Shri Sadguru Sainath Mandir Shiwaji Nagar, Pune-5 (Sai Leela Magazine April 1977)

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      In 1950, Saidas Mandal was established to take care of this mandir and"

it   was   also   registered.    Shri Ranganathan was the secretary   of

the   mandal   for   many years.    After his death Shri S.  Ramakrishnan,

who is a petty contractor, took over the secretaiyship and he still

continues to hold   that post.    Shri Ramkri-shnan has taken lot of pains

for the construction of   this mandir and today even at the age of

seventyfive,    he is not backward in his duties to the mandir. His

enthusiasm is really wonderful and some young people even cannot show as

much "energy as this old man has. Dasara, Ratnanavmi, Guru Pournima, these

three festivals are celebrated at this temple every year with great devotion

and discipline. Shri Ramkrishnan is paying personal attention to every small

or big job concerning the temple and because of this keen interest shown by

him in the affairs of the temple, it has been possible to show good

progress. Because of this able guidance of Shri Ramkrishnan, the young

generation is always volunteering their services to the temple and are

willingly yoking themselves to work.

 

      Shri Nanasaheb Awasthi, a veteran Sai devotee of Pune, who was more than

eighty years old was also another source of inspiration of the mandal. He

being one of the lucky persons, who had the good fortune to see Shri Baba

while he was alive, his blessings were considered to be very valuable for

the project and it was hoped that with his guidance, the work of the mandir

would progress swiftly. Shri Awasthikaka used to visit the mandir on every

Thursday, in the evening, for the aarati. Due to his death, this mandal has

lost a very strong supporter and guide, but the enthusiasm of the members of

"the mandal has not become less in any way. They have collected donations to

the tune of about Rupees 40,000 and have reconstructed the old temple and

the hall in front of the temple. This hall is about 800 Sq. feet in area and

it will be inaugurated very soon.

 

      One miracle about the old temple is worth narrating here. On 12 July 1961,

the Panshet dam gave way and the whole of Pune city was under flood water. A

large part of the city was devastated and many houses crumbled down like

bunglows of playing cards This Sai Mandir at Shiwaji Nagar was at that time

actually on the bank of the river. It was therefore no wonder if this temple

was caught in the flood-water. Because of the breaking of the Panshet dam,

the level of water rose to about twenty to twenty five feet above the dome

of this temple.

 

      The small  structures   of mud   in the   compound   of Rasane chawl   were

drowned in the flood-water and therefore   the members   of   the  mandal

were much   worried about the temple.   No sooner than the flood- water

subsided, the members of the mandal ran to the site for salvage of the

temple.  It was really a job to clear the thick deposit   of mud   on the

temple  and   its vicinity.   The work went on   continuously for two   or

three   days and then to the wonder of   everybody, the old  temple was

found to be quite intact.   The   Audumbar tree   by the   side of  the

temple stood as before   and   was   not   even  bent   down   a little.

The   coloured photograph of Shri Sai Baba in the temple was also intact.

Even after remaining buried   in the   thick   mud   for so long a time it

did not get soiled at   all.    It is   really a wonder   how   this   has

happened.    Now one marble statue of   Shri Sai Baba, which was ordered

from Jaipur, is installed in the temple;   but the aforesaid photograph,

which survived the flood, is still hung   in the temple on the   wall

behind   the statue   and is worshipped daily.   Every Sai  devotee   who

visits   the   temple   comes to know of the the spiritual power of Shri Sai

Baba, because of  this miracle and at once bows down his head  before Shri

Sai Baba for   getting '• his blessings.   The Sai devotees in the Shiwaji

Nagar area have great regards   for   the temple   and it is   hoped that

other Sai devotees also will make it a point to visit this temple at the

time of their visit to Pune.

 

 

(Source Saileela Magazine April 1977)

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