Samadhi Mandir
Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire
from Nagpur, a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. Gopalrao wanted
to keep an idol of Murlidhar here. However, Baba himself became
Murlidhar and the Mandir became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba.
The Mandir is built with stones and Baba's Samadhi is built with
white marble stones. A railing is built in marble around the Samadhi
and is full of ornamental decorations. In front of the Samadhi are
two silver pillars full of decorative designs. Just behind the
Samadhi is Sai Baba's marvelous statue made of Italian marble which
shows him seated on a throne. This idol was made by late Balaji
Vasant.
This statue was installed on 7th October 1954. Above the statue is an
open, silver umbrella. The front of the Mandir has an assembly hall
where about 600 devotees can be accomadated.
The routine of the temple starts at 5 o'clock in the morning with
Bhoopali, a morning song, and closes at 10 o'clock in the night after
Shejarati is sung. Only on three occasions the temple is kept open
overnight .ie. on Gurupoornima, Dassera, and Ramnavami. Every
Thursday and on each fesitival, a Palakhi with Baba's photo is taken
out from the temple.
Dwarkamai
Shri Sai Baba came to Shirdi with a marriage procession. He stayed
at Dwarkamai till the very end of his life. Dwarkamai is situated on
the right side of the entrance of Samadhi Mandir. Here he solved
problems of the people, cured their sickness and worries. Before
Baba's arrival in Shirdi, Dwarkamai was an old mosque in a
dilapidated condition. Baba turned it into Dwarkamai and proved that
God is one.
The first level of Dwarkamai has a portrait of Baba and a big stone
on which Baba used to sit. This level has two rooms. One contains the
chariot and the second a palkhi. Just in front of the room where the
chariot is kept is a small temple. A saffron flag flies over it.
The second level of Dwarkamai has a square stool made of stone, which
Baba used for taking a bath.
The main attraction of this place is the
oil painting of Shri Sai Baba sitting in a carved wooden shrine. This
level also has the grinding stone and the wooden vessel called
Kolamba in which Baba used to keep the Bhiksha brought from the
village.
Gurusthan
Sai Baba first came to Shirdi in the form of Bal Yogi - a child
ascetic. He was first spotted seated under a Neem tree. This place
came to be known as Gurusthan. The renovation of Gurusthan was made
on 30th September, 1941. The present temple was built after this
period. There is a small shrine in Gurusthan. On a elevated platform
of this shrine a big portrait of Baba is placed. On the side is a
marble statue of Baba. In front of the portrait is a Shivling and the
Nandi. Photos of twelve Jyotirlingas are kept in the temple. The
branches of the Neem tree have come out through the roof of the
temple.
At a short distance lies Baba's CHAVADI. Baba used to sleep here
every alternate day. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part
of the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed
and a white chair belonging to him.
There is a cottage of Abdul Baba, an ardent devotee of Shri Sai Baba,
in front of the Chavadi. The Lendi Bagh was looked after by Abdul
Baba. There are photos and various things which were handled by Sai
Baba and Abdul Baba in the cottage.
There is a Maruti Mandir located at some distance from the cottage of
Abdul Baba. This mandir was visited by Baba for the sat-sang with
Devidas, a Balyogi, who lived at the Mandir ten to twelve years
before Baba arrived.
There are also temples of village deities named Shani, Ganapati, and Shankar to be visited.
Lendi Bagh
At some distance from Gurusthan there is the Lendi Baug. This Bagh
was made and watered daily by Baba himself. It got its name from a
Nalla (a drain) which used to previously flow there. Baba used to
come here every morning and afternoon and take rest under a Neem
tree.
Baba dug a pit, 2 feet deep, under the Neem tree and kept a
Deep lit in that pit. One octangular Deepgriha called Nanda Deep has
been built in marble stone in memory of this place. It constantly
burns in a glass box. On one side of the Deepgriha is a Peepal tree
and on the other side is a Neem tree.
Some distance away is a Datta Mandir below an Audumbar tree. In the
Mandir there is a statue of Datta built in marble stone. The statue
of Datta was installed on 6th December, 1976. Just behind the Datta
Mandir is a Samadhi of the horse, Shyamsundar which belonged to Baba
and which used to bow to him.
Lendi Baug also has a well dug by Baba with the cooperation of his
devotees.
At the entrance of the Baug are the Samadhi's of ardent Sai devotees
Tatya Kote Patil, Bhau Maharaj Kumbhar, Nanavalli and Abdul Baba.
Khandoba Mandir
This temple is situated on the main road. In front of this temple
Baba was welcomed by Poojari Mhalsapati, of this temple, saying "Aao
Sai", when Baba stepped in Shridi. In this temple there are icons of
Khandoba, Banai and Mhalsai.