Badarayana Pratisthana is pleased to present the following useful information for aspiring Sai devotees to visit the great spiritual centre of Shirdi Sansthan. Saibaba had said to mankind, “all the difficulties of a person will be wiped out by just entering Shirdi”. It’s impossible for a person to visit Shirdi unless Baba wishes. Shirdi yatra is achievable only with a person’s good deeds in his previous birth and also if he has the blessings of Baba.

The pilgrimage to Shirdi is not for fun or entertainment; it is heavenly and auspicious. An unforgettable experience. A visit to the Sainatha temple at Shirdi will show the pathway to forthcoming changes in one’s life. Baba has said that he would come ten steps forward to protect, if his devotee takes a single step towards him. The pilgrimage to Shirdi will be fruitful only if the devotee constantly thinks of Baba and keeps chanting the Sai Mantra with his mind and soul. Apart from the Sainatha temple, the following religious places are of great importance in Shirdi.

Gurusthan

Baba appeared on the earth as a 16 year old boy under a tree for the first time. Also, on his second appearance, Baba had said that he and his guru had done tapasya (penance) for a period of 12 years in a cave near this place. When people at Shirdi dug up this place, they found four glowing lamps, japa mala and a wooden stand. As the Gurujis had done tapasya at this place, this is known as Gurusthan. The leaf of a Neem tree will be bitter in taste; but the specialty of the Neem tree in Gurusthan is that its leaves are sweet in taste. The Shiva linga installed here was offered to Baba by one of his devotees from Pune. Baba had given this Shiva linga to his devotee named, Megha. Megha was worshipping this Shiva linga during his lifetime and later it was again permanently installed by Baba himself here. One can also see the photo of Akkalkot Maharaj Sri Swami Samarth who is known as the fourth incarnation of Lord Dattatreya as well as the beautiful deity of Baba.

Khandoba Mandir

Baba visited Shirdi for a second time with the marriage group of his Muslim devotee who was the nephew of Chand Patel. When the group arrived outside the village near a banyan tree, Shri Mahalspathy who was the priest of Khandoba temple, saw Baba getting down from a bullock cart. He was immensely pleased and welcomed Baba by calling him “Ya Sai” (Please come, Sai) to the temple. Hereafter, Baba became well-known as Sai Baba.

The Khandoba deity in this temple is the incarnation of Lord Shiva. The daily rituals in this temple are done by the present generation of Shri Mahalspathy’s family. The padukas of Baba have been installed near the temple and are the mark of Shri Mahalspathy’s invitation to Baba to Khandoba temple. The fire ritual (walking on fire) is performed every year during the temple’s car festival.

Dwarakamayi (Masjid)

Baba stayed under the Neem tree during his second visit to Shirdi. There was incessant rain in Shirdi on one particular day. Baba was meditating under the tree even in that heavy rain. His devotees pleaded and brought him to this Masjid on that day to take shelter. Baba stayed for another 60 years in the Masjid and solved various problems of devotees and blessed mankind with his divine powers.

Devotees can also witness the sacred fire (Dhuni) which maintained Baba. As Baba said, this sacred fire will be there as long as the sun and moon exist. The sacred ash of this fire was given by Baba to cure diseases and to solve problems.

The photo of Baba painted by his follower Jayakara, cooking area, sitting place (rock), idols of Baba’s pet horse (Shyam Sundar) and also a tiger from a circus are other things of interest here. It’s also said that the horse was blessed with heavenly death by Baba when it was seriously sick. The samadhi of both the horse and tiger is located near Dattatreya Mandir of Lendi Bagh and Mahadev Mandir.

It’s also noted from history that Baba prevented deadly epidemics like cholera and plague from spreading in Shirdi just by throwing wheat flour around the village. The sweet prasadam made out of wheat flour is distributed even now at Shirdi on the occasion of Ramanavami festival. Baba had also planted a tulasi sapling here and named it as Brindavan.

Chavadi

This is next to Dwarakamayi. There was heavy rain in Shirdi and the Masjid where Baba was staying got flooded with water. The devotees moved Baba to the Chavadi and he slept every alternate day in the Chavadi thereafter during his lifetime.

Baba used to sleep in the eastern direction in the Chavadi. Female devotees are not permitted to enter the Chavadi from the east direction even to this day. The cot used by Baba on Samadhi day, the wheel chair and various photos are now available for darshan to the devotees visiting the Chavadi.

Abdul Baba Jhopdi

This is located opposite the Chavdi and was the house of Abdul Baba who was Baba’s servant. He used to read and chant the holy Quran everyday in the presence of Baba. Abdul Baba was also cleaning Baba’s Samadhi and decorating it with flowers. This activity is being continued to this day by the present generation of Abdul Baba’s family. They perform prayers also for the well-being of devotees visiting the Jhopdi.

Lakshmibai Shinde Samadhi & House

Lakshmibai was a prominent devotee of Baba. She dedicated her whole life for giving service to Baba. Baba gifted her with nine silver coins to signify nine divisions of Bhakti, namely - Shravana, Keertana, Smarana, Padasevana, Archana, Vandana, Dasya, Sakhya, and Atma-nivedana. These coins are still open for darshan. Baba used to have lunch resting near the pillar in the centre of this house. Lakshmibai’s Samadhi is located in front of this house.

Samadhis of Baba’s contemporaries

Samadhis of Abdul Baba, Tatya Kote Patil, Bahukumbara, Nanavali & Iyer are located on the right side of the entrance to Lendi Bagh.

Lendi Bagh

A sub-river called Lendi was flowing in this area earlier. The area surrounding the Lendi river was like a small forest. Baba had planted numerous flower plants here and he used to water these from a well located in the north-west direction of this place.

Baba used to spend part of the day time here and he also used to light a lamp under the Neem tree. This lamp is known as Akhanda Jyoti or Nanda Deepa. Dattatreya temple and the Samadhi of Shyam Sundar (Baba’s pet horse) is present at the front and rear of this lamp respectively. The Sai Baba Sansthan has now developed Lendi Bagh into a beautiful flower garden.

Parayana Kaksha

This is a library of great spiritual books comprising Saibaba Charita, Guru Charita & Bhagavad-Gita. It is advised that at least one chapter of these books should be read by a devotee during Shirdi yatra.

Ganapathi, Shanideva & Mahadeva (Shankara) Temples

These are very old temples. Baba had these temples renovated. The present Sai Baba Sansthan has given a new dimension to these temples. The sacred Samadhi of the Tiger which attained a heavenly body by Baba’s grace can be seen here.

Maruthi Mandir

This temple is very sacred as many Sadhus and Yogis had spent several years of their life here. Baba used to meet these personalities and also give spiritual speeches, hold discussions and conduct Bhajans with them.

Baba also used to give various pointers while coming & going back to the Chavdi on his way to this temple. This temple has a pair of Lord Anjaneya Deities. Since the temple is facing south, it’s called Dakshinmukhi Maruthi Mandir. Female devotees are not allowed to go near the idols of Lord Maruthi in order to maintain the sanctity.

Shravana Nayana Tour Aide, will continue to provide useful guidance and information to devotees who are desirous of undertaking the sacred Shirdi Yatra.