SHIRDI -V. Sundaram,

[Guest guest]

SHIRDI

 

 

Between Manmad in the north,

Ahmednagar in the south

And between Nasik in the west,

Aurangabad in the east,

Very close to Kopargaon

Lies Shirdi the holy town.

 

It’s a pilgrim center,

For Saibaba’s spiritual center;

Who spent, sixty fruitful years.

Rediating the whole atmosphere

With His divine powers

 

>From the nearabout regions,

You reach the holy Shirdi’s bus-station.

And shortly thereafter

You’re prepared for Baba’s darshan !

 

Sai Sansthan’s staff members

Live in spacious quarters.

It is the Sainagar

(may be called ‘Prem Nagar’)

They’re ever ready

To guide you in SHIRDI.

 

Dixit Wada, Seva Dham, Shanti Niwas

And the New building complex,

There are houses for Sai devotees

Who come to Shirdi

>From far off places.

 

The dawn begins in Shirdi

With Baba’s ‘Kakad Arati’.

Baba and his Samadhi are daily worshipped.

Gives an experience to be long cherished !

 

Devoted Baba’s servants

Perform Sai festivals like :-

Satyanarayan Pooja, Guru Pournima,

Rama Navami and Baba’s Mahasamadhi.

 

Satyanarayan and Guru Pournima are sacred poojas;

Ramanavami and Mahasamadhi are unique and colourful !

Sports and feasts are arranged

And colourful processions are taken

Around Shirdi on Ramanavami festival.

Week long ‘Laksharchanna and ‘Kirtans’

Conducted during Mahasamadhi festival

Along with Navaratri in October.

 

The Sansthan’s power generator,

No doubt generates power too!

At Sai Sansthan’s main street,

The Sai devotees often meet.

 

Sai Baba High School spreads knowledge

SAINATH HOSPITAL does noble work,

These are Shirdi’s pride

The Shirdi dwellers find them delight.

 

‘Sainath Chhaya’ is reserved

For guests, invitees and artistes.

See the Khandoba’s shrine

And know that Baba means

‘SAI the DIVINE’ !

 

Baba practiced Yoga and penance

In a jungle – fearsome and dense !

If you’ve the courage to go

You may see the Lendi Baug ?

 

To fetch water from the Godavri

Indeed tiresome for the Shirdi-‘vasi’ ?

Nearby Baba dug out a well

It’s indeed very well !

 

Baba loved cool and shadowy places

For His devotees

Hence He planted trees

He lit the divine Light

Near the trees

This is called Nandadeep.

 

The faithful steed

Was Shyam Sunder

And no wonder

Was Baba’s aide indeed !

 

At the foot of the Nimba Taru

Is the Turbat – the Samadhi

Of Shri Baba’s Guru.

 

Buttiwada – the Samadhi

Of the Samartha Sadguru.

 

Baba is no more in flesh,

In Samadhi Mandir He remains.

That is his eternal resting place

And He showers His divine grace !

 

Baba’s grinding stone and wheat-bag,

Sitar, bed, padukas (chappals), mug,

And few more articles used

By Baba are well preserved.

 

“Tiger Samadhi” – a Siva devotee

Who fell at Baba’s feet

And attained ‘Mukti’.

You also find Hanuman temple.

And Ganesh, Shani, Shankar temples.

 

In Chavadi Baba used to sing and dance

With bells tied around his ankles

Its’a quiet place,

Where He met the populace !

 

Last but not the least

Is the SAI PRASAD

Is a treat in itself

For the young and old

Without any caste,

Creed, Sex discrimination

Are well served

To their heart’s content

This cannot be expressed

A Sai devotee whoever or wherever

He or she may be

Shouldn’t miss to come

To Shirdi to experience this feast !

 

Dwarkamai is unique and a heaven on earth.

Oil lamps, Udi, grinding stone,

And the Shila are its worth !

The Mangal Karyalaya

For the sacred ceremonies,

All these and more

Are SHIRDI’S treasures !!.

 

V. Sundaram,

Calcutta – 29.

 

(Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine)