Informations/Piligrimage to Holy Shirdi and Sai Baba Darshan

[Guest guest]

Om Sri Sai Ram

Om Sai Jai Sai Jai Jai Sai

 

Who was Sai Baba?

 

Sai Baba was not only a great saint but "God incarnate" Himself in

the eyes of the millions of devotees of different cast, creed and

also religion. The great savior (Sai means savior) descended on

mother earth around 1854 and took His Samadhi on 15th October 1918

[on a Vijayadashami Day] to the best of our known records. Sai Baba

of Shirdi lives in the hearts of his devotees today and always. Sai

Baba as He is commonly known is also the common man's God. His first

visit to Shirdi was anonymous but He was noticed meditating under a

Neem tree in the outskirts of Shirdi. For the second time He was

seen at a wedding in which He was incidentally the guest of honour

in 1858. Sai Baba graced the village of Shirdi by spending His

physical life from 1858 to 1918. Sai Baba was a figure for love,

compassion, empathy and Divinity. He enjoyed dance and music too. He

used to sing and dance in Divine bliss with in the company of

Fakhirs and devotee's. His attire was in the form of a long shirt

known as Kafni and a cloth tied around His head. He represented a

common man who could get angry, have varying moods and on the other

hand be full of love and compassion. Under over this idol of

simplicity was God himself. He worked for self-realisation of

millions of devotees spiritually.

 

Teachings of Sai Baba

Sai Baba did not leave behind any written teachings or discourses

because he never wanted to "teach." Sai Baba often said that he came

to awaken not to teach. He sought to bring about awakening through

the medium of love. His teachings as reported by his

devotees/followers can be summed up as below:

 

The devotee should know that my spirit is immortal.

 

I keep my eye on those who love forever.

 

I am everywhere and in all places and the whole world is with me.

 

I move everywhere and anywhere. I pervade the universe.

 

I am both the visible and the invisible.

 

I am unborn, eternal and everlasting.

 

I am merciful to all. I am not beholden to anyone except God.

 

Do not remain idle but engage yourself in some useful activity. Read

the sacred texts. Be moderate in your food and recreation.

 

Surrender the fruit of action to him so that action will not harm or

bind you. Let your love and compassion flow to all creatures of God.

Do not engage in controversy. World (of others) cannot harm you.

Bear

with others patiently. Accept your log cheerfully without comparing

yourself with others. Do not speak ill of others. Do not give tit

for

tat because each is answerable for his own actions.

 

Know that God is. Do not believe that God is not. God is

omnipresent.

God's name is eternal. This universe is all a Leela of God.

 

Only he knows how he will protect and sustain. He is the protector

of

the poor. He is very compassionate. We falter in our faith in Him

and

lack sufficient patience.

 

Herculean effort is necessary for the attainment of God.

 

Who says He is out of reach? He is there in the tabernacle of our

heart, nearer to us than the fingernail to the finger. Without

unflinching faith and patience, you will not see Him. One who has

both these will undoubtedly find Him. It needs insight to recognise

God.

 

His Will be done. He will show the way and all your heart's desires

will be fulfilled. Be content with your lot. Light dispels darkness.

 

Do good and offer it to God and He will bless you. Do evil and you

will displease Him. God protects the righteous. Those who sow

nettles expect me to give them corn. How can I do so?

 

 

I am God's slave. Even the learned are confused. Then what of us?

Listen and be silent. One who has received His grace is silent, but

who falls from grace talks too much. His Grace must be earned by

merit.

 

The udi will be most useful for my devotees. Preserve it carefully.

My men will throng to Shirdi like ants. Fear not. I am always with

you. Men may come and men may go. What do we have to do with it? How

does it concern us?

 

People inhabit villages and towns. I live in jungle. People have a

roof over their head. I have none. I have single-horse carriage (the

vital breath, prana) but it carries ten to twelve men (organs). I

will slay the four bodies (the gross body, subtle body, casual body

and the mahakaran).

 

Do not think I am dead and gone. You will hear me from my samadhi

and

I shall guide you. Do not engage in controversy. For every ten words

you hear, speak only one word, if that is necessary.

You need neither praise nor blame others. If you injure others'

feelings, I suffer. I feel disgusted when you quarrel with others.

 

Members in a family are bound to have differences. But do not

quarrel. One, who means well, will do well. If you do good, good

will

follow.

 

Great is the reward of virtue. The vicious suffer.

 

If wealth is used judiciously, it will be beneficial.

 

Wholesome food will bring good health. A man of restraint is better

than a man of indulgence. Do not covet others' wealth.

 

See how selfish people are. When it suits them, they leave their

companion. So attach yourself to one who will never forsake you.

(There is no such companion except the sadguru. Love the creation

but

keep company with the sadguru for his companionship will conduce to

your welfare). Once you entrust yourself to the hands of the

sadguru,

you do not have to worry. I never forsake any one who relies on me.

One has to accept the guru wholeheartedly and not mechanically.

 

Why grieve for the loss of son? Everyone has to die one day. In this

mortal world, death is inevitable. Whatever may happen, one should

remains steadfast and watch everything with detachment.

 

Be hospitable to anyone who comes to you. Give water to the thirsty,

bread to the hungry, clothing to the naked and shelter to the

homeless and God will bless you. Whatever you give me will come back

to you redoubled. If you sow then only can you reap.

 

One who is enlightened will not make a noise about it. You cannot

escape what is pre-ordained. You may face it with a groan or a

smile.

Only that choice is yours. Earth will return to earth, and the soul

will fly away. Practice before you preach.

 

*****

 

Daily Schedule at Shirdi

 

Programs

Time

 

Kakad Aarti

 

Holy Bath of Shri Sai Baba

 

Darshan Begins

Satyanarayana Pooja

 

Abhishekam

 

Noon Aarti

 

Pravachan or Poojan

 

Dhoop Aarti

 

Bhajan, Kirtan, Vocal Music etc.

 

Shej Aarti

5:15 a.m.

 

6:00 a.m.

 

7:00 a.m.

 

8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

 

9:00 a. m.

 

12:00

 

4:00 p.m.

 

Sunset

 

9:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

 

10:00 p.m.

 

 

 

The "Agamas" mention 16 acts for the performance of the Pooja.

 

1. Offering "asana" or "seat" to the deity or idol / image.

 

2. "Swagata" or welcome to the lord.

 

3. "Padya" or worship of the feet of the deity with water.

 

4. Arghya (water offering made in the vessel).

 

5. Achamana (water for sipping).

 

6. Madhuparka (honey, ghee, milk and curd for offering).

 

7. Snanama (bath)

 

8. Vastra (cloth or garments for the deity)

 

9. Bhushana or ornaments.

 

10. Gandha (perfume)

 

11. Pushpa (flower offering)

 

12. Dhoop (Incense Sticks)

 

13. Deepaka (Lighted lamp)

 

14. Naivedya (Food or fruit)

 

15. Tambulam (betel leaf, nuts etc.)

 

16. Vandana (Prayer)

 

Sandalwood and saffron paste, flowers, rice coloured with turmeric

and Kumkum, holy Padukas (foot wears) of Sai Baba, prayer beads,

rosary and oil for the Nanda-deep.

 

The distance of Shirdi from some important cities is as under

Sai Baba's place Shirdi (Maharashtra State) is a very sacred,

powerful and important place of pilgrimage in India. One can visit

this holy place easily. It is a well-developed town connected by bus

routes. There is an important Railway Station, Kopergaon, though

which the Karnataka Express from New Delhi to Bangalore passes. A

number of trains from Bombay and Delhi also pass through Manmad

station. Shirdi is only about 58 kms from Manmad and buses and taxis

are easily available to reach there.

 

1

Bombay to Manmad

216 Km.

 

2

Manmad to Kopergaon

43Km

 

3

Pune-Dond to Kopergaon

273Km

 

4

Sholapur to Dond-Kopergaon

384Km

 

5

Madras to Dond-Kopergaon

1210Km

 

6

Sikandrabad to Manmad

630Km

 

7

Bangalore to Sholapur-Kopergaon

737Km

 

8

Delhi to Manmad

1282Km

 

9

Delhi to Kopergaon

1325Km

 

10

Hawra-Ittarsi to Manmad

1913Km

 

11

Hawra-Nagpur to Manmad

1708Km

 

12

Jabalpur-Ittarsi to Manmad

732Km

 

13

Ahmedabad-Jalgaon to Manmad

700Km

 

14

Bhopal to Manmad

576Km

 

15

Bhopal to Kopergaon

619Km

 

16

Bombay - Nasik - Shirdi

270Km

 

17

Pune - Sangamner - Shirdi

207Km

 

18

Pune - Ahmednagar - Shirdi

200Km

 

19

Aurangabad - Baijapur - Shirdi

148Km

 

20

Aurangabad - Shirdi

137Km

 

21

Sholapur-Ahmednagar-Shirdi

315Km

 

22

Dhule-Manmad-Shirdi

142Km

 

23

Surat-Nvapur-Manmad-Shirdi

342Km

 

24

Surat-Nasik-Shirdi

304Km

 

25

Weed-Shirdi

212Km

 

26

Hyderabad-Usmanbad-Shirdi

658Km

 

27

Manmad-Shirdi

65Km

 

28

Kopergaon to Shirdi

18Km

 

 

(Information collected from the Internet)

 

Jai Sai Ram

Swamy Mahadevan

Bow to Shri Sai-Peace be to all

Baba Bless you ever!!!