A to Z guide - Shirdi by Ganesh Hariharan

"A TO Z" OF SHIRDI - GUIDE WITH PHOTOGRAPHS "OM SHREE SAINATHAYA NAMAHA",

FOR THIS ARTICLE BABA IS MY INSPIRATION, ALL THE WORDS ARE MY PERSPIRATION, FOR EVERY DEVOTEE OF EVERY NATION, HAVING A LONG DESIRED DIVINE ASPIRATION, TO GO TO SHIRDI IN THE VACATION. SO, NOW MOVE ON... AS "SAI-EXPRESS" IS WAITING IN ANTICIPATION, TO TAKE YOU TO "SAINAGAR" RAILWAY STATION ! OH, WHAT A MOTIVATION !!! - rOhit beHaL THE FOLLOWING IS A SHIRDI TEMPLE GUIDE MAP EASILY AVAILABLE ON THE NET, BUT HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY TO MODIFY IT BY LABELING "A to Z" ALPHABETS AGAINST SMALL "x" MARKS TO ENABLE YOU TO FIND THE EXACT SPOT OF THE CORRESPONDING PLACE IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES.

"SHIRDI TEMPLE PREMISES GUIDE MAP"

A (On the Manmad / Nagar Main Road) - QUEUE FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" ONLY & ROAMING IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES EXCEPT LENDI BAGH & BABAS WELL. A (On the Pimpalwadi Road) - DEVOTEES ENTRANCE NEAR MAIN GATE NO.2, FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT PASSES. THE ARROWS IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALLS - THE DIRECTION DEVOTEES HAVE TO MOVE TO REACH THE SAMADHI TEMPLE. B - MAIN GATE NO.1. C - THE P.R.O OFFICE. D - MAIN GATE NO.2 (CLOSED...NOT USED NOW) E - SHIRDI SANSTHAN`S BOOK STORE FOR SELLING BABA`S BOOKS, CALENDARS, VCD / DVD etc F - THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL". G - "SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" STALL. H - DURING PEAK PERIODS, ENTRY GATE FOR N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONALS / V.I.P`s.

I - SHOP SELLING POOJA ITEMS / MUSTARD OIL & SWEET PRASAD TOO. J - HUGE WINDOWS FOR A VIEW OF THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN THE STAIRS. K - DURING PEAK PERIODS ITS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SPECIAL ENTRY GATE. L - MAIN GATE NO.3. M - "THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM". N - "SAI-COMPLEX" COMMERCIAL SHOPPING COMPLEX. O - "DAKSHIN-MUKHI MARUTI TEMPLE" (UNDER RE-CONSTRUCTION AS IN JUNE 2009). P - ABDUL BABA`S COTTAGE. Q - ENTRY FOR "MUKH DARSHAN" OF BABA`S IDOL..(ONE CANNOT GO TOWARDS BABA`S SAMADHI FROM HERE) R - EXIT AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / DISABLED DEVOTEES ENTRY GATE . S - DONATION OFFICE. T - "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" - (FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM). U - TELEVISION IN THE OPEN AIR THEATRE FOR DEVOTEES STANDING OUT TO HAVE LIVE DARSHAN. V - WATER COOLER JUST BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE, FOR DEVOTEES TO DRINK THE BLESSED WATER OF BABA`S HOLY BATH. W - REAR EXIT DOOR AFTER DARSHAN AND DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS ITS THE ENTRY GATE FOR V.I.P PASS HOLDERS.. X - "SAIBABA`S MUSEUM'. Y - UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM ( NEXT TO ABDUL BABAS / NANAVALIS / TATYAS SAMADHI ). Z - MAIN GATE NO.4. THE BLACK LINE DRAWN FROM GATE NO.4 CUTTING ACROSS LENDI BAGH UPTO THE EXIT AT MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD - STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH FROM NANDADEEP. CANDLES - PLACE IN NANDADEEP WHERE DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES.

MAIN GATE NO.1

ON THE WEST SIDE IS "GATE NO.1" ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD AND IS USED ONLY AS AN ENTRY GATE INTO THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND OR FOR BABA`S MUKH DARSHAN i.e., DARSHAN OF BABA`S FACE FROM A DISTANCE ( FROM, NEAR THE RAISED PLATFORM BEHIND IN THE TEMPLES SANCTUM). AFTER, ENTERING THRU GATE NO.1, ONE CAN FREELY ROAM IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES i.e, CAN TAKE UDHI, SEE ABDUL BABA`S / TATYAS & NANAVALIS SAMADHI, SAIBABA`S MUSEUM AND CAN GO STRAIGHT UP TO DWARKAMAI BUT CANNOT GO TO LENDI BAGH OR BABA`S WELL. THIS GATE NO.1 IS OPPOSITE THE TEMPLES P.R.O OFFICE AND BESIDES NANDA-DEEP. ONE CANNOT MAKE AN EXIT FROM THIS GATE.

MAIN GATE NO.2 ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD, IS MAIN GATE NO.2 WHICH WAS EARLIER USED AS AN ENTRY & EXIT GATE BUT AT PRESENT IS CLOSED & NOT IN USE. INSTEAD, JUST BESIDES IT ON THE PIMPALWADI ROAD ITSELF IS THE ENTRY GATE FOR ALL DEVOTEES WITHOUT ANY PASSES. THIS ENTRY TAKES ONE DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRST WAITING HALL FROM WHERE THE DARSHAN QUEUES, AFTER MOVING ALONG THROUGH SPIRALING LONG STRETCH OF STEEL BARRICADED HALLS & BY STAIRS UP & DOWN, FINALLY LEADS UPTO THE SAMADHI OF BABA.

MAIN GATE NO.3

ON THE EAST SIDE, IN THE LANE GOING INSIDE FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS "GATE NO.3" WHICH IS

USED MAINLY FOR EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TOWARDS DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE & BABA`S SHRI CHAVADI. IF ONE ENTERS THROUGH THIS GATE, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE COMES THE "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY WHILE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS AN ENTRANCE USED FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS SPECIAL ENTRY DURING PEAK PERIODS. THIS GATE IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED & AGED DEVOTEES WHO ARE UNABLE TO WALK. LUCKY TIP - ONE NORMAL ADULT IS ALLOWED TO ESCORT THEIR AGED / HANDICAPPED DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER BY THIS GATE & A DEPENDENT KID CAN ALSO GO ALONG IF HE / SHE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER. IF LUCKY ENOUGH, THEN N.R.I & FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN TOO MAKE AN ENTRY BY THIS GATE IF THEY SHOW THE GUARDS THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR NRI STATUS i.e., PASSPORT COPIES etc

MAIN GATE NO.4

ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS "GATE NO.4" WHICH IS MAINLY USED FOR SOUTH EXIT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES. TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO DWARKAMAI WHEREAS THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS EXIT THERE ARE SHOPS WHICH LEAD UP TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD. THIS GATE NO.4 IS ALSO USED AS AN ENTRY, WITH A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE SEPARATING LENDI BAGH AND NANDADEEP IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF DEVOTEES ENTER BY THIS GATE THEN THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TOWARDS LENDI BAGH, BABAS WELL AND THEN STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD. SO, IF FROM LENDI BAGH IF ONE WANTS TO GO TO NANDADEEP, THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TEMPLE PREMISES AND THEN AGAIN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM GATE NO.1 FOR NANDADEEP. THIS GATE NO.4 IS BANG OPPOSITE THE SAMADHIS OF NANAVALI / ABDUL BABA / & TATYA PATIL.

"DARSHAN PASSES" DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS.

AT NORMAL TIMES, WHEN THERE IS NOT MUCH RUSH OF DEVOTEES IN THE TEMPLE... THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS & THE V.I.P`s CAN APPROACH THE P.R.O. OFFICE DIRECTLY TO ARRANGE FOR THE DARSHAN PASSES FOR WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO SHOW THE ORIGINAL OR COPIES OF THE PROOF OF THEIR NATIONALITY i.e, PASSPORT / GREEN CARD OR ANY OTHER PROOF OF RESIDENCE TO THE SANSTHAN'S P.R.O OFFICER (FOR SAFETY REASONS THEY SHOULD CARRY COPIES OF THEIR ORIGINAL PROOF OF RESIDENCE DOCUMENTS). WHEREAS, THE V.I.P`s WILL HAVE TO SHOW A REQUEST FOR DARSHAN PASSES LETTER FROM ANY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY OR ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc. DURING OFF PEAK PERIODS, NORMALLY, THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS TOGETHER WITH THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / DISABLED ARE ALLOWED ENTRY DIRECTLY INTO THE SAMADHI SHRINE BY THE SPECIAL GATE BANG OPPOSITE THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM (MARKED AS "R" IN THE ABOVE TEMPLE MAP) . WHILE THE V.I.P`s HAVE TO ENTER BY THE REAR EXIT DOOR OF THE SAMADHI SHRINE (MARKED AS "W" IN THE ABOVE TEMPLE MAP) IF THE V.I.P IS A SENIOR / DISABLED THEN EVEN HE /SHE CAN GO FOR DARSHAN WITH THE OTHER SENIOR CITIZENS FROM THE SENIOR CITIZENS ENTRY GATE. ALSO, APART FOR DARSHAN PASSES, ONE CAN CONTACT THE SANSTHAN P.R.O. OFFICE FOR ANY GUIDANCE AND OTHER INFORMATION TOO. DURING PEAK PERIODS. WHEN THERE IS A HUGE INFLOW OF DEVOTEES IN THE TEMPLE.... DURING FESTIVALS & OCCASIONS / SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS / OTHER PEAK PERIODS NO DARSHAN PASSES ARE ISSUED WHAT-SO-EVER, DUE TO THE HEAVY RUSH OF DEVOTEES. SO, ONE WILL MOSTLY FIND THE DEPARTMENT WHICH ISSUES DARSHAN PASSES, IN THE P.R.O OFFICE, CLOSED.

SO HOW DO THE N.R.I`s OR FOREIGN NATIONALS OR V.I.P`s GET AN ENTRY DURING PEAK PERIODS? WELL, THE TEMPLE GUARDS ARE QUITE UNDERSTANDING, SO IF THE N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONALS SHOW THEM THEIR PROOF OF NATIONALITY, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE TEMPLE NOT DIRECTLY, BUT BY A SEPARATE ENTRANCE BY WHICH THEY WILL BE CUTTING OUT QUITE A LARGE PORTION OF THE DARSHAN QUEUE. THE V.I.P`s TOO CAN SHOW THE SPECIAL PASSES REQUEST LETTER OF ANY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHORITY / ANY HIGH RANKING INDIAN OFFICIAL etc TO THE TEMPLE GUARDS SO AS TO BE ALLOWED A SPECIAL ENTRY. P.S - THE ONUS LIES WITH THE GUARD TO ALLOW OR REJECT ANY DEVOTEES REQUEST FOR ENTRY THROUGH THE SPECIAL GATE. MOSTLY, THIS SPECIAL GATE FOR THEM IS THE GATE OPPOSITE THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD SHANI / LORD GANESHA & LORD MAHADEV (MARKED AS "H" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP). HOWEVER, THIS GATE MAY DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD. BUT IF THE N.R.I / FOREIGN NATIONAL OR THE V.I.P IS A SENIOR / AGED / HANDICAPPED THEN THEY ALSO DO NOT NEED ANY SPECIAL PASS AS THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE BY THE SPECIAL ENTRY GATE MEANT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (MARKED AS "K" ABOVE IN THE TEMPLE MAP). THIS GATE MAY ALSO DIFFER DEPENDING UPON THE DEVOTEES RUSH AT THAT GIVEN PERIOD. FOR DARSHAN PASSES / GUIDANCE ONE CAN CONTACT THE P.R.O OFFICE DIRECTLY : IN SHIRDI Executive Officer, Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi Post. Shirdi 423 109 Tal. Rahata, Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) Phone : +91-2423-258500 ( I.V.R ) Fax No. Office:+91-2423-258870 & P.R.O.Office : +91-2423-258770 Website : www.shrisaibabasansthan.org & www.sai.org.in E_mail : saibaba@sai.org.in & saisandesh_anr@sancharnet.in saibaba@shrisaibabasansthan.org IN MUMBAI THEN (AT PRESENT SHIRDI SANSTHAN`S MUMBAI BRANCH DOES NOT ISSUE DARSHAN PASSES BUT IN TIME TO COME, THEY MIGHT ALSO DO SO) Executive Officer, Shri Sai baba Sansthan Trust, (Shirdi) 'Sai Niketan', 804-8, Dr. Ambedkar Road, Dadar, Mumbai - 400014 Tel : +91- 22 - 24166556/ 24161293 Fax: +91- 22 - 24150798 E-mail : saidadar@bom3.vsnl.net.in

DARSHAN PASSES PROCEDURE : ALL N.R.I`s / FOREIGN NATIONAL`s / VIP`s OR THE ONES REGISTERED FOR A PASS AT THE P.R.O OFFICE, CAN HAVE DARSHAN WITH SPECIAL PASSES ALSO CALLED THE V.I.P PASSES.

THESE PASSES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE P.R.O.OFFICE IN THE SHIRDI TEMPLE PREMISES ITSELF FOR WHICH ONE HAS TO GO IN ADVANCE ( SOONER THE BETTER...ATLEAST A DAY IN ADVANCE ) & GET HIS / HER NAME REGISTERED FOR THE PASS WHILST SPECIFYING WHICH AARTI PASSES ARE NEEDED BY HIM / HER i.e, KAKAD AARTI, MADHYAN AARTI, DHOOP AARTI OR SHEJ AARTI. ALSO, TO BE SPECIFIED IN ADVANCE, IS THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS GOING TO ACCOMPANY HIM / HER ON THAT PASS, AS ACCORDINGLY ONLY THOSE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WITH THAT MEMBER WILL BE GIVEN ENTRY FOR DARSHAN IN THE TEMPLE. ANY EXTRA MEMBER OF THE PASS HOLDER IS REFUSED ENTRY FOR DARSHAN, IF NOT REGISTERED BEFORE HAND AT THE P.R.O. THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ACCOMPANYING ONE SINGLE PASS DIFFERS DEPENDING UPON THE RUSH BUT IS USUALLY BETWEEN 6-10 MAX. IF THE N.R.I.`s WANT TO ARRANGE FOR PASSES BEFORE THEY TOUCH DOWN IN INDIA, THEY CAN CONSULT THE SANSTHAN P.R.O.FOR THE PROCEDURE IF POSSIBLE OR THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVE IN INDIA OR SHIRDI TO ARRANGE FOR THE SAME BEFORE HAND. P.S- THE P.R.O. IS NOT OPEN THE WHOLE DAY BUT HAS SPECIFIC TIMINGS, SO PLEASE ACCORDINGLY BE THERE TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR PASSES IN ADVANCE. MY WISH - THE SYSTEM OF ALL DARSHAN PASSES SHOULD BE ABOLISHED WHAT-SO-EVER AND BE IT POLITICIANS / ACTORS / V.I.P`s / N.R.I`s / FOREIGNERS ANYBODY SO TO SPEAK, LET EVERYONE STAND IN THE NORMAL QUEUE FOR DARSHAN...AS PASSES IS DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN SECTS OF PEOPLE...A THING WHICH BABA NEVER PREACHED. SO "DON`T GIVE PASSES BUT GIVE PREFERENCE" ALL PHYSICALLY DISABLED / TERMINALLY ILL / AGED & SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD BE GIVEN FIRST PREFERENCE FOR DARSHAN. MY VIEW - KARMICALLY SPEAKING, THE PASS HOLDERS EAT AWAY SOME OF THEIR GOOD KARMAS BY ARRANGING A SMOOTH-n-EASY DARSHAN FOR THEMSELVES UP AGAINST THE OTHER DEVOTEES STANDING FOR HOURS IN QUEUE`S ONLY TO BE BACK-DROPPED DURING DARSHAN IN THE MAIN SANCTUM.

SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED.

ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / PHYSICALLY DISABLED & AGED DEVOTEES NOW DO NOT REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL PASSES FOR DARSHAN AS THEY ARE GIVEN DIRECT ENTRY TO THE TEMPLE FROM A SEPARATE GATE BY WHICH THEY CUT OUT THE LONG STANDING IN QUEUES. THIS SPECIAL ENTRY GATE FOR SENIORS / AGED DEVOTEES CHANGES DEPENDING UPON THE INFLOW OF DEVOTEES. IN NORMAL PERIODS, WHEN IT ISN`T MUCH CROWDED, THE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED DIRECTLY INSIDE THE MAIN TEMPLE BY THE ENTRY OPPOSITE THE FORMER UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM, NOW THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM. BUT DURING HOLIDAY SEASONS / FESTIVALS & OTHER PEAK TIMES WHEN A LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES TURN UP FOR DARSHAN, THE ENTRY GATE FOR THE SENIOR / DISABLED DEVOTEES CHANGES TOO i.e, AT PRESENT IT IS A GATE JUST BENEATH THE WIDE GATE NO.3 STRUCTURE ITSELF AND OPPOSITE A BLACK COLORED GRANITE NOTICE BOARD. WHEN ONE ENTERS THROUGH GATE NO.3, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE FALLS THE "MUKH DARSHAN" GATE & ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WAS THE FORMER SHOE STAND AREA...AND JUST ADJACENT TO THIS FORMER SHOE STAND AREA IS THE SENIOR CITIZENS ENTRY GATE. DURING PEAK PERIODS,HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER GETTING A ENTRY FOR DARSHAN FROM THE SPECIAL ENTRY

GATE, THE SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED HAVE YET TO WALK DOWN A FEW STAIRS WHERE THEY JOIN THE PASS HOLDERS & THE REST OF THE OTHER DEVOTEES, WITH WHOM THEY THEN CLIMB UP A FEW STAIRS TO FINALLY REACH BABA`S SAMADHI SANCTUM. AND THE QUEUE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS DEVOTEES STARTS FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE SQUARE WINDOWS (FROM WHERE ONE CAN SEE THE DARSHAN QUEUE GOING DOWN-STAIRS) OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE. IF THE SENIOR CITIZEN IS UNABLE TO GO ALONE DUE TO ANY DISABILITY OR ILLNESS OR IS ON WHEEL CHAIR THEN ANY ONE FAMILY MEMBER (YOUNG OR OLD) IS ALLOWED TO ACCOMPANY HIM /HER THROUGH THIS SENIOR CITIZENS GATE. AND, IF THIS RESULTS IN ANY DEPENDENT MINOR WHO IS WITH THEM TO BE LEFT ALONE, THEN THAT MINOR TOO IS ALLOWED TO GO WITH HIS / HER FAMILY THROUGH THIS ENTRY. BUT MIND YOU, THE GUARDS ARE QUITE SMART TO CATCH ANY SENIOR CITIZEN FAKING ANY DIFFICULTY TO WALK OR GO ALONE SO AS TO TAG ALONG A FAMILY MEMBER WITH THEM. MY WISH - IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SEASON / TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF DEVOTEE INFLOW, ALL SENIOR CITIZENS / AGED / PHYSICALLY DISABLED DEVOTEES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER BY THE GATE BANG OPPOSITE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM (FORMER UDHI ROOM) LIKE BEFORE.

"MUKH-DARSHAN"

FOR DEVOTEES WHO WANT TO JUST HAVE A DARSHAN OF BABAS SAMADHI IDOL FROM FAR, THEY CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE FROM A DOOR- MARKED AS "Q" ON THE SHIRDI GUIDE MAP ABOVE. THIS ENTRY IS JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF MAIN GATE NO.3 ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. AND AS ONE ENTERS BY THIS DOOR, HE / SHE STANDS BETWEEN A STEEL BARRICADED PASSAGE BETWEEN THE FRONT & BACK SIDE OF THE TEMPLE, LIKE AN AISLE, SO, ONE CANNOT GO FROM THIS PLACE OF MUKH DARSHAN FORWARD FOR SAMADHI DARSHAN. HE WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THIS "MUKH DARSHAN" ENTRY DOOR AND GO AND STAND IN THE DARSHAN QUEUE IF HE WANTS TO DO SO.

DARSHAN WAITING HALLS.

THE HALLS WHERE THE QUEUES LINE UP SPIRALING ACROSS THE STEEL BARRICADES HAVE WATER COOLERS AND ADEQUATE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE DEVOTEES.ALSO, PRESENT ARE TELEVISION SETS FOR DEVOTEES TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE SANCTUM WHILE THEY WAIT IN QUEUES FOR HOURS. AND MOSTLY ALL THE TIME DEVOTEES ARE CHANTING BABA`S NAME WHILE WAITING WHICH TOO IS VERY DIVINE.

DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE. ( MARUTI MANDIR ) THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND A NEW TEMPLE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED IN ITS PLACE. THE IDOLS OF HANUMAN & OTHER GODS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY SHIFTED TO THE GROUND FLOOR OF A BUILDING OPPOSITE IT, ADJOINING THE "SHREE CHAVADI". IT IS BEHIND THE SIGNBOARD OF SOME "ANAND GUEST HOUSE'.

"SHREE CHAVADI"

BABA`S "SHREE CHAVADI" HAS NOW BEEN DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS. THE LEFT PORTION IS "FOR LADIES" ONLY WHILE THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ONE IS "ONLY FOR GENTS" WHERE NO LADIES ARE ALLOWED AS WAS BEFORE, SINCE LONG.

"SAIBABA MUSEUM"

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO VISIT THE "SAIBABA MUSEUM" JUST BESIDES THE DIXIT WADA. IT HAS MANY ITEMS WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED BY BABA HIMSELF i.e, HIS UTENSILS, KAFNI, GRAMOPHONE RECORD`S & PLAYER, HIS CHILLUM, A BIG PALAQUIN WHICH WAS GIFTED TO BABA BUT NEVER USED BY HIM , ALL THE PALKHI PROCESSION THINGS, BABAS PADUKAS, HIS WHEAT GRINDING STONE, TWO POTS WITH WHICH HE COOKED & FED THE HUNGRY, THE COT ON WHICH BABA`S LAST BATHING TOOK PLACE AFTER HIS DEMISE, BABA`S ORIGINAL CHIMTA, THE EARTHEN WARE WITH HE USED TO ASK FOR FOOD etc. THIS MUSEUM IS SPREAD ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS THE FIRST FLOOR.

LADU PRASAD. THE SWEET LADU PRASAD SALE COUNTER IS NOW LOCATED TO THE NORTHERN SIDE OF "SAI PRASAD" BUILDING NO..2 NEAR THE CAR PARKING. THE TIMINGS FOR THE SALE OF THESE LADU PRASAD IS 06:00Am TO 10:00Pm.(22:00Hrs)

UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM. THE OLD UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM WHICH WAS BANG OPPOSITE THE MAIN ENTRY OF THE SAMADHI TEMPLE AND ADJOINING THE DONATION OFFICE IS NOW CONVERTED INTO AN "ANNOUNCEMENT SECTION" ROOM. THE NEW PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM IS NOW LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI, OPPOSITE SOUTH GATE NO.4. THE TIMINGS FOR UDHI DISTRIBUTION ARE 07:00Am To 11:30Am 13:00Pm To 18:00Pm 19:00Pm To 22:00Pm (AFTER DHOOP AARTI) THE LINE FOR TAKING UDHI ALSO GOES TO QUITE A STRETCH AND ONLY ONE SMALL PACKET OF UDHI IS GIVEN TO EACH DEVOTEE SO REFRAIN FROM ASKING FOR ANOTHER.

NANDADEEP. DEVOTEES CAN MAKE WISHES & LIGHT CANDLES OR DIYAS IN FRONT OF NANDADEEP, ON THE GRILL FENCING OPPOSITE IT. AS, BABA TOO EVERY EVENING WOULD LIGHT A DIYA HERE. ALSO, THERE ARE TWO TREES - NEEM & PIPAL TREE, BESIDES THE PLACE WHERE BABA USED TO LIGHT A DIYA...ONE OF WHICH DUE ITS HEIGHT OR GROWTH, HAS BEEN CHOPPED OFF BY THE TRUNK ITSELF FROM THE TOP AND ALL THAT'S LEFT IS A HUGE LOG (TREE TRUNK) WHICH WILL BUT NATURALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO GROW BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM. MY VIEW - WONDER WHAT HAVE THEY DONE WITH THE CHOPPED PORTION OF THE TREE AS, I THINK WE DEVOTEES WOULD HAVE TREASURED EVEN ONE LEAF OR TWIG OF BABA`S BLESSED TREE.

SHOE STAND. THERE ARE SHOE STANDS JUST OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE WHERE ONE CAN KEEP THEIR FOOTWEAR FOR A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE, IN EXCHANGE FOR A TOKEN. BUT MANY DEVOTEES REMOVE THEIR FOOTWEAR INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES ITSELF IN ANY CORNER OR BELOW SOME STRUCTURE. IT IS CONVENIENT BUT NOT CORRECT TO DO SO AS THESE PLACES ARE NOT MEANT TO PARK ONE`S FOOTWEAR, SO THEY MIGHT BE BRUSHED ASIDE BY ANYONE OR EVEN MIGHT GO MISSING FROM THERE. SO REMOVE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.

TELEVISION - LIVE DARSHAN. TELEVISION SETS TELECASTING LIVE IMAGES FROM THE SAMADHI SHRINE`S INNER SANCTUM & DWARKAMAI DIRECTLY, HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE ENTIRE TEMPLE PREMISES, INSIDE & OUTSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE ALSO, FOR DEVOTEES WHO CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE ...AND BELIEVE ME WATCHING THE KAKAD AARTI ON THE TV SETS ESPECIALLY IN THE OPEN AIR THEATER IS MORE FUN AS YOU GET GOOD CLOSE UPS AND BETTER VIEW SITTING COMFORTABLY RATHER THAN FROM INSIDE WHERE DUE TO THE RUSH ONE HARDLY CAN GET A CLEAR VIEW OF BABA WHILE THE AARTI OR MANGAL SNAN GOES ON.

OPEN AIR THEATRE.

THE OPEN AIR THEATRE, IS A OPEN SPACE STANDING FROM WHERE DEVOTEES CAN HAVE A VIEW OF BABA`S SAMADHI IDOL THRU A WINDOW. ALSO, PRESENT HERE IS A TELEVISION SET FOR DEVOTEES TO ENJOY THE LIVE DARSHAN OF BABA WHILE ANY AARTI / PROGRAMME GOES ON INSIDE THE SAMADHI SANCTUM. THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE WAS ONCE A RAISED PLATFORM WITH A GARDEN & FOUNTAIN BEHIND IT, HAS NOW CHANGED TOO. THE RAISED PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED LEAVING BEHIND A FLOOR LEVEL TILED GROUND MINUS THE GARDEN, FOUNTAIN & THE WATER FALLS. MY VIEW - THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE OF BENCHES TO SIT IN THIS OPEN AIR THEATRE AS THIS IS THE ONLY OPEN SPACE IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES WHERE ONE CAN SIT BUT AS IT IS GROUND LEVEL SO A BIT DIFFICULT FOR AGED/SENIORS TO SIT DOWN. THAT`S WHY NOW ONE CAN FIND DEVOTEES SITTING ON THE TWO LONG STRETCH OF STAIRS IN THE GURUSTHAN AREA AND ALSO, OPPOSITE NEAR THE DIXIT WADA GIVING THE PLACE A VERY CROWDED LOOK. THE SMALL COVERING WALL OF THE TWO TREES OPPOSITE THE DONATION OFFICE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FULL OF DEVOTEES SITTING.

SHOPS IN THE TEMPLE PREMISES. "SHREE SAI SANSTHAN EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, SHIRDI" ( APPROVED BY SSST,SHIRDI) HAS A STALL INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES FOR SELLING COLD DRINKS / ICE-CREAMS / MINERAL WATER / MASALA MILK / LASSI / PRASAD PEDHA / NAVGRAHA DHOOP ETC.AT VERY NOMINAL PRICES. IT IS SITUATED NEXT TO GATE NO.2 OUTSIDE THE DARSHAN QUEUE HALL. ALSO, THERE IS A SHOP NEAR THE THREE TEMPLES OF LORD GANESHA, LORD SHANIDEV & LORD MAHADEV.. THIS SHOP SELLS SOME PRASAD & LOTS OF DIFFERENT POOJA ITEMS INCLUDING MUSTARD OIL FOR POURING IT ON LORD SHANIDEV.

"SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL". THE "SHREE SAI SATYAVRAT POOJA HALL" IS THE PLACE WHERE ON THE 1st FLOOR BABA`S ABHISHEK POOJA IS DONE BY DEVOTEES AND ON THE GROUND FLOOR DEVOTEES PERFORM THE "SATYANARAYAN POOJA" AFTER REGISTERING THEMSELVES FOR IT AT A VERY NOMINAL CHARGE OF Rs.101/- ONLY & IT`S TIMINGS ARE THE ABHISHEK POOJA TIMINGS ARE AS : 1St Batch 7.00 am to 8.00am 2nd Batch 9.am to 10.00 am 3rd Batch 12.30pm to 1.30 pm

"SAI COMPLEX"

AT A PLACE, JUST BESIDES THE TEMPLE COMPLEX, THERE WAS A PRIMARY SCHOOL WHICH NOW HAS BEEN MOVED AWAY AND IN ITS PLACE "SWASTIK GROUP" IS COMING UP WITH AN COMMERCIAL COMPLEX CALLED "SAI COMPLEX" JUST 20 FEET FROM THE GATE OF SHIRDI SAIBABA TEMPLE STARTING FROM OPPOSITE GATE NO.2 STRETCHING RIGHT UP TO THE END OF THE DAKSHIN MUKHI HANUMAN TEMPLE OPPOSITE GATE NO.3. MY VIEW - "WE LOVE SHIRDI IN IT`S SIMPLICITY BUT SEEMS SOON SHIRDI WILL BECOME SIMPLY A CITY" !!!

"MOBILE CLOAKROOM" BESIDES GATE NO.2 & IN THE LANE LEADING TO THE GATE NO.3 FROM THE PIMPALWADI ROAD IS "THE SHREE SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST MOBILE CLOAKROOM" WHERE DEVOTEES HAVE TO DEPOSIT THEIR MOBILES AT A NOMINAL CHARGE OF RS.2/- PER MOBILE. THEY GET A TOKEN IN RETURN AGAINST WHICH THEY CAN GET THEIR MOBILES BACK, AS MOBILES / CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TEMPLE PREMISES.

SAI-PRASADALAYA.

THE FACILITY OF PRASAD BHOJAN OF THE "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" WHICH WAS SITUATED NEXT TO THE SAMADHI TEMPLE, HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SHIFTED ON 08th JAN`2009, TO A NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BY THE "SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN TRUST" & IS LOCATED AT "SHRI SAI PRASADALAYA" BEHIND POLICE STATION, SHIRDI, NIMGAON SHIV ROAD, NIMGAON KORHALE, SHIRDI

"DWARAVATI" BHAKT NIWAS.

SHRI SAIBABA SANSTHAN, SHIRDI HAS BUILT A NEW BHAKT NIWAS CALLED "DWARAVATI" WHICH WAS INAUGURATED ON THE MAKAR-SANKRANTI - 14TH JAN`2009 BY SRI SRI RAVISHANKARJI. SHIRDI SANSTHAN HAS SPENT Rs.19 CRORES ON THIS "DWARAVATI" PROJECT WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 1600 DEVOTEES CONVENIENTLY. IT HAS 334 SELF-CONTAINED INDEPENDENT & WELL VENTILATED ROOMS, SPREAD OVER FOUR FLOORS AND PACKED WITH ALL THE BASIC AMENITIES. ON THE FOURTH FLOOR THERE ARE 80 ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE AIR-CONDITIONED. THERE IS A LARGE WAITING ROOM FOR DEVOTEES ON THE GROUND FLOOR. THERE IS A BIG PARKING SPACE & BOARDING FACILITIES FOR DRIVERS TOO. "DWARAVATI" HAS FOUR LIFTS WHICH HAVE A CAPACITY OF CARRYING 10 PEOPLE AT A TIME. LATEST TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM & RAIN WATER HARVESTING FACILITIES ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTED. "DWARAVATI" HAS A BIG GENERATOR FOR A 24 HOUR UN-INTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY FOR DEVOTEES RECREATION THERE IS A BIG GARDEN ON THE FRONT SIDE. CLOSE BY ONLY, IS THE "BHOJAN-SHALA" WHERE THE FOOD IS COOKED USING SOLAR HEATERS & SO, THE FOOD SERVED IS AT VERY NOMINAL RATES. ALSO, LIKE THE OTHER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE SHIRDI SANSTHAN IN SHIRDI,

THERE IS NO ADVANCE BOOKING FOR ROOMS AS ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE ONLY ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. IT IS SITUATED ON THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD, NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL".

MESSAGE BOARDS WITHIN THE TEMPLE PREMISES -

DONATION BOXES AND WATER DRINKING FACILITIES ARE PLACED EVERYWHERE AROUND THE TEMPLE PREMISES. WHEELCHAIR`S ARE AVAILABLE FOR HANDICAPPED DEVOTEES...FOR WHICH ONE CAN CONTACT THE SANSTHAN`S P.R.O. NEAR GATE NO.1 AND NANDA-DEEP. FOR PRESERVATION OF BABA`S IDOL, MILK, ROSE-WATER, HONEY ETC IS NO MORE USED FOR THE SACRED BATH OF SAIBABA AS PER EXPERTS ADVICE. PLEASE HANDOVER FLOWERS, GARLANDS TO TEMPLE STAFF BEFORE OR IN THE SAMADHI SHRINE ITSELF. OFFERING OF GARLANDS, PRASAD, OR ANY OTHER ARTICLES SHOULD BE DONE BY DEVOTEES AFTER 07:00Am AND BEFORE SHEJ AARTI.

HANDLING THE RUSH OF DEVOTEES OWING TO THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES IN THE SAMADHI TEMPLE ESPECIALLY DURING KAKAD AARTI & BABAS MANGAL SNAN, TO ACCOMMODATE MORE & MORE DEVOTEES INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM DEVOTEES ARE NOW REQUESTED TO REMAIN STANDING THROUGH OUT WHILE THE AARTI / MANGAL SNAN GOES ON, AS STANDING OCCUPIES LESS SPACE THAN SITTING SO MORE DEVOTEES CAN BE PULLED INSIDE THE TEMPLE DURING AARTI ETC. INSIDE THE TEMPLES SANCTUM, GENTS SHOULD TRY TO STAND ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES WHILE IN A QUEUE WHILE THE LADIES SHOULD TRY TO STAND ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE BARRICADES WHILE IN THE QUEUE, SO AS TO GO AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO BABA`S IDOL DURING DARSHAN AND THEN MOVE OUT FROM THE REAR DOOR EXITING TOWARDS THE GURUSTHAN RATHER THAN STANDING TOWARDS THE AISLE AS THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A "U" TURN AFTER DARSHAN & THEN FROM THE AISLE (CENTRE) PASSING THE NANDI`S IDOL, HE WILL HAVE TO EXIT FROM THE DOOR OPPOSITE THE PRESENT "ANNOUNCEMENT ROOM" WHICH WAS THE FORMER UDHI / PRASAD DISTRIBUTION ROOM. MY VIEW - AS FIRST STANDING FOR HOURS IN DARSHAN LINE QUEUE / SPIRALING DOWN A FEW HALLWAYS & THEN STANDING THROUGH OUT THE KAKAD ARTI & MANGAL SNAN, CAN BE VERY TIRING, MY PERSONAL ADVICE IS TO AVOID TAKING SMALL KIDS AND AGED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS. EVEN BABA WOULD NEVER WANT THIS AS HE TOO COULD NEVER SEE HIS DEVOTEES BEAR PAIN FOR HIM. AS THERE ARE THREE OPENINGS FOR BOWING DOWN TO DO PRANAM ON BABA`S SAMADHI i.e., ONE FOR LADIES, ONE FOR GENTS AND ONE IN BETWEEN, DEVOTEES BOW DOWN AND TAKE TIME TO GET UP AND MOVE FORWARD THUS DELAYING OTHER DEVOTEES BEHIND, THEREFORE ON THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, OTHER FESTIVALS / OCCASIONS AND HOLIDAY SEASONS WHEN THERE IS A HUGE FLOW OF DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI, THE THREE OPENINGS ON BABA`S SAMADHI ARE ALSO ENCLOSED WITH GLASS SHIELDS, SO ONE CANNOT BOW DOWN OR TOUCH THE SAMADHI AND SO MOVES ON FASTER. BUT ONE CAN SURELY TOUCH THE OUTER SIDE OF BABA`S SAMADHI WHILE PASSING BY AS BABAS PRESENCE IS EVERYWHERE ! LIKEWISE, SOMETIMES THE DHUNI-MAA PORTION OF DWARKAMAYI, REMAINS CLOSED FOR DARSHAN SO THE DEVOTEES ENTER DWARKAMAYI AND HAVE DARSHAN OF DHUNI MAA AREA WITHOUT CLIMBING THE STEPS AND MOVE AHEAD TOWARDS THE SACRED STONE ON WHICH BABA SAT. THIS ALSO SPEEDS UP THE DARSHAN QUEUE WHICH NOW-A-DAYS GOES ALMOST ALL OUT TO THE MANMAD / NAGAR MAIN ROAD ! THE NEW GURUSTHAN, NANDA-DEEP ARE ALSO ENCLOSED IN STEEL BARRICADES TO SPEED UP THE HUGE RUSH OF DEVOTEES. THE TEMPLE GUARDS MIGHT SOUND RUDE WHILE ASKING YOU TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN THE DARSHAN LINE BUT REMEMBER THE THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES WHO ARE STILL WAITING BEHIND YOU FOR THEIR TURN OF DARSHAN..AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE / PATIENCE THE GUARDS HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH WHILE KEEPING THE FLOW OF DARSHAN GOING SMOOTHLY FOR HOURS & HOURS. MY VIEW - EVEN THOUGH ANY AARTI OR BABAS MANGAL SNAN IS GOING ON,THE QUEUES OF DEVOTEES SHOULD BE KEPT MOVING FORWARD CONSTANTLY FOR DARSHAN & THEN MOVE OUT SO THAT THE WAITING TIME IN THE LONG QUEUES GETS REDUCED AND MORE PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO HAVE DARSHAN SOONER THAN BEFORE. AND THEN, THE TIME MADE UP IN KEEPING THE QUEUE MOVING ON CAN BE UTILISED BY ALLOWING DEVOTEES TO BOW THEIR HEADS ON THE SAMADHI FOR SOME TIME WHICH AT PRESENT IS ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

HOLY TIPS ON KAKAD AARTI & MANGAL SNAN -

THE HOLY BATH OF BABA NOW ONLY LASTS FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES WITH A BUCKET OR TWO OF HOLY WATER ON THE SAMADHI FIRST FOLLOWED BY A BUCKET ON BABA`S IDOL. THAT'S IT...AND AS SOON AS THIS GETS DONE...DEVOTEES ARE ASKED TO START MOVING AHEAD FOR DARSHAN, EVEN WHILE BABA`S IDOL IS BEING PAT DRY...SO MAKE SURE AS YOU REACH NEAR THE SAMADHI, FEEL THE WATER OF BABA`S MANGAL SNAN FROM THE TOP OF THE SAMADHI OR THE GROUND NEAR IT WHERE SOME WATER USUALLY SPILLS WHILE THE HOLY BATH IS ON. MY VIEW - FOR THIS ALWAYS LADIES & GENTS WHILE IN QUEUE INSIDE THE TEMPLE SANCTUM SHOULD TRY AND STAND ON THEIR RIGHT AND LEFT RESPECTIVELY SO AS TO REACH THE SIDES OF BABA`S SAMADHI AND GET A CHANCE TO TOUCH THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S MANGAL SNAN WHICH USUALLY FALLS DOWN ON THE SIDES WHILE THE SNAN GOES ON. NOW FOR A VERY BLESSED TIP...WANT TO TAKE A SIP OF BABAS MANGAL SNAN`S (HOLY BATH) WATER...THEN READ ON... IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT INSIDE THE TEMPLE FOR THE KAKAD AARTI & BABA`S MANGAL SNAN OR IF YOU DO MAKE IT INSIDE THE SAMADHI SHRINE FOR KAKAD AARTI BUT ARE PUSHED OUT SOONER THAN YOU THINK, DON'T WORRY AS IT MAY BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE ! AS JUST BESIDES THE OPEN AIR THEATRE ( TO THE EAST OF DIXIT WADA ) AND JUST OPPOSITE THE REAR EXIT OF THE SAMADHI TEMPLE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE GURUSTHAN EXIT IS AN EMPTY WATER COOLER WHERE THE BLESSED WATER AFTER BABA`S MANGAL SNAN IS POURED IN, FOR THE DEVOTEES TO DRINK.. NOT MANY GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A SIP OF THIS BLESSED WATER ALSO, AS BY THE TIME DEVOTEES START COMING OUT AFTER DARSHAN THIS HOLY WATER IS ALREADY OVER. SO, THE SOONER YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THIS COOLER, BETTER IT WOULD BE, AS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SIP OR TWO OF THIS BLESSED WATER. BUT MAKE SURE THIS HOLY WATER IS NOT SPILLED DOWN AS MOST OF IT USUALLY DOES BECAUSE MANY DEVOTEES JUST PICK THIS COOLER UP AND TILT IT DOWN SO AS TO FILL THEIR BOTTLES ETC BUT IN DOING SO MOST OF THIS HOLY WATER SPILLS & IS WASTED & OTHER DEVOTEES ARE LEFT BEHIND FROM A CHANCE OF GETTING A SIP OF THIS WATER ALSO. ALSO, JUST AFTER THE KAKAD AARTI IS OVER THERE IS PRASAD MADE OF WHITE BUTTER MIXED WITH SUGAR BEING DISTRIBUTED AT THE PRASAD / UDHI DISTRIBUTION ROOM LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO TATYA KOTE PATILS SAMADHI, OPPOSITE SOUTH GATE NO.4. SO MAKE SURE, YOU MAKE IT HERE ALSO, AFTER DRINKING THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH. THIS WHITE BUTTER PRASAD LIKE THE HOLY WATER OF BABA`S BATH IS ALSO VERY LIMITED SO ONLY THE FIRST LUCKY FEW DEVOTEES MAKE IT HERE.

HOLY TIP ON DWARKAMAI.

WHEN ONE GOES FOR DARSHAN TO DWARKAMAI, DO NOT FORGET TO HAVE THE BLESSED TEERTH (WATER) FROM THE BLACK COLORED EARTHEN POT KEPT ON A HIGH STAND. THIS POT HAS NO TAP SO WHAT ONE HAS TO DO IS TO USE THE BIG SPOON KEPT ON TOP OF THE POT TO TAKE SOME TEERTHA AND DRINK IT. ONE HAS TO HAVE THIS TEERTH HIMSELF AS NO ONE SERVE`S IT OVER HERE SO, NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE ABOUT IT SO GO AWAY WITHOUT HAVING A SIP.

BABAS DEVOTEES HOUSES IN SHIRDI VILLAGE GUIDE MAP.

MAP SOURCE - http://www.saibaba.com/holyshirdi/ LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST - DO NOT FORGET TO GO THE SHIRDI VILLAGE AND VISIT BAIJAMAA`S HOUSE, LAXMIBAI`S HOUSE & HER SAMADHI WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE, SHYAMAS HOUSE, ABDUL BABAS KUTI & MAHALSAPATIS HOUSE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE PADUKAS / 3 COINS / SATKA GIVEN BY TO MAHALSAPATI BY BABA HIMSELF....ALL ARE JUST A FEW STEPS STRAIGHT AHEAD OF DWARKAMAI. ALSO, DO NOT FORGET TO SEE THE 5 BLESSED HOUSES THAT BABA TOOK BHIKSHA FROM. ABDUL BABA`S COTTAGE

SHAMA`S HOUSE

LAXMIBAI SHINDE`S HOUSE WITH HER SAMADHI RIGHT INFRONT OF IT

BAYAJABAI`S HOUSE - BABA USED TO STAND ON THE STONE SEEN IN FRONT OF THE DOOR.

MAHALSAPATI`S HOUSE

WHAT ONE CAN DO, IS TO ASK ANY LOCAL PEOPLE / KIDS THERE TO GUIDE THEM AND THEY WILL MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO ...THAT'S IT...IN A FEW MINUTES THEY WILL SHOW YOU ALL THE HOUSES, THE NINE COINS GIVEN BY SAIBABA TO LAXMIBAI, THE PLACE WHERE BABA`S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY FOR 3 DAYS, THE SHOP OF THE MAN WHO HAD REFUSED TO GIVE BABA OIL TO BURN DIYA'S IN DIWALI etc etc. THEY ALL ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER...JUST WALK STRAIGHT IN THE LANE BANG OPPOSITE THE DWARKAMAI ENTRANCE. TRY NOT TO VISIT THESE HOUSES IN THE MORNING AS THEY ARE USUALLY CLOSED AT THAT TIME...KEEP THIS VISIT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE DAY. ALSO, FEEL FREE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE, AS PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE MAIN TEMPLE PREMISES BUT OUTSIDE IN THE SHIRDI VILLAGE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS... (BUT THE DO NOT FORGET TO SHARE IT WITH US ALL Hmmm !!!)

"KHANDOBA TEMPLE"

ONCE YOU FINISH OFF WITHIN & AROUND THE TEMPLE PREMISES DO NOT FORGET TO HAVE DARSHAN OF LORD KHANDOBA AT THE KHANDOBA TEMPLE, JUST CLOSE BY NEAR THE "SHRI SAINATH HOSPITAL" ON THE MAIN ROAD ITSELF. IT HAS THE IDOLS OF LORD KHANDOBA , BANAI & MHALSAI.

Source - Personal Visit to Shirdi / Info on Temple Premises Sign Boards / Conversation with Temple Guards. Photographs Source - Picassa,Flickr,Webshots P.s - The reason I gave the Bunch oOps the Punch Lines in the Beginning is because I Thought That By the Time I complete this Article I might have Faint....ed !!!

"Fainted but ain`t Dainted, As, on every Devotee, will Get Babas LOVE Painted"

Say-ain`t Pay-ain`t (Saint Paint) - ROHIT BEHAL

Also see the document regarding lot of detailed information regarding travel to Shirdi at http://www.scribd.com/doc/14115543/A-Lot-of-Detailed-Information-Regarding-Travel-to-Shirdi

A lot of detailed information regarding travel to Shirdi

Mumbai to Shirdi - Airport/Taxi/Bus/Trains and other important details:: Devotees going to Shirdi by Air from Mumbai: The distance between Mumbai to shirdi is approx 260 kms. Mumbai airport is also the closest international airport to reach shirdi. So Sai devotees who wish to come to india especially for shirdi darshan can come to mumbai and then take a Bus ,taxi ,train or a flight to shirdi.The nearest airport to shirdi used to be, Aurangabad ( 126 kms ) but very recently major steps have been taken to have the airport close to the Samadhi mandir .The airport is scheduled to come up at Kakadi village, around 15 kilometres from Shirdi in Ahmednagar district. But As for now ,most devotees who travel from abroad have to reach the Mumbai airport first . A few months ago Jagson airlines used to travel from Mumbai to shirdi but it seems like they do not have that service anymore.I am not quite sure about what is going on with the present situation but I am just leaving the link here.I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think that they r operating service between Mumbai and Shirdi by air anymore but u never know if they would restart it so I am leaving this link on this page http://www.jagsonairline.com/schedule.htm Devotees going to Shirdi by bus from Mumbai :: The easiest way to get to Shirdi is by bus. It takes up to 7 hrs. If you fly into the Mumbai airport, hire a taxi (the ones that are in lines at the very front of the airport) to take you to the Dadar Bus Stand. The cost is about Rs.-150 to Rs.-200 (make sure they turn the meter on). There are also people who will try to redirect you to their own "private" taxis. These "private" taxis charge between Rs. 400 to Rs. 600 just to take you to the Dadar Bus Stand. At the Dadar Bus Stand, there are long lines of small ticket counters that sell bus tickets to Shirdi. Preferably, try to get an A/C direct bus ( around Rs.-300 -however, the prices keep changing with time so....this is just a rough estimate). If you are not able to get an A/C direct bus, get a non-A/C direct bus (Rs.-150).[Prices may vary a little] Buses leave almost every 3 hours from Mumbai to Shirdi. So your wait will not be long. The buses make about 2 stops for food. The restaurants are non-vegetarian. So make sure you pack some snacks and bottled water for the trip. Keep an eye on your luggage! Some buses goes to Nasik and then to shirdi others take a short cut avoiding nasik.Bus route - MumbaiNashik- Niphad- Yeola - Shirdi. Distance between Pune to shirdi - 190 KmsBus route - Pune- Kalamba- sangmner- Talegaon- shirdiDistance between Aurangabad to Shirdi 126 kms.Bus route - Aurangabad- Vaijapur Yeola- Kopargaon-Shirdi. Try to get a bus that departs before 11am so you will not arrive too late at Shirdi. There are buses to shirdi which starts even at 11 pm but if you are travelling alone -Plz be aware that it is not safe specially for female Sai devotees .Ofcourse everyone says Saibaba is there to protect. But still You also need to plan your trip safely.If your flight arrives late night to Mumbai airport or too early in the morning, better stay in a friends house or in a hotel in mumbai . There are few near the airport. I really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any idea about the budget of the Hotels in mumbai. But they can be quite expensive. If your flight arrives early morning 2 am to 4 am , wait in airport for 2 hours and then take taxi to Dadar to take Bus to Shirdi.Theres a cabin inside airport campus itself to book taxi or you can check http://www.merucabs.com/ . For Private Bus (Volvos) Related queries ie - Bookings,Fares,Route,Pick-up/Drop Point - http://www.redbus.in/ For State Transport Buses - http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/shirdi/how_to_reach.asp Mumbai To Shirdi Route Map http://www.shirdihotelsonline.com/mumbai-shirdi-india-map/ Also check out the below link http://www.travel.bixee.com/cheap/bus-tickets/from/Mumbai/to/Shirdi/20090428/None/1/0/0/#bus-Mumbai-Shirdi-20090428--1-0-0-1 http://www.onlinebustickets.in/bus-from/shirdi-to-mumbai/ Devotees going to Shirdi by taxi/cab from Mumbai:: Hiring a car can take you shirdi with in 5 to 6 hours.Cabs from Mumbai to Shirdi cost abt Rs 3500 to 6000 INR for one way. ( approx 90 $ to 150 $ ) .. Must be within 12,000 R.s for two way if you return within a day...I found these websites while browsing online- I have never used any of them for my travel nor do I know anything much abt them but here r some links for you to check out http://www.travelcool.co.in/MumbaiShirdiMumbai.aspx http://classifieds.karnataka.com/bangalore/travels/travel-agentstour-operator/aurangabad-mumbai-shirdi-nasik-pune.html http://www.shirditaxi.info/ http://lucknow.quikr.com/c-Cars-Bikes-Rent-A-Car-Taxi-Services-MUMBAI-PUNE-SHIRDI-MUMBAI-TAXI-CAB-09867306024W0QQAdIdZ63353459 http://www.ecabs.in/SHIRDI/tabid/378/language/en-US/Default.aspx Devotees going to Shirdi by Train from Mumbai:: Sai Nagar Shirdi Railway station :A new Railway station has been build in shirdi called Sai Nagar. Its just 3-4 kms from the Main saibaba temple in shirdi. Go to this link to find the fares and seat information for trains going to Shirdi.On the upper left hand corner, choose from the from and to station options and press search trains. For example if u r in Mumbai, type that and for shirdi -type , -Sainagar

http://indiarailinfo.com/train/2896 also www.indianrail.gov.in/index.html & http://www.trainenquiry.com/ to check for train seat bookings or availability. For booking train tickets online http://www.irctc.co.in/ You can also go to http://www.irctc.com/ http://www.yatra.com/ http://www.cleartrip.com/

Driving directions from Mumbai to Shirdi::

http://www.oktatabyebye.com/travel-directions/driving-directions-from-Mumbai-to-Shirdi.html

Travel to Shirdi from Chenna via Pune / via Aurangabad/ vis Mumbai/ via Delhi Chennai to Shirdi by Air Via Pune There are Daily flights between Chennai and Pune - 1hour 40minutes Non stop or Via stopovers at Mumbai / Bengaluru / Hyderabad or Delhi which can take between a couple of hours to almost 10hours with a change of the onward aircraft depending upon the Airline. The price range for Delhi-Pune flights can range from Rs.2,900/- to Rs.11,000/- one way journey / per person & mostly all major Frills/No-frills Airlines fly this route. Domestic airport in Pune is about 231kms from Shirdi. Distance: 189 kms. | Approx. Time: 4 Hrs.

Road Directions - Take NH 4 out of Pune city for Chinchwad , At Chinchwad, Turn Right on NH 50 for Raghurajnagar(Khed) , Continue straight on NH 50 for Naraingaon via Manchar ,

Keep going north on NH 50 for Sangamner , At Sangamner, Take right on the State Highway for Shirdi (50 km)

Via Aurangabad ( IXU - Chikkalthana Airport ) Aurangabad is at a distance of 150kms, which is connected by all the major towns of India. There are daily flights of Kingfisher, Indian & Jet Airways between Chennai and Aurangabad but none are direct, all go Via stopover at Mumbai / Hyderabad / Bengaluru / Delhi / Cochin or Vishakhapatnam, depending upon the Airline, which can take between a 5hours to almost 12hours with a change of the onward aircraft. The price range for Chennai-Aurangabad flights can range from Rs.5,500/- to Rs.11,000/- one way journey / per person . From Aurangabad to Shirdi Distance: 130 kms. | Approx. Time: 4 Hrs.

Road Directions - Start From Aurangabad and Take SH 60, Continue on Pune Road SH 60 cross Pandharpur Total 58 Km, Take SH 10 via Shrirampur Total 112 Km ,

Turn Right Take SH 2 Go 19 Km, Continue on SH 2 via Rahta Pimplas Total 130 Km to Shirdi

Via Mumbai From Mumbai travel down to 296kms to reach Shirdi. Mumbai has both international and domestic airports that grant connectivity to the world. An article was posted earlier about the details of Air/Road/Train travel from Mumbai to Shirdi trip....can refer to that.

Via Delhi Delhi has both international and domestic airports that grant connectivity to the world. An article was posted earlier about the details of Air/Road/Train travel from Delhi to Shirdi trip....can refer to that.

Chennai to Shirdi Train Routes Author: shirdi

hotels online - C.Venkat Raman

â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, March 28th, 2009

http://www.shirdihotelsonline.com/category/shirdi-map-chennai-shirdi-india/

Chennai to Shirdi Distance - 1200 Kms ( approx ) Chennai to Pune by train and from Pune to shirdi by bus The best way is take any train which goes to Mumbai via Pune. Get down in Pune railway station, ask for Shivaji Nagar bus stand. From here there are various Bus to Shirdi. If you dont get shirdi bus, please go to Ahmadnagar and from there to shirdi. This is the safe way for women , children and old people. Short Cut - if you feel secured , Try to get down in Daund station and travel to Ahmadnagar by bus :

You can get down in a station called Daund which comes a couple of hours before Pune station, This is a small train junction. Once you get down in daund , walk out of the railway station, there will be few autos…ask them to take you to the junction where 3 roads meet. This is where Ahmadnagar and shirdi bus comes. The auto takes just 10 minutes to reach this point where three roads meet. You have to wait in the corner and look for Nagar bus ( Ahmadnagar ) which takes you to Ahmadnagar bus stand. From Ahmadnagar there are frequent Bus to Manmad which stops in shirdi or direct Shirdi Bus. Shirdi Map - It shows Bus route from chennai to Shirdi.

For Map route of Chennai to Shirdi - http://www.shirdihotelsonline.com/category/shirdi-map-chennai-shirdi-india/

or Below are Four options also posted by Mr.Venkat Raman on 15 :12: 2007 ( http://www.starsai.com/chennai-shirdi-train-travel/) to reach Shirdi from Chennai ( timings might change any time,do not take our information as the last word as its only approximate ). You can reach shirdi by taking first train to Bangalore or Solapur and from there take the second train to Kopergoan . OR travel by train to pune or get down in a station before pune called Daund , from there travel by Bus to Shirdi. Kopergoan is the nearest station to shirdi situated 17 kms from shirdi. If you reach kopergoan station, you can take a share auto to shirdi from there. 1. Train Number : 1042 - Mumbai express - 11.45 Morning departure in chennai - Reaches Solapur nextday at early morning at 5.30 AM wait in Solapur railway station for few hours...then take next train as below

Train Number 2627 ( Karnataka Express ) starts at At 7.25 A.M in Solapur and reaches Kopergoan at 1.40 A.M.( afternoon 13.40 ) Take a auto from Kopergoan and reach shirdi within 20 minutes.

_________________________Option 2 to travel to shirdi by train__________________

2. Train Number : 2164 - Chennai express - 7.00 Morning departure in chennai - Reaches Pune early morning ( Night ) at 2.30 AM

wait in Pune railway station for few hours...then take next train as below

Train Number 2779 ( Goa Express ) starts at At 4.15 A.M in pune and reaches Kopergoan at 9.15 A.M. Take a auto from Kopergoan and reach shirdi within 20 minutes. You can also travel from Pune to shirdi by Bus around 160 Kms 5-6 hours journey or get down in a station before pune called Daund, go to a 3 road junction by auto from daud station, from there take bus to reach Hanumanthnagar and from there travel to shirdi by bus.

_________________________Option 3 to travel to shirdi by train__________________

3.Train number 2639 - Brindavan express - Departure from chennai early morning and reaches Bangalore at 1.30 Afternoon. ( 13.30 )

wait in Bangalore railway station for few hours...then take next train as below

Train number - 2627 - Karnataka express - 19.20 evening departure from Bangalore reaches Kopargoan the next day afternoon at 13.40

Take a auto from Kopergoan and reach shirdi within 20 minutes. _________________________Option 4 to travel to shirdi by train__________________

4.ONLY ON SUNDAY : Train number - 2007 - Shatabdi Express departure from chennai at 6..00 A.M , reaches Bangalore at 11.A.M wait in Bangalore railway station for few hours...then take next train as below ( Only sunday train )

Train Number 6502 - SBC - ADI express - Starts at 13.30 ( Afternoon ) reaches Kopergoan on Monday morning at 10.50 Take a auto from Kopergoan and reach shirdi within 20 minutes. **********************************************

Return Journey - Three ways to return from Shirdi to chennai Shirdi to Chennai : Trains returning back from shirdi Bus from Shirdi to Pune : You always have option to return from Shirdi by bus to Pune ( 6 hour journey ) and catch your train from pune to chennai , bangalore ,hyderabad or any destination as per your needs. There are also frequent Bus to Mumbai ( 8 hour journey ) incase you wish to return

by Air or have booked a return train from Mumbai. Its always good to take return journey from Pune as its nearest destination. Similarly you can also reach pune by train from any place and take bus to shirdi. There are also bus to Bangalore and Hyderabad but this is long distance and not at all advicable for few people.

Be clear about this info : There are very good Bus frequency from Shirdi to Pune and also Shirdi to Mumbai. The charges will be

around 200 to 400 rupees . Do not think you must only go by train to pune to catch the return train. If you plan to stay in shirdi for more than a day, as soon as you reach shirdi, get bus tickets from any travels in shirdi back to pune for your day of return. Its a 6 hour journey from shirdi to pune. So to catch night train you can start from shirdi around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and reach pune by night 10 - 11 o clock. Have your dinner in any hotels opposite to railway station and wait for your train. In any case we have provided the option to travel by train itself to pune also.

1. Train Number : 1334 - Shirdi fast passenger - Departure at evening 17: 20 from Kopergoan , reaches Pune at 23 :00 night. wait in Pune railway station for few minutes.....to take next train

Train Number 2163 ( Chennai Express ) starts at At 00..10 ( 12.10 mid night ) from Pune and reaches Chennai at 19.30 ( Next day evening )

Important : be very careful when you book tickets in above trains : If you book for shirdi to pune for example on date 1st of the month, then you must book ticket for train number 2163 dated 2nd of that month because it starts after 12 o clock at night , so it becomes next day ) _________________________Option 2 for return journey to chennai__________________

2.Train number 2780 - Goa express - departure at 11.20 from Kopergoan - reaches Pune at 16.30 . Wait for few hours in pune railways station.......

Train number 1041 - CSTM Chennai express - departue at 18.10 from Pune - Reaches chennai at 16.45 Next day evening. _________________________Option 3 for return journey to chennai__________________

3. Only on Wednesday train : Train number 6501 ADI - SBC Express - Departure at 8.25 from Kopergoan and reaches Bangalore at 4.45 A.M early morning of next day.

Wait in Bangalore railway station for few minutes to take next train

Train number - 2608 - Lal Bagh express - Departure at 6.30 in the morning and reaches chennai at 12.10 in the afternoon. Its your responsibility to check with train timings and numbers. See www.irctc.com , www.yatra.com, www.Cleartrip.com also www.indianrail.gov.in/index.html & www.trainenquiry. com to check for train seat bookings or availability. For Private Bus (Volvos) Related queries ie - Bookings,Fares,Route,Pick-up/Drop Point - http://www.redbus.in/ For State Transport Buses - http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/shirdi/how_to_reach.asp For Cab Bookings - www.merucabs.com

Ps- Air or Rail Fare / Timings / Routes / Time-table mentioned above is always subject to change. Delhi to Shirdi By Air Via Nashik -

(ISK) - Gandhinagar Airport, Nashik is the nearest to Shirdi. At present, Kingfisher Airlines is the only airline which flys daily to Nashik via stopovers at Mumbai / Ahmedabad / Hyderabad / Bengaluru / Kolkata or Indore, with Fares ranging from INR Rs.6.000/- to Rs.11,000/- one way journey / per person but has long stopovers. From Nashik to Shirdi Distance: 120 kms. | Approx. Time taken: 3.5 Hrs by road.

Road Directions - Start From Nashik, Take Pune Road NH 50 , Continue on NH 50 towards Sangamner 67 Km , Take SH 10 Towards Shirdi 53 Km

Via Aurangabad ( IXU - Chikkalthana Airport ) Aurangabad is at a distance of 150kms, which is connected by all the major towns of India. There are Daily flights between Delhi and Aurangabad - Non stop 1 Hr 50 Min or Via stopover at Mumbai / Jaipur or Hyderabad which can take between a couple of hours to almost 12hours with a change of the onward aircraft , could be ATR too. The price range for Delhi-Aurangabad flights can range from Rs.4,800/- to Rs.10,000/- one way journey / per person & mostly all major Frills/No-frills Airlines fly this route. From Aurangabad to Shirdi Distance: 130 kms. | Approx. Time: 4 Hrs.

Road Directions - Start From Aurangabad and Take SH 60, Continue on Pune Road SH 60 cross Pandharpur Total 58 Km, Take SH 10 via Shrirampur Total 112 Km ,

Turn Right Take SH 2 Go 19 Km, Continue on SH 2 via Rahta Pimplas Total 130 Km to Shirdi

Via Pune There are Daily flights between Delhi and Pune - 2 Hours Non stop or Via stopovers at Mumbai / Nagpur / Indore / Bengaluru / Hyderabad or Chennai which can take between a couple of hours to almost 10hours with a change of the onward aircraft , could be ATR too. The price range for Delhi-Pune flights can range from Rs.5,000/- to Rs.11,000/- one way journey / per person & mostly all major Frills/No-frills Airlines fly this route. Domestic airport in Pune is about 231kms from Shirdi. Distance: 189 kms. | Approx. Time: 4 Hrs.

Road Directions - Take NH 4 out of Pune city for Chinchwad , At Chinchwad, Turn Right on NH 50 for Raghurajnagar(Khed) , Continue straight on NH 50 for Naraingaon via Manchar ,

Keep going north on NH 50 for Sangamner , At Sangamner, Take right on the State Highway for Shirdi (50 km)

Delhi to Shirdi By Road Shirdi can be reached by taking a Bus from almost all major cities of Maharashtra. Shirdi is on the Ahmednagar-Manmad Highway, 250 km from Mumbai and 75 km from Nashik. MTDC runs buses from all major destinations.

Road Directions from Mumbai to Shirdi Continue on Eastern Express Highway (NH-3) - towards Shahapur (73 Km), Continue on NH 3 – towards Igatpuri (52 Km) over Kasara Ghat , Continue on NH 3 – towards Nashik (47 Km) , At Nashik, take NH 50 – towards Sangamner (67 Km) , At Sangamner, take SH 10 – towards Shirdi (53 Km) OR Go Straight along Eastern.Express Highway towards Thane and NH3 connecting Nashik. After Kasara Ghat and Igatpuri on NH3, Turn Right to Ghoti. Go via Ghoti village[approx.15-20 mins].. Cross the railway tracks. There will be roughly 25 mins of rough driving, after which the road smoothens out onto another smaller highway leading to Sinnar. Turn Right from Sinnar to go straight to Shirdi. Try and avoid going all the way to Nashik on NH3 as that route will take an hour more.

New Delhi to Shirdi by Trains. Author: shirdi hotels online • Saturday, March 28th, 2009

Sai Ram friends, This Approx Distance from New Delhi to Shirdi is 1200 Kms, I have included very few trains which goes from New Delhi to Shirdi. You can search for trains which goes to following stations near shirdi. 1.Kopergoan - 15 kms 2.Mammad - 40 kms Register in www.irctc.com /

www.indianrail.gov.in/index.html or www.yatra.com and

www.Cleartrip.com check for trains which goes from New Delhi to Goa,Bangalore etc. This way the trains will cross Manmad or Kopergoan stations.

List of few trains from New Delhi to Kopergoan 1. Train number - 2628 - karnataka express New Delhi to Bangalore will Half few minutes at Kopergoan . The Map below shows the approx route of this Train journey from Delhi to shirdi. Most train takes the following route from New Delhi New Delhi - Mathura - Agra - Gwalior - Jhansi - Bhopal - Bhurhanpur - Jalgoan - Manmad - Kopergoan 2. Train Number 2680 - Goa express from Nizamuddin Goa express also comes from Delhi via Kopergoan. ***********

Return journey - Shirdi To Delhi trains 1. Same train goes back to Delhi from Kopergoan station. Karnataka express - Train No 2627 2. Goa express - 2779 - Kopergoan to Delhi

***************** Friends , At present am able to list only above 2 important trains. You can check in Indian railway reservation for other options.

1. Delhi to Nasik trains Two hour journey From Nasik many buses are there to shirdi apart from trains but mostly these trains are always full as it comes from Punjab via delhi. Try this train which comes to Manmad station Train No. 2618 Mangla LKDSP Express From Nizamuddin ( NZM ) to ernakulam . It halts at Manmad and also Nasik. Get down at Manmad and take bus just an hour journey to Shirdi. 2. Delhi to Pune trains - from Pune go to Shivaji nagar bus stand and get Shirdi Bus ( 5 hour journey ) 3. Delhi to Mumbai trains - From mumbai buses can be got from dadar, borivali,andheri etc to shirdi ( 7 to 8 hours )

Shirdi Map - Delhi to Shirdi : http://www.shirdihotelsonline.com/category/shirdi-map-delhi-shirdi-trains/ Google Map shows Bus route . I have tried to make it approx for New Delhi to Shirdi train route based on Karnataka express. New Delhi - Mathura - Agra - Gwalior - Jhansi - Bhopal - Bhurhanpur - Jalgoan - Manmad - Kopergoan For Air/Train/Bus Bookings, Seat Availability, Route - www.yatra.com

Ps- Many Travel/Tour Operators do provide Delhi-Shirdi Bus/Taxi/Air Packages but plan your trip with them after due Diligence as I have never used any such services nor can comment anything about them. Also, the Fares / Timings mentioned above are always subject to change.. For detailed travel from Chennai egmore to Shirdi and return

……………………………

SPECIAL WEEKLY TRAINS WITH NEW ROUTES : Chennai Egmore-SHIRDI-Chennai Egmore CHENNAI: Taking into account the increased number of rail passengers, the Southern Railway is exploring new inter-zonal routes to run summer specials. Contrary to the approach of operating specials trains to destinations falling under the zone, the Southern Railways is exploring the option of successfully operating special trains from Chennai to places like Jaipur (North), Bilaspur (South-East-Central) and Shirdi (Central), which fall under the other zones of Indian railways.

While the Chennai Central-Jaipur-Chennai Central and Tirunelveli-Bilaspur-Tirunelveli is operating as weekly specials, it is exploring another weekly special, the Chennai Egmore-Shirdi-Chennai Egmore.

The Central Railway will run Special Trains between Chennai Egmore and Sainagar Shirdi to clear the extra rush of passengers. The halts will be at Perambur, Arakkonam, Renigunta, Koduru, Razampeta, Nandalur, Cuddappah, Kamalapuram, Yerraguntla, Muddanaru, Kondapuram, Tadipatri, Gooty, Guntakal, Adoni, Mantralayam Road, Raichur, Krishna, Yadgir, Wadi, Gulbarga, Solapur, Kurduwadi, Daund, Ahmednagar, Belapur, Puntamba stations.

The 0677 Special Departs Chennai Egmore on every Tuesday at 15.00 hours from 21.4.2009 to 23.6.2009 (10 trips) ( ie April 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 16 and 23 ) & Arrives Sainagar Shirdi at 16.45 hours next day.

The 0678 Special Departs Sainagar Shirdi on every Thursday at 08.00 hrs from 23..4.2009 to 25.6.2009 (10 trips) ( ie April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4, 11, 18, 25 ) & Arrives Chennai Egmore at 11.45 hrs next day.

Composition : 1 AC 2-tier, 2 AC 3-tier, 13 Sleeper Class, 3 General Second Class & 2 Luggageâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;cumâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;brake van Coaches.

Advance reservation for the above trains will commence on 15.4.2009.

Train Time Table - 27 halts between Chennai Egmore and Sainagar Shirdi

Make sure to visit the official site and double-check the timetable.

Chennai Shirdi Special/0677 - Avg Speed: 51 km/hr 25 hrs 45 min - 1209 km - 27 halts - Climbs: 501m Departs @ 03:00PM/Tue - Chennai Egmore/MS Arrives @ 04:45PM +1 night/Wed - Sainagar Shirdi/SNSI

Station

Arrives

Chennai Egmore/MS

Departs

Halt

03:00PM

Day#

Distance

Speed

Elev

Perambur/PER

03:22PM

03:25PM

3 min

Arakkonam/AJJ

04:25PM

04:30PM

5 min

91m

Renigunta Junction/RU

05:45PM

06:05PM

20 min

147

113m

Koduru/KOU

06:43PM

06:45PM

2 min

188

215m

Razampeta/RJP

07:10PM

07:12PM

2 min

221

144m

Nandalur/NRE

07:25PM

07:27PM

2 min

232

143m

Cuddapah/HX

08:10PM

08:15PM

5 min

272

146m

Kamalapuram/KKM

08:35PM

08:37PM

2 min

296

141m

Yerraguntla/YA

08:51PM

08:53PM

2 min

311

171m

Muddanuru/MOO

09:05PM

09:07PM

2 min

327

194m

Kondapuram/KDP

09:35PM

09:37PM

2 min

351

214m

Tadipatri/TU

10:05PM

10:07PM

2 min

379

243m

Gooty/GY

11:15PM

11:17PM

2 min

427

370m

Guntakal Junction/GTL

11:45PM

11:50PM

5 min

455

453m

Adoni/AD

12:30AM

12:32AM

2 min

507

420m

Manthralayam Road/MALM

01:30AM

01:40AM

10 min

548

334m

Raichur/RC

02:10AM

02:15AM

5 min

576

404m

Krishna/KSN

02:40AM

02:42AM

2 min

601

357m

Yadgir/YG

03:30AM

03:32AM

2 min

645

369m

Wadi/WADI

05:30AM

05:40AM

10 min

684

431m

Gulbarga/GR

06:15AM

06:18AM

3 min

720

458m

Solapur Junction/SUR

08:30AM

08:40AM

10 min

833

463m

Kurduvadi/KWV

09:40AM

09:42AM

2 min

912

516m

Daund Junction/DD

12:00PM

12:10PM

10 min

1021

522m

Ahmadnagar/ANG

01:42PM

01:45PM

3 min

1105

650m

Belapur/BAP

03:00PM

03:03PM

3 min

1172

541m

Puntamba/PB

03:45PM

04:00PM

15 min

1192

501m

Sainagar Shirdi/SNSI

04:45PM

1209

509m

For Chennai-Shirdi Rail Route Map - http://indiarailinfo.com/train/map/2293/779/6721

Karnataka to Shirdi - Garib Rath Special Trains The Hindu - Karnataka Friday, May 15, 2009 Staff Correspondent HUBLI: The railways have decided to run a Weekly Garib Rath Special from Yeshwanthpur (Karnataka) to Shirdi to clear the extra rush during summer, a press release said. Route : Train No.0685 will leave Yeshwanthpur at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesdays, commencing from May 19 and arrive at Shirdi station at 8 a.m. the next day. The last weekly Garib Rath special from Yeshwanthpur will be on June 30. Return Direction In the return direction, train No.0686 Shirdi-Yeshwanthpur Garib Rath weekly special will leave Shirdi at 6.20 p.m. on Wednesdays, commencing from May 20 and arrive at Yeshwanthpur at 8 p.m. the next day. The last special from Shirdi will be on July 1. Halts The train will halt at Doddaballapur, Hindupur, Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Guntakal, Bellary, Toranagal, Hospet, Gadag, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Solapur, Daund, Ahmednagar, Belapur and Pantumba, the release added. The train will have 18 coaches, comprising 16 3-tier A.C. high capacity coaches and two generator cars, the press release stated further.

Special Trains between Shirdi and Visakhapatnam Sainagar Shirdi - Visakhapatnam Bi-weekly specials number - 0868 will be run. Booking opens for 0868 from 18.5.2009.

CR TO RUN VISAKHAPATNAM-SAINAGAR SHIRDI BI-WEEKLY SPECIAL TRAINS Central Railway will run Bi-Weekly Special Trains between Visakhapatnam and Sainagar Shirdi to clear the extra rush of passengers. The details of these special trains are as under: Route to Shirdi - 0867 Special will leave Visakhapatnam on every Wednesday & Saturday at 05.30 hrs from 20.5..2009 to 27.6.2009 (12 trips) and arrive Sainagar Shirdi at 11.00 hrs next day. Return from Shirdi - 0868 Special will leave Sainagar Shirdi on every Thursday & Sunday at 18.20 hrs from 21.5.2009 to 28.6.2009 (12 trips) and arrive Visakhapatnam at 22.45 hrs next day. Halts: Duvvada, Rajhmundry, Vijayawada, Secunderabad, Bolarum, Kamareddi, Nizamabad, Basar, Nanded, Purna, Parbhani, Jalna, Aurangabad, Nagarsol, Manmad, Kopargaon, Puntamba. Booking opens for 0868 from 18.5.2009. Composition: One AC-2 Tier, One AC-3 Tier, 8 Sleeper Class, 6 General Second Class and 2 General Second Class cum brake vans.

"Meanwhile, the 0117-0118 Mumbai CST-Shirdi Weekend Special train which reaches Shirdi in just 7hrs from Mumbai has been extended for another six trips from April 24 to May 29, with bookings beginning from April 14."

Things to know during your travel to Shirdi:

A majority of the people do not speak English inside or outside of the Temple Complex at Shirdi. Most of the people who speak English are the ones who run the larger hotels. Purchase anti-diarrheal medications before you leave to Shirdi. The Temple Complex has two main places for you to keep your shoes (cost is 1 rupee). If you are wearing chappals or sandals, you have to store them at a separate shoe counter. This is perhaps the most confusing part of the ashram. I would suggest you buy some cheap sandals, mark you name on them and find a place to put them in case you get confused about the shoe counters. Just remember where you put your sandals, because when you come out of from the Darshan area, you are on the opposite side of the Temple Complex. I was not able to find any sort of public internet facilities when I was at Shirdi. Shirdi does have telephone services for local, state and international calls. When booking a return bus ticket to Bombay, make sure you get the earliest bus (it takes 7 hours to get to Bombay) and make sure the bus is A/C (costs around Rs.-300-400). Try to sit on the left hand side of the bus so you can keep an eye on your luggage, which is stored in a compartment below the bus. The boys who sell flowers, pictures and statues can be very stubborn and will literally follow your for hours. If you would like to help them out (most are very poor), make your purchases a few hours prior to leaving Shirdi. Otherwise, you will attract large groups of sellers. A small bundle of roses (about 3-4 roses tied together) costs Rs.-3, if you would like to offer flowers in the temple.

Inside The Temple::

Once you go inside the Temple for Darshan, you can expect long lines if it is a Holy Day or a thursday or a weekend. Otherwise, you will not have to wait long at all. Avoid Holy Days (the lines are extremely long and the wait can easily exceed 5 hours). You can expect police officers and Temple workers to be screaming loudly at people to hurry up and move forward. I would suggest you get in the furthest left-hand side line. In that line, you can touch Sai Baba's actual samadhi and the silver chappals that are located there. You can offer flowers and there are places where you can offer money. As soon as you offer your flowers and touch his samadhi, kindly leave the area. Winters are the best season to visit Shirdi. The months from September to April being the ideal period. The daytime temperature is pleasant during this period, making the days excellent for visiting the tourist attractions of the town. The summers can get very hot (May-August). Make sure you drink bottled water.

Map of temple complex can be found at : http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/shirdi/map.asp

The temple premises of Shri Saibaba is spread in approximately 200 sq. mtrs.It is situated in the heart of Shirdi village and is a major center of pilgrimagefrom all over the world.On an average, daily 20,000 devotees visit Shirdi village, to have the Darshan of Shri Saibaba. In the festival season, more than 1,00,000 devotees visit the Temple everyday.The Temple premises is renovated in the year 1998-99 and now is equipped with all necessary facilities like, Darshan Lane, Prasada (Lunch and Dinner), Donation Counters, Prasad Counters, Canteen, Railway Reservation Counter, Book Stall etc. The Accommodation Facilities are also provided by the Sansthan. http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/shirdi/accommodation.asp

Places To Visit In Shirdi::

Sai Baba's place Shirdi (Maharashtra State) is a very sacred, powerful and important place of pilgrimage in India. Khandoba Mandir: This place is near Shirsainath Hospital. Baba stepped here in Shirdi at the foot of banyan tree near Khandoba Temple along with Chand Patil's wife's nephew's marriage party. The then Pujari Mhalsapati welcome Him by calling "Ya Sai". Gurusthan Mandir: This is the place where Baba first appeared to the world as a boy of 16 years & this place is supposed to be Baba's Gurusthan. the famous Margosa (Neem) tree is here. it has a reference in Shri Sai Sat-charita. Devotees claim that their ailments are cured by burning incense here on Thursday & Friday. So dont forget to burn incense there even if it is not a thursday or friday. Sai Baba's Samadhi Mandir: This is the place where Sacred Body of Baba is resting in Samadhi. The articles handled by Baba are preserved & displayed here in a special showroom. All rituals consisting of Pooja. Abhishek & daily four Aratis are performed here. The Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur and a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao, also known as 'Butti Wada'. He wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar there. However, according to the legends, Sai Baba manifested himself as Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba. The Samadhi of Baba is built with white marble stones. The railings around it are full of ornamental decorations. The idol of Baba is a marvelous statue made up of Italian marble built by Late Balaji Vasant in 1954. The temple has an assembly hall for about 600 devotees. The first floor of the temple has the pictures depicting the life of the saint. The temple opens on 5 AM with morning prayers and close down at 10 PM with night prayers. Dwarkamai (Masjid): Baba stayed at this place continuously for 60 years. Innumerable devotees got blessing of Baba here. The Shila (Stone) on which Baba used to sit is located nearby. Also Sacred Fire (Dhuni) lit by Baba is ever burning here. Baba used to give Sacred Udi (Ash) to the devotees to solve their problems in life. Udi distributed to the devotees now is only from this Dhuni. Baba used to cook food here for distribution to devotees. Main attraction of the site is the oil paintings of the sage. If possible, try to read Shri Sai Satcharitra over here. You will find a lot of peace with in you after you do that. Chawdi Mandir: On every alternate day Baba used to proceed in procession from Dwarkamai to this place at night & halt & sleep here. Now also on every Thursday Palanquin procession of Baba's Photo. Holy Padukas & Satka is taken to this place between 9.15 p.m. & 10.00 p.m. The Chavadi is divided into two parts. One part of the Chavadi has a large portrait of Baba along with a wooden bed and a white chair belonging to him. Lendi Baug: At some distance from Gurusthan, there is the Lendi Baug. This garden was made and watered daily by Baba himself. It got its name from a nullah (a drain), which used to flow there. Baba used to come here every morning and afternoon and take rest under a neem tree. Baba dug a pit, 2 feet deep, under the neem tree and kept a deep (a lighting object) lit in that pit. An octagonal deepgriha (lighthouse) called Nanda Deep has been built in marble stone in memory of this place. It constantly burns in a glass box. On one side of the deepgriha is a pipal tree and on the other side is a neem tree. There is also Datta Mandir in this garden & Shri Sai Baba's deloyed Horse 'Shamkarna'(Shamsunder) is taking Eternal Rest here. There is also a well here called as 'Baba's Shivdi'. Other Places: The Samadhis of Shri Tatya Patil Kote, Shri Bhau Maharaj Kumbhar, Shri V.Padmanabha Iyer, Shri Nanawali & Shri Abdul Baba who were ardent Bhaktas closely associated with Shri Sai Baba during His life time are located in Sansthan premises near lendhi Baug. In addition 3 other Temples are in Temples premises complex : 1) Shri Ganesh Temple, 2) Shri Shani Temple & 3) Shri Mahadev Temple Nearby Sites: Situated around 5 km from Shirdi is Sakori. The place is home to the Upasini Maharaj. Shanisinghnapur is 70 km from Shirdi. A temple devoted to Shani is located there.

Staying in Shirdi :

Shirdi has a lot of good hotels as per oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements. 5 Star accommodation : Sun-n-Sand hotel (http://www.sunnsandhotel.com/) Mid-range luxury hotel : Sai Leela Hotel (http://www.hotelsaileela.com/) MTDC Hotels : Pilgrims Inn Shirdi (http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/) Hotel Utsav in Shirdi for short stays (http://www.hotelutsavshirdi.com/)

Shirdi Sai Sansthanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cheaper Accomodation : Shirdi Sai Sansthan provides cheaper accommodation. For more details please visit the site (http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/shirdi/shirdi/accommodation.asp) For more hotels with their price details ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 4000: http://www.holidayiq.com/Shirdi-Hotels-Resorts-Reviews-Rating-Tariff-550-20-yes-destination.html

Useful tips for travellers from foreign countries:

Special VIP Pass : For overseas devotees, the Shirdi Sai Sansthan provides special passes, which can be obtained from the PRO office, near to the NandaDeep.Foreigners can show their passports to get the VIP pass. Ipods, Mp3 players,Cameras & Mobile Phones : Photography/video shooting is not permitted in the temple premises, and the temple staff is quite strict about this rule.Cameras and mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple. But there are locker facilities available, for depositing the camera and mobile phones, within the temple complex. But if I were you, I would just leave it in my hotel room or in my car.And specially your ipods and mp3 players, I got stuck once for that so make sure all those hi tech stuff is taken care of before you decide to go to samadhi mandir.

For more information about the temple log onto: http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/ Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, (Shirdi) PO: Shirdi Tal. Rahata Dist. Ahmednagar Pin-423109 Tel No:+ 91-2423-258500 Fax: office 91-2423-258870 & P.R.O, Office 91-2423- 258770. E-mail: saibaba@sai.org.in URL : http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/ http://www.sai.org.in/ Daily program schedule in Shirdi:: http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/shirdi/dailyprograms.asp Important festivals in Shirdi with dates:: http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_English/shirdi/festivals.asp Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devoh Maheshwar; Gurur Shakshat Parambramha Tashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah" May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of mind. Sai bhakt, Deepa H Blog dedicated to Shri Shirdi Saibaba : http://debu7366.blogspot.com/ Listen to Radio Shirdi Sai : http://sairadio.blogspot.com/ For free Sai Satcharitra books: http://www.saiseva.omsrisai.net/store/index.php Saibaba temple directory: http://www.omsrisai.net/saitemples.php