Shirdi Sai Baba Temple-History, Festivals, Pooja Timings.

Shirdi, a small yet well-known town near Nashik in Maharashtra, has become concomitant with the highly revered fakir Sai Baba. Anyone who decides to visit this spiritual land of Sai will be completely enamored by his holy teachings and great deeds towards humanity. Whether one is an ardent believer of Sai, a Sai bhakta, or simply set out on a spiritual journey, everyone will find their solace, solitude, and most importantly their Sai in Shirdi. Such is the energy of Shirdi, pure, profound, and mystical. With every passing year, Shirdi has emerged as a real treat for millions of devotees. Each one of them arrives here to have their prayers answered and with a belief that Sai will free them from the shackles of hardships and troubles. During festivals, a long queue of Sai believers at Sri Shirdi Sai Baba temple has become an increasingly common sight. It’s more prominent on Thursdays as it is believed to be an auspicious day for temple visits. 

These visits are a divine experience on their own. It reflects the love and devotion of the umpteen devotees to Sai, especially when they chant the hymns in rhythm for their most revered saint. It’s so vibrant and mystical that it transcends all levels of devotion one has ever seen or experienced

Let us have a brief look at Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

Stationed 97 Kms away from Nashik is the holy land Shirdi, home to a few thousand inhabitants and a refuge for devotees who visit every year to have a darshan of the great saint- ‘Sai Baba.’ He spent his life in Shirdi, spreading his divine teachings for the good of humankind. After his demise in 1918, his remains were interred at Buti Wada in Shirdi. The very same spot became a place for worship which, today, is known as Shiridi Sai Baba Temple. 

This famous temple monumented in 1922 is segmented into seven distinguished parts- 

1. Samadhi Mandir 
2. Gurusthan
3. Dwarkamai 
4. Chavadi
5. Pranayam Hall
6. Dixit Wada Museum
7. Lendi Baug

Let’s take a gander at each one individually

Samadhi Mandir

The Samadhi temple at Shirdi Sai Baba Temple forms the primary portion of the temple’s premises. Here, we can have a glimpse of the majestically carved idol of Shri Sai Baba mounted on the gold-plated throne and embellished with garlands & sophisticated fabrics.

Built of marble, the life-sized statue of Sai truly astounds everyone with its beauty, and at times you might get the feeling he exists in reality at the moment. Shrouded by thousands of believers, it simply narrates how he is looked up to by many. It is also important to note that you must enter from the middle two rows if you want to touch his feet.

Gurusthan

It’s said that ‘Gurusthan’ is the exact spot where Sai Baba made his maiden public display as a 16-year-old kid. You will find the comforting neem tree and a mini temple with Sai’s portrait, Shivalinga, and a Nandi Bull. 

Dwarkamai

In every essence, Dwarkamai embodies the life and soul of the mystic saint Sai Baba, who is said to have spent most of his life and died here. One uniqueness of Dwarkamai is the lone temple built inside a mosque because there is a story that a ruined mosque was later transformed into a temple.

Chavadi

Positioned right next to the Dwarkamai, Chavadi is highly idolized by the followers of Sai Baba. It is here where Sai Baba, a holy man revered both by Hindus and Muslims, spent most of his nights. Every night, Baba would retire to the Chavadi to sleep. Additionally, Chavadi holds a special place because from here, Sai, along with his disciples, ventured on a palki parade.

To date, his worshippers observe this ritual; every Thursday, his idol is installed inside a palki and the cavalcade proceeds.

The Chavadi is now a place of pilgrimage for Sai Baba’s devotees. Hundreds of people come to pay their respects at the holy site every day. Many leave offerings of flowers and incense, and some even bow down before the Chavadi as a gesture of deep respect.

Pranayam Hall

The pranayam hall at the temple is a sacred space where devotees can connect with the divine energy of the universe. Anyone is welcome to participate in the pranayam here. Shirdi Sai Satcharitra, Sai’s holy book, is available in various Indian dialects.

Dixit Wada Museum

One can truly walk through Sai’s life by viewing the various artifacts owned by the great saint treasured here. Here visitors can find Sai Baba’s belongings, including his dress, rocks used for lighting fires, leather slippers, chillum, water jugs, and utensils. And it truly reflects his simple way of life. The space is limited but well-kept and is not to be missed.

Lendi Baug

Spending a few hours in this garden with its picturesque and breathtaking views would captivate anyone. The beautiful plot of land is dotted with fresh green plants and flowers planted by Sai himself. Also, what a great fate it would be to take a stroll at the place where the great holy man has spent his leisurely times.

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Address

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Location: Near Tapovan Rd, Ashirvad Nagar, RTO Colony, Sai Puroti Nagar, Nashik, Maharashtra 422006

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Location Map: https://goo.gl/maps/A6mnnT8VvAKU8QAT7

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Contact Number

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Contact Number: 09422764467

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Timings

The temple opens at 4:45 am and closes with Shej Aarti at 10 pm.

How to donate money to Shirdi Sai Baba temple?

Anyone willing to contribute can easily do so via the online portal sai.org.in in cash, cheque, debit/credit card, foreign currency, demand draft, money order, or in-kind.

Additionally, arrangements are available for donation on the temple premises via donation boxes.

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Online Booking

If you are looking for Sai darshan, Sri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust is ready to help you with your online bookings. Go to online.sai.org.in or download the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Shirdi app.

There are also the options to book aarti tickets according to your preferences from among the four categories. They are-

1. Kakad Aarti (Morning) Timing- 05:15 – 05:45, Charges: ₹600/-
2. Madhyan Aarti (Noon) Timing- 12:00 – 12:30, Charges: ₹400/-
3. Dhoop Aarti (Evening) Timing- 19:00 – 19:30, Charges: ₹400/-
4. Shej Aarti (Night) Timing- 22:00 – 22:30, Charges: ₹400/-

Aside from that, one can conveniently donate and book accommodation through this online portal.

Epilogue

We hope you found our article about the Shirdi Sai Baba temple intriguing. Make sure to share it with your friends and family so they can learn about the temple too! Thank you for taking the time to read this; we enjoy sharing information like this with our valuable readers.

FAQs

• Where is Shirdi Sai Baba temple?

The temple is built 97 kilometers from Nasik in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district.

• Is Shirdi Sai Baba Temple open or closed? Is Shirdi temple open for darshan 2022?

As Covid-19 cases have been brought under control due to strict vaccine schedules, the temple has reopened under rigorous Covid-19 guidelines.

• How to go to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba temple?

There are several ways to get to the temple. The most convenient option is to fly directly to Mumbai and then take a train or bus to Shirdi. Another possibility is to fly to Pune and then take a bus or train to Shirdi. Or one can fly to Shirdi also. 

• Shirdi Sai Baba Temple distance?

When you arrive in Shirdi, numerous taxis and rickshaws are available to take you to the temple complex. The distance between Shirdi airport and the temple is around 15Kms. The distance is 16 Kms if you take the airport road and then the Kankuri road. If you take the airport road and then Korhale-Dorhale road, the distance between Shirdi airport and the temple will be around 18Kms.

• What is the best time to visit Shirdi Sai Baba temple?

One can visit the temple at any time during the year. However, the best time to visit Shirdi Sai Baba temple is during the monsoon; from June to August. During this time, the weather is very pleasant and comforting which will add to your experience of the Shirdi visit. 

• Are there any hotels near Shairdi Sai Baba temple?

Yes, there are many hotels near Shirdi Sai Baba temple within the range of 0-5Kms. One can check for availability online on any travel website. The accommodation facilities are also provided by Sri Sai Baba Sansthan.