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Writer's pictureManish Vyas

the village of shirdi, the place of sai baba.


Just recently I was visiting this town, so I share some highlights about it, and if you are interested, you can google more about it. For me, it was a wonderful experience. Shirdi is located approximately 300 km from Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra. It is called "the Land of Sai," as it was the hometown of the Saint Shirdi Sai Baba for more than 50 years, being one of the most frequented places of pilgrimage in India. The shrine of the saint is called Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir - Hundreds and thousands of devotees of all faiths arrive at the temple throughout the year. There are usually four main devotional prayers, sung very loud, since there are thousands of people in the temple and nearby... Darshan times are early morning, midday, sunset time and night... Sai Baba's aartis are recited (religious rituals of worships, similar to mantras.) I love that these rituals finish with a prayer similar to a call of an azan (muslim prayer call.) Both Hindus and Muslims (and other religions) praise Sai Baba, which is wonderfully uniting - 'oneness'. He supported no religion, but a state of being, an attitude. Sai Baba entered this village when he was 16 years of age. He devoted his entire life to the poor and the suffering. The saint’s origin and early life are covered in enigma.

The streets of the holy town are full of beautiful shops which sell handicrafts and Sai Baba's various souvenirs, portraits, candles, incense, malas, etc, etc.

"Those who think that Baba is only in Shirdi have totally failed to know me." Sai Baba


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