It was my first trip to Shirdi. I was about to start on 24th Jan. It was 24th Jan’s morning. After my normal Pooja, I prostrated before Sai and Prayed that my pilgrimage to Shirdi should be successful. I remembered a chapter of Sai Satcharitra whose Title is “Sparrows Drawn to Shirdi”. I thanked Sai for calling me to Shirdi. I opened Sai Satcharitra to read some pages, to my utter surprise; the very same page opened stating the same article. My joy knew no bounds and tears rolled down my eyes. I had a wish to visit Shirdi for long. But I was not able to visit because of busy schedules etc etc. So many people asked me that “You are a great devotee of Sai, Have you ever visited Shirdi?”. I used to say that whenever Baba will call me only then I can go, Baba has not called me yet. I was having vow that when my certain wish will be fulfilled, I will definitely go to Shirdi. So, Sai fulfilled that wish of mine. Now it was my turn to fulfill my vow. Me and my roommate then reserved our tickets for 24th Jan. My roommate’s grandparents are great devotees of baba and they visit Shirdi some 3-4 times in a year. They were having plan to go to Mysore on 22th to meet some relatives. Due to dense fog in New Delhi, their flight got cancelled. Then, they planned to go to Shirdi instead. They also started for Shirdi on 24th morning. We started for Shirdi on 24th night. We went to Shirdi from Manmad in taxi. We shared the fare with some other folks. We had planned to stay in same room where my roommate’s grand parents were staying. So, in other words room was already booked. We reached Shirdi around about 2 AM. My friend’s grandmother told that there are no rooms available in Shirdi as so many devotees have turned up because of three consecutive holidays. I thanked Sai by saying in my mind that “Oh Deva, first u were not calling me to Shirdi and when u called, u made all sorts of arrangements for me”. Then after sleeping for 2 hrs we got up at 4 AM. We all took bath and headed towards Sai Temple to attend Kakad Arati. Tears were continuously flowing from my eyes. Then we attended Kakad Arati, it was awesome. After that went to Hanuman Temple, Chavadi, Dwarkamai. Sai told ”whoever will climb the steps of this mosque, his worries will soon come to an end”. I enjoyed it very much. On that morning, we were lucky as we were able to touch Samadhi and Charan of Lord Sai, Then onwards they had put glass frames so that Devotees should move fast and should not spend much time by Prostrating near Samadhi, as there was heavy rush in Shirdi. We stayed there for two days. I went to Samadhi mandir four times in these two days but all the time glass frames were there. So, I was much lucky to have a touch of Sai’s Samadhi.
It was my vow to offer garland to Shri Sai. But after going there I came to know that, they are just putting one garland on Baba’s idol. So, I got roses for Shri Sai, as many vendors were selling roses on the way to temple. I prayed to Baba that “Baba I am not able to bring garland, Please accept my roses as garland.” I imagined in my mind that I made Garland from petels of roses and I offered to Lord Sai. I was standing near Idol of Shri Sai in Samadhi Mandir. I requested Priest over there to give me a flower from Baba’s Samadhi. He asked me to come forward. He picked one garland from Samadhi and threw it on my head. He told me” I am not giving this garland to u, Baba had kept it for you.” And He gave me very sweet smile for about five seconds. I remembered Baba’s saying that” My bones will speak from my Tomb”. I thought that these are words of Shri Sai only. I was very happy and I felt very blessed. People over there told me that u are very lucky. Whatever that Priest spoke standing near Baba’s idol and samadhi are Baba’s words. Dear Devotees, see how great and antaryami are our Lord Sai. By giving garland to me Sai gave clear message that He has accepted my roses as Garland. So, this was my great Shirdi Trip, which I wanted to share with all of you.
“Bow to Shri Sai---Peace be to all”
--Raghav Mahajan
Topic: I felt Baba at Shirdi !!! (Read 1793 times)