Bhivpuri :First Ever Shirdi Sai temple.

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Dear Members,

Do you know that :-

1) The first Shirdi Sai temple was built in Bhivpuri,in 1916 when Shirdi saibaba was still in the physical body. Bhivpuri Road is a Railway Station between Karjat & Neral on Central Railway Suburban Section

2) It was founded by Late Shri Keshav Ramachandra Pradhan,who was an atheist in the begining and latter his life changed the day he saw Baba immersed in a state of bliss.

3) In 1916 Baba gave his statue to Pradhan and said " Go to Bhivpuri. Build a temple for me there. Keep this statue in the temple and worship it. You need not come to Shirdi any more." Pradhan returned to Bhivpuri but did not follow Baba's instructions. When he next came to Shirdi Baba said, "When I have come to your house, why have you come here? Bhivpuri is your Shirdi. Go there and do as I told you."

4) Baba's form would be seen coming out of the temple and resting under a tree in front of the yard and at 3 in the morning the closing of the temple doors could be heard.

5) when Pradhan passed away the responsibility fell on Shri A.V. Gupte's (Pradhan's son-in law)shoulder ,who visited Shirdi in 1936 and experienced bliss at the sight of Baba's Samadhi.

6) shri A.V.Gupte started an organization for running the temple called "Sri Sadguru Sainath Seva Sanstha".When visitors increased and funds were inadequate, a devotee called Narayan Purohit started formal reading of Sai-baba's life and on the the 4th day Baba came in his dream (twice) and said " Where is my Dhuni? How can my temple be complete without a Dhuni? Narayan Purohit immediately informed Shri A.V.Gupte and it was decided to build a Dhuni as instructed by Baba.Shri Kumarsen Samarth, offered to pay all the expenses of the roof and other structures around the Dhuni

7) Sri Walawalkar,the grandson of Sri Hemadpanth(author of Sri Sai satcharitra),first lit the Dhuni on the Rama-navami day of 07-04-1949 at 10.00 AM.

8) Late Prof. D.D.Parchure, the former Executive Editor of the magazine, Shri Sai Leela who was a sincere Sai devotee, used to remain present at the time of both these special functions and perform Keertan expounding the life and teachings of Sri Sai Baba.

9) Thus Bhivpuri is now a living centre of the spiritual influence of Sri Sai Baba and it is no wonder that persons who visit it once, come to Bhivpuri for the Darshan of Sri Sai Baba with renewed devotion.

Sources: Sai Leela Magazine Sept 1976

Contributed by : Jagadeesh

May Sai bless everyone of us and help us attaining Self -Realization.

Om Sairam