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A Miracle occurred in Shirdi on the night of Thursday 05th Jan 2012. Right after Baba's Shej Aarti got over, an image of Sai Baba's face appeared on the wall of Dwarkamai. Very distinctly seen, the face of Sai Baba appeared on the Nimbar (Niche) which is on the western wall of Dwarkamai.
The Shri Sai Satcharitra relates that it was here that Baba used to have his midday meal, sitting behind a curtain with his back to the Nimbar, and a row of devotees on either side of him. This is also the place where Baba would sleep with his head pointing towards the Nimbar. Sai Baba also occasionally did his Namaz (ritual prayers) here. This Nimbar also has a set of lamps placed by Baba in-front of it.
As this news spread, people from all over started rushing to Shirdi to be blessed by this miracle of Baba. And slowly the crowds grew in such numbers that Shirdi Sansthan's Security guards also found it difficult to control them. Chanting the name of Sai Baba, the inside & outside of Dwarkamai was flooded with devotees, all trying to get a glimpse of Baba's Image.
On 31st Dec 2011, Sai Baba's Samadhi Temple, Shirdi was kept open for devotees the whole Night so that all of them who had reached Shirdi for New-years Eve, could have Baba's Darshan. As a result there was no Shej Aarti on 31st Dec 2011 nor was there Baba's Kakad Aarti on 01st Jan 2012. Sai Bhajans were sung live, through out the night by various singers.
And as the Clock Struck Midnight, Bells were Rung continuously while all devotees voiced out "Shri Sachchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai!"
Laddu Prasad was sold through out the 31st night for which an extra 2 quintals of Laddu's were specially made and no VIP Darshan Passes were issued on 25th & 31st Dec 2011, 01st & 02nd Jan 2012.
As there was a huge rush of devotees, the Shirdi Sansthan had made arrangements for their stay. Awnings, Beds and Tents were put up in approx 61,000 sr.ft area in the open area of the 'Sainagar' Field, the parking lots of the new 'Bhakt Niwas' & the 'Sai Prasad Bhakt Niwas'.
Apart from these, lodging arrangements were also made for the devotees, in the rooms of the Sansthan's Educational Complex Buildings. In the additional Lodging, next to the new 'Bhakt Niwas' arrangements were made for Prasad Meals for the convenience of the devotees.
On 1st Jan2012 alone a record 4 lakh devotees visited Shirdi for Baba's Darshan and to clear such extra rush of passengers, the Central Railway (CR) ran a "Shraddha Special" between Mumbai and Sainagar Shirdi, on the intervening night of 31st Dec 2011 - 01st Jan 2012.
From 23rd Dec 2011 to 01st Jan 2012, a record donation worth Rs 14 crore 60 lakhs was made at the Shrine. The donations included Rs.11 crore Cash, 1.25 kg Gold and 13.5 kg Silver.
According to the annual report of the Shirdi temple for the year 2010-11, the temple has come to amass a huge fortune with its investment in fixed deposits with banks and government securities exceeding Rs.500 crore mark as of 31st March 2011.
The temple has Fixed Deposits with various nationalised banks worth Rs.466 crore, while it has invested Rs 40.84 crore in Kisan Vikas Patra and Rs.22 crore in Government Bonds aggregating to about Rs.529 crore.
Besides, the Shrine has 300 kgs gold worth approx Rs.28 crore, 3,000 kg silver worth approx Rs.4 crore & in 2011 alone it got Rs 250 crore in donations, apart from some other valuables like precious stones, copper and brass objects.
Late Smt.Laxmibai Shinde had, during her entire lifetime, served Shri Shirdi Sai Baba with utmost devotion and care. She used to feed Baba everyday. On 15th October 1918, a few moments before attaining Samadhi, Sai Baba gave Laxmi Ma, 9 Silver Coins as Prasad, in appreciation of her devotion towards him.
The Nine Coins signify the 9-fold path of devotion: 1. Sharvana (Listening) 2. Kirtana (Devotional Music) 3. Smarana (Remembrance) 4. Pada Seva (Resorting to Guru's Feet) 5. Archanan (Worship) 6. Namaskara (Making Obeisance) 7. Dastya (Service) 8. Sahnyatva (Friendliness) 9. Atmanivedana (Surrender of the Self)
Smt. Laxmibai Shinde had Two Sons: 1) Shri.Nana Tukaram Patil Shinde married to Smt.Sonubai and whose Daughter is Smt.Shailaja Maa.
2) Shri.Tatya Tukaram Patil Shinde whose great Grandson is Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde
And today, Laxmibai's Grand-Daughter Smt.Shailaja Maa and Laxmibai's Great Grandson Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde are at loggerheads with each other.
Each Claim to have the possession of the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Sai Baba to Laxmibai. Thus, these 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmibai 93 years back, have become 18 Silver Coins !!!
According to the daughter of Shri.Nana Tukaram Patil Shinde & Sonubai, Shailaja Maa, in 1963, at the time of her Grand Mother Laxmibai Shinde's demise, Laxmibai had handed over these blessed 9 Silver Coins to her mother Sonubai, who then later handed them over to her.
And from 1918 to 1990, these Coins were in a wooden frame and in 1990 they were fixed in a Silver frame.
Shailaja Maa said that she has kept these 9 Silver Coins at her House ever since and were open for Darshan for all Sai Devotees.
Her son Shri.Arun Gaikwad has also traveled to various places with these 9 Silver Coins so that all Sai Devotees could have their darshan.
On the other hand, according to the Great Grandson of Laxmibai Shinde, Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde, his Great Grand Mother Smt.Laxmibai had given the Original 9 Silver Coins to her son Shri.Tatya Tukaram Patil Shinde, who then passed it on to his son Shri.Bhaskar Nana Patil Shinde who in-turn handed it down to his son Shri.Bapusaheb Bhaskar Rao Shinde and from whom finally he inherited these 9 Silver Coins.
Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde said that he has kept these 9 Silver Coins in a wooden frame next to Laxmibai Shinde's Idol at Laxmibai Shinde's ancestral House itself, where he too has been staying for the past so many years.
Many Sai devotees who visit Shirdi, also have Darshan of these 9 Blessed Silver Coins in Laxmibai's house.
So while both Claim to be in possession of the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmi Ma, a huge controversy is brewing n Shirdi as to who has the actual possession of Baba's ORIGINAL 9 Silver Coins.
As according to both their claims, now there a total of 18 Silver Coins instead of only 9 Coins originally given by Baba to Laxmibai.
Claiming that she is in possession of the Original 9 Silver Coins of Baba, Shailaja Maa Gaikwad said that Shri.Chandrakant Shinde had got fake Duplicate Coins from the Market and by claiming that they were the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmi Ma, he was was cheating innocent Sai devotees.
She added that Shri.Chandrakant Shinde came out with these 9 Silver Coins only in 1986, whereas she has had them in her house for Darshan since 1963.
Shri. Arun Gaikwad, son of Shailaja Maa said that in 1980 due to family feud with his Uncle, he with his Grand Mother Sonubai and Mother Shailja Maa left Shirdi with the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmibai.
They stayed in Kopergaon, only to return back to Shirdi in 1996 when they learnt that their Uncle's son Shri.Chandrakant Shinde was fooling Sai Devotees by claiming that he had the Original 9 Silver Coins given to Laxmibai by Sai Baba.
Thus, taking strict legal action against such malpractices the Hon.Managing Trustee of 'Saibhakta Laxmibai Shinde Trust`Shirdi' Smt.Shailaja Maa has registered a complaint at the Shirdi Police Station.
According to the Police Inspector both the Set of 9 Silver Coins will be taken in and send to the concerned department for testing, to ascertain which is actually the original set of 9 Coins given by Baba to Laxmibai.
Meanwhile, the Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan is silent on this whole issue as it prefers to stay away from any such controversies.
Frequent Incidents of Devotees complaining of dizziness and vomiting during their visit to the Sai Baba Temple at Shirdi, has prompted the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to ask the Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust to immediately install Exhaust Fans in the Temple premises.
In a letter, the MPCB has also asked the Shirdi Trust to file a Compliance Report after taking the necessary action.
The number of devotees visiting the Sai Baba Temple has increased in the recent past. However, the facilities provided to them are found to be inadequate. The main religious festivals celebrated at the temple are Ramnavami, Guru Pournima and Dasara when 3-5 lakh devotees visit the temple.
On Sunday 12th June 2011, amidst religious fervour, Sai Devotees offered 1008 Mangoes to Baba at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Santhapet`Ongole, Andhra Pradesh in India.
After performing the "Sahasranama pooja", the devotees offered 1,008 Mangoes to Baba with ‘Shradha & Saburi' (Faith and Patience). The Devotees majorly included a large number of women, seeking Baba's blessings for Children.
Significance of offering Mangoes to Sai Baba:
According to the Amra-Leela (4 Mango Miracle) mentioned in the Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 25, Shri.Damu Anna, who had no children, was blessed with 4 Sons & 4 Daughters after his wife ate the 4 Mangoes given to them by Sai Baba himself.
Sai Baba stressed the need for Faith and Patience for those yearning for Progeny. He said: "Look at the Mango tree in blossom. If all the Flowers brought fruit, what a splendid crop it would be. But do they? Most fall off (either as flowers or as unripe fruits) by wind etc. Very few remain".
Coutresy: Article: Rohit Behal, Mumbai Soucrce: The Hindu
On Monday 16th May 2011, a group of nearly 105 Hindus from Pakistan, including 40 women and children, visited the Sai Baba Temple @ Shirdi and offered their prayers. These Pakistani Hindu pilgrims, on a one-month long visa in India are here for paying visits to the famous Indian Hindu Temples. And as part of their tour, they visited the Sai Baba Temple @ Shirdi.
After having Baba's Darshan, the Pilgrims said that they felt very happy-n-blessed and that even in Pakistan, the message of Baba "SAB KA MALIK EK" is highly acknowledged, so much so that, many have written it on their vehicle's too. They added that Shirdi Sai Baba is very much revered in Pakistan also. Courtesy: Article: Rohit behal.Mumbai. Source: www.esakal.com
A New Weekly Train Howrah-Shirdi-Howrah Express was inaugurated between Howrah, West Bengal and Shirdi via Nagpur, thus giving Howrah & Nagpur city too a direct connection to Shirdi.
- Howrah, West Bengal to Shirdi - Departure: Train number 12574 will leave Howrah at 02:35 pm on Thursday Arrival: Shirdi at 08:30 pm on Friday.
- Shirdi to Howrah, West Bengal - Departure: Train number 12573 will leave Shirdi at 01:45 pm on Saturday Arrival: Howrah at 07:30 pm on Sunday.
Southern Railway will run Summer Special Trains from Chennai Central to Shirdi from 04th April 2011 - 27th Jun 2011, to clear the extra rush of passengers.
Train.No.06001 Chennai Central – Sai Nagar Shirdi Weekly Special Departure: Chennai Central at 11:40 hrs on Mondays from 04.04.2011 to 27.06.2011 Arrival: Sai Nagar Shirdi at 12:00 hrs the next day.
Train.No.06002 Sai Nagar Shirdi - Chennai Central Weekly Special Departure: Sai Nagar Shirdi at 10:00 hrs on Wednesdays from 06.04.2011 to 29.06.2011 Arrival: Chennai Central at 12:45 hrs the next day.
- Chennai Central – Sai Nagar Shirdi -
The composition of the trains will be 1 AC 2-tier, 1 AC 3-tier, 10 Sleeper Class,4 General Second Class & 2 luggage-cum-brake van coaches. The trains will stop at Arakkonam, Renigunta, Koduru, Razampeta, Cuddappah, Yerraguntla, Muddanuru, Kodapuram, Tadipatri, Gooty, Guntakal, Adoni, Manthralayam Road, Raichur, Yadgir, Wadi, Gulbarga, Solapur, Daund, Ahmednagar, Belapur and Puntamba. T.No. 06002 will stop at Perambur also.
Advance reservations for the above trains will commence on 21.2.2011.
A Devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba Shri.Rajesh Nihak, a Mumbai-based businessman, has submitted a Rs-50 crore proposal to the Union Railway Ministry to operate a Private Train between Mumbai and Shirdi. He recently sent the ambitious plan to Railway Minister Smt.Mamata Banerjee and the Railway board Chairman Shri.Vivek Sahai.
Under this Proposal: 1) The Train will have eight to nine Compartments. 2) Plans to Import state-of-the-art compartments for the Train. 3) Will be able to accommodate around 900 followers of the famous Saint. 4) The charges will be roughly the same fare as that of a Mumbai to Shirdi Volvo bus. 5) Distance from Mumbai to Shirdi to be covered in three-and-a-half hours (07:00am to 11:00am) as against the existing Train's travel time of Seven hours.
The proposal for this Train, which is along the lines of the prestigious Palace on Wheels has been already discussed at length with the Railway Administration.
After a survey conducted it was found that more than 700 Volvo buses were operating between Mumbai and Shirdi and the travel time ranged between 6-8 hours but if this proposal gets accepted by Banerjee and Sahai, both of whom are Sai Baba's devotees, then the comfort level of Sai devotees will increase with a drastic cut in the travel time. Accordingly, the detailed plans will then be submitted to the Railways' Research Design and Standards Organisation, particularly for the approval of the bogies design.
Also, the Railway Board will have to take a policy decision on Private sector participation in the operation of Trains.
The proposal has got supporters in Agriculture minister Shri.Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil (represents the Shirdi Assembly Constituency) and Shirdi Sai Baba Trust chairman Shri.Jayant Sasane, who said that "Given the number of devotees, the existing railway facilities are grossly inadequate. A special train between Mumbai and Shirdi will be real gift to the devotees." They both agree that this Train is the need of the hour.
Sasane has called on Banerjee and Sahai to demand more trains for Shirdi. "Since the devotees come from all over India, we have urged the minister to provide more trains from the north of the country in the Railway Budget. We are in the process of implementing a Rs.1000-crore plan to meet the requirements of the devotees," Sasane said.
Sasane said a provision of Rs.100 crore has been made for the development of the Temple Complex as: 1) Rs.300 crore for a Super-Specialty Hospital. 2) Rs.100 crore for a Garden. 3) Rs.115 crore for the Accommodation of 15,000 devotees. 4) Rs.28 crore for Water Supply Scheme. 5) Rs.90 crore for Internal Roads. 6) Rs.8 crore for a Bus Depot.
Sasane said that with a annual income of Rs.350 crore, they were spending most of the funds for the development of Shirdi Township.
Courtesy: Article:Rohit Behal, Mumbai Source: Times of India.
Many devotees now prefer to ring in the New Year at some Holy place and or with their Guru. With this desire, around 3 lakh devotees reached Shirdi to be in the company of their beloved Baba for New Years Eve, for which the Sai Sansthan had kept Baba's Samadhi Temple open the full night on 31st to enable the devotees to have Darshan.
So, this New Years Eve Sai Baba also did not sleep as lakhs of devotees had lined up for his Darshan. Bhajan Kirtan continued through out the night and so there was no Shayan Aarti or the Kakad Aarti of Baba, on 01st Jan 2011. Many devotees came walking all the way to Shirdi carrying Sai Palkis with them.
The atmosphere at the Shirdi Sai Temple was showering with devotion. In front of Lendi garden devotees lit thousands of candles, while some were reading the Shri Sai Satcharitra wherever they could find a place to sit and do so. People were also singing Sai bhajans in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada and Tamil.
As the Clock struck 12:00 at midnight, the Bells started ringing in the Sai Temple. The devotees who were waiting in queues outside the temple bowed their Heads and did Pranam to the Temple's Kalash (Dome) and started chanting Prayers to welcome the New-year 2011.
However, at this moment devotees could not have Sai Baba's Mukh Darshan for a short period because of the VIP crowd having Darshan inside.
The darshan queue was so big that the entire Pimpalwadi Road was full of devotees and to manage which, the Trustee of the Sai Baba Temple Shri.Jayant Sasane, the Executive Office Shri.Kishore More & the additional Executive Officer Dr.Yashwant Mane were monitoring the darshan queue arrangement. But because the Temple was open the whole night, the crowd was easily controlled.
In one hour minimum 10 thousand devotees were having Baba's Darshan, because of which in the night almost 1 lakh devotees took Darshan.
In two days itself, at the Shirdi Sai Prasadalaya each day around 40,000 devotees had their meals. Some devotees had given the Free Prasad Meal donation becuase of which the Meals were given to everyone for free.
One such devotee from Gujarat Shri.Aalap Rajubhai Patel donated Rs.11 lakh and 11 thousand for the free prasad meal scheme for everyone to have free meals from 14th to 17th Jan 2011.
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri.Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Supreme Court Judge Shri.Dalveer Bhandari, Officer Shri.Rajgopal Devra, Shri.Anilkumar Likhna & Minister of Social Justice Shri.Shivajirao Moghe and some Actors, Industrialists, Singers etc too reached Shirdi to receive Baba's Blessings.
PALANPUR: A 5kg Idol of Shirdi Sai Baba, estimated to be worth Rs 50,000/- and made from five metals (panch dhatu), has been stolen from a Temple about 3kms from Vadnagar in Mehsana district of Gujarat, India. A complaint in this connection has been filed by Shri.Mukund Mehta, a resident of Vrudhashram Sarvajanik Sewa Trust, Ahmedabad. Mehta has stated in his complaint that an Idol of Sai Baba is missing from the Temple, located on the premises of the ashram, since Thursday 23rd Dec night.
Mehsana district Superintendent of police Shri.R J Savani said that the Temple had no doors. Hence, some miscreants had taken away Sai Baba's Idol.
The Trust which manages the Ashram and the Temple is headed by Shri.Somabhai Modi, elder brother of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Courtesy: Rohit Behal, Mumbai Source: The Times Of India
Smt.Pratima Rani Das, a Sai Devotee from Mumbai, Maharashtra donated a 1 Kg Gold Garland worth Rs.19 Lakh to Sai Baba at Shirdi. Also present on the occasion were, Deputy Executive Officer of Sai Baba Sansthan Trust Dr.Yashwantrao Mane & Temple Incharge Shri.Ramarao Shelke.
Mostly people go to Shirdi to seek Baba's blessings either for themselves or their near & dear ones, but this is one such instance which will be remembered, where not one or two but 200 Eunuchs went to Shirdi to offer Prayers to Baba, not for themselves, but for India on the whole.
On 01st Jan 2011,
200 Eunuchs went to Shirdi for Baba's Darshan. Each one of them was holding a lit candle as they walked systematically in rows, towards the Sai Baba Temple. When inside the Temple, in the Sanctum Sanctorum they offered prayers and asked for Peace and Unity in India. They prayed to Baba to remove Corruption from the Country and to give the correct understanding to all the Corrupt People/Politicians so that they amend their ways and reform themselves, failing which, Baba should punish them equally.
LUCKNOW: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has proposed a Rail Tour package from Lucknow and Kanpur for Shirdi Sai Dham / Shani Temple & Trambkeshwar Jyotirling (Nasik) Darshan.
The package will be launched from 10th February 2011.
The Tour will depart from Lucknow and Kanpur every Thursday by Pushpak Express and return back to Lucknow and Kanpur on the following Monday by Pushpak Express.
The Facilities to be provided include: 1) Confirmed Train Tickets in AC-3/sleeper class, 2) Pick-up and Drop from Manmad Station to hotel at Shirdi by A/C vehicle, 3) Visit to Shirdi Sai Temple, Shani Shingnapur Temple and Trambkeshwar Jyotirling Temple (Nasik), 4) Accommodation in AC hotel room and all (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Meals (Vegetarian).
The Package Cost: 1) Per Adult is Rs 4,900/- (Economy class) and Rs 6,950/- (Comfort class) 2) Per Child (up to 12 years) is Rs 2,750/- (Economy class) and Rs 3,850/- (Comfort class).
Tel: 0522-2305566, 2305522 and 9794863619, 9794863623 (Kanpur) 9794863629 (Varanasi).
In the next 3 months, the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi Trust has decided to introduce an Online Booking System for Sai devotees which will give them an option of not standing in a queue for several hours to reach Sai Baba's Samadhi Shrine to pay their respect.
Those who Register Online will Not have to Stand in the Darshan Queue for more than an Hour.They will be told the approximate time when they can pay their respect and will be able to finish their visit within an hour of the time mentioned. Those who do not book through this Booking System will have to stand in the regular Darshan Queue.Devotees will also be able to make Online bookings for Hostel Accommodation.
Shri.Jayant Sasane, Chairman of Shirdi Sai Sansthan said that, “To reduce the workload and improve crowd management, we are introducing the latest technology for Online Booking. It will help reduce crowds in Shirdi and also save devotees time. Apart from creating more transparency in the Sansthan’s work, the project will also help us monitor the Devotee numbers, the free Meals distributed and the Donations,”
He added that, “The facility may start in February 2011. It is a large project and we had floated a tender for the work. We have given the project to a leading software company and will be spending between Rs.20 crore and Rs.25 crore on the project."
The project is being supervised by K.V.Ramani, a Chennai-based entrepreneur and former chief of NASSCOM who has donated Rs.60 crore to the Shirdi Shrine to build a Hostel Complex to accommodate 16,000 devotees.
The Booking & Registration System is part of a larger software project called "SAITECH"that will connect all the Temple departments.
According to Rahul Galande, a senior official of the Trust’s I.T department, "The Project is being implemented by Cognizant, an I.T firm. The Company will look at the work for five years and train the Shirdi Sansthan staff to operate the system. We are creating a system for tracking the progress of Administrative work at the Trust. We are also creating an Online Information Centre."
The Shirdi Trust will set up one outlet each in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai where pilgrims, who do not have an credit card, can book accommodation at the pilgrim hostels. When the system is in place, the Shrine will be second to Tirumala Tirupati to have an online booking facility.
According to the rules of Shirdi Sai Trust made in 1979, except for the Temple's Pujari's, NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO CLIMB AND SIT ON SAI BABA'S SAMADHI, be it any VIP, the Sansthan Trustees or even the President of the country.
But Recently,THE SHIRDI SAI TRUST BROKE ITS AGE OLD RULE, BY ALLOWINGA SAI DEVOTEE TO ACTUALLY CLIMB UP SAI BABA'S SAMADHI AND SIT RIGHT NEXT TO BABA'S IDOL !!!
A Sai Devotee from Andhra Pradesh, Shri.Adi Narayana Reddy, was actually allowed to climb up Baba's Samadhi and sit next to Baba's Idol. Shri.Adi Narayana Reddy is the same devotee who in the past had donated 150 kgs of Gold to the Sai Temple for Sai Baba's Throne / Walls & Pillars.
- CONTEMPORARY DEVOTEES VERSUS SHIRDI SAI TRUST - This has raised strong objections from the family of Shri.Gopalrao Mukund Butty (who had got the Butty Wada made) and other contemporary devotees like Shri.Mukund Rao Kote and Shivaji Gondkar, who have all got together and set up their own Committee (Samiti), to object certain ways of the Shirdi Sai Trust like:
1) The way the Shirdi Sai Trust has changed the face of Baba's Samadhi Temple, by covering it in Gold. They want the Butty Wada's simplicity & authenticity to be retained for which they have asked the Shirdi Trust to resist such changes.
2) How can any devotee be allowed to climb up and sit on Baba's Samadhi, when its against the rules of the Sai Trust.
3) Why some devotees have an quick and easy VIP Darshan while others have to wait in long queues.
4) Why were the local devotees not given permission to sing Bhajans inside the Shrine, while the Rich are allowed to sit on Baba's Samadhi.
According to Shri.Subhash Rao Butty (Grandson of Shri.Gopalrao Butty), if Sai Baba wanted the Butty Wada to be covered in Gold, his grand father (Shri.Gopalrao Butty) could have done so in 1918 itself, when he had got the Butty Wada made, as even then he had the all the means & sources to do so.
But, Baba always preferred Simplicity and was very much against the display of one's Wealth or power. He never gathered any sort of wealth except for the Love of his devotees.
And today, devotees in love and gratitude for Baba, offer Gold / Silver and other Precious items to Baba. So much so that, everything has now been covered in Gold, be it Baba's Throne, his Chariot or the Walls & Pillars of his Samadhi's sanctum sanctorum. In a way, Baba has now been immersed in all the things for which he stood against.
Shri.Ashok Khambekar, Managing Trustee, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan has said that they would consider their demands and call them for talks also.
To be noted:
In Shri Sai Satcharitra, Chapter XIV it is said that Baba always used to get wild and scolded those who brought costly & rich articles. He had told Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar that His property consisted of 1 Koupin (codpiece), 1 stray piece of cloth, 1 Kafni & a Tumbler, and that all the people troubled Him by bringing all these unnecessary, useless and costly articles."
Baba also never allowed Mahalsapati to accept any money or gifts that devotees who came to see Baba showered on him. Baba kept him poor in Kind, but rich in his Spiritual Heart. Baba gifted him the supreme Bliss, much more valuable than any physical and transitory richness.
DEVOTEE SITTING ON SAI BABA'S SAMADHI NEXT TO THE IDOL
On Friday, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel will be laying the foundation stone of the Airport in Shirdi. The Airport, expected to be operational by end of 2011, will be equipped for International flights as well.
But the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Trust’s decision to give Rs.100 crore to the State Government for the Airport has angered the Devotees. The Shirdi Villagers protesting Shirdi Sansthan's donation for the Airport, using the Sansthan's Money, had called for a total "Shirdi Bandh" on Wednesday 25th August 2010. So, on "Wednesday" the streets of Shirdi wore a deserted look. All Shops, Establishments etc were closed and the Public Transport too was absent, causing a lot of inconvenience for the devotees there.
However, Baba's Samadhi Mandir was kept open and so was the canteen, for the benefit of the devotees.
The Shirdi Gram Villagers are also demanding that a Law should be made to prohibit any Article of Sai Baba to be taken out of Shirdi for any purpose.
They have said that be it any amount they will not allow the Sansthan to use even a Rupee for the Airport project, and if their demands are not met, they will go on a Hunger Strike, come out on the roads to protest and will wave Black Flags on 27th August`2010 during the laying of Shirdi Airport's Foundation Stone.
The Rs.380-crore project needs 400 acre of land, of which 300 acre has been acquired with help of the government aid of around Rs.40 crore while the Shirdi Sai Sansthan had earlier agreed to pay Rs.50 crore, together with other expected donations. but, it is now rumored that the Sansthan will be coughing out Rs.100 crore instead of the Rs.50 crore it had originally offered.
But according to the Maharashtra Govt, the original Rs.50 crore was also voluntarily offered by the Shirdi Sansthan themselves.
According to the devotees, the Airport and other infrastructure in Maharashtra is all the duty of the State Government and so the Shirdi Sansthan should not provide funds for any of those projects, including the Shirdi Airport.
Trustee and state Transport Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who approves of the Trust’s move, said: “The Trust took a decision Two years ago in the interest of Devotees. The Airport will offer faster connectivity.”
But former MP Shri.Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil said that the Trust should not give the amount as the Government has paid for the Land that it acquired for the Airport. “Local people and Devotees don’t want this to happen.
We all want the Centre and State Governments to take care of the Airport project,” he said adding that "the Airport would help corporate fliers who frequent the Industrial estates being developed in Ahmednagar & Nashik districts."
Pramod Kadve, a devotee from Mumbai, said Rs 100 crore could be used to extend facilities to the poor & the Farmers.
“An Airport will benefit the Rich. The Trust should not splurge on providing five-star facilities to the Rich.”
Trust chairman Jayant Sasane said that the Trust members will meet to review the situation. “The Radhakrishna Patil will take a Final call.”
The Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC) is the nodal agency for the Shirdi Airport project.
The Shirdi Saibaba temple authorities have decided to bar devotees with VIP passes during weekdays and charge them for performing various prayers at the shrine over the weekends and during festivals.
"A meeting of the Shirdi Sansthan trustees was held here yesterday in which it was decided to implement the scheme on a trial basis for three months," a trustee said.
The decision would only affect those visiting on VIP passes, he said.
Around 50,000 devotees visit the temple daily. The number doubles during the weekend.
The meeting, attended by state Law and Judiciary Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Sansthan chief Jayant Sasane, proposed Rs 500 for 'kakad arti' and Rs 250 for 'dhoop arti,' the trustee said.
Shirdi (Maharashtra) – It is said that the Life like Idol of Sai Baba in Shirdi’s Sai Temple fulfills everybody’s wishes so much so that the devotees are ready to offer their everything on this charismatic Idol of Baba. But due to the ignorance of one Devotee, this Idol of Sai Baba at Shirdi has been damaged.
What happened is, that one Devotee, to get his Wishes Fulfilled made an offering to Baba by throwing a Five Rupee coin directly on Baba’s Idol. This Five rupee Coin fell directly on Baba’s Left Toe, damaging the Thumb, by making a small hole in it. This un-repairable damage has left the Shirdi Temple Management quite perturbed.
According to Shri.Sadashiv Gorakhshar, Shirdi temple’s advisor, devotees throw Flowers / Garlands, small flower bouquets & Coins directly on Baba’s Idol unaware of the fact that throwing coins etc can actually damage the Idol.
So, after careful examination of the situation, the Expert’s have advised the Shirdi Temple Trust:
1. To stop the offerings of Flowers, Garlands, and Coins etc that are thrown directly on Baba’s Idol. 2. To keep Devotees at a distance from Baba’s Idol. 3. To prohibit the Devotees from offering Rose water or any other perfumed things which they get, especially for Baba’s Mangal Snan , as all of them contain Chemicals which when poured on Baba during the Mangal Snan can harm the Idol in the long run. 4. The Expert’s have also advised the Shirdi Temple Trust to avoid the use of too much water or Rose water for Baba’s Mangal Snan and instead just to wipe the Idol with a damp cloth.
Along with the Samadhi Shrine, these restrictions are to be applied in Dwarkamai also.
Baba’s Devotees at present might object to these restriction’s that have been put on their offerings, but for the preservation of Baba’s Idol, these steps had to be taken, as after all to have darshan of this very Idol of Baba only, devotees wait in long queues for hours at a stretch.
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