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| Eklavya's thumb |
Sai Baba of Shirdi commands the respects of countless devotees all over India and abroad. His simple teachings in compassion and tolerance are of greater importance today when aggression and falsehood are daily headlines. A trip to Shirdi where he lived is a wonderful way for his many admirers and devotees to feel connected with him and and an exciting journey nonetheless, for others.
I took the Pushpak express from Lucknow and got of at Manmad, a small town in Maharashtra. A hive of black and yellow taxi's at the station gives you different options to commute to Shirdi. I took a shared van(Rs 70 per person). It takes around 2 hours to get to Shirdi. The route is a treat with the Sahyadri mountains( Western ghats) seen at the end of deep green fields. The soil is black ( great for growing cotton) and and the vegetation is a shade deeper than the green encounterd in the plains of U.P. where I'm from. A moutain has had it's top eroded away leaving behind a boulder which looks exactly like a thumb. The locals like to call it "Eklavya's thumb" (Eklavya was askef to chop of his thumb by his teacher in return for his education in archery).
Hotels are in abundance in Shirdi. You can't stop counting them. I chose to stay away from this galazy of hospitality and took shelter in BhaktiNiwas(dwaravati) managed by the Sai Seva Sanstha. They provided me with a huge room with running hot water and changed my image of a Dharamshala for life.
Increased security measures by the Maharshtra police prohibit photography in the temple premises. Though this was an inconvenience at Shirdi and most other places I travelled to around it, the law was made for the common good and must be respected.
A long queue leads to the main hall where the idol of Sai Baba we've seen so often in movies and pictures stands. It moves fast and the Aarti and devotional music inside is worth the wait. It's in Marathi but I guarantee people speaking other languages will enjoy it as much as I did.
Beleivers say that all you ask for is granted there and one reaches Shirdi only by the blessings of the saint. The sheer multitude of people visiting the shrine each day is evidence to the fact.
After giving obeisance a tour of the premises takes you to Dwarkamai(Sai Baba's house), Chavri and the mausoleums of some important people from his day. Dwarkamai is a large stone house, stark and plain where the Saint lived over a century ago. One can see the place he stood by at the window lost in contemplation, his cooking pot, grinding stone and fireplace where he cooked meals for his many visitors. There is also a sack of wheat preserved from his times. The walls have niches where lamps used to be lit. Imagining the scene a over a hundred years ago with the Saint standing by the window looking at people go by in streets lit by oil lamps took my breath away.
Chawri is his friends house where he spent many a day. His friend being a Muslim read the Holy Quran to him and pictures of them adorn the walls.
Gurusthan, a Neem tree where Baba was first seen meditating is an important landmark.
A Hanuman temple, a few mausoleums and a busy little market must also be visited.
After the trip i had a refreshing cup of tea at the cafeteria and went to my room. I slept instantly, tired after the long day. But a memorable day it was.
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| bhakta niwas |
Hotels are in abundance in Shirdi. You can't stop counting them. I chose to stay away from this galazy of hospitality and took shelter in BhaktiNiwas(dwaravati) managed by the Sai Seva Sanstha. They provided me with a huge room with running hot water and changed my image of a Dharamshala for life.
Increased security measures by the Maharshtra police prohibit photography in the temple premises. Though this was an inconvenience at Shirdi and most other places I travelled to around it, the law was made for the common good and must be respected.
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| the hotel room |
Beleivers say that all you ask for is granted there and one reaches Shirdi only by the blessings of the saint. The sheer multitude of people visiting the shrine each day is evidence to the fact.
After giving obeisance a tour of the premises takes you to Dwarkamai(Sai Baba's house), Chavri and the mausoleums of some important people from his day. Dwarkamai is a large stone house, stark and plain where the Saint lived over a century ago. One can see the place he stood by at the window lost in contemplation, his cooking pot, grinding stone and fireplace where he cooked meals for his many visitors. There is also a sack of wheat preserved from his times. The walls have niches where lamps used to be lit. Imagining the scene a over a hundred years ago with the Saint standing by the window looking at people go by in streets lit by oil lamps took my breath away.
Chawri is his friends house where he spent many a day. His friend being a Muslim read the Holy Quran to him and pictures of them adorn the walls.
Gurusthan, a Neem tree where Baba was first seen meditating is an important landmark.
A Hanuman temple, a few mausoleums and a busy little market must also be visited.
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| me at the market |
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| Shirdi by night |
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| Faith and Patience-Baba's most important lesson |
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