LARGE WAITING ROOM FOR DEVOTEES ON THE GROUND

FLOOR.THERE IS A BIG PARKING SPACE & BOARDING FACILITIES FOR DRIVERSTOO.

"DWARAVATI" HAS FOUR LIFTS WHICH HAVE A CAPACITY OF CARRYING 10PEOPLE AT A TIME.

LATEST TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM & RAINWATER HARVESTING FACILITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTED.


35/52

"DWARAVATI" HAS A BIG GENERATOR FOR A 24 HOUR UN-INTERRUPTEDSUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY

FOR DEVOTEES RECREATION, THERE IS A BIG GARDEN ON THE FRONTSIDE.

CLOSE BY ONLY, IS THE "BHOJAN-SHALA" WHERE THE FOOD IS COOKEDUSING SOLAR HEATERS & SO,

THE FOOD SERVED IS AT VERY NOMINAL RATES.ALSO, LIKE THE OTHER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE

SHIRDI SANSTHAN IN SHIRDI,THERE IS NO ADVANCE BOOKING FOR ROOMS AS ACCOMMODATION IS

AVAILABLE ONLY ON FIRST COME FIRSTSERVE BASIS. IT IS SITUATED ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD,

NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL".

- WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX -

SHIRDI BOAST'S PROBABLY THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATHCOMPLEX.

THE SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN & SULABH INTERNATIONAL SOCIALSERVICE ORGANIZATION, MAHARASHTRA BRANCH

HAVE GOT CONSTRUCTED AN AESTHETICALLY APPEALING TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX AT A COST OF Rs.1.53 CRORES.


36/52

THIS COMPLEX IS SPREAD OVER AN AREA OF OVER 2 ACRES.

THIS TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX HAS 120 WC's, 108 BATHING CUBICLES,28 SPECIAL TOILETS,

6 DRESSING ROOMS, ROWS OF URINALS ALL IMMACULATELY LAID OUT TO

AVOID CONGESTION.THE COMPLEX IS CAPABLE OF SERVING APPROXIMATELY 30,000 USERS

EVERYDAY.THE SELF-SUSTAINING COMPLEX HAS 3 EXCRETA BASED BIO-GAS-GENERATING THE SULABH PLANTS WHICH PROVIDE ELECTRICITYTO THE ENTIRE COMPLEX FOR ILLUMINATION & WATER HEATING.THE WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE COMPLEX IS RE-CYCLED FOR

IRRIGATING THE BEAUTIFULLY LAID OUT GREEN AREA.

TO PROVIDE A SYLVAN TOUCH TO THE COMPLEX A VARIETY OF TREESHAVE BEEN PLANTED ALL AROUND THE AREA.

TELEPHONE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTERS ANDPROVISION FOR 5000 LOCKERS HAS BEEN MADE TO FACILITATE THE

TOURISTS FOR SAFE KEEPING OF THEIR BELONGINGS.

- MESSAGE BOARDS WITHIN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -

1) DONATION BOXES AND WATER DRINKING FACILITIES ARE PLACEDEVERYWHERE AROUND THE TEMPLE PREMISES.


37/52

2) WHEELCHAIR'S ARE AVAILABLE FOR HANDICAPPED DEVOTEES FORWHICH ONE CAN CONTACT THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O.

3) FOR PRESERVATION OF BABA'S IDOL, MILK, ROSE-WATER, HONEY ETCIS NO MORE USED FOR THE SACRED BATH OF SAI BABA,

AS PER EXPERTS ADVICE SO DEVOTEES SHOULD TOO REFRAIN FROMOFFERING THE ABOVE.

4) PLEASE HANDOVER FLOWERS, GARLANDS TO TEMPLE STAFF BEFORE ORIN THE SAMADHI SHRINE ITSELF.

5) OFFERING OF GARLANDS, PRASAD etc SHOULD BE MADE BY DEVOTEESONLY AFTER 07:00Am & BEFORE SHEJ AARTI.

- HANDLING THE RUSH OF DEVOTEES -

OWING TO THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES IN THE SAMADHI TEMPLEESPECIALLY DURING KAKAD AARTI & BABAS MANGAL SNAN,

TO ACCOMMODATE MORE & MORE DEVOTEES INSIDE THE TEMPLESANCTUM DEVOTEES ARE NOW REQUESTED

TO REMAIN STANDING THROUGH OUT WHILE THE AARTI / MANGAL SNANGOES ON, AS STANDING OCCUPIES LESS SPACE

THAN SITTING SO MORE DEVOTEES CAN BE PULLED INSIDE THE TEMPLEDURING AARTI ETC.


38/52

INSIDE THE TEMPLES SANCTUM, GENTS SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THELEFT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,

WHILE THE LADIES SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OFTHE BARRICADES,

SO AS TO GO AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO BABA'S IDOL DURING DARSHAN

AND THEN MOVE OUT FROM THE REAR DOOR EXITINGTOWARDS THE GURUSTHAN RATHER THAN STANDING TOWARDS THE AISLEAS THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A "U" TURN AFTER DARSHAN AND THENFROM THE AISLE (CENTRE) PASSING THE NANDI'S IDOL, THEY WILL HAVE

TO EXIT FROM THE DOOR OPPOSITETHE PRESENT "ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM" WHICH WAS THE FORMER UDHI /

PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM.

MY VIEW - AS FIRST STANDING FOR HOURS IN DARSHAN LINE QUEUE /SPIRALING DOWN A FEW HALLWAYS

AND THEN STANDING THROUGH OUT THE KAKAD ARTI & MANGAL SNAN,CAN BE VERY TIRING,

SO MY PERSONAL ADVICE IS TO AVOID TAKING SMALL KIDS AND AGEDPEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS.

EVEN BABA WOULD NEVER WANT THIS AS HE TOO COULD NEVER SEE HISDEVOTEES BEAR PAIN FOR HIM.

AS THERE ARE THREE OPENINGS FOR BOWING DOWN TO DO PRANAM ONBABA`S SAMADHI i.e., ONE FOR LADIES, ONE FOR GENTS

AND ONE IN BETWEEN, DEVOTEES BOW DOWN AND TAKE TIME TO GET UPAND MOVE FORWARD THUS DELAYING OTHER DEVOTEES

BEHIND, THEREFORE ON THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, OTHERFESTIVALS / OCCASIONS AND HOLIDAY SEASONS

WHEN THERE IS A HUGE FLOW OF DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI, THE THREEOPENINGS ON BABA'S SAMADHI ARE ALSO ENCLOSED

WITH GLASS SHIELDS, SO ONE CANNOT BOW DOWN OR TOUCH THESAMADHI AND SO MOVES ON FASTER.

BUT ONE CAN SURELY TOUCH THE OUTER SIDE OF BABA`S SAMADHIWHILE PASSING BY AS BABAS PRESENCE IS EVERYWHERE !

LIKEWISE, SOMETIMES THE DHUNI-MAA PORTION OF DWARKAMAYI,

REMAINS CLOSED FOR DARSHANSO THE DEVOTEES ENTER DWARKAMAYI AND HAVE DARSHAN OF DHUNIMAA AREA WITHOUT CLIMBING THE STEPS AND

MOVE AHEAD TOWARDS THE SACRED STONE ON WHICH BABA SAT.THIS ALSO SPEEDS UP THE DARSHAN QUEUE WHICH NOW-A-DAYS GOES

ALMOST ALL OUT TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD !


39/52

THE NEW GURUSTHAN, NANDA-DEEP ARE ALSO ENCLOSED IN STEELBARRICADES TO SPEED UP THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES.

THE TEMPLE GUARDS MIGHT SOUND RUDE WHILE ASKING YOU TO KEEPMOVING FORWARD IN THE DARSHAN LINE

BUT REMEMBER THE THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES WHO ARE STILL WAITINGBEHIND YOU FOR THEIR TURN OF DARSHAN

AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE / PATIENCE THE GUARDS HAVE TO KEEPUP WITH, WHILE KEEPING THE FLOW OF DARSHAN

GOING SMOOTHLY FOR HOURS EVERYDAY.

MY VIEW - EVEN THOUGH ANY AARTI OR BABA'S MANGAL SNAN IS GOINGON,

THE QUEUES OF DEVOTEES SHOULD BE KEPT MOVING FORWARDCONSTANTLY FOR DARSHAN & THEN MOVE OUT SO THAT

THE WAITING TIME IN THE LONG QUEUES GETS REDUCED AND MOREPEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO HAVE DARSHAN SOONER THAN BEFORE. ANDTHEN, THE TIME MADE UP IN KEEPING THE QUEUE MOVING ON CAN BE

UTILISED BY ALLOWING DEVOTEESTO BOW THEIR HEADS ON THE SAMADHI FOR SOME TIME WHICH AT

PRESENT IS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

- TIPS FOR KAKAD AARTI & MANGAL SNAN -


40/52

THE MANGAL SNAN OF BABA NOW ONLY LASTS FOR A COUPLE OF

MINUTES,WITH A BUCKET OR TWO OF HOLY WATER FIRST ON THE SAMADHI

FOLLOWED BY A BUCKET ON BABA'S IDOL.

AND AS SOON AS THIS GETS DONE...DEVOTEES ARE ASKED TO STARTMOVING AHEAD FOR DARSHAN,

EVEN WHILE BABA'S IDOL IS BEING PAT DRY...SO MAKE SURE AS YOUREACH NEAR THE SAMADHI,

FEEL THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN FROM THE TOP OF THESAMADHI OR THE GROUND NEAR IT WHERE SOME WATER

USUALLY SPILLS WHILE THE HOLY BATH IS ON.

MY VIEW - FOR THIS ALWAYS LADIES & GENTS WHILE IN QUEUE INSIDETHE TEMPLE SANCTUM

SHOULD TRY AND STAND ON THEIR RIGHT AND LEFT RESPECTIVELY SO ASTO REACH THE SIDES OF BABA`S SAMADHI

& GET A CHANCE TO TOUCH THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S MANGAL SNANWHICH USUALLY

FALLS DOWN ON THE SIDES WHILE THE SNAN GOES ON.

A VERY BLESSED TIP WANT TO TAKE A SIP OF BABAS MANGAL SNAN`S(HOLY BATH) WATER?

IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR THE KAKAD AARTI &BABA`S MANGAL SNAN

OR IF YOU DO MAKE IT INSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE FOR KAKAD AARTI

BUT ARE PUSHED OUT SOONER THAN YOU THINK,DON'T WORRY AS IT MAY BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE !

JUST BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE (TO THE EAST OF DIXIT WADA) &JUST OPPOSITE THE REAR EXIT OF THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,

ALSO KNOWN AS THE GURUSTHAN EXIT IS AN EMPTY WATER COOLERWHERE THE BLESSED WATER AFTER BABA`S MANGAL SNAN

IS POURED IN, FOR THE DEVOTEES TO DRINK. NOT MANY GET A CHANCETO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER ALSO,

AS BY THE TIME DEVOTEES START COMING OUT AFTER DARSHAN THIS

HOLY WATER IS ALREADY OVER.SO, THE SOONER YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THIS COOLER, BETTER IT WOULDBE,

AS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER.BUT MAKE SURE THIS HOLY WATER IS NOT SPILLED DOWN, AS MOST OF IT

USUALLY DOES BECAUSE MANY DEVOTEESJUST PICK THIS COOLER UP AND TILT IT DOWN SO AS TO FILL THEIR

BOTTLES ETC BUT IN DOING SO MOST OF THIS


41/52

HOLY WATER SPILLS & IS WASTED & OTHER DEVOTEES ARE LEFT BEHINDFROM A CHANCE OF GETTING A SIP OF THIS WATER ALSO.

ALSO, JUST AFTER THE KAKAD AARTI GETS OVER THERE IS PRASAD OFWHITE BUTTER MIXED WITH SUGAR BEING DISTRIBUTED

AT THE PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TOTATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI, OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4 SO MAKE

SURE, YOU MAKE IT HERE ALSO, AFTER DRINKING THE HOLY WATER OFBABA`S BATH.

THIS WHITE BUTTER PRASAD LIKE THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH ISALSO VERY LIMITED,

SO ONLY THE FIRST LUCKY FEW DEVOTEES MAKE IT HERE.

- TIPS FOR DWARKAMAI -


42/52

WHEN AT DWARKAMAI, HAVE THE BLESSED TEERTH (WATER) FROM THEBLACK COLORED EARTHEN POT KEPT ON A HIGH STAND.

THIS POT HAS NO TAP SO USE THE BIG SPOON KEPT ON TOP OF IT, TOTAKE SOME TEERTHA AND DRINK IT.

ONE HAS TO TAKE THIS TEERTH HIMSELF, AS NO ONE SERVE`S IT.THUS, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE ABOUT IT & GO AWAY WITHOUT

HAVING A SIP.


43/52

- HOUSES OF BABAS DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI VILLAGE

GUIDE MAP -

MAP SOURCE -http://www.saibaba. com/holyshirdi/

DO VISIT THE SHIRDI VILLAGE JUST A WALK AWAY FROM THE SAMADHISHRINE.

ONE CAN VISIT BAIJAMAA'S HOUSE, LAXMIBAI'S HOUSE & HER SAMADHIWHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE,

SHYAMA'S HOUSE, ABDUL BABAS KUTI & MAHALSAPATIS' HOUSE WHEREYOU CAN SEE
http://www.saibaba.com/holyshirdi/http://www.saibaba.com/holyshirdi/http://www.saibaba.com/holyshirdi/http://www.saibaba.com/holyshirdi/


44/52

THE PADUKAS / 3 COINS / SATKA GIVEN BY TO MAHALSAPATI BY BABAHIMSELF.

ALL ARE JUST A FEW STEPS STRAIGHT AHEAD OF DWARKAMAI.ONE CAN ALSO VISIT THE 5 BLESSED HOUSES THAT BABA TOOK BHIKSHA

FROM.

ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE

SHAMA'S HOUSE

LAXMIBAI SHINDE'S HOUSE

(HER SAMADHI RIGHT INFRONT OF IT)


45/52

BAYAJABAI'S HOUSE

(BABA USED TO STAND ON THE STONE SEEN IN FRONT OF THEDOOR)

MAHALSAPATI' S HOUSE


46/52

ONE CAN ASK THE LOCAL PEOPLE / KIDS THERE TO GUIDE THEM & THEYWILL MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.

THEY WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL THE HOUSES, THE NINE COINS GIVEN BYSAIBABA TO LAXMIBAI,

THE PLACE WHERE BABA'S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY FOR 3 DAYS, THE SHOP OFTHE MAN WHO HAD REFUSED TO GIVE BABA OIL TO BURN DIYA'S. THEYALL ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER...JUST WALK STRAIGHT IN THE LANE

BANG OPPOSITE THE DWARKAMAI ENTRANCE.

TRY NOT TO VISIT THESE HOUSES IN THE MORNING AS THEY ARE USUALLYCLOSED AT THAT TIME.

KEEP THIS VISIT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE DAY.ALSO, FEEL FREE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE, AS PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT

ALLOWED IN THE MAIN TEMPLE PREMISESBUT OUTSIDE IN THE SHIRDI VILLAGE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE

PHOTOGRAPHS !


47/52

- SAMADHI'S OF DEVOTEES -


48/52

OPPOSITE THE ARCHWAY NO.4 AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE UDHI / PRASADDISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "Y" IN THE MAP)ARE THE SAMADHI'S OF ABDUL BABA / NANAVALI / BHAU MAHARAJ

KUMBHAR & TATYA'S SAMADHI.WHILE THE SAMADHI OF AMIDAS BHAVANI MEHTA IS NEAR LENDI BAUG.

- KHANDOBA TEMPLE -


49/52


50/52

HAVE THE DARSHAN OF LORD KHANDOBA AT THE KHANDOBA TEMPLE,JUST CLOSE BY NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL" ON THE MAIN ROADITSELF.

IT HAS THE IDOLS OF LORD KHANDOBA , BANAI & MHALSAI.

FOR ANY ASSISTANCE / HELP CONTACT THE P.R.O OFFICE :

- SHIRDI -Executive Officer,

Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, ShirdiPost. Shirdi 423 109 Tal. Rahata,Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra)


51/52

Phone : +91-2423-258500 ( I.V.R )Fax No. +91-2423-258870 &P.R.O.Office : +91-2423-258770

Website :www.shrisaibabasans than.org/www.sai.org. inE-mail :saibaba@sai. org.in/saisandesh_anr@ sancharnet.

in/saibaba@shrisaibaba sansthan. org

- MUMBAI -Executive Officer,

Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, (Shirdi)'Sai Niketan', 804-8,Dr. Ambedkar Road,

Dadar,Mumbai - 400014

Tel : +91- 22 - 24166556/ 24161293Fax : +91- 22 - 24150798

E-mail :saidadar@bom3. vsnl.net. in

Source - Personal Visit to Shirdi / Info on Temple Premises Sign Boards /Conversation with Temple Guards.Photos - Assortment of Web Sites

" Offer Flower's to Baba, but not without yOur Fragrance.Offer Fruit's to Baba, but not without yOur Sweetness.
http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/http://www.sai.org.in/http://www.sai.org.in/http://www.sai.org.in/http://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://us.mc551.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]://www.sai.org.in/http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/


52/52

Offer Water to Baba, but not without yOur Tear's.

Offer Yourself to Baba, but not without yOur HEART !!! "

LOve yOu BaBa - rOhit beHaL

Documents

A to Z of Shirdi - Guide with photographs