SHIRDI
Between Manmad in the north,
Ahmednagar in the south
And between Nasik in the west,
Aurangabad in the east,
Very close to Kopargaon
Lies Shirdi the holy town.
It’s a pilgrim center,
For Saibaba’s spiritual center;
Who spent, sixty fruitful years.
Rediating the whole atmosphere
With His divine powers
From the nearabout regions,
You reach the holy Shirdi’s bus-station.
And shortly thereafter
You’re prepared for Baba’s darshan !
Sai Sansthan’s staff members
Live in spacious quarters.
It is the Sainagar
(may be called ‘Prem Nagar’)
They’re ever ready
To guide you in SHIRDI.
Dixit Wada, Seva Dham, Shanti Niwas
And the New building complex,
There are houses for Sai devotees
Who come to Shirdi
From far off places.
The dawn begins in Shirdi
With Baba’s ‘Kakad Arati’.
Baba and his Samadhi are daily worshipped.
Gives an experience to be long cherished !
Devoted Baba’s servants
Perform Sai festivals like :-
Satyanarayan Pooja, Guru Pournima,
Rama Navami and Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
Satyanarayan and Guru Pournima are sacred poojas;
Ramanavami and Mahasamadhi are unique and colourful !
Sports and feasts are arranged
And colourful processions are taken
Around Shirdi on Ramanavami festival.
Week long ‘Laksharchanna and ‘Kirtans’
Conducted during Mahasamadhi festival
Along with Navaratri in October.
The Sansthan’s power generator,
No doubt generates power too!
At Sai Sansthan’s main street,
The Sai devotees often meet.
Sai Baba High School spreads knowledge
SAINATH HOSPITAL does noble work,
These are Shirdi’s pride
The Shirdi dwellers find them delight.
‘Sainath Chhaya’ is reserved
For guests, invitees and artistes.
See the Khandoba’s shrine
And know that Baba means
‘SAI the DIVINE’ !
Baba practiced Yoga and penance
In a jungle – fearsome and dense !
If you’ve the courage to go
You may see the Lendi Baug ?
To fetch water from the Godavri
Indeed tiresome for the Shirdi-‘vasi’ ?
Nearby Baba dug out a well
It’s indeed very well !
Baba loved cool and shadowy places
For His devotees
Hence He planted trees
He lit the divine Light
Near the trees
This is called Nandadeep.
The faithful steed
Was Shyam Sunder
And no wonder
Was Baba’s aide indeed !
At the foot of the Nimba Taru
Is the Turbat – the Samadhi
Of Shri Baba’s Guru.
Buttiwada – the Samadhi
Of the Samartha Sadguru.
Baba is no more in flesh,
In Samadhi Mandir He remains.
That is his eternal resting place
And He showers His divine grace !
Baba’s grinding stone and wheat-bag,
Sitar, bed, padukas (chappals), mug,
And few more articles used
By Baba are well preserved.
“Tiger Samadhi” – a Siva devotee
Who fell at Baba’s feet
And attained ‘Mukti’.
You also find Hanuman temple.
And Ganesh, Shani, Shankar temples.
In Chavadi Baba used to sing and dance
With bells tied around his ankles
Its’a quiet place,
Where He met the populace !
Last but not the least
Is the SAI PRASAD
Is a treat in itself
For the young and old
Without any caste,
Creed, Sex discrimination
Are well served
To their heart’s content
This cannot be expressed
A Sai devotee whoever or wherever
He or she may be
Shouldn’t miss to come
To Shirdi to experience this feast !
Dwarkamai is unique and a heaven on earth.
Oil lamps, Udi, grinding stone,
And the Shila are its worth !
The Mangal Karyalaya
For the sacred ceremonies,
All these and more
Are SHIRDI’S treasures !!.
V. Sundaram,
Calcutta – 29.
subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.