~~ OM
SHRI
SAINATHAYA
NAMAHA ~~
" F
OR THIS ARTICLE
BABA IS MY INSPIRATI
ON,
ALL THE W
ORDS ARE MY PERSPIRATI
ON,
F
OR EVERY DEV
OTEE
OF EVERY NATI
ON,
HAVING A L
ONG
DESIRED DIVINE ASPIRATI
ON,
T
O G
O
T
O SHIRDI IN THE
VACATI
ON.
SO, N
OW M
OVE
ON... AS
"SAI-EXPRESS" IS WAITING IN ANTICIPATI
ON,
T
O TAKE Y
OU
T
O "SAINAGAR"
RAILWAY STATI
ON !
OH, WHAT A M
OTIVATI
ON
!!! " -
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
PLACE IN & AROUND THE SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE PREMISES.
A ON MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
QUEUE FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" ONLY AND ROAMING IN THE TEMPLE
PREMISES EXCEPT LENDI BAGH & BABAS WELL.
A ON 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.1
C - THE P.R.O OFFICE.
D -
MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 (CLOSED...NOT USED
NOW)
E - SHIRDI SANSTHAN'S BOOK STORE FOR SELLING
BABA'S BOOKS, CALENDARS, VCD / DVD etc
F - 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 GO TOWARDS BABA'S SAMADHI FROM HERE)
R - EXIT AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK
PERIODS ITS THE EXIT GATE 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 LENDI
BAGH UPTO THE EXIT AT MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH FROM
NANDADEEP.
CANDLES - PLACE IN NANDADEEP WHERE DEVOTEES CAN MAKE
WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1 -
ON THE WEST SIDE, ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD IS
"ARCHWAY NO.1" ,
WHICH IS USED ONLY AS AN ENTRY GATE INTO THE TEMPLE PREMISES
AND OR FOR BABA'S MUKH DARSHAN
i.e., DARSHAN OF BABA'S FACE FROM A DISTANCE (FROM, NEAR THE
RAISED PLATFORM BEHIND IN THE TEMPLES SANCTUM).
AFTER, ENTERING THRU ARCHWAY NO.1, ONE CAN FREELY ROAM IN
THE TEMPLE PREMISES i.e, CAN TAKE UDHI,
SEE ABDUL BABA'S / TATYAS & NANAVALIS SAMADHI, SAI BABA'S
MUSEUM & CAN GO STRAIGHT TO DWARKAMAI
BUT CANNOT GO TO LENDI BAGH OR BABA`S WELL. THIS ARCHWAY
NO.1 IS OPPOSITE THE TEMPLES P.R.O OFFICE
AND BESIDES NANDA-DEEP. ONE CANNOT MAKE AN EXIT FROM THIS
GATE.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 -
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD, IS
ARCHWAY NO.2 ,
WHICH WAS EARLIER USED AS AN ENTRY & EXIT GATE BUT AT
PRESENT IS CLOSED & NOT IN USE.
INSTEAD, JUST BESIDES IT ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD ITSELF IS
THE ENTRY GATE FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT ANY PASSES.
THIS ENTRY TAKES ONE DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRST WAITING HALL
FROM WHERE THE DARSHAN QUEUES,
AFTER MOVING ALONG THROUGH SPIRALING LONG STRETCH OF STEEL
BARRICADED HALLS & BY STAIRS UP & DOWN,
FINALLY LEADS UPTO THE SAMADHI OF BABA.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3 -
ON THE EAST SIDE, IN THE LANE GOING INSIDE FROM THE
PIMPALWADI ROAD 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 /
SHE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER.
IF LUCKY ENOUGH, THEN N.R.I & FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN TOO MAKE
AN ENTRY BY THIS ARCHWAY
IF THEY SHOW THE GUARDS THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR
NRI STATUS i.e., PASSPORT COPIES etc
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4 -
ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS "ARCHWAY NO.4" WHICH IS MAINLY USED FOR
SOUTH EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP
TO DWARKAMAI,
WHEREAS THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS
WHICH LEAD UP TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY, WITH A STEEL
BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH AND NANDADEEP
IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF DEVOTEES ENTER BY THIS GATE THEN
THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TOWARDS LENDI BAGH,
BABA'S WELL AND THEN STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TO
THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
SO, IF FROM LENDI BAGH IF ONE WANTS TO GO TO NANDADEEP, THEN
THEY WILL HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT OUT OF
THE 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 BY
THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN.
SO, THE N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's & OTHER VIP's WILL HAVE
TO QUEUE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DEVOTEES,
IF THEY WANT TO GO FOR BABA'S DARSHAN. HOWEVER, DURING OFF
PEAK PERIODS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED
ARE ALLOWED ENTRY DIRECTLY INTO THE SAMADHI SHRINE BY A
SPECIAL GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "R" IN MAP ABOVE)
.
click to enlarge
DURING WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS
THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN HAS INTRODUCED THE "PAID DARSHAN
PASSES CONCEPT" FOR WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS.
SO NOW, A NOMINAL FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR VIP DARSHAN
PASSES, BY WHICH DEVOTEES CAN SKIP THE REGULAR
DARSHAN QUEUE AND HAVE THE DIVINE DARSHAN OF BABA.
DEVOTEES CAN GET THESE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O
OPPOSITE GATE NO 1.
THIS "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" IS FOR ALL N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's
/ SENIOR CITIZENS & OTHER VIP's.
IT WILL BE APPLICABLE ON THURSDAYS / SATURDAYS / SUNDAYS /
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK PERIODS.
THE CHARGES FIXED BY THE SHIRDI SAI TRUST FOR THESE PAID
DARSHAN PASSES 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/- per person.
THE TIMINGS TO PURCHASE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O
ARE:
1) 07:30 Am to 11:00
Am
2) 02:30 Pm to 05:00
Pm
3) 07:30 Pm to 10:00
Pm
click to enlarge
~~ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAID DARSHAN SYSTEM ~~
1) THIS SYSTEM OF PAID DARSHAN COMMENCED FROM
SATURDAY 13th MARCH`2010.
2) A TOTAL NUMBER OF 1600 DEVOTEES CAN BE
ACCOMMODATED IN THE TEMPLE,
SO THE PAID PASSES LIMIT FOR AARTI'S HAS BEEN FIXED AT 140
DEVOTEES AT A TIME.
3) DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON CHARGES
TO THE DEVOTEES IN ADVANCE
AND NO PRIOR BOOKING WILL BE MADE OF SUCH PASSES.
4) SENIOR CITIZENS TOO HAVE TO PURCHASE A DARSHAN
PASS NOW, LIKE THE VIP's etc.
5) ONE GENERAL DARSHAN PASS CAN BE USED TWICE DURING
THE SAME DAY FOR GENERAL DARSHAN ONLY & NOT DURING ANY
AARTI.
6) EVEN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF
LEGISLATURE, CELEBRITIES, N.R.I`s OR FOREIGN NATIONALS
AND JOURNALISTS etc ARE NOT SPARED FROM THESE CHARGES.
7) THE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL
THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE LIMITED
TO AROUND 10% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE
TEMPLE.
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
HAVE HAD THEIR DARSHAN AND MOVE OUT,
ONLY THEN, THE NEXT BATCH OF PAID DARSHAN PASS HOLDERS WILL
GO INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR DARSHAN.
PRE-REQUISITE - TO AVAIL
THE PAID DARSHAN PASS, ONE HAS TO HAVE A REFERENCE LETTER OF
ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY / ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN
OFFICIAL etc REQUESTING FOR THE SAME.
ONE REFERENCE LETTER FOR DARSHAN PASSES IS ENOUGH FOR ONES
FAMILY/FRIENDS COMBINED.
ALTERNATIVELY, ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY HAS TO BE SHOWN, FOR
EVERY SINGLE DEVOTEE FOR WHOM A PASS IS BEING TAKEN.
- ENTRY GATE -
MOSTLY, THE GATE FOR THE VIP PASS HOLDERS IS OPPOSITE THE
THREE TEMPLES 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 MEANT
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (MARKED AS "K" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).
THIS GATE MAY ALSO DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH
AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.
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DARSHAN PASSES PROCEDURE :
THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN APPROACH THE P.R.O.
OFFICE TO ARRANGE FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES
FOR WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO SHOW THE ORIGINAL OR COPIES OF
THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY i.e, PASSPORT / GREEN CARD
OR ANY OTHER PROOF OF RESIDENCE TO THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O
OFFICER.
FOR SAFETY REASONS THEY SHOULD CARRY COPIES OF THEIR
ORIGINAL PROOF OF RESIDENCE DOCUMENTS.
WHEREAS, THE V.I.P's / SENIOR CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO SHOW A
REQUEST FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES LETTER FROM ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY OR ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN
OFFICIAL etc OR ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY.
ALWAYS SPECIFY FOR WHICH TIME OR AARTI THE PAID PASSES ARE
REQUIRED
i.e, KAKAD, MADHYAN, DHOOP OR SHEJ AARTI OR THE SIMPLE
DARSHAN AND PAY THE CHARGES ACCORDINGLY.
THE DEVOTEE SHOULD ALSO SPECIFY IN ADVANCE, THE NUMBER OF
MEMBERS 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 TOUCH
DOWN IN INDIA, THEY CAN CONSULT THE SANSTHAN P.R.O.
FOR THE PROCEDURE IF POSSIBLE OR THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME
REPRESENTATIVE 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 BE ABOLISHED WHAT-SO-EVER
AND BE IT POLITICIANS / ACTORS / V.I.P's / N.R.I's /
FOREIGNERS ANYBODY SO TO SPEAK, LET EVERYONE STAND IN THE
NORMAL QUEUE
FOR 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 SOME OF THEIR GOOD
KARMAS BY
ARRANGING A SMOOTH-n-EASY DARSHAN FOR THEMSELVES UP AGAINST
THE OTHER DEVOTEES STANDING FOR HOURS IN QUEUE'S ONLY
TO BE BACK-DROPPED DURING DARSHAN IN THE MAIN SANCTUM.
- SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED -
ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED & AGED DEVOTEES
NOW DO REQUIRE SPECIAL PASSES FOR DARSHAN
AND THEY ARE GIVEN DIRECT ENTRY TO THE TEMPLE FROM A
SEPARATE GATE BY WHICH THEY CUT OUT THE LONG STANDING IN
QUEUES.
THIS SPECIAL ENTRY GATE FOR SENIORS / AGED DEVOTEES CHANGES
DEPENDING UPON THE INFLOW OF DEVOTEES.
IN NORMAL PERIODS, WHEN IT ISN'T MUCH CROWDED, THE SENIOR
CITIZENS 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
WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES TURN UP FOR DARSHAN,
THE ENTRY GATE FOR THE SENIOR / DISABLED DEVOTEES CHANGES
TOO i.e, AT PRESENT IT IS A GATE JUST BENEATH THE
WIDE ARCHWAY NO.3 STRUCTURE ITSELF AND OPPOSITE A BLACK
COLORED GRANITE NOTICE BOARD.
WHEN ONE ENTERS THROUGH ARCHWAY NO.3, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE
FALLS THE "MUKH DARSHAN" GATE & ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
WAS THE FORMER SHOE STAND AREA...AND JUST ADJACENT TO THIS
FORMER SHOE STAND AREA IS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ENTRY GATE.
DURING PEAK PERIODS,HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER GETTING A ENTRY FOR
DARSHAN FROM THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE,
THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED HAVE YET TO WALK DOWN A FEW
STAIRS WHERE THEY JOIN THE PASS HOLDERS AND
THE REST OF THE OTHER DEVOTEES, WITH WHOM THEY THEN CLIMB UP
A FEW STAIRS TO FINALLY REACH BABA'S SAMADHI SANCTUM.
AND THE QUEUE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS DEVOTEES STARTS FROM
JUST OUTSIDE 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
DISABILITY OR ILLNESS OR IS ON WHEEL CHAIR THEN
ANY ONE FAMILY MEMBER (YOUNG OR OLD) IS ALLOWED TO ACCOMPANY
HIM /HER THROUGH THIS SENIOR CITIZENS GATE.
AND, IF THIS RESULTS IN ANY DEPENDENT MINOR WHO IS WITH THEM
TO BE LEFT ALONE,
THEN THAT MINOR TOO IS ALLOWED TO GO WITH HIS / HER FAMILY
THROUGH THIS ENTRY.
MY WISH -
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SEASON / TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF DEVOTEE
INFLOW,
ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER BY THE GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM (FORMER UDHI ROOM) LIKE BEFORE.
- MUKH-DARSHAN -
FOR DEVOTEES WHO WANT TO JUST HAVE A DARSHAN OF BABAS
SAMADHI IDOL FROM FAR,
THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM A DOOR - MARKED AS "Q" ON THE
SHIRDI GUIDE MAP ABOVE.
THIS ENTRY IS JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF ARCHWAY NO.3 ON THE
LEFT HAND SIDE.
AND AS ONE ENTERS BY THIS DOOR, ONE STANDS BETWEEN A STEEL
BARRICADED PASSAGE
BETWEEN THE FRONT & BACK SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, LIKE AN AISLE.
THUS, ONE CANNOT GO FROM HERE FORWARD FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN.
HE WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THIS "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY DOOR AND
GO AND STAND IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE IF HE WANTS TO DO SO.
- DARSHAN WAITING HALLS -
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THE HALLS WHERE THE QUEUES LINE UP SPIRALING ACROSS THE
STEEL BARRICADES HAVE WATER COOLERS AND
ADEQUATE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE
DEVOTEES.
ALSO, PRESENT ARE TELEVISION SETS RUNNING DIRECTLY LIVE FEED
OF BABA'S SAMADHI, DWARKAMAI, CHAVADI AND GURUSTHAN,
FOR DEVOTEES TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SANCTUM WHILE
WAITING IN QUEUES FOR HOURS CHANTING BABA`S NAME.
- DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE -
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THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE WHICH IS IN THE LANE THAT
RUNS BETWEEN DWARKAMAI & THE CHAVADI,
HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND A NEW TEMPLE HAS BEEN
CONSTRUCTED IN ITS PLACE.
THIS SOUTH FACING TEMPLE, ORIGINALLY HAD TWO HANUMAN IDOLS
HERE 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.
- SHREE CHAVADI -
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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 -
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VISIT THE "SAIBABA MUSEUM" JUST BESIDES THE DIXIT WADA.
IT HAS MANY RARE ITEMS WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED BY BABA
HIMSELF
i.e, HIS UTENSILS, KAFNI, GRAMOPHONE RECORD'S & PLAYER, HIS
CHILLUM, A BIG PALAQUIN WHICH WAS GIFTED TO BABA BUT NEVER
USED BY HIM,
ALL THE PALKHI PROCESSION THINGS, BABAS PADUKAS, HIS WHEAT
GRINDING STONE, TWO POTS WITH WHICH HE COOKED & FED THE
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 NORTHERN
SIDE OF "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2, NEAR THE CAR PARKING.
THE TIMINGS FOR THE SALE OF THE LADU PRASAD IS 06:00 Am TO
10:00 Pm.(22:00Hrs).
A DEVOTEE CAN BUY ONLY ONE PACKET OF LADU AT A TIME
AND IF MORE PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN
THE QUEUE FOR IT.
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- UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM -
THE NEW PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM IS NOW LOCATED RIGHT
NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI,
OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4. THE OLD UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM
WHICH WAS BANG OPPOSITE THE MAIN ENTRY OF
THE SAMADHI TEMPLE AND ADJOINING THE DONATION OFFICE IS NOW
CONVERTED INTO AN "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" ROOM.
ONLY ONE PACKET OF UDHI IS GIVEN TO EACH DEVOTEE AND IF MORE
PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN THE QUEUE FOR
IT.
THE TIMINGS FOR UDHI DISTRIBUTION ARE -
07:00Am To 11:30Am
13:00Pm To 18:00Pm
19:00Pm To 22:00Pm
(AFTER DHOOP AARTI)
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- NANDADEEP -
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
OF NANDADEEP, 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
BEEN CHOPPED OFF BY THE TRUNK ITSELF FROM THE TOP
AND ALL THAT'S LEFT IS A HUGE LOG (TREE TRUNK) WHICH WILL
BUT NATURALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO GROW BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL
FORM.
MY VIEW - WONDER WHAT HAVE THEY DONE WITH THE CHOPPED
PORTION OF THE TREE AS,
I THINK WE DEVOTEES WOULD HAVE TREASURED EVEN ONE LEAF OR
TWIG OF BABA'S BLESSED TREE.
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- 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 BUT
NOT CORRECT TO DO SO AS THESE PLACES ARE NOT MEANT
TO 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.
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba wallpaper
-Trust in Me
- 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 IT INSIDE
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 RUSH
ONE HARDLY CAN GET A CLEAR VIEW OF BABA WHILE THE AARTI OR
MANGAL SNAN GOES ON.
- OPEN AIR THEATRE -
Shirdi Sai Original Photo wallpaper
THE OPEN AIR THEATRE, IS A OPEN SPACE STANDING FROM WHERE
DEVOTEES CAN HAVE A VIEW OF BABA'S SAMADHI IDOL THROUGH A
WINDOW.
ALSO, PRESENT HERE IS A TELEVISION SET FOR DEVOTEES TO ENJOY
THE LIVE DARSHAN OF BABA WHILE ANY AARTI / PROGRAM
GOES ON INSIDE THE SAMADHI SANCTUM. THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE
WAS ONCE A RAISED PLATFORM WITH A GARDEN & FOUNTAIN BEHIND
IT,
HAS NOW CHANGED TOO. THE RAISED PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED
LEAVING BEHIND A FLOOR LEVEL TILED GROUND MINUS THE GARDEN,
FOUNTAIN & THE WATER FALLS.
MY VIEW - THERE
SHOULD BE A COUPLE OF BENCHES TO SIT IN THIS OPEN AIR
THEATRE AS
THIS IS THE ONLY OPEN SPACE IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES WHERE ONE
CAN SIT BUT AS IT IS GROUND LEVEL SO A BIT DIFFICULT
FOR AGED/SENIORS TO SIT DOWN. THAT`S WHY NOW ONE CAN FIND
DEVOTEES SITTING ON THE TWO LONG STRETCH OF STAIRS
IN THE GURUSTHAN AREA AND ALSO, OPPOSITE NEAR THE DIXIT WADA
GIVING THE PLACE A VERY CROWDED LOOK.
THE SMALL COVERING WALL OF THE TWO TREES OPPOSITE THE
DONATION OFFICE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FULL OF DEVOTEES SITTING.
- SHOPS IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -
Only SAI BABA can....Photo
"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
AT VERY NOMINAL PRICES. IT IS SITUATED NEXT TO ARCHWAY NO.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 ITEMS
INCLUDING MUSTARD OIL FOR POURING IT ON LORD SHANIDEV.
Shirdi Sai
Baba
- SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL -
THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL" IS THE PLACE WHERE ON
THE 1st FLOOR BABA'S ABHISHEK POOJA IS DONE BY DEVOTEES
& ON THE GROUND FLOOR DEVOTEES PERFORM THE "SATYANARAYAN
POOJA" AFTER REGISTERING THEMSELVES
FOR IT AT A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE OF Rs.101/- ONLY.
THE ABHISHEK POOJA TIMINGS ARE :
1St Batch 07:00 Am to 08:00 Am
2nd Batch 09:00 Am to 10:00 Am
3rd Batch 12:30 Pm to 01:30 Pm
- SAI COMPLEX -
Shiva Sai
AT A PLACE, JUST BESIDES THE TEMPLE COMPLEX, THERE WAS A
PRIMARY SCHOOL WHICH NOW HAS BEEN MOVED AWAY
AND IN ITS PLACE A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX CALLED "SAI COMPLEX"
HAS COME UP.
IT IS JUST 20 FEET FROM THE GATE OF SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE
STARTING FROM OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.2 STRETCHING RIGHT UP TO
THE END OF THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE OPPOSITE ARCHWAY
NO.3.
SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS OPENED AN ADDITIONAL DONATION OFFICE &
AN OFFICE FOR THE SALE OF SAI BABA CALENDARS IN THE GROUND
FLOOR
OF THIS "SAI COMPLEX" TOGETHER WITH TWO MORE OFFICES ALL
BESIDES EACH OTHER IN A ROW.
MY VIEW - "WE LOVE
SHIRDI IN IT`S SIMPLICITY BUT SEEMS SOON SHIRDI WILL BECOME
SIMPLY A CITY" !!!
Shirdi Sai Baba
- 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" WHERE
DEVOTEES HAVE TO DEPOSIT THEIR MOBILES
AT A NOMINAL CHARGE OF RS.2/- PER MOBILE. THEY GET A TOKEN
IN RETURN 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
Sri Sai
Baba - Gold Letters
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
BY THE "SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST" ON 08th JAN`2009.
DAILY A BUS REGULARLY SHUTTLES FROM THE "SAI PRASAD"
BUILDING NO.2 (NEAR THE CAR PARKING) TO THE NEWLY
BUILT "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" CARRYING DEVOTEES TO & FRO FROM
THE TEMPLE TO THE PRASADALAYA FREE OF CHARGE.
NORMAL MEAL PASSES:
ON ENTERING THE PRASADALAYA AND THEN GOING TOWARDS THE LEFT
FROM THE MAIN GATE,
A WAITING HALL COMES WHERE THE COUNTER FOR THE SALE OF
NORMAL MEAL PASS IS PRESENT.
THE CHARGES FOR A NORMAL MEAL PASS IS Rs.10/- FOR ADULTS AND
Rs.4/- FOR CHILDREN.
THE HUGE HALL FOR NORMAL MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE GROUND
FLOOR ITSELF.
VIP MEAL PASSES:
ONE CAN PURCHASE THE VIP MEAL PASS FROM THE PRASADALAYA'S
OFFICE WHICH IS SITUATED RIGHT OPPOSITE THE MAIN GATE OF
THE PRASADALAYA. THE CHARGES FOR A VIP MEAL PASS IS Rs.40/-
ONLY PER PERSON.
THE HALL FOR VIP MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR
AND FOR WHICH AN ELEVATOR IS ALSO PRESENT FOR THOSE WHO
CANNOT WALK THE STAIRS UP.
TIMINGS:
FOR MEAL PASSES - 09:30 Am SHARP to 09:30 Pm SHARP. (AFTER
WHICH NO PASSES ARE ISSUED)
MEAL IS SERVED - 10:00 Am to 10:00 Pm.
- "DWARAVATI" BHAKT NIWAS -
Sai Shubratri
SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN, SHIRDI HAS BUILT A NEW BHAKT NIWAS
CALLED
"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"
PROJECT WHICH 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
DRIVERS TOO.
"DWARAVATI" HAS FOUR LIFTS WHICH HAVE A CAPACITY OF CARRYING
10 PEOPLE AT A TIME.
LATEST TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM & RAIN
WATER HARVESTING FACILITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTED.
"DWARAVATI" HAS A BIG GENERATOR FOR A 24 HOUR UN-INTERRUPTED
SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY
FOR DEVOTEES RECREATION, THERE IS A BIG GARDEN ON THE FRONT
SIDE.
CLOSE BY ONLY, IS THE "BHOJAN-SHALA" WHERE THE FOOD IS
COOKED USING 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 FIRST SERVE BASIS.
IT IS SITUATED ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD, NEAR THE
"SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL".
- WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX -
Sai Navaratri - Devi Ma
SHIRDI BOAST'S PROBABLY THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH
COMPLEX.
THE SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN & SULABH INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL
SERVICE ORGANIZATION, MAHARASHTRA BRANCH
HAVE GOT CONSTRUCTED AN AESTHETICALLY APPEALING
TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX AT A COST OF Rs.1.53 CRORES.
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
ELECTRICITY
TO 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 TREES
HAVE BEEN PLANTED ALL AROUND THE AREA.
TELEPHONE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTERS AND
PROVISION FOR 5000 LOCKERS HAS BEEN MADE TO FACILITATE THE
TOURISTS FOR SAFE KEEPING OF THEIR BELONGINGS.
- MESSAGE BOARDS WITHIN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -
Sai Baba Our Guru
1) DONATION BOXES AND WATER DRINKING FACILITIES ARE
PLACED EVERYWHERE AROUND THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
2) WHEELCHAIR'S ARE AVAILABLE FOR HANDICAPPED
DEVOTEES FOR WHICH ONE CAN CONTACT THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O.
3) FOR PRESERVATION OF BABA'S IDOL, MILK, ROSE-WATER,
HONEY ETC IS NO MORE USED FOR THE SACRED BATH OF SAI BABA,
AS PER EXPERTS ADVICE SO DEVOTEES SHOULD TOO REFRAIN FROM
OFFERING THE ABOVE.
4) PLEASE HANDOVER FLOWERS, GARLANDS TO TEMPLE STAFF
BEFORE OR IN THE SAMADHI SHRINE ITSELF.
5) OFFERING OF GARLANDS, PRASAD etc SHOULD BE MADE BY
DEVOTEES ONLY AFTER 07:00Am & BEFORE SHEJ AARTI.
- HANDLING THE RUSH OF DEVOTEES -
OWING TO THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES IN THE SAMADHI TEMPLE
ESPECIALLY DURING KAKAD AARTI & BABAS MANGAL SNAN,
TO ACCOMMODATE MORE & MORE DEVOTEES INSIDE THE TEMPLE
SANCTUM DEVOTEES ARE NOW REQUESTED
TO REMAIN STANDING THROUGH OUT WHILE THE AARTI / MANGAL SNAN
GOES ON, AS STANDING OCCUPIES LESS SPACE
THAN SITTING SO MORE DEVOTEES CAN BE PULLED INSIDE THE
TEMPLE DURING AARTI ETC.
INSIDE THE TEMPLES SANCTUM, GENTS SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE
LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,
WHILE THE LADIES SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
OF THE BARRICADES,
SO AS TO GO AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO BABA'S IDOL DURING
DARSHAN AND THEN MOVE OUT FROM THE REAR DOOR EXITING
TOWARDS THE GURUSTHAN RATHER THAN STANDING TOWARDS THE AISLE
AS THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A "U" TURN AFTER DARSHAN
AND THEN FROM THE AISLE (CENTRE) PASSING THE NANDI'S IDOL,
THEY WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THE DOOR OPPOSITE
THE 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 AGED
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS.
EVEN BABA WOULD NEVER WANT THIS AS HE TOO COULD NEVER SEE
HIS DEVOTEES BEAR PAIN FOR HIM.
AS THERE ARE THREE OPENINGS FOR BOWING DOWN TO DO PRANAM ON
BABA`S SAMADHI i.e., ONE FOR LADIES, ONE FOR GENTS
AND ONE IN BETWEEN, DEVOTEES BOW DOWN AND TAKE TIME TO GET
UP AND MOVE FORWARD THUS DELAYING OTHER DEVOTEES BEHIND,
THEREFORE ON THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, OTHER FESTIVALS
/ OCCASIONS AND HOLIDAY SEASONS
WHEN THERE IS A HUGE FLOW OF DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI, THE THREE
OPENINGS ON BABA'S SAMADHI ARE ALSO ENCLOSED
WITH GLASS SHIELDS, SO ONE CANNOT BOW DOWN OR TOUCH THE
SAMADHI AND SO MOVES ON FASTER.
BUT ONE CAN SURELY TOUCH THE OUTER SIDE OF BABA`S SAMADHI
WHILE PASSING BY AS BABAS PRESENCE IS EVERYWHERE !
LIKEWISE, SOMETIMES THE DHUNI-MAA PORTION OF DWARKAMAYI,
REMAINS CLOSED FOR DARSHAN
SO THE DEVOTEES ENTER DWARKAMAYI AND HAVE DARSHAN OF DHUNI
MAA 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 !
THE NEW GURUSTHAN, NANDA-DEEP ARE ALSO ENCLOSED IN STEEL
BARRICADES TO SPEED UP THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES.
THE TEMPLE GUARDS MIGHT SOUND RUDE WHILE ASKING YOU TO KEEP
MOVING FORWARD IN THE DARSHAN LINE
BUT REMEMBER THE THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES WHO ARE STILL WAITING
BEHIND YOU FOR THEIR TURN OF DARSHAN
AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE / PATIENCE THE GUARDS HAVE TO
KEEP UP WITH, WHILE KEEPING THE FLOW OF DARSHAN
GOING SMOOTHLY FOR HOURS EVERYDAY.
MY VIEW - EVEN
THOUGH ANY AARTI OR BABA'S MANGAL SNAN IS GOING ON,
THE QUEUES OF DEVOTEES SHOULD BE KEPT MOVING FORWARD
CONSTANTLY FOR DARSHAN & THEN MOVE OUT SO THAT
THE WAITING TIME IN THE LONG QUEUES GETS REDUCED AND MORE
PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO HAVE DARSHAN SOONER THAN BEFORE.
AND THEN, THE TIME MADE UP IN KEEPING THE QUEUE MOVING ON
CAN BE UTILISED BY ALLOWING DEVOTEES
TO BOW THEIR HEADS ON THE SAMADHI FOR SOME TIME WHICH AT
PRESENT IS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
- TIPS FOR KAKAD AARTI & MANGAL SNAN -
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 START
MOVING AHEAD FOR DARSHAN,
EVEN WHILE BABA'S IDOL IS BEING PAT DRY...SO MAKE SURE AS
YOU REACH NEAR THE SAMADHI,
FEEL THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN FROM THE TOP OF THE
SAMADHI 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 INSIDE THE TEMPLE
SANCTUM
SHOULD TRY AND STAND ON THEIR RIGHT AND LEFT RESPECTIVELY SO
AS TO REACH THE SIDES OF BABA`S SAMADHI & GET A
CHANCE TO TOUCH THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S MANGAL SNAN WHICH
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 COOLER
WHERE THE BLESSED WATER AFTER BABA`S MANGAL SNAN
IS POURED IN, FOR THE DEVOTEES TO DRINK. NOT MANY GET A
CHANCE TO 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
WOULD BE, 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 DEVOTEES
JUST PICK THIS COOLER UP AND TILT IT DOWN SO AS TO FILL
THEIR BOTTLES ETC BUT IN DOING SO MOST OF THIS
HOLY WATER SPILLS & IS WASTED & OTHER DEVOTEES ARE LEFT
BEHIND FROM A CHANCE OF GETTING A SIP OF THIS WATER ALSO.
ALSO, JUST AFTER THE KAKAD AARTI GETS OVER THERE IS PRASAD
OF WHITE BUTTER MIXED WITH SUGAR BEING DISTRIBUTED
AT THE PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO
TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI, OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4
SO MAKE SURE, YOU MAKE IT HERE ALSO, AFTER DRINKING THE HOLY
WATER OF BABA`S BATH.
THIS WHITE BUTTER PRASAD LIKE THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH
IS ALSO VERY LIMITED,
SO ONLY THE FIRST LUCKY FEW DEVOTEES MAKE IT HERE.
- TIPS FOR DWARKAMAI -
WHEN AT DWARKAMAI, HAVE THE BLESSED TEERTH (WATER) FROM THE
BLACK COLORED EARTHEN POT KEPT ON A HIGH STAND.
THIS POT HAS NO TAP SO USE THE BIG SPOON KEPT ON TOP OF IT,
TO TAKE 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.
- HOUSES OF BABAS DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI VILLAGE GUIDE MAP -
MAP SOURCE
DO VISIT THE SHIRDI VILLAGE JUST A WALK AWAY FROM THE
SAMADHI SHRINE.
ONE CAN VISIT BAIJAMAA'S HOUSE, LAXMIBAI'S HOUSE & HER
SAMADHI WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE,
SHYAMA'S HOUSE, ABDUL BABAS KUTI & MAHALSAPATIS' HOUSE WHERE
YOU CAN SEE
THE PADUKAS / 3 COINS / SATKA GIVEN BY TO MAHALSAPATI BY
BABA HIMSELF.
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)
BAYAJABAI'S HOUSE
(BABA USED TO STAND ON THE STONE SEEN IN FRONT OF THE DOOR)
MAHALSAPATI'S HOUSE
ONE CAN ASK THE LOCAL PEOPLE / KIDS THERE TO GUIDE THEM &
THEY WILL MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.
THEY WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL THE HOUSES, THE NINE COINS GIVEN
BY SAIBABA TO LAXMIBAI,
THE PLACE WHERE BABA'S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY FOR 3 DAYS, THE
SHOP OF THE MAN WHO HAD REFUSED TO GIVE BABA OIL TO BURN
DIYA'S.
THEY ALL ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, JUST A STRAIGHT WALK IN
THE LANE BANG OPPOSITE THE DWARKAMAI ENTRANCE.
TRY NOT TO VISIT THESE HOUSES IN THE MORNING AS THEY ARE
USUALLY CLOSED 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 PREMISES
BUT OUTSIDE IN THE SHIRDI VILLAGE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE
PHOTOGRAPHS !
- SAMADHI'S OF DEVOTEES -
OPPOSITE THE ARCHWAY NO.4 AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE UDHI /
PRASAD DISTRIBUTION 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 -
HAVE THE DARSHAN OF LORD KHANDOBA AT THE KHANDOBA TEMPLE,
JUST CLOSE BY NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL" ON THE MAIN
ROAD ITSELF.
IT HAS THE IDOLS OF LORD KHANDOBA , BANAI & MHALSAI.