jai sai nath

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Story of the First Ever Shirdi Sai TempleSri Shirdi Sai Baba has become a part of the mainstream of Indian spiritual and temporal life. The first Sai temple was built at Bhivpuri in 1916, when Sri Shirdi Sai Baba was still in his physical body. Bhivpuri Road is a small railway station on the train route from Mumbai to Pune.The founder of the temple, late Sri Keshav Ramachandra Pradhan lived in Bhivpuri and worked as a debt collector for his employer. Pradhan had a close friend, a devotee of Sai baba and he was about to leave for Shirdi one day. He took Pradhan with him much against

Pradhan’s wishes as he was atheist. Pradhan decided not to set foot inside the mosque where Baba lived.After reaching Shirdi, they stayed in the wada. Pradhan’s friend went to the mosque for noon arati but Pradhan stayed in the wada. Attracted and enchanted by sounds coming from mosque, he started walking to the mosque. He reached the mosque and sat in a corner. After the arati, Pradhan was still in a state of bliss and was unaware of everything but Baba. Sri Shirdi Sai then called Pradhan and asked him for dakshina. Pradhan had Rs 2500 in his pocket. This was the amount he had collected for his employer from the various debtors. He placed entire cash in Baba’s hands. After returning he was worried; however his friend asked him not to worry as Baba would take care.Pradhan started back via Kopergaon from Shirdi in a horse-cart. When he reached Kopergaon he realised that he had no money, even to hire a cart. He requested the cart man to take his ring, sell it and return the remaining cash after taking his fare. Just then a well-dressed gentleman, unknown to Pradhan, arrived. He not only paid the cart man but also bought a ticket to Bhivpuri for Pradhan and left as mysteriously as he came. Pradhan reached Bhivpuri. He sent word to his employer that he was sick and would come to work once he had recovered. The employer sent word back granting leave till Pradhan was well enough to return to work. He also wanted to know why Pradhan had sent double the money he had collected and what he was to do with the excess? Pradhan was electrified that Baba had showered his grace on him to such an extent in the very first darshan. He became a staunch devotee of Baba and would plead with Baba to come to Bhivpuri

whenever he went to Shirdi. Once, 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.†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.†In a few days Pradhan built a small temple near his house at Bhivpuri and ceremoniously installed the statue of Baba; regular worship was started. This temple is located in a place which is green with trees and beautiful to the eye. In the silence of the night the sound of the temple doors opening would sometimes be heard. Baba’s form would be seen coming out of the temple and resting under a tree in the front yard. The sound of the temple doors closing would be heard again at three in the morning. All these leelas were experienced not only by

Pradhan and his family but also by their guests who stayed overnight. In time this temple became bigger with extensions and the number of visitors kept increasing. Whenever there was shortage of funds for development, SAI miraculously arranged for the funds.om sai rampooja sai ram

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