~~ OM SHRI SAINATHAYA NAMAHA ~~
" FOR THIS ARTICLE BABA IS MY INSPIRATION,
ALL THE WORDS ARE MY PERSPIRATION,
FOR EVERY DEVOTEE OF EVERY NATION,
HAVING A LONG DESIRED DIVINE ASPIRATION,
TO GO TO SHIRDI IN THE VACATION.
SO, NOW MOVE ON... AS "SAI-EXPRESS" IS WAITING IN ANTICIPATION,
TO TAKE YOU TO "SAINAGAR" RAILWAY STATION !
OH, WHAT A MOTIVATION !!! " - rOhit beHaL
~~ SHIRDI TEMPLE PREMISES GUIDE MAP ~~
SHIRDI TEMPLE GUIDE MAP LABELLED WITH "A to Z" ALPHABETS AGAINST SMALL "x" MARKS,
TO ENABLE YOU TO FIND THE EXACT SPOT OF THE CORRESPONDING PLACE IN & AROUND THE SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE PREMISES.
A ON MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
QUEUE FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" ONLY AND ROAMING IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES EXCEPT LENDI BAGH & BABAS WELL.
A ON PIMPALWADI ROAD -
DEVOTEES ENTRANCE NEAR MAIN GATE NO.2, FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT PASSES.
THE ARROWS IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALLS INDICATE THE DIRECTION DEVOTEES HAVE TO MOVE TO REACH BABA'S SAMADHI.
B - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1
C - THE P.R.O OFFICE.
D - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 (CLOSED...NOT USED NOW)
E - SHIRDI SANSTHAN'S BOOK STORE FOR SELLING BABA'S BOOKS, CALENDARS, VCD / DVD etc
F - THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL".
G - "SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" STALL.
H - DURING PEAK PERIODS, ENTRY GATE FOR N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONALS / V.I.P's.
I - SHOP SELLING POOJA ITEMS / MUSTARD OIL & SWEET PRASAD TOO.
J - HUGE WINDOWS FOR A VIEW OF THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN THE STAIRS.
K- DURING PEAK PERIODS ITS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SPECIAL ENTRY GATE.
L - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3
M- "THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM".
N - "SAI-COMPLEX" COMMERCIAL SHOPPING COMPLEX.
O - "DAKSHIN-MUKHI MARUTI TEMPLE"
P- ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE.
Q - ENTRY FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" OF BABA'S IDOL.(ONE CANNOT GO TOWARDS BABA'S SAMADHI FROM HERE)
R - EXIT AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE EXIT GATE FOR DISABLED / SENIOR CITIZENS.
S - DONATION OFFICE.
T - "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" - (FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM).
U - TELEVISION IN THE OPEN AIR THEATRE FOR DEVOTEES STANDING OUT TO HAVE LIVE DARSHAN.
V - WATER COOLER (BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE), FOR DEVOTEES TO DRINK THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN.
W - REAR EXIT DOOR AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE ENTRY GATE FOR V.I.P PASS HOLDERS.
X- "SAIBABA'S MUSEUM'.
Y - UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM (NEXT TO ABDUL BABAS / NANAVALIS / TATYAS SAMADHI).
Z - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4
THE BLACK LINE FROM ARCHWAY NO.4 CUTTING ACROSS LENDI BAGH UPTO THE EXIT AT MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH FROM NANDADEEP.
CANDLES - PLACE IN NANDADEEP WHERE DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1 -
ON THE WEST SIDE, ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD IS "ARCHWAY NO.1" ,
WHICH IS USED ONLY AS AN ENTRY GATE INTO THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND OR FOR BABA'S MUKH DARSHAN
i.e., DARSHAN OF BABA'S FACE FROM A DISTANCE (FROM, NEAR THE RAISED PLATFORM BEHIND IN THE TEMPLES SANCTUM).
AFTER, ENTERING THRU ARCHWAY NO.1, ONE CAN FREELY ROAM IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES
i.e, CAN TAKE UDHI, SEE ABDUL BABA'S / TATYAS & NANAVALIS SAMADHI, SAI BABA'S MUSEUM AND CAN GO STRAIGHT UP TO DWARKAMAI
BUT CANNOT GO TO LENDI BAGH OR BABA`S WELL.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.1 IS OPPOSITE THE TEMPLES P.R.O OFFICE AND BESIDES NANDA-DEEP.
ONE CANNOT MAKE AN EXIT FROM THIS GATE.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 -
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD, IS ARCHWAY NO.2 ,
WHICH WAS EARLIER USED AS AN ENTRY & EXIT GATE BUT AT PRESENT IS CLOSED & NOT IN USE.
INSTEAD, JUST BESIDES IT ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD ITSELF IS THE ENTRY GATE FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT ANY PASSES.
THIS ENTRY TAKES ONE DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRST WAITING HALL FROM WHERE THE DARSHAN QUEUES,
AFTER MOVING ALONG THROUGH SPIRALING LONG STRETCH OF STEEL BARRICADED HALLS & BY STAIRS UP & DOWN,
FINALLY LEADS UPTO THE SAMADHI OF BABA.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3 -
ON THE EAST SIDE, IN THE LANE GOING INSIDE FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS "ARCHWAY NO.3",
WHICH IS USED MAINLY FOR EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TOWARDS DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE
& BABA'S SHRI CHAVADI. IF ONE ENTERS THROUGH THIS ARCHWAY, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE COMES THE "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY,
WHILE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS AN ENTRANCE USED FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS SPECIAL ENTRY DURING PEAK PERIODS.
THIS ARCHWAY IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES WHO ARE UNABLE TO WALK.
LUCKY TIP - ONE NORMAL ADULT IS ALLOWED TO ESCORT THEIR AGED / HANDICAPPED DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER
BY THIS ARCHWAY & A DEPENDENT KID CAN ALSO GO ALONG IF HE / SHE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER.
IF LUCKY ENOUGH, THEN N.R.I & FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN TOO MAKE AN ENTRY BY THIS ARCHWAY
IF THEY SHOW THE GUARDS THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR NRI STATUS i.e., PASSPORT COPIES etc
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4 -
ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS "ARCHWAY NO.4" WHICH IS MAINLY USED FOR SOUTH EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO DWARKAMAI,
WHEREAS THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY, WITH A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH AND NANDADEEP
IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF DEVOTEES ENTER BY THIS GATE THEN THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TOWARDS LENDI BAGH,
BABA'S WELL AND THEN STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
SO, IF FROM LENDI BAGH IF ONE WANTS TO GO TO NANDADEEP, THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT OUT OF
THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND THEN AGAIN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM ARCHWAY NO.1 FOR NANDADEEP.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS BANG OPPOSITE THE SAMADHIS OF NANAVALI / ABDUL BABA / & TATYA PATIL.
~~ VIP DARSHAN PASSES ~~
DURING WEEK DAYS
THE VIP DARSHAN PASSES HAVE BEEN BANNED DURING WEEK DAYS BY THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN.
SO, THE N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's & OTHER VIP's WILL HAVE TO QUEUE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DEVOTEES,
IF THEY WANT TO GO FOR BABA'S DARSHAN. HOWEVER, DURING OFF PEAK PERIODS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED
ARE ALLOWED ENTRY DIRECTLY INTO THE SAMADHI SHRINE BY A SPECIAL GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "R" IN MAP ABOVE) .
DURING WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS
THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN HAS INTRODUCED THE "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" FOR WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS.
SO NOW, A NOMINAL FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR VIP DARSHAN PASSES, BY WHICH DEVOTEES CAN SKIP THE REGULAR
DARSHAN QUEUE AND HAVE THE DIVINE DARSHAN OF BABA. DEVOTEES CAN GET THESE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O OPPOSITE GATE NO 1.
THIS "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" IS FOR ALL N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's / SENIOR CITIZENS & OTHER VIP's.
IT WILL BE APPLICABLE ON THURSDAYS / SATURDAYS / SUNDAYS / PUBLIC HOLIDAYS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK PERIODS.
THE CHARGES FIXED BY THE SHIRDI SAI TRUST FOR THESE PAID DARSHAN PASSES ARE :
1) FOR KAKAD AARTI : Rs.500/- per person.
2) FOR MADHYANA AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
3) FOR DHOOP AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
4) FOR SHEJ AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
5) FOR NORMAL DARSHAN (Not during any of the Aarti's) : Rs.100/- per person.
THE TIMINGS TO PURCHASE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O ARE:
1) 07:30 Am to 11:00 Am
2) 02:30 Pm to 05:00 Pm
3) 07:30 Pm to 10:00 Pm
~~ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAID DARSHAN SYSTEM ~~
1) THIS SYSTEM OF PAID DARSHAN COMMENCED FROM SATURDAY 13th MARCH`2010.
2) A TOTAL NUMBER OF 1600 DEVOTEES CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE TEMPLE,
SO THE PAID PASSES LIMIT FOR AARTI'S HAS BEEN FIXED AT 140 DEVOTEES AT A TIME.
3) DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON CHARGES TO THE DEVOTEES IN ADVANCE
AND NO PRIOR BOOKING WILL BE MADE OF SUCH PASSES.
4) SENIOR CITIZENS TOO HAVE TO PURCHASE A DARSHAN PASS NOW, LIKE THE VIP's etc.
5) ONE GENERAL DARSHAN PASS CAN BE USED TWICE DURING THE SAME DAY FOR GENERAL DARSHAN ONLY & NOT DURING ANY AARTI.
6) EVEN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE, CELEBRITIES, N.R.I`s OR FOREIGN NATIONALS
AND JOURNALISTS etc ARE NOT SPARED FROM THESE CHARGES.
7) THE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE LIMITED
TO AROUND 10% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE TEMPLE.
FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE ARE A 1000 DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE TEMPLE, THEN ONLY 100 DEVOTEES WILL BE ALLOWED
TO GO IN FOR BABA'S DARSHAN, WITH A PAID PASS. AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THEIR DARSHAN AND MOVE OUT,
ONLY THEN, THE NEXT BATCH OF PAID DARSHAN PASS HOLDERS WILL GO INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR DARSHAN.
PRE-REQUISITE - TO AVAIL THE PAID DARSHAN PASS, ONE HAS TO HAVE A REFERENCE LETTER OF ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY / ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc REQUESTING FOR THE SAME.
ONE REFERENCE LETTER FOR DARSHAN PASSES IS ENOUGH FOR ONES FAMILY/FRIENDS COMBINED.
ALTERNATIVELY, ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY HAS TO BE SHOWN, FOR EVERY SINGLE DEVOTEE FOR WHOM A PASS IS BEING TAKEN.
- ENTRY GATE -
MOSTLY, THE GATE FOR THE VIP PASS HOLDERS IS OPPOSITE THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD SHANI / LORD GANESHA
AND LORD MAHADEV (MARKED AS "H" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).
HOWEVER, THIS GATE MAY DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.
BUT IF THE N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONAL OR THE V.I.P IS HANDICAPPED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED OR A SENIOR CITIZEN,
THEN THEY DO NOT NEED ANY SPECIAL PASS AS THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE BY THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE MEANT
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (MARKED AS "K" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).
THIS GATE MAY ALSO DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.
DARSHAN PASSES PROCEDURE :
THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN APPROACH THE P.R.O. OFFICE TO ARRANGE FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES
FOR WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO SHOW THE ORIGINAL OR COPIES OF THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY i.e, PASSPORT / GREEN CARD
OR ANY OTHER PROOF OF RESIDENCE TO THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O OFFICER.
FOR SAFETY REASONS THEY SHOULD CARRY COPIES OF THEIR ORIGINAL PROOF OF RESIDENCE DOCUMENTS.
WHEREAS, THE V.I.P's / SENIOR CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO SHOW A REQUEST FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES LETTER FROM ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY OR ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc OR ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY.
ALWAYS SPECIFY FOR WHICH TIME OR AARTI THE PAID PASSES ARE REQUIRED
i.e, KAKAD, MADHYAN, DHOOP OR SHEJ AARTI OR THE SIMPLE DARSHAN AND PAY THE CHARGES ACCORDINGLY.
THE DEVOTEE SHOULD ALSO SPECIFY IN ADVANCE, THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS GOING TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER ON THE PAID PASS,
AS ACCORDINGLY ONLY THOSE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THAT MEMBER, WILL BE GIVEN ENTRY FOR DARSHAN IN THE TEMPLE.
ANY EXTRA MEMBER OF THE PASS HOLDER IS REFUSED ENTRY FOR DARSHAN, IF NOT PAID FOR BEFORE HAND AT THE P.R.O.
IF THE N.R.I.'s WANT TO ARRANGE FOR PASSES BEFORE THEY TOUCH DOWN IN INDIA, THEY CAN CONSULT THE SANSTHAN P.R.O.
FOR THE PROCEDURE IF POSSIBLE OR THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVE IN INDIA TO ARRANGE FOR THE SAME BEFORE HAND.
P.S - THE P.R.O. IS NOT OPEN THE WHOLE DAY BUT HAS SPECIFIC TIMINGS,
SO PLEASE ACCORDINGLY BE THERE TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR PASSES IN ADVANCE.
MY WISH - THE SYSTEM OF ALL DARSHAN PASSES SHOULD BE ABOLISHED WHAT-SO-EVER
AND BE IT POLITICIANS / ACTORS / V.I.P's / N.R.I's / FOREIGNERS ANYBODY SO TO SPEAK, LET EVERYONE STAND IN THE NORMAL QUEUE
FOR DARSHAN...AS PASSES IS DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN SECTS OF PEOPLE...A THING WHICH BABA NEVER PREACHED.
SO "DON'T GIVE PASSES BUT GIVE PREFERENCE"
ALL PHYSICALLY DISABLED / TERMINALLY ILL / AGED & SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD BE GIVEN FIRST PREFERENCE FOR DARSHAN.
MY VIEW - KARMICALLY SPEAKING, THE PASS HOLDERS EAT AWAY SOME OF THEIR GOOD KARMAS BY
ARRANGING A SMOOTH-n-EASY DARSHAN FOR THEMSELVES UP AGAINST THE OTHER DEVOTEES STANDING FOR HOURS IN QUEUE'S ONLY
TO BE BACK-DROPPED DURING DARSHAN IN THE MAIN SANCTUM.
- SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED -
ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED & AGED DEVOTEES NOW DO REQUIRE SPECIAL PASSES FOR DARSHAN
AND THEY ARE GIVEN DIRECT ENTRY TO THE TEMPLE FROM A SEPARATE GATE BY WHICH THEY CUT OUT THE LONG STANDING IN QUEUES.
THIS SPECIAL ENTRY GATE FOR SENIORS / AGED DEVOTEES CHANGES DEPENDING UPON THE INFLOW OF DEVOTEES.
IN NORMAL PERIODS, WHEN IT ISN'T MUCH CROWDED, THE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED DIRECTLY INSIDE THE MAIN TEMPLE
BY THE ENTRY OPPOSITE THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM, NOW THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM.
BUT DURING HOLIDAY SEASONS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK TIMES WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES TURN UP FOR DARSHAN,
THE ENTRY GATE FOR THE SENIOR / DISABLED DEVOTEES CHANGES TOO i.e, AT PRESENT IT IS A GATE JUST BENEATH THE
WIDE ARCHWAY NO.3 STRUCTURE ITSELF AND OPPOSITE A BLACK COLORED GRANITE NOTICE BOARD.
WHEN ONE ENTERS THROUGH ARCHWAY NO.3, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE FALLS THE "MUKH DARSHAN" GATE & ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
WAS THE FORMER SHOE STAND AREA...AND JUST ADJACENT TO THIS FORMER SHOE STAND AREA IS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ENTRY GATE.
DURING PEAK PERIODS,HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER GETTING A ENTRY FOR DARSHAN FROM THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE,
THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED HAVE YET TO WALK DOWN A FEW STAIRS WHERE THEY JOIN THE PASS HOLDERS AND
THE REST OF THE OTHER DEVOTEES, WITH WHOM THEY THEN CLIMB UP A FEW STAIRS TO FINALLY REACH BABA'S SAMADHI SANCTUM.
AND THE QUEUE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS DEVOTEES STARTS FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE SQUARE WINDOWS
(FROM WHERE ONE CAN SEE THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN-STAIRS) OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE.
IF THE SENIOR CITIZEN IS UNABLE TO GO ALONE DUE TO ANY DISABILITY OR ILLNESS OR IS ON WHEEL CHAIR THEN
ANY ONE FAMILY MEMBER (YOUNG OR OLD) IS ALLOWED TO ACCOMPANY HIM /HER THROUGH THIS SENIOR CITIZENS GATE.
AND, IF THIS RESULTS IN ANY DEPENDENT MINOR WHO IS WITH THEM TO BE LEFT ALONE,
THEN THAT MINOR TOO IS ALLOWED TO GO WITH HIS / HER FAMILY THROUGH THIS ENTRY.
MY WISH - IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SEASON / TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF DEVOTEE INFLOW,
ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER BY THE GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM (FORMER UDHI ROOM) LIKE BEFORE.
- MUKH-DARSHAN -
FOR DEVOTEES WHO WANT TO JUST HAVE A DARSHAN OF BABAS SAMADHI IDOL FROM FAR,
THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM A DOOR - MARKED AS "Q" ON THE SHIRDI GUIDE MAP ABOVE.
THIS ENTRY IS JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF ARCHWAY NO.3 ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.
AND AS ONE ENTERS BY THIS DOOR, ONE STANDS BETWEEN A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE
BETWEEN THE FRONT & BACK SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, LIKE AN AISLE. THUS, ONE CANNOT GO FROM HERE FORWARD FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN.
HE WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THIS "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY DOOR AND GO AND STAND IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE IF HE WANTS TO DO SO.
- DARSHAN WAITING HALLS -
THE HALLS WHERE THE QUEUES LINE UP SPIRALING ACROSS THE STEEL BARRICADES HAVE WATER COOLERS AND
ADEQUATE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE DEVOTEES.
ALSO, PRESENT ARE TELEVISION SETS RUNNING DIRECTLY LIVE FEED OF BABA'S SAMADHI, DWARKAMAI, CHAVADI AND GURUSTHAN,
FOR DEVOTEES TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SANCTUM WHILE WAITING IN QUEUES FOR HOURS CHANTING BABA`S NAME.
- DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE -
- BEFORE -
- NOW -
THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE WHICH IS IN THE LANE THAT RUNS BETWEEN DWARKAMAI & THE CHAVADI,
HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND A NEW TEMPLE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN ITS PLACE.
THIS SOUTH FACING TEMPLE, ORIGINALLY HAD TWO HANUMAN IDOLS HERE BUT NOW THESE TWO IDOL SHAVE BEEN REPLACED
WITH A SINGLE IDOL MADE FROM BLACK MARBLE. THE TWO OLD HANUMAN IDOLS HAVE BEEN NOW PLACED IN THE SAIBABA MUSEUM.
- SHREE CHAVADI -
BABA'S "SHREE CHAVADI" HAS NOW BEEN DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS.
THE LEFT PORTION IS "FOR LADIES" WHILE THE RIGHT PORTION IS "ONLY FOR GENTS" WHERE NO LADIES ARE ALLOWED, AS BEFORE.
- SAIBABA MUSEUM -
VISIT THE "SAIBABA MUSEUM" JUST BESIDES THE DIXIT WADA.
IT HAS MANY RARE ITEMS WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED BY BABA HIMSELF
i.e, HIS UTENSILS, KAFNI, GRAMOPHONE RECORD'S & PLAYER, HIS CHILLUM, A BIG PALAQUIN WHICH WAS GIFTED TO BABA BUT NEVER USED BY HIM,
ALL THE PALKHI PROCESSION THINGS, BABAS PADUKAS, HIS WHEAT GRINDING STONE, TWO POTS WITH WHICH HE COOKED & FED THE HUNGRY,
THE COT ON WHICH BABA'S LAST BATHING TOOK PLACE AFTER HIS DEMISE, BABA'S ORIGINAL CHIMTA,
THE EARTHEN WARE WITH HE USED TO ASK FOR FOOD etc. THIS MUSEUM IS SPREAD ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS THE FIRST FLOOR.
- LADU PRASAD -
THE LADU PRASAD SALE COUNTER IS NOW LOCATED TO THE NORTHERN SIDE OF "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2, NEAR THE CAR PARKING.
THE TIMINGS FOR THE SALE OF THE LADU PRASAD IS 06:00 Am TO 10:00 Pm.(22:00Hrs).
A DEVOTEE CAN BUY ONLY ONE PACKET OF LADU AT A TIME
AND IF MORE PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN THE QUEUE FOR IT.
- UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM -
THE NEW PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM IS NOW LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI,
OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4. THE OLD UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM WHICH WAS BANG OPPOSITE THE MAIN ENTRY OF
THE SAMADHI TEMPLE AND ADJOINING THE DONATION OFFICE IS NOW CONVERTED INTO AN "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" ROOM.
ONLY ONE PACKET OF UDHI IS GIVEN TO EACH DEVOTEE AND IF MORE PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN THE QUEUE FOR IT.
THE TIMINGS FOR UDHI DISTRIBUTION ARE -
07:00Am To 11:30Am
13:00Pm To 18:00Pm
19:00Pm To 22:00Pm
(AFTER DHOOP AARTI)
- NANDADEEP -
1) TO THE LEFT OF NANDA DEEP THERE ARE TWO NEEM TREES.
2) NANDA DEEP (LAMP OF BLISS) WAS ORIGINALLY LIT BY BABA HIMSELF.
3) TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE PIPAL TREE ON WHICH THERE IS A FORMATION IN THE SHAPE OF LORD GANESHA.
OWING TO THE NINE LARGE BRANCHES AND NINE ROOTS OF THIS PIPAL TREE, BABA HAD INSTALLED A NAVGRIHA IN THIS TREE.
DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES OR DIYAS IN FRONT OF NANDADEEP, ON THE GRILL FENCING OPPOSITE IT.
AS, BABA TOO EVERY EVENING WOULD LIGHT A DIYA HERE.
BUT TODAY, ONE OF THIS TREE DUE ITS HEIGHT OR GROWTH, HAS BEEN CHOPPED OFF BY THE TRUNK ITSELF FROM THE TOP
AND ALL THAT'S LEFT IS A HUGE LOG (TREE TRUNK) WHICH WILL BUT NATURALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO GROW BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM.
MY VIEW - WONDER WHAT HAVE THEY DONE WITH THE CHOPPED PORTION OF THE TREE AS,
I THINK WE DEVOTEES WOULD HAVE TREASURED EVEN ONE LEAF OR TWIG OF BABA'S BLESSED TREE.
- SHOE STAND -
THERE ARE SHOE STANDS JUST OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE WHERE ONE CAN KEEP THEIR FOOTWEAR FOR A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE,
IN EXCHANGE FOR A TOKEN. BUT MANY DEVOTEES REMOVE THEIR FOOTWEAR INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES ITSELF
IN ANY CORNER OR BELOW SOME STRUCTURE. IT IS CONVENIENT BUT NOT CORRECT TO DO SO AS THESE PLACES ARE NOT MEANT
TO PARK ONE`S FOOTWEAR, SO THEY MIGHT BE BRUSHED ASIDE BY ANYONE OR EVEN MIGHT GO MISSING FROM THERE.
SO REMOVE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
- TELEVISION - LIVE DARSHAN -
TELEVISION SETS TELECASTING LIVE IMAGES FROM THE SAMADHI SHRINE`S INNER SANCTUM & DWARKAMAI DIRECTLY,
HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE ENTIRE TEMPLE PREMISES, INSIDE & OUTSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE ALSO, FOR DEVOTEES WHO CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE
AND WATCHING THE KAKAD AARTI ON THE TV SETS ESPECIALLY IN THE OPEN AIR THEATER IS MORE FUN,
AS YOU GET GOOD CLOSE UPS AND BETTER VIEW SITTING COMFORTABLY RATHER THAN FROM INSIDE WHERE DUE TO THE RUSH
ONE HARDLY CAN GET A CLEAR VIEW OF BABA WHILE THE AARTI OR MANGAL SNAN GOES ON.
- OPEN AIR THEATRE -
THE OPEN AIR THEATRE, IS A OPEN SPACE STANDING FROM WHERE DEVOTEES CAN HAVE A VIEW OF BABA'S SAMADHI IDOL THROUGH A WINDOW.
ALSO, PRESENT HERE IS A TELEVISION SET FOR DEVOTEES TO ENJOY THE LIVE DARSHAN OF BABA WHILE ANY AARTI / PROGRAM
GOES ON INSIDE THE SAMADHI SANCTUM. THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE WAS ONCE A RAISED PLATFORM WITH A GARDEN & FOUNTAIN BEHIND IT,
HAS NOW CHANGED TOO. THE RAISED PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED LEAVING BEHIND A FLOOR LEVEL TILED GROUND MINUS THE GARDEN,
FOUNTAIN & THE WATER FALLS.
MY VIEW - THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE OF BENCHES TO SIT IN THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE AS
THIS IS THE ONLY OPEN SPACE IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES WHERE ONE CAN SIT BUT AS IT IS GROUND LEVEL SO A BIT DIFFICULT
FOR AGED/SENIORS TO SIT DOWN. THAT`S WHY NOW ONE CAN FIND DEVOTEES SITTING ON THE TWO LONG STRETCH OF STAIRS
IN THE GURUSTHAN AREA AND ALSO, OPPOSITE NEAR THE DIXIT WADA GIVING THE PLACE A VERY CROWDED LOOK.
THE SMALL COVERING WALL OF THE TWO TREES OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FULL OF DEVOTEES SITTING.
- SHOPS IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -
"SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" ( APPROVED BY SSST,SHIRDI) HAS A STALL INSIDE
THE TEMPLE PREMISES FOR SELLING COLD DRINKS / ICE-CREAMS / MINERAL WATER / MASALA MILK / LASSI / PRASAD PEDHA / NAVGRAHA DHOOP
AT VERY NOMINAL PRICES. IT IS SITUATED NEXT TO ARCHWAY NO.2 OUTSIDE THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALL.
ALSO, THERE IS A SHOP NEAR THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD GANESHA, LORD SHANIDEV & LORD MAHADEV.
THIS SHOP SELLS SOME PRASAD & LOTS OF DIFFERENT POOJA ITEMS INCLUDING MUSTARD OIL FOR POURING IT ON LORD SHANIDEV.
- SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL -
THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL" IS THE PLACE WHERE ON THE 1st FLOOR BABA'S ABHISHEK POOJA IS DONE BY DEVOTEES
& ON THE GROUND FLOOR DEVOTEES PERFORM THE "SATYANARAYAN POOJA" AFTER REGISTERING THEMSELVES
FOR IT AT A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE OF Rs.101/- ONLY.
THE ABHISHEK POOJA TIMINGS ARE :
1St Batch 07:00 Am to 08:00 Am
2nd Batch 09:00 Am to 10:00 Am
3rd Batch 12:30 Pm to 01:30 Pm
- SAI COMPLEX -
AT A PLACE, JUST BESIDES THE TEMPLE COMPLEX, THERE WAS A PRIMARY SCHOOL WHICH NOW HAS BEEN MOVED AWAY
AND IN ITS PLACE A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX CALLED "SAI COMPLEX" HAS COME UP.
IT IS JUST 20 FEET FROM THE GATE OF SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE STARTING FROM OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.2 STRETCHING RIGHT UP TO
THE END OF THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.3.
SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS OPENED AN ADDITIONAL DONATION OFFICE & AN OFFICE FOR THE SALE OF SAI BABA CALENDARS IN THE GROUND FLOOR
OF THIS "SAI COMPLEX" TOGETHER WITH TWO MORE OFFICES ALL BESIDES EACH OTHER IN A ROW.
MY VIEW - "WE LOVE SHIRDI IN IT`S SIMPLICITY BUT SEEMS SOON SHIRDI WILL BECOME SIMPLY A CITY" !!!
- MOBILE CLOAKROOM -
BESIDES ARCHWAY NO.2 & IN THE LANE LEADING TO THE ARCHWAY NO.3 FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS
"THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM" WHERE DEVOTEES HAVE TO DEPOSIT THEIR MOBILES
AT A NOMINAL CHARGE OF RS.2/- PER MOBILE. THEY GET A TOKEN IN RETURN AGAINST WHICH THEY CAN GET THEIR MOBILES BACK,
AS MOBILES / CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
- SAI PRASADALAYA -
"SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA"
BEHIND POLICE STATION, SHIRDI,
NIMGAON SHIV ROAD,
NIMGAON KORHALE,
SHIRDI
THE FACILITY OF PRASAD BHOJAN OF THE "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" WHICH WAS EARLIER SITUATED NEXT TO THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,
HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SHIFTED TO A NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BY THE "SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST" ON 08th JAN`2009.
DAILY A BUS REGULARLY SHUTTLES FROM THE "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2 (NEAR THE CAR PARKING) TO THE NEWLY
BUILT "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" CARRYING DEVOTEES TO & FRO FROM THE TEMPLE TO THE PRASADALAYA FREE OF CHARGE.
NORMAL MEAL PASSES:
ON ENTERING THE PRASADALAYA AND THEN GOING TOWARDS THE LEFT FROM THE MAIN GATE,
A WAITING HALL COMES WHERE THE COUNTER FOR THE SALE OF NORMAL MEAL PASS IS PRESENT.
THE CHARGES FOR A NORMAL MEAL PASS IS Rs.10/- FOR ADULTS AND Rs.4/- FOR CHILDREN.
THE HUGE HALL FOR NORMAL MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE GROUND FLOOR ITSELF.
VIP MEAL PASSES:
ONE CAN PURCHASE THE VIP MEAL PASS FROM THE PRASADALAYA'S OFFICE WHICH IS SITUATED RIGHT OPPOSITE THE MAIN GATE OF
THE PRASADALAYA. THE CHARGES FOR A VIP MEAL PASS IS Rs.40/- ONLY PER PERSON.
THE HALL FOR VIP MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR
AND FOR WHICH AN ELEVATOR IS ALSO PRESENT FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT WALK THE STAIRS UP.
TIMINGS:
FOR MEAL PASSES - 09:30 Am SHARP to 09:30 Pm SHARP. (AFTER WHICH NO PASSES ARE ISSUED)
MEAL IS SERVED - 10:00 Am to 10:00 Pm.
- "DWARAVATI" BHAKT NIWAS -
SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN, SHIRDI HAS BUILT A NEW BHAKT NIWAS CALLED "DWARAVATI" WHICH WAS INAUGURATED
ON THE MAKAR-SANKRANTI - 14TH JAN`2009 BY SRI SRI RAVISHANKARJI.
SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS SPENT Rs.19 CRORES ON THIS "DWARAVATI" PROJECT WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 1600 DEVOTEES CONVENIENTLY.
IT HAS 334 SELF-CONTAINED INDEPENDENT & WELL VENTILATED ROOMS, SPREAD OVER FOUR FLOORS PACKED WITH ALL BASIC AMENITIES.
ON THE FOURTH FLOOR THERE ARE 80 ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE AIR-CONDITIONED.
THERE IS A LARGE WAITING ROOM FOR DEVOTEES ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
THERE IS A BIG PARKING SPACE & BOARDING FACILITIES FOR DRIVERS TOO.
"DWARAVATI" HAS FOUR LIFTS WHICH HAVE A CAPACITY OF CARRYING 10 PEOPLE AT A TIME.
LATEST TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM & RAIN WATER HARVESTING FACILITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTED.
"DWARAVATI" HAS A BIG GENERATOR FOR A 24 HOUR UN-INTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY
FOR DEVOTEES RECREATION, THERE IS A BIG GARDEN ON THE FRONT SIDE.
CLOSE BY ONLY, IS THE "BHOJAN-SHALA" WHERE THE FOOD IS COOKED USING SOLAR HEATERS & SO,
THE FOOD SERVED IS AT VERY NOMINAL RATES.
ALSO, LIKE THE OTHER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE SHIRDI SANSTHAN IN SHIRDI,
THERE IS NO ADVANCE BOOKING FOR ROOMS AS ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE ONLY ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
IT IS SITUATED ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD, NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL".
- WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX -
SHIRDI BOAST'S PROBABLY THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX.
THE SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN & SULABH INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION, MAHARASHTRA BRANCH
HAVE GOT CONSTRUCTED AN AESTHETICALLY APPEALING TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX AT A COST OF Rs.1.53 CRORES.
THIS COMPLEX IS SPREAD OVER AN AREA OF OVER 2 ACRES.
THIS TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX HAS 120 WC's, 108 BATHING CUBICLES, 28 SPECIAL TOILETS,
6 DRESSING ROOMS, ROWS OF URINALS ALL IMMACULATELY LAID OUT TO AVOID CONGESTION.
THE COMPLEX IS CAPABLE OF SERVING APPROXIMATELY 30,000 USERS EVERYDAY.
THE SELF-SUSTAINING COMPLEX HAS 3 EXCRETA BASED BIO-GAS-GENERATING THE SULABH PLANTS WHICH PROVIDE ELECTRICITY
TO THE ENTIRE COMPLEX FOR ILLUMINATION & WATER HEATING.
THE WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE COMPLEX IS RE-CYCLED FOR IRRIGATING THE BEAUTIFULLY LAID OUT GREEN AREA.
TO PROVIDE A SYLVAN TOUCH TO THE COMPLEX A VARIETY OF TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED ALL AROUND THE AREA.
TELEPHONE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTERS AND
PROVISION FOR 5000 LOCKERS HAS BEEN MADE TO FACILITATE THE TOURISTS FOR SAFE KEEPING OF THEIR BELONGINGS.
- MESSAGE BOARDS WITHIN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -
1) DONATION BOXES AND WATER DRINKING FACILITIES ARE PLACED EVERYWHERE AROUND THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
2) WHEELCHAIR'S ARE AVAILABLE FOR HANDICAPPED DEVOTEES FOR WHICH ONE CAN CONTACT THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O.
3) FOR PRESERVATION OF BABA'S IDOL, MILK, ROSE-WATER, HONEY ETC IS NO MORE USED FOR THE SACRED BATH OF SAI BABA,
AS PER EXPERTS ADVICE SO DEVOTEES SHOULD TOO REFRAIN FROM OFFERING THE ABOVE.
4) PLEASE HANDOVER FLOWERS, GARLANDS TO TEMPLE STAFF BEFORE OR IN THE SAMADHI SHRINE ITSELF.
5) OFFERING OF GARLANDS, PRASAD etc SHOULD BE MADE BY DEVOTEES ONLY AFTER 07:00Am & BEFORE SHEJ AARTI.
- HANDLING THE RUSH OF DEVOTEES -
OWING TO THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES IN THE SAMADHI TEMPLE ESPECIALLY DURING KAKAD AARTI & BABAS MANGAL SNAN,
TO ACCOMMODATE MORE & MORE DEVOTEES INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM DEVOTEES ARE NOW REQUESTED
TO REMAIN STANDING THROUGH OUT WHILE THE AARTI / MANGAL SNAN GOES ON, AS STANDING OCCUPIES LESS SPACE
THAN SITTING SO MORE DEVOTEES CAN BE PULLED INSIDE THE TEMPLE DURING AARTI ETC.
INSIDE THE TEMPLES SANCTUM, GENTS SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,
WHILE THE LADIES SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,
SO AS TO GO AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO BABA'S IDOL DURING DARSHAN AND THEN MOVE OUT FROM THE REAR DOOR EXITING
TOWARDS THE GURUSTHAN RATHER THAN STANDING TOWARDS THE AISLE AS THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A "U" TURN AFTER DARSHAN
AND THEN FROM THE AISLE (CENTRE) PASSING THE NANDI'S IDOL, THEY WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THE DOOR OPPOSITE
THE PRESENT "ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM" WHICH WAS THE FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM.
MY VIEW - AS FIRST STANDING FOR HOURS IN DARSHAN LINE QUEUE / SPIRALING DOWN A FEW HALLWAYS
AND THEN STANDING THROUGH OUT THE KAKAD ARTI & MANGAL SNAN, CAN BE VERY TIRING,
SO MY PERSONAL ADVICE IS TO AVOID TAKING SMALL KIDS AND AGED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS.
EVEN BABA WOULD NEVER WANT THIS AS HE TOO COULD NEVER SEE HIS DEVOTEES BEAR PAIN FOR HIM.
AS THERE ARE THREE OPENINGS FOR BOWING DOWN TO DO PRANAM ON BABA`S SAMADHI i.e., ONE FOR LADIES, ONE FOR GENTS
AND ONE IN BETWEEN, DEVOTEES BOW DOWN AND TAKE TIME TO GET UP AND MOVE FORWARD THUS DELAYING OTHER DEVOTEES BEHIND,
THEREFORE ON THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, OTHER FESTIVALS / OCCASIONS AND HOLIDAY SEASONS
WHEN THERE IS A HUGE FLOW OF DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI, THE THREE OPENINGS ON BABA'S SAMADHI ARE ALSO ENCLOSED
WITH GLASS SHIELDS, SO ONE CANNOT BOW DOWN OR TOUCH THE SAMADHI AND SO MOVES ON FASTER.
BUT ONE CAN SURELY TOUCH THE OUTER SIDE OF BABA`S SAMADHI WHILE PASSING BY AS BABAS PRESENCE IS EVERYWHERE !
LIKEWISE, SOMETIMES THE DHUNI-MAA PORTION OF DWARKAMAYI, REMAINS CLOSED FOR DARSHAN
SO THE DEVOTEES ENTER DWARKAMAYI AND HAVE DARSHAN OF DHUNI MAA AREA WITHOUT CLIMBING THE STEPS AND
MOVE AHEAD TOWARDS THE SACRED STONE ON WHICH BABA SAT.
THIS ALSO SPEEDS UP THE DARSHAN QUEUE WHICH NOW-A-DAYS GOES ALMOST ALL OUT TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD !
THE NEW GURUSTHAN, NANDA-DEEP ARE ALSO ENCLOSED IN STEEL BARRICADES TO SPEED UP THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES.
THE TEMPLE GUARDS MIGHT SOUND RUDE WHILE ASKING YOU TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN THE DARSHAN LINE
BUT REMEMBER THE THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES WHO ARE STILL WAITING BEHIND YOU FOR THEIR TURN OF DARSHAN
AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE / PATIENCE THE GUARDS HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH, WHILE KEEPING THE FLOW OF DARSHAN
GOING SMOOTHLY FOR HOURS EVERYDAY.
MY VIEW - EVEN THOUGH ANY AARTI OR BABA'S MANGAL SNAN IS GOING ON,
THE QUEUES OF DEVOTEES SHOULD BE KEPT MOVING FORWARD CONSTANTLY FOR DARSHAN & THEN MOVE OUT SO THAT
THE WAITING TIME IN THE LONG QUEUES GETS REDUCED AND MORE PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO HAVE DARSHAN SOONER THAN BEFORE.
AND THEN, THE TIME MADE UP IN KEEPING THE QUEUE MOVING ON CAN BE UTILISED BY ALLOWING DEVOTEES
TO BOW THEIR HEADS ON THE SAMADHI FOR SOME TIME WHICH AT PRESENT IS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
- TIPS FOR KAKAD AARTI & MANGAL SNAN -
THE MANGAL SNAN OF BABA NOW ONLY LASTS FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES,
WITH A BUCKET OR TWO OF HOLY WATER FIRST ON THE SAMADHI FOLLOWED BY A BUCKET ON BABA'S IDOL.
AND AS SOON AS THIS GETS DONE...DEVOTEES ARE ASKED TO START MOVING AHEAD FOR DARSHAN,
EVEN WHILE BABA'S IDOL IS BEING PAT DRY...SO MAKE SURE AS YOU REACH NEAR THE SAMADHI,
FEEL THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN FROM THE TOP OF THE SAMADHI OR THE GROUND NEAR IT WHERE SOME WATER
USUALLY SPILLS WHILE THE HOLY BATH IS ON.
MY VIEW - FOR THIS ALWAYS LADIES & GENTS WHILE IN QUEUE INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM
SHOULD TRY AND STAND ON THEIR RIGHT AND LEFT RESPECTIVELY SO AS TO REACH THE SIDES OF BABA`S SAMADHI & GET A
CHANCE TO TOUCH THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S MANGAL SNAN WHICH USUALLY FALLS DOWN ON THE SIDES WHILE THE SNAN GOES ON.
A VERY BLESSED TIP WANT TO TAKE A SIP OF BABAS MANGAL SNAN`S (HOLY BATH) WATER?
IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR THE KAKAD AARTI & BABA`S MANGAL SNAN
OR IF YOU DO MAKE IT INSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE FOR KAKAD AARTI BUT ARE PUSHED OUT SOONER THAN YOU THINK,
DON'T WORRY AS IT MAY BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE !
JUST BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE (TO THE EAST OF DIXIT WADA) & JUST OPPOSITE THE REAR EXIT OF THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,
ALSO KNOWN AS THE GURUSTHAN EXIT IS AN EMPTY WATER COOLER WHERE THE BLESSED WATER AFTER BABA`S MANGAL SNAN
IS POURED IN, FOR THE DEVOTEES TO DRINK. NOT MANY GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER ALSO,
AS BY THE TIME DEVOTEES START COMING OUT AFTER DARSHAN THIS HOLY WATER IS ALREADY OVER.
SO, THE SOONER YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THIS COOLER, BETTER IT WOULD BE, AS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER.
BUT MAKE SURE THIS HOLY WATER IS NOT SPILLED DOWN, AS MOST OF IT USUALLY DOES BECAUSE MANY DEVOTEES
JUST PICK THIS COOLER UP AND TILT IT DOWN SO AS TO FILL THEIR BOTTLES ETC BUT IN DOING SO MOST OF THIS
HOLY WATER SPILLS & IS WASTED & OTHER DEVOTEES ARE LEFT BEHIND FROM A CHANCE OF GETTING A SIP OF THIS WATER ALSO.
ALSO, JUST AFTER THE KAKAD AARTI GETS OVER THERE IS PRASAD OF WHITE BUTTER MIXED WITH SUGAR BEING DISTRIBUTED
AT THE PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI, OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4
SO MAKE SURE, YOU MAKE IT HERE ALSO, AFTER DRINKING THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH.
THIS WHITE BUTTER PRASAD LIKE THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH IS ALSO VERY LIMITED,
SO ONLY THE FIRST LUCKY FEW DEVOTEES MAKE IT HERE.
- TIPS FOR DWARKAMAI -
WHEN AT DWARKAMAI, HAVE THE BLESSED TEERTH (WATER) FROM THE BLACK COLORED EARTHEN POT KEPT ON A HIGH STAND.
THIS POT HAS NO TAP SO USE THE BIG SPOON KEPT ON TOP OF IT, TO TAKE SOME TEERTHA AND DRINK IT.
ONE HAS TO TAKE THIS TEERTH HIMSELF, AS NO ONE SERVE`S IT. THUS, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE ABOUT IT &
GO AWAY WITHOUT HAVING A SIP.
- HOUSES OF BABAS DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI VILLAGE GUIDE MAP -
MAP SOURCE - http://www.saibaba.com/holyshirdi/
DO VISIT THE SHIRDI VILLAGE JUST A WALK AWAY FROM THE SAMADHI SHRINE.
ONE CAN VISIT BAIJAMAA'S HOUSE, LAXMIBAI'S HOUSE & HER SAMADHI WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE,
SHYAMA'S HOUSE, ABDUL BABAS KUTI & MAHALSAPATIS' HOUSE WHERE YOU CAN SEE
THE PADUKAS / 3 COINS / SATKA GIVEN BY TO MAHALSAPATI BY BABA HIMSELF.
ALL ARE JUST A FEW STEPS STRAIGHT AHEAD OF DWARKAMAI.
ONE CAN ALSO VISIT THE 5 BLESSED HOUSES THAT BABA TOOK BHIKSHA FROM.
ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE
SHAMA'S HOUSE
LAXMIBAI SHINDE'S HOUSE
(HER SAMADHI RIGHT INFRONT OF IT)
BAYAJABAI'S HOUSE
(BABA USED TO STAND ON THE STONE SEEN IN FRONT OF THE DOOR)
MAHALSAPATI'S HOUSE
ONE CAN ASK THE LOCAL PEOPLE / KIDS THERE TO GUIDE THEM & THEY WILL MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.
THEY WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL THE HOUSES, THE NINE COINS GIVEN BY SAIBABA TO LAXMIBAI,
THE PLACE WHERE BABA'S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY FOR 3 DAYS, THE SHOP OF THE MAN WHO HAD REFUSED TO GIVE BABA OIL TO BURN DIYA'S.
THEY ALL ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, JUST A STRAIGHT WALK IN THE LANE BANG OPPOSITE THE DWARKAMAI ENTRANCE.
TRY NOT TO VISIT THESE HOUSES IN THE MORNING AS THEY ARE USUALLY CLOSED AT THAT TIME.
KEEP THIS VISIT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE DAY.
ALSO, FEEL FREE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE, AS PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE MAIN TEMPLE PREMISES
BUT OUTSIDE IN THE SHIRDI VILLAGE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS !
- SAMADHI'S OF DEVOTEES -
OPPOSITE THE ARCHWAY NO.4 AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "Y" IN THE MAP)
ARE THE SAMADHI'S OF ABDUL BABA / NANAVALI / BHAU MAHARAJ KUMBHAR & TATYA'S SAMADHI.
WHILE THE SAMADHI OF AMIDAS BHAVANI MEHTA IS NEAR LENDI BAUG.
- KHANDOBA TEMPLE -
HAVE THE DARSHAN OF LORD KHANDOBA AT THE KHANDOBA TEMPLE,
JUST CLOSE BY NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL" ON THE MAIN ROAD ITSELF.
IT HAS THE IDOLS OF LORD KHANDOBA , BANAI & MHALSAI.
FOR ANY ASSISTANCE / HELP CONTACT THE P.R.O OFFICE :
- SHIRDI -
Executive Officer,
Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi
Post. Shirdi 423 109 Tal. Rahata,
Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra)
Phone : +91-2423-258500 ( I.V.R )
Fax No. +91-2423-258870 & P.R.O.Office : +91-2423-258770
Website : www.shrisaibabasansthan.org / www.sai.org.in
E-mail : saibaba@sai.org.in / saisandesh_anr@sancharnet.in / saibaba@shrisaibabasansthan.org
- MUMBAI -
Executive Officer,
Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, (Shirdi)
'Sai Niketan', 804-8,
Dr. Ambedkar Road,
Dadar,
Mumbai - 400014
Tel : +91- 22 - 24166556/ 24161293
Fax : +91- 22 - 24150798
E-mail : saidadar@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Source - Personal Visit to Shirdi / Info on Temple Premises Sign Boards / Conversation with Temple Guards.
Photos - Assortment of Web Sites
" Offer FlOwer's tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur Fragrance.
Offer Fruit's tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur Sweetness.
Offer Water tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur Tear's.
Offer yOurself tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur HEART !!! "
LOve yOu BaBa - rOhit beHaL
" FOR THIS ARTICLE BABA IS MY INSPIRATION,
ALL THE WORDS ARE MY PERSPIRATION,
FOR EVERY DEVOTEE OF EVERY NATION,
HAVING A LONG DESIRED DIVINE ASPIRATION,
TO GO TO SHIRDI IN THE VACATION.
SO, NOW MOVE ON... AS "SAI-EXPRESS" IS WAITING IN ANTICIPATION,
TO TAKE YOU TO "SAINAGAR" RAILWAY STATION !
OH, WHAT A MOTIVATION !!! " - rOhit beHaL
~~ SHIRDI TEMPLE PREMISES GUIDE MAP ~~
SHIRDI TEMPLE GUIDE MAP LABELLED WITH "A to Z" ALPHABETS AGAINST SMALL "x" MARKS,
TO ENABLE YOU TO FIND THE EXACT SPOT OF THE CORRESPONDING PLACE IN & AROUND THE SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE PREMISES.
A ON MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
QUEUE FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" ONLY AND ROAMING IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES EXCEPT LENDI BAGH & BABAS WELL.
A ON PIMPALWADI ROAD -
DEVOTEES ENTRANCE NEAR MAIN GATE NO.2, FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT PASSES.
THE ARROWS IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALLS INDICATE THE DIRECTION DEVOTEES HAVE TO MOVE TO REACH BABA'S SAMADHI.
B - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1
C - THE P.R.O OFFICE.
D - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 (CLOSED...NOT USED NOW)
E - SHIRDI SANSTHAN'S BOOK STORE FOR SELLING BABA'S BOOKS, CALENDARS, VCD / DVD etc
F - THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL".
G - "SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" STALL.
H - DURING PEAK PERIODS, ENTRY GATE FOR N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONALS / V.I.P's.
I - SHOP SELLING POOJA ITEMS / MUSTARD OIL & SWEET PRASAD TOO.
J - HUGE WINDOWS FOR A VIEW OF THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN THE STAIRS.
K- DURING PEAK PERIODS ITS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SPECIAL ENTRY GATE.
L - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3
M- "THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM".
N - "SAI-COMPLEX" COMMERCIAL SHOPPING COMPLEX.
O - "DAKSHIN-MUKHI MARUTI TEMPLE"
P- ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE.
Q - ENTRY FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" OF BABA'S IDOL.(ONE CANNOT GO TOWARDS BABA'S SAMADHI FROM HERE)
R - EXIT AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE EXIT GATE FOR DISABLED / SENIOR CITIZENS.
S - DONATION OFFICE.
T - "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" - (FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM).
U - TELEVISION IN THE OPEN AIR THEATRE FOR DEVOTEES STANDING OUT TO HAVE LIVE DARSHAN.
V - WATER COOLER (BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE), FOR DEVOTEES TO DRINK THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN.
W - REAR EXIT DOOR AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE ENTRY GATE FOR V.I.P PASS HOLDERS.
X- "SAIBABA'S MUSEUM'.
Y - UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM (NEXT TO ABDUL BABAS / NANAVALIS / TATYAS SAMADHI).
Z - MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4
THE BLACK LINE FROM ARCHWAY NO.4 CUTTING ACROSS LENDI BAGH UPTO THE EXIT AT MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD -
STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH FROM NANDADEEP.
CANDLES - PLACE IN NANDADEEP WHERE DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.1 -
ON THE WEST SIDE, ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD IS "ARCHWAY NO.1" ,
WHICH IS USED ONLY AS AN ENTRY GATE INTO THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND OR FOR BABA'S MUKH DARSHAN
i.e., DARSHAN OF BABA'S FACE FROM A DISTANCE (FROM, NEAR THE RAISED PLATFORM BEHIND IN THE TEMPLES SANCTUM).
AFTER, ENTERING THRU ARCHWAY NO.1, ONE CAN FREELY ROAM IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES
i.e, CAN TAKE UDHI, SEE ABDUL BABA'S / TATYAS & NANAVALIS SAMADHI, SAI BABA'S MUSEUM AND CAN GO STRAIGHT UP TO DWARKAMAI
BUT CANNOT GO TO LENDI BAGH OR BABA`S WELL.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.1 IS OPPOSITE THE TEMPLES P.R.O OFFICE AND BESIDES NANDA-DEEP.
ONE CANNOT MAKE AN EXIT FROM THIS GATE.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.2 -
ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD, IS ARCHWAY NO.2 ,
WHICH WAS EARLIER USED AS AN ENTRY & EXIT GATE BUT AT PRESENT IS CLOSED & NOT IN USE.
INSTEAD, JUST BESIDES IT ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD ITSELF IS THE ENTRY GATE FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT ANY PASSES.
THIS ENTRY TAKES ONE DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRST WAITING HALL FROM WHERE THE DARSHAN QUEUES,
AFTER MOVING ALONG THROUGH SPIRALING LONG STRETCH OF STEEL BARRICADED HALLS & BY STAIRS UP & DOWN,
FINALLY LEADS UPTO THE SAMADHI OF BABA.
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.3 -
ON THE EAST SIDE, IN THE LANE GOING INSIDE FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS "ARCHWAY NO.3",
WHICH IS USED MAINLY FOR EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TOWARDS DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE
& BABA'S SHRI CHAVADI. IF ONE ENTERS THROUGH THIS ARCHWAY, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE COMES THE "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY,
WHILE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS AN ENTRANCE USED FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS SPECIAL ENTRY DURING PEAK PERIODS.
THIS ARCHWAY IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES WHO ARE UNABLE TO WALK.
LUCKY TIP - ONE NORMAL ADULT IS ALLOWED TO ESCORT THEIR AGED / HANDICAPPED DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER
BY THIS ARCHWAY & A DEPENDENT KID CAN ALSO GO ALONG IF HE / SHE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER.
IF LUCKY ENOUGH, THEN N.R.I & FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN TOO MAKE AN ENTRY BY THIS ARCHWAY
IF THEY SHOW THE GUARDS THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR NRI STATUS i.e., PASSPORT COPIES etc
- MAIN ARCHWAY NO.4 -
ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS "ARCHWAY NO.4" WHICH IS MAINLY USED FOR SOUTH EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO DWARKAMAI,
WHEREAS THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY, WITH A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH AND NANDADEEP
IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF DEVOTEES ENTER BY THIS GATE THEN THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TOWARDS LENDI BAGH,
BABA'S WELL AND THEN STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD.
SO, IF FROM LENDI BAGH IF ONE WANTS TO GO TO NANDADEEP, THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT OUT OF
THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND THEN AGAIN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM ARCHWAY NO.1 FOR NANDADEEP.
THIS ARCHWAY NO.4 IS BANG OPPOSITE THE SAMADHIS OF NANAVALI / ABDUL BABA / & TATYA PATIL.
~~ VIP DARSHAN PASSES ~~
DURING WEEK DAYS
THE VIP DARSHAN PASSES HAVE BEEN BANNED DURING WEEK DAYS BY THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN.
SO, THE N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's & OTHER VIP's WILL HAVE TO QUEUE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DEVOTEES,
IF THEY WANT TO GO FOR BABA'S DARSHAN. HOWEVER, DURING OFF PEAK PERIODS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED
ARE ALLOWED ENTRY DIRECTLY INTO THE SAMADHI SHRINE BY A SPECIAL GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "R" IN MAP ABOVE) .
DURING WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS
THE SHIRDI SAI SANSTHAN HAS INTRODUCED THE "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" FOR WEEKENDS & PEAK PERIODS.
SO NOW, A NOMINAL FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR VIP DARSHAN PASSES, BY WHICH DEVOTEES CAN SKIP THE REGULAR
DARSHAN QUEUE AND HAVE THE DIVINE DARSHAN OF BABA. DEVOTEES CAN GET THESE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O OPPOSITE GATE NO 1.
THIS "PAID DARSHAN PASSES CONCEPT" IS FOR ALL N.R.I's / FOREIGN NATIONAL's / SENIOR CITIZENS & OTHER VIP's.
IT WILL BE APPLICABLE ON THURSDAYS / SATURDAYS / SUNDAYS / PUBLIC HOLIDAYS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK PERIODS.
THE CHARGES FIXED BY THE SHIRDI SAI TRUST FOR THESE PAID DARSHAN PASSES ARE :
1) FOR KAKAD AARTI : Rs.500/- per person.
2) FOR MADHYANA AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
3) FOR DHOOP AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
4) FOR SHEJ AARTI : Rs.300/- per person.
5) FOR NORMAL DARSHAN (Not during any of the Aarti's) : Rs.100/- per person.
THE TIMINGS TO PURCHASE DARSHAN PASSES FROM THE P.R.O ARE:
1) 07:30 Am to 11:00 Am
2) 02:30 Pm to 05:00 Pm
3) 07:30 Pm to 10:00 Pm
~~ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAID DARSHAN SYSTEM ~~
1) THIS SYSTEM OF PAID DARSHAN COMMENCED FROM SATURDAY 13th MARCH`2010.
2) A TOTAL NUMBER OF 1600 DEVOTEES CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE TEMPLE,
SO THE PAID PASSES LIMIT FOR AARTI'S HAS BEEN FIXED AT 140 DEVOTEES AT A TIME.
3) DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON CHARGES TO THE DEVOTEES IN ADVANCE
AND NO PRIOR BOOKING WILL BE MADE OF SUCH PASSES.
4) SENIOR CITIZENS TOO HAVE TO PURCHASE A DARSHAN PASS NOW, LIKE THE VIP's etc.
5) ONE GENERAL DARSHAN PASS CAN BE USED TWICE DURING THE SAME DAY FOR GENERAL DARSHAN ONLY & NOT DURING ANY AARTI.
6) EVEN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE, CELEBRITIES, N.R.I`s OR FOREIGN NATIONALS
AND JOURNALISTS etc ARE NOT SPARED FROM THESE CHARGES.
7) THE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WHO WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES WILL BE LIMITED
TO AROUND 10% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE TEMPLE.
FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE ARE A 1000 DEVOTEES WAITING IN THE TEMPLE, THEN ONLY 100 DEVOTEES WILL BE ALLOWED
TO GO IN FOR BABA'S DARSHAN, WITH A PAID PASS. AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THEIR DARSHAN AND MOVE OUT,
ONLY THEN, THE NEXT BATCH OF PAID DARSHAN PASS HOLDERS WILL GO INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR DARSHAN.
PRE-REQUISITE - TO AVAIL THE PAID DARSHAN PASS, ONE HAS TO HAVE A REFERENCE LETTER OF ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY / ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc REQUESTING FOR THE SAME.
ONE REFERENCE LETTER FOR DARSHAN PASSES IS ENOUGH FOR ONES FAMILY/FRIENDS COMBINED.
ALTERNATIVELY, ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY HAS TO BE SHOWN, FOR EVERY SINGLE DEVOTEE FOR WHOM A PASS IS BEING TAKEN.
- ENTRY GATE -
MOSTLY, THE GATE FOR THE VIP PASS HOLDERS IS OPPOSITE THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD SHANI / LORD GANESHA
AND LORD MAHADEV (MARKED AS "H" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).
HOWEVER, THIS GATE MAY DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.
BUT IF THE N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONAL OR THE V.I.P IS HANDICAPPED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED OR A SENIOR CITIZEN,
THEN THEY DO NOT NEED ANY SPECIAL PASS AS THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE BY THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE MEANT
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (MARKED AS "K" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP).
THIS GATE MAY ALSO DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD.
DARSHAN PASSES PROCEDURE :
THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN APPROACH THE P.R.O. OFFICE TO ARRANGE FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES
FOR WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO SHOW THE ORIGINAL OR COPIES OF THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY i.e, PASSPORT / GREEN CARD
OR ANY OTHER PROOF OF RESIDENCE TO THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O OFFICER.
FOR SAFETY REASONS THEY SHOULD CARRY COPIES OF THEIR ORIGINAL PROOF OF RESIDENCE DOCUMENTS.
WHEREAS, THE V.I.P's / SENIOR CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO SHOW A REQUEST FOR THE PAID DARSHAN PASSES LETTER FROM ANY
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY OR ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc OR ANY PROOF OF IDENTITY.
ALWAYS SPECIFY FOR WHICH TIME OR AARTI THE PAID PASSES ARE REQUIRED
i.e, KAKAD, MADHYAN, DHOOP OR SHEJ AARTI OR THE SIMPLE DARSHAN AND PAY THE CHARGES ACCORDINGLY.
THE DEVOTEE SHOULD ALSO SPECIFY IN ADVANCE, THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS GOING TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER ON THE PAID PASS,
AS ACCORDINGLY ONLY THOSE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THAT MEMBER, WILL BE GIVEN ENTRY FOR DARSHAN IN THE TEMPLE.
ANY EXTRA MEMBER OF THE PASS HOLDER IS REFUSED ENTRY FOR DARSHAN, IF NOT PAID FOR BEFORE HAND AT THE P.R.O.
IF THE N.R.I.'s WANT TO ARRANGE FOR PASSES BEFORE THEY TOUCH DOWN IN INDIA, THEY CAN CONSULT THE SANSTHAN P.R.O.
FOR THE PROCEDURE IF POSSIBLE OR THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVE IN INDIA TO ARRANGE FOR THE SAME BEFORE HAND.
P.S - THE P.R.O. IS NOT OPEN THE WHOLE DAY BUT HAS SPECIFIC TIMINGS,
SO PLEASE ACCORDINGLY BE THERE TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR PASSES IN ADVANCE.
MY WISH - THE SYSTEM OF ALL DARSHAN PASSES SHOULD BE ABOLISHED WHAT-SO-EVER
AND BE IT POLITICIANS / ACTORS / V.I.P's / N.R.I's / FOREIGNERS ANYBODY SO TO SPEAK, LET EVERYONE STAND IN THE NORMAL QUEUE
FOR DARSHAN...AS PASSES IS DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN SECTS OF PEOPLE...A THING WHICH BABA NEVER PREACHED.
SO "DON'T GIVE PASSES BUT GIVE PREFERENCE"
ALL PHYSICALLY DISABLED / TERMINALLY ILL / AGED & SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD BE GIVEN FIRST PREFERENCE FOR DARSHAN.
MY VIEW - KARMICALLY SPEAKING, THE PASS HOLDERS EAT AWAY SOME OF THEIR GOOD KARMAS BY
ARRANGING A SMOOTH-n-EASY DARSHAN FOR THEMSELVES UP AGAINST THE OTHER DEVOTEES STANDING FOR HOURS IN QUEUE'S ONLY
TO BE BACK-DROPPED DURING DARSHAN IN THE MAIN SANCTUM.
- SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED -
ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED & AGED DEVOTEES NOW DO REQUIRE SPECIAL PASSES FOR DARSHAN
AND THEY ARE GIVEN DIRECT ENTRY TO THE TEMPLE FROM A SEPARATE GATE BY WHICH THEY CUT OUT THE LONG STANDING IN QUEUES.
THIS SPECIAL ENTRY GATE FOR SENIORS / AGED DEVOTEES CHANGES DEPENDING UPON THE INFLOW OF DEVOTEES.
IN NORMAL PERIODS, WHEN IT ISN'T MUCH CROWDED, THE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED DIRECTLY INSIDE THE MAIN TEMPLE
BY THE ENTRY OPPOSITE THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM, NOW THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM.
BUT DURING HOLIDAY SEASONS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK TIMES WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES TURN UP FOR DARSHAN,
THE ENTRY GATE FOR THE SENIOR / DISABLED DEVOTEES CHANGES TOO i.e, AT PRESENT IT IS A GATE JUST BENEATH THE
WIDE ARCHWAY NO.3 STRUCTURE ITSELF AND OPPOSITE A BLACK COLORED GRANITE NOTICE BOARD.
WHEN ONE ENTERS THROUGH ARCHWAY NO.3, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE FALLS THE "MUKH DARSHAN" GATE & ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
WAS THE FORMER SHOE STAND AREA...AND JUST ADJACENT TO THIS FORMER SHOE STAND AREA IS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ENTRY GATE.
DURING PEAK PERIODS,HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER GETTING A ENTRY FOR DARSHAN FROM THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE,
THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED HAVE YET TO WALK DOWN A FEW STAIRS WHERE THEY JOIN THE PASS HOLDERS AND
THE REST OF THE OTHER DEVOTEES, WITH WHOM THEY THEN CLIMB UP A FEW STAIRS TO FINALLY REACH BABA'S SAMADHI SANCTUM.
AND THE QUEUE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS DEVOTEES STARTS FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE SQUARE WINDOWS
(FROM WHERE ONE CAN SEE THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN-STAIRS) OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE.
IF THE SENIOR CITIZEN IS UNABLE TO GO ALONE DUE TO ANY DISABILITY OR ILLNESS OR IS ON WHEEL CHAIR THEN
ANY ONE FAMILY MEMBER (YOUNG OR OLD) IS ALLOWED TO ACCOMPANY HIM /HER THROUGH THIS SENIOR CITIZENS GATE.
AND, IF THIS RESULTS IN ANY DEPENDENT MINOR WHO IS WITH THEM TO BE LEFT ALONE,
THEN THAT MINOR TOO IS ALLOWED TO GO WITH HIS / HER FAMILY THROUGH THIS ENTRY.
MY WISH - IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SEASON / TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF DEVOTEE INFLOW,
ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER BY THE GATE BANG OPPOSITE
THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM (FORMER UDHI ROOM) LIKE BEFORE.
- MUKH-DARSHAN -
FOR DEVOTEES WHO WANT TO JUST HAVE A DARSHAN OF BABAS SAMADHI IDOL FROM FAR,
THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM A DOOR - MARKED AS "Q" ON THE SHIRDI GUIDE MAP ABOVE.
THIS ENTRY IS JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF ARCHWAY NO.3 ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.
AND AS ONE ENTERS BY THIS DOOR, ONE STANDS BETWEEN A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE
BETWEEN THE FRONT & BACK SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, LIKE AN AISLE. THUS, ONE CANNOT GO FROM HERE FORWARD FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN.
HE WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THIS "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY DOOR AND GO AND STAND IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE IF HE WANTS TO DO SO.
- DARSHAN WAITING HALLS -
THE HALLS WHERE THE QUEUES LINE UP SPIRALING ACROSS THE STEEL BARRICADES HAVE WATER COOLERS AND
ADEQUATE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE DEVOTEES.
ALSO, PRESENT ARE TELEVISION SETS RUNNING DIRECTLY LIVE FEED OF BABA'S SAMADHI, DWARKAMAI, CHAVADI AND GURUSTHAN,
FOR DEVOTEES TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SANCTUM WHILE WAITING IN QUEUES FOR HOURS CHANTING BABA`S NAME.
- DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE -
- BEFORE -
- NOW -
THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE WHICH IS IN THE LANE THAT RUNS BETWEEN DWARKAMAI & THE CHAVADI,
HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND A NEW TEMPLE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN ITS PLACE.
THIS SOUTH FACING TEMPLE, ORIGINALLY HAD TWO HANUMAN IDOLS HERE BUT NOW THESE TWO IDOL SHAVE BEEN REPLACED
WITH A SINGLE IDOL MADE FROM BLACK MARBLE. THE TWO OLD HANUMAN IDOLS HAVE BEEN NOW PLACED IN THE SAIBABA MUSEUM.
- SHREE CHAVADI -
BABA'S "SHREE CHAVADI" HAS NOW BEEN DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS.
THE LEFT PORTION IS "FOR LADIES" WHILE THE RIGHT PORTION IS "ONLY FOR GENTS" WHERE NO LADIES ARE ALLOWED, AS BEFORE.
- SAIBABA MUSEUM -
VISIT THE "SAIBABA MUSEUM" JUST BESIDES THE DIXIT WADA.
IT HAS MANY RARE ITEMS WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED BY BABA HIMSELF
i.e, HIS UTENSILS, KAFNI, GRAMOPHONE RECORD'S & PLAYER, HIS CHILLUM, A BIG PALAQUIN WHICH WAS GIFTED TO BABA BUT NEVER USED BY HIM,
ALL THE PALKHI PROCESSION THINGS, BABAS PADUKAS, HIS WHEAT GRINDING STONE, TWO POTS WITH WHICH HE COOKED & FED THE HUNGRY,
THE COT ON WHICH BABA'S LAST BATHING TOOK PLACE AFTER HIS DEMISE, BABA'S ORIGINAL CHIMTA,
THE EARTHEN WARE WITH HE USED TO ASK FOR FOOD etc. THIS MUSEUM IS SPREAD ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS THE FIRST FLOOR.
- LADU PRASAD -
THE LADU PRASAD SALE COUNTER IS NOW LOCATED TO THE NORTHERN SIDE OF "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2, NEAR THE CAR PARKING.
THE TIMINGS FOR THE SALE OF THE LADU PRASAD IS 06:00 Am TO 10:00 Pm.(22:00Hrs).
A DEVOTEE CAN BUY ONLY ONE PACKET OF LADU AT A TIME
AND IF MORE PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN THE QUEUE FOR IT.
- UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM -
THE NEW PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM IS NOW LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI,
OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4. THE OLD UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM WHICH WAS BANG OPPOSITE THE MAIN ENTRY OF
THE SAMADHI TEMPLE AND ADJOINING THE DONATION OFFICE IS NOW CONVERTED INTO AN "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" ROOM.
ONLY ONE PACKET OF UDHI IS GIVEN TO EACH DEVOTEE AND IF MORE PACKETS ARE NEEDED THEN HAS TO AGAIN STAND IN THE QUEUE FOR IT.
THE TIMINGS FOR UDHI DISTRIBUTION ARE -
07:00Am To 11:30Am
13:00Pm To 18:00Pm
19:00Pm To 22:00Pm
(AFTER DHOOP AARTI)
- NANDADEEP -
1) TO THE LEFT OF NANDA DEEP THERE ARE TWO NEEM TREES.
2) NANDA DEEP (LAMP OF BLISS) WAS ORIGINALLY LIT BY BABA HIMSELF.
3) TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE PIPAL TREE ON WHICH THERE IS A FORMATION IN THE SHAPE OF LORD GANESHA.
OWING TO THE NINE LARGE BRANCHES AND NINE ROOTS OF THIS PIPAL TREE, BABA HAD INSTALLED A NAVGRIHA IN THIS TREE.
DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES OR DIYAS IN FRONT OF NANDADEEP, ON THE GRILL FENCING OPPOSITE IT.
AS, BABA TOO EVERY EVENING WOULD LIGHT A DIYA HERE.
BUT TODAY, ONE OF THIS TREE DUE ITS HEIGHT OR GROWTH, HAS BEEN CHOPPED OFF BY THE TRUNK ITSELF FROM THE TOP
AND ALL THAT'S LEFT IS A HUGE LOG (TREE TRUNK) WHICH WILL BUT NATURALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO GROW BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM.
MY VIEW - WONDER WHAT HAVE THEY DONE WITH THE CHOPPED PORTION OF THE TREE AS,
I THINK WE DEVOTEES WOULD HAVE TREASURED EVEN ONE LEAF OR TWIG OF BABA'S BLESSED TREE.
- SHOE STAND -
THERE ARE SHOE STANDS JUST OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE WHERE ONE CAN KEEP THEIR FOOTWEAR FOR A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE,
IN EXCHANGE FOR A TOKEN. BUT MANY DEVOTEES REMOVE THEIR FOOTWEAR INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES ITSELF
IN ANY CORNER OR BELOW SOME STRUCTURE. IT IS CONVENIENT BUT NOT CORRECT TO DO SO AS THESE PLACES ARE NOT MEANT
TO PARK ONE`S FOOTWEAR, SO THEY MIGHT BE BRUSHED ASIDE BY ANYONE OR EVEN MIGHT GO MISSING FROM THERE.
SO REMOVE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
- TELEVISION - LIVE DARSHAN -
TELEVISION SETS TELECASTING LIVE IMAGES FROM THE SAMADHI SHRINE`S INNER SANCTUM & DWARKAMAI DIRECTLY,
HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE ENTIRE TEMPLE PREMISES, INSIDE & OUTSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE ALSO, FOR DEVOTEES WHO CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE
AND WATCHING THE KAKAD AARTI ON THE TV SETS ESPECIALLY IN THE OPEN AIR THEATER IS MORE FUN,
AS YOU GET GOOD CLOSE UPS AND BETTER VIEW SITTING COMFORTABLY RATHER THAN FROM INSIDE WHERE DUE TO THE RUSH
ONE HARDLY CAN GET A CLEAR VIEW OF BABA WHILE THE AARTI OR MANGAL SNAN GOES ON.
- OPEN AIR THEATRE -
THE OPEN AIR THEATRE, IS A OPEN SPACE STANDING FROM WHERE DEVOTEES CAN HAVE A VIEW OF BABA'S SAMADHI IDOL THROUGH A WINDOW.
ALSO, PRESENT HERE IS A TELEVISION SET FOR DEVOTEES TO ENJOY THE LIVE DARSHAN OF BABA WHILE ANY AARTI / PROGRAM
GOES ON INSIDE THE SAMADHI SANCTUM. THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE WAS ONCE A RAISED PLATFORM WITH A GARDEN & FOUNTAIN BEHIND IT,
HAS NOW CHANGED TOO. THE RAISED PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED LEAVING BEHIND A FLOOR LEVEL TILED GROUND MINUS THE GARDEN,
FOUNTAIN & THE WATER FALLS.
MY VIEW - THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE OF BENCHES TO SIT IN THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE AS
THIS IS THE ONLY OPEN SPACE IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES WHERE ONE CAN SIT BUT AS IT IS GROUND LEVEL SO A BIT DIFFICULT
FOR AGED/SENIORS TO SIT DOWN. THAT`S WHY NOW ONE CAN FIND DEVOTEES SITTING ON THE TWO LONG STRETCH OF STAIRS
IN THE GURUSTHAN AREA AND ALSO, OPPOSITE NEAR THE DIXIT WADA GIVING THE PLACE A VERY CROWDED LOOK.
THE SMALL COVERING WALL OF THE TWO TREES OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FULL OF DEVOTEES SITTING.
- SHOPS IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -
"SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" ( APPROVED BY SSST,SHIRDI) HAS A STALL INSIDE
THE TEMPLE PREMISES FOR SELLING COLD DRINKS / ICE-CREAMS / MINERAL WATER / MASALA MILK / LASSI / PRASAD PEDHA / NAVGRAHA DHOOP
AT VERY NOMINAL PRICES. IT IS SITUATED NEXT TO ARCHWAY NO.2 OUTSIDE THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALL.
ALSO, THERE IS A SHOP NEAR THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD GANESHA, LORD SHANIDEV & LORD MAHADEV.
THIS SHOP SELLS SOME PRASAD & LOTS OF DIFFERENT POOJA ITEMS INCLUDING MUSTARD OIL FOR POURING IT ON LORD SHANIDEV.
- SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL -
THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL" IS THE PLACE WHERE ON THE 1st FLOOR BABA'S ABHISHEK POOJA IS DONE BY DEVOTEES
& ON THE GROUND FLOOR DEVOTEES PERFORM THE "SATYANARAYAN POOJA" AFTER REGISTERING THEMSELVES
FOR IT AT A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE OF Rs.101/- ONLY.
THE ABHISHEK POOJA TIMINGS ARE :
1St Batch 07:00 Am to 08:00 Am
2nd Batch 09:00 Am to 10:00 Am
3rd Batch 12:30 Pm to 01:30 Pm
- SAI COMPLEX -
AT A PLACE, JUST BESIDES THE TEMPLE COMPLEX, THERE WAS A PRIMARY SCHOOL WHICH NOW HAS BEEN MOVED AWAY
AND IN ITS PLACE A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX CALLED "SAI COMPLEX" HAS COME UP.
IT IS JUST 20 FEET FROM THE GATE OF SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE STARTING FROM OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.2 STRETCHING RIGHT UP TO
THE END OF THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE OPPOSITE ARCHWAY NO.3.
SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS OPENED AN ADDITIONAL DONATION OFFICE & AN OFFICE FOR THE SALE OF SAI BABA CALENDARS IN THE GROUND FLOOR
OF THIS "SAI COMPLEX" TOGETHER WITH TWO MORE OFFICES ALL BESIDES EACH OTHER IN A ROW.
MY VIEW - "WE LOVE SHIRDI IN IT`S SIMPLICITY BUT SEEMS SOON SHIRDI WILL BECOME SIMPLY A CITY" !!!
- MOBILE CLOAKROOM -
BESIDES ARCHWAY NO.2 & IN THE LANE LEADING TO THE ARCHWAY NO.3 FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS
"THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM" WHERE DEVOTEES HAVE TO DEPOSIT THEIR MOBILES
AT A NOMINAL CHARGE OF RS.2/- PER MOBILE. THEY GET A TOKEN IN RETURN AGAINST WHICH THEY CAN GET THEIR MOBILES BACK,
AS MOBILES / CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
- SAI PRASADALAYA -
"SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA"
BEHIND POLICE STATION, SHIRDI,
NIMGAON SHIV ROAD,
NIMGAON KORHALE,
SHIRDI
THE FACILITY OF PRASAD BHOJAN OF THE "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" WHICH WAS EARLIER SITUATED NEXT TO THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,
HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SHIFTED TO A NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BY THE "SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST" ON 08th JAN`2009.
DAILY A BUS REGULARLY SHUTTLES FROM THE "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO.2 (NEAR THE CAR PARKING) TO THE NEWLY
BUILT "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" CARRYING DEVOTEES TO & FRO FROM THE TEMPLE TO THE PRASADALAYA FREE OF CHARGE.
NORMAL MEAL PASSES:
ON ENTERING THE PRASADALAYA AND THEN GOING TOWARDS THE LEFT FROM THE MAIN GATE,
A WAITING HALL COMES WHERE THE COUNTER FOR THE SALE OF NORMAL MEAL PASS IS PRESENT.
THE CHARGES FOR A NORMAL MEAL PASS IS Rs.10/- FOR ADULTS AND Rs.4/- FOR CHILDREN.
THE HUGE HALL FOR NORMAL MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE GROUND FLOOR ITSELF.
VIP MEAL PASSES:
ONE CAN PURCHASE THE VIP MEAL PASS FROM THE PRASADALAYA'S OFFICE WHICH IS SITUATED RIGHT OPPOSITE THE MAIN GATE OF
THE PRASADALAYA. THE CHARGES FOR A VIP MEAL PASS IS Rs.40/- ONLY PER PERSON.
THE HALL FOR VIP MEAL PASS HOLDERS IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR
AND FOR WHICH AN ELEVATOR IS ALSO PRESENT FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT WALK THE STAIRS UP.
TIMINGS:
FOR MEAL PASSES - 09:30 Am SHARP to 09:30 Pm SHARP. (AFTER WHICH NO PASSES ARE ISSUED)
MEAL IS SERVED - 10:00 Am to 10:00 Pm.
- "DWARAVATI" BHAKT NIWAS -
SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN, SHIRDI HAS BUILT A NEW BHAKT NIWAS CALLED "DWARAVATI" WHICH WAS INAUGURATED
ON THE MAKAR-SANKRANTI - 14TH JAN`2009 BY SRI SRI RAVISHANKARJI.
SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS SPENT Rs.19 CRORES ON THIS "DWARAVATI" PROJECT WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 1600 DEVOTEES CONVENIENTLY.
IT HAS 334 SELF-CONTAINED INDEPENDENT & WELL VENTILATED ROOMS, SPREAD OVER FOUR FLOORS PACKED WITH ALL BASIC AMENITIES.
ON THE FOURTH FLOOR THERE ARE 80 ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE AIR-CONDITIONED.
THERE IS A LARGE WAITING ROOM FOR DEVOTEES ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
THERE IS A BIG PARKING SPACE & BOARDING FACILITIES FOR DRIVERS TOO.
"DWARAVATI" HAS FOUR LIFTS WHICH HAVE A CAPACITY OF CARRYING 10 PEOPLE AT A TIME.
LATEST TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM & RAIN WATER HARVESTING FACILITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTED.
"DWARAVATI" HAS A BIG GENERATOR FOR A 24 HOUR UN-INTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY
FOR DEVOTEES RECREATION, THERE IS A BIG GARDEN ON THE FRONT SIDE.
CLOSE BY ONLY, IS THE "BHOJAN-SHALA" WHERE THE FOOD IS COOKED USING SOLAR HEATERS & SO,
THE FOOD SERVED IS AT VERY NOMINAL RATES.
ALSO, LIKE THE OTHER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE SHIRDI SANSTHAN IN SHIRDI,
THERE IS NO ADVANCE BOOKING FOR ROOMS AS ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE ONLY ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
IT IS SITUATED ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD, NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL".
- WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX -
SHIRDI BOAST'S PROBABLY THE WORLD'S BIGGEST TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX.
THE SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN & SULABH INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION, MAHARASHTRA BRANCH
HAVE GOT CONSTRUCTED AN AESTHETICALLY APPEALING TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX AT A COST OF Rs.1.53 CRORES.
THIS COMPLEX IS SPREAD OVER AN AREA OF OVER 2 ACRES.
THIS TOILET-cum-BATH COMPLEX HAS 120 WC's, 108 BATHING CUBICLES, 28 SPECIAL TOILETS,
6 DRESSING ROOMS, ROWS OF URINALS ALL IMMACULATELY LAID OUT TO AVOID CONGESTION.
THE COMPLEX IS CAPABLE OF SERVING APPROXIMATELY 30,000 USERS EVERYDAY.
THE SELF-SUSTAINING COMPLEX HAS 3 EXCRETA BASED BIO-GAS-GENERATING THE SULABH PLANTS WHICH PROVIDE ELECTRICITY
TO THE ENTIRE COMPLEX FOR ILLUMINATION & WATER HEATING.
THE WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE COMPLEX IS RE-CYCLED FOR IRRIGATING THE BEAUTIFULLY LAID OUT GREEN AREA.
TO PROVIDE A SYLVAN TOUCH TO THE COMPLEX A VARIETY OF TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED ALL AROUND THE AREA.
TELEPHONE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COUNTERS AND
PROVISION FOR 5000 LOCKERS HAS BEEN MADE TO FACILITATE THE TOURISTS FOR SAFE KEEPING OF THEIR BELONGINGS.
- MESSAGE BOARDS WITHIN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -
1) DONATION BOXES AND WATER DRINKING FACILITIES ARE PLACED EVERYWHERE AROUND THE TEMPLE PREMISES.
2) WHEELCHAIR'S ARE AVAILABLE FOR HANDICAPPED DEVOTEES FOR WHICH ONE CAN CONTACT THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O.
3) FOR PRESERVATION OF BABA'S IDOL, MILK, ROSE-WATER, HONEY ETC IS NO MORE USED FOR THE SACRED BATH OF SAI BABA,
AS PER EXPERTS ADVICE SO DEVOTEES SHOULD TOO REFRAIN FROM OFFERING THE ABOVE.
4) PLEASE HANDOVER FLOWERS, GARLANDS TO TEMPLE STAFF BEFORE OR IN THE SAMADHI SHRINE ITSELF.
5) OFFERING OF GARLANDS, PRASAD etc SHOULD BE MADE BY DEVOTEES ONLY AFTER 07:00Am & BEFORE SHEJ AARTI.
- HANDLING THE RUSH OF DEVOTEES -
OWING TO THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES IN THE SAMADHI TEMPLE ESPECIALLY DURING KAKAD AARTI & BABAS MANGAL SNAN,
TO ACCOMMODATE MORE & MORE DEVOTEES INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM DEVOTEES ARE NOW REQUESTED
TO REMAIN STANDING THROUGH OUT WHILE THE AARTI / MANGAL SNAN GOES ON, AS STANDING OCCUPIES LESS SPACE
THAN SITTING SO MORE DEVOTEES CAN BE PULLED INSIDE THE TEMPLE DURING AARTI ETC.
INSIDE THE TEMPLES SANCTUM, GENTS SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,
WHILE THE LADIES SHOULD TRY TO QUEUE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES,
SO AS TO GO AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO BABA'S IDOL DURING DARSHAN AND THEN MOVE OUT FROM THE REAR DOOR EXITING
TOWARDS THE GURUSTHAN RATHER THAN STANDING TOWARDS THE AISLE AS THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A "U" TURN AFTER DARSHAN
AND THEN FROM THE AISLE (CENTRE) PASSING THE NANDI'S IDOL, THEY WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THE DOOR OPPOSITE
THE PRESENT "ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM" WHICH WAS THE FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM.
MY VIEW - AS FIRST STANDING FOR HOURS IN DARSHAN LINE QUEUE / SPIRALING DOWN A FEW HALLWAYS
AND THEN STANDING THROUGH OUT THE KAKAD ARTI & MANGAL SNAN, CAN BE VERY TIRING,
SO MY PERSONAL ADVICE IS TO AVOID TAKING SMALL KIDS AND AGED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS.
EVEN BABA WOULD NEVER WANT THIS AS HE TOO COULD NEVER SEE HIS DEVOTEES BEAR PAIN FOR HIM.
AS THERE ARE THREE OPENINGS FOR BOWING DOWN TO DO PRANAM ON BABA`S SAMADHI i.e., ONE FOR LADIES, ONE FOR GENTS
AND ONE IN BETWEEN, DEVOTEES BOW DOWN AND TAKE TIME TO GET UP AND MOVE FORWARD THUS DELAYING OTHER DEVOTEES BEHIND,
THEREFORE ON THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, OTHER FESTIVALS / OCCASIONS AND HOLIDAY SEASONS
WHEN THERE IS A HUGE FLOW OF DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI, THE THREE OPENINGS ON BABA'S SAMADHI ARE ALSO ENCLOSED
WITH GLASS SHIELDS, SO ONE CANNOT BOW DOWN OR TOUCH THE SAMADHI AND SO MOVES ON FASTER.
BUT ONE CAN SURELY TOUCH THE OUTER SIDE OF BABA`S SAMADHI WHILE PASSING BY AS BABAS PRESENCE IS EVERYWHERE !
LIKEWISE, SOMETIMES THE DHUNI-MAA PORTION OF DWARKAMAYI, REMAINS CLOSED FOR DARSHAN
SO THE DEVOTEES ENTER DWARKAMAYI AND HAVE DARSHAN OF DHUNI MAA AREA WITHOUT CLIMBING THE STEPS AND
MOVE AHEAD TOWARDS THE SACRED STONE ON WHICH BABA SAT.
THIS ALSO SPEEDS UP THE DARSHAN QUEUE WHICH NOW-A-DAYS GOES ALMOST ALL OUT TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD !
THE NEW GURUSTHAN, NANDA-DEEP ARE ALSO ENCLOSED IN STEEL BARRICADES TO SPEED UP THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES.
THE TEMPLE GUARDS MIGHT SOUND RUDE WHILE ASKING YOU TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN THE DARSHAN LINE
BUT REMEMBER THE THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES WHO ARE STILL WAITING BEHIND YOU FOR THEIR TURN OF DARSHAN
AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE / PATIENCE THE GUARDS HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH, WHILE KEEPING THE FLOW OF DARSHAN
GOING SMOOTHLY FOR HOURS EVERYDAY.
MY VIEW - EVEN THOUGH ANY AARTI OR BABA'S MANGAL SNAN IS GOING ON,
THE QUEUES OF DEVOTEES SHOULD BE KEPT MOVING FORWARD CONSTANTLY FOR DARSHAN & THEN MOVE OUT SO THAT
THE WAITING TIME IN THE LONG QUEUES GETS REDUCED AND MORE PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO HAVE DARSHAN SOONER THAN BEFORE.
AND THEN, THE TIME MADE UP IN KEEPING THE QUEUE MOVING ON CAN BE UTILISED BY ALLOWING DEVOTEES
TO BOW THEIR HEADS ON THE SAMADHI FOR SOME TIME WHICH AT PRESENT IS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
- TIPS FOR KAKAD AARTI & MANGAL SNAN -
THE MANGAL SNAN OF BABA NOW ONLY LASTS FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES,
WITH A BUCKET OR TWO OF HOLY WATER FIRST ON THE SAMADHI FOLLOWED BY A BUCKET ON BABA'S IDOL.
AND AS SOON AS THIS GETS DONE...DEVOTEES ARE ASKED TO START MOVING AHEAD FOR DARSHAN,
EVEN WHILE BABA'S IDOL IS BEING PAT DRY...SO MAKE SURE AS YOU REACH NEAR THE SAMADHI,
FEEL THE WATER OF BABA'S MANGAL SNAN FROM THE TOP OF THE SAMADHI OR THE GROUND NEAR IT WHERE SOME WATER
USUALLY SPILLS WHILE THE HOLY BATH IS ON.
MY VIEW - FOR THIS ALWAYS LADIES & GENTS WHILE IN QUEUE INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM
SHOULD TRY AND STAND ON THEIR RIGHT AND LEFT RESPECTIVELY SO AS TO REACH THE SIDES OF BABA`S SAMADHI & GET A
CHANCE TO TOUCH THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S MANGAL SNAN WHICH USUALLY FALLS DOWN ON THE SIDES WHILE THE SNAN GOES ON.
A VERY BLESSED TIP WANT TO TAKE A SIP OF BABAS MANGAL SNAN`S (HOLY BATH) WATER?
IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR THE KAKAD AARTI & BABA`S MANGAL SNAN
OR IF YOU DO MAKE IT INSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE FOR KAKAD AARTI BUT ARE PUSHED OUT SOONER THAN YOU THINK,
DON'T WORRY AS IT MAY BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE !
JUST BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE (TO THE EAST OF DIXIT WADA) & JUST OPPOSITE THE REAR EXIT OF THE SAMADHI TEMPLE,
ALSO KNOWN AS THE GURUSTHAN EXIT IS AN EMPTY WATER COOLER WHERE THE BLESSED WATER AFTER BABA`S MANGAL SNAN
IS POURED IN, FOR THE DEVOTEES TO DRINK. NOT MANY GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER ALSO,
AS BY THE TIME DEVOTEES START COMING OUT AFTER DARSHAN THIS HOLY WATER IS ALREADY OVER.
SO, THE SOONER YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THIS COOLER, BETTER IT WOULD BE, AS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER.
BUT MAKE SURE THIS HOLY WATER IS NOT SPILLED DOWN, AS MOST OF IT USUALLY DOES BECAUSE MANY DEVOTEES
JUST PICK THIS COOLER UP AND TILT IT DOWN SO AS TO FILL THEIR BOTTLES ETC BUT IN DOING SO MOST OF THIS
HOLY WATER SPILLS & IS WASTED & OTHER DEVOTEES ARE LEFT BEHIND FROM A CHANCE OF GETTING A SIP OF THIS WATER ALSO.
ALSO, JUST AFTER THE KAKAD AARTI GETS OVER THERE IS PRASAD OF WHITE BUTTER MIXED WITH SUGAR BEING DISTRIBUTED
AT THE PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI, OPPOSITE SOUTH ARCHWAY NO.4
SO MAKE SURE, YOU MAKE IT HERE ALSO, AFTER DRINKING THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH.
THIS WHITE BUTTER PRASAD LIKE THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH IS ALSO VERY LIMITED,
SO ONLY THE FIRST LUCKY FEW DEVOTEES MAKE IT HERE.
- TIPS FOR DWARKAMAI -
WHEN AT DWARKAMAI, HAVE THE BLESSED TEERTH (WATER) FROM THE BLACK COLORED EARTHEN POT KEPT ON A HIGH STAND.
THIS POT HAS NO TAP SO USE THE BIG SPOON KEPT ON TOP OF IT, TO TAKE SOME TEERTHA AND DRINK IT.
ONE HAS TO TAKE THIS TEERTH HIMSELF, AS NO ONE SERVE`S IT. THUS, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE ABOUT IT &
GO AWAY WITHOUT HAVING A SIP.
- HOUSES OF BABAS DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI VILLAGE GUIDE MAP -
MAP SOURCE - http://www.saibaba.com/holyshirdi/
DO VISIT THE SHIRDI VILLAGE JUST A WALK AWAY FROM THE SAMADHI SHRINE.
ONE CAN VISIT BAIJAMAA'S HOUSE, LAXMIBAI'S HOUSE & HER SAMADHI WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE,
SHYAMA'S HOUSE, ABDUL BABAS KUTI & MAHALSAPATIS' HOUSE WHERE YOU CAN SEE
THE PADUKAS / 3 COINS / SATKA GIVEN BY TO MAHALSAPATI BY BABA HIMSELF.
ALL ARE JUST A FEW STEPS STRAIGHT AHEAD OF DWARKAMAI.
ONE CAN ALSO VISIT THE 5 BLESSED HOUSES THAT BABA TOOK BHIKSHA FROM.
ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE
SHAMA'S HOUSE
LAXMIBAI SHINDE'S HOUSE
(HER SAMADHI RIGHT INFRONT OF IT)
BAYAJABAI'S HOUSE
(BABA USED TO STAND ON THE STONE SEEN IN FRONT OF THE DOOR)
MAHALSAPATI'S HOUSE
ONE CAN ASK THE LOCAL PEOPLE / KIDS THERE TO GUIDE THEM & THEY WILL MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.
THEY WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL THE HOUSES, THE NINE COINS GIVEN BY SAIBABA TO LAXMIBAI,
THE PLACE WHERE BABA'S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY FOR 3 DAYS, THE SHOP OF THE MAN WHO HAD REFUSED TO GIVE BABA OIL TO BURN DIYA'S.
THEY ALL ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, JUST A STRAIGHT WALK IN THE LANE BANG OPPOSITE THE DWARKAMAI ENTRANCE.
TRY NOT TO VISIT THESE HOUSES IN THE MORNING AS THEY ARE USUALLY CLOSED AT THAT TIME.
KEEP THIS VISIT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE DAY.
ALSO, FEEL FREE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE, AS PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE MAIN TEMPLE PREMISES
BUT OUTSIDE IN THE SHIRDI VILLAGE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS !
- SAMADHI'S OF DEVOTEES -
OPPOSITE THE ARCHWAY NO.4 AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED "Y" IN THE MAP)
ARE THE SAMADHI'S OF ABDUL BABA / NANAVALI / BHAU MAHARAJ KUMBHAR & TATYA'S SAMADHI.
WHILE THE SAMADHI OF AMIDAS BHAVANI MEHTA IS NEAR LENDI BAUG.
- KHANDOBA TEMPLE -
HAVE THE DARSHAN OF LORD KHANDOBA AT THE KHANDOBA TEMPLE,
JUST CLOSE BY NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL" ON THE MAIN ROAD ITSELF.
IT HAS THE IDOLS OF LORD KHANDOBA , BANAI & MHALSAI.
FOR ANY ASSISTANCE / HELP CONTACT THE P.R.O OFFICE :
- SHIRDI -
Executive Officer,
Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi
Post. Shirdi 423 109 Tal. Rahata,
Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra)
Phone : +91-2423-258500 ( I.V.R )
Fax No. +91-2423-258870 & P.R.O.Office : +91-2423-258770
Website : www.shrisaibabasansthan.org / www.sai.org.in
E-mail : saibaba@sai.org.in / saisandesh_anr@sancharnet.in / saibaba@shrisaibabasansthan.org
- MUMBAI -
Executive Officer,
Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, (Shirdi)
'Sai Niketan', 804-8,
Dr. Ambedkar Road,
Dadar,
Mumbai - 400014
Tel : +91- 22 - 24166556/ 24161293
Fax : +91- 22 - 24150798
E-mail : saidadar@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Source - Personal Visit to Shirdi / Info on Temple Premises Sign Boards / Conversation with Temple Guards.
Photos - Assortment of Web Sites
" Offer FlOwer's tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur Fragrance.
Offer Fruit's tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur Sweetness.
Offer Water tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur Tear's.
Offer yOurself tO Baba, but nOt withOut yOur HEART !!! "
LOve yOu BaBa - rOhit beHaL
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