Informations/Piligrimage to Holy Shirdi and Sai Baba Darshan

[Guest guest]

Dear Sai brothers and sisters,

On the eve of ensuing Shankaranthi, we take the pleasure of taking our members

to Holy Shirdi Darshan and pray the Divine Lord Sai for the happiness, welfare

and prosperity of ONE AND ALL.

Sai brothers - ''

**

Who was Sai Baba?

Sai Baba was not only a great saint but "God incarnate" Himself in the eyes of

the millions of devotees of different cast, creed and also religion. The great

savior (Sai means savior) descended on mother earth around 1854 and took His

Samadhi on 15th October 1918 [on a Vijayadashami Day] to the best of our known

records. Sai Baba of Shirdi lives in the hearts of his devotees today and

always. Sai Baba as He is commonly known is also the common man's God. His

first visit to Shirdi was anonymous but He was noticed meditating under a Neem

tree in the outskirts of Shirdi. For the second time He was seen at a wedding

in which He was incidentally the guest of honour in 1858. Sai Baba graced the

village of Shirdi by spending His physical life from 1858 to 1918. Sai Baba was

a figure for love, compassion, empathy and Divinity. He enjoyed dance and music

too. He used to sing and dance in Divine bliss with in the company of Fakhirs

and devotee's. His attire was in the form of a long shirt known as Kafni and a

cloth tied around His head. He represented a common man who could get angry,

have varying moods and on the other hand be full of love and compassion. Under

over this idol of simplicity was God himself. He worked for self-realisation of

millions of devotees spiritually.

Teachings of Sai Baba

Sai Baba did not leave behind any written teachings or discourses because he

never wanted to "teach." Sai Baba often said that he came to awaken not to

teach. He sought to bring about awakening through the medium of love. His

teachings as reported by his devotees/followers can be summed up as below:

The devotee should know that my spirit is immortal.

I keep my eye on those who love forever.

I am everywhere and in all places and the whole world is with me.

I move everywhere and anywhere. I pervade the universe.

I am both the visible and the invisible.

I am unborn, eternal and everlasting.

I am merciful to all. I am not beholden to anyone except God.

Do not remain idle but engage yourself in some useful activity. Read the sacred

texts. Be moderate in your food and recreation.

Surrender the fruit of action to him so that action will not harm or bind you.

Let your love and compassion flow to all creatures of God. Do not engage in

controversy. World (of others) cannot harm you. Bear with others patiently.

Accept your log cheerfully without comparing yourself with others. Do not speak

ill of others. Do not give tit for tat because each is answerable for his own

actions.

Know that God is. Do not believe that God is not. God is omnipresent. God's name

is eternal. This universe is all a Leela of God.

Only he knows how he will protect and sustain. He is the protector of the poor.

He is very compassionate. We falter in our faith in Him and lack sufficient

patience.

Herculean effort is necessary for the attainment of God.

Who says He is out of reach? He is there in the tabernacle of our heart, nearer

to us than the fingernail to the finger. Without unflinching faith and

patience, you will not see Him. One who has both these will undoubtedly find

Him. It needs insight to recognise God.

His Will be done. He will show the way and all your heart's desires will be

fulfilled. Be content with your lot. Light dispels darkness.

Do good and offer it to God and He will bless you. Do evil and you will

displease Him. God protects the righteous.  Those who sow nettles expect me to

give them corn. How can I do so?

I am God's slave. Even the learned are confused. Then what of us? Listen and be

silent. One who has received His grace is silent, but who falls from grace

talks too much. His Grace must be earned by merit.

The udi will be most useful for my devotees. Preserve it carefully. My men will

throng to Shirdi like ants. Fear not. I am always with you. Men may come and

men may go. What do we have to do with it? How does it concern us?

People inhabit villages and towns. I live in jungle. People have a roof over

their head. I have none. I have single-horse carriage (the vital breath, prana)

but it carries ten to twelve men (organs). I will slay the four bodies (the

gross body, subtle body, casual body and the mahakaran).

Do not think I am dead and gone. You will hear me from my samadhi and I shall

guide you. Do not engage in controversy. For every ten words you hear, speak

only one word, if that is necessary. You need neither praise nor blame others.

If you injure others' feelings, I suffer. I feel disgusted when you quarrel

with others.

Members in a family are bound to have differences. But do not quarrel. One, who

means well, will do well. If you do good, good will follow.

Great is the reward of virtue. The vicious suffer.

If wealth is used judiciously, it will be beneficial.

Wholesome food will bring good health. A man of restraint is better than a man

of indulgence. Do not covet others' wealth.

See how selfish people are. When it suits them, they leave their companion. So

attach yourself to one who will never forsake you. (There is no such companion

except the sadguru. Love the creation but keep company with the sadguru for his

companionship will conduce to your welfare). Once you entrust yourself to the

hands of the sadguru, you do not have to worry. I never forsake any one who

relies on me. One has to accept the guru wholeheartedly and not mechanically.

Why grieve for the loss of son? Everyone has to die one day. In this mortal

world, death is inevitable. Whatever may happen, one should remains steadfast

and watch everything with detachment. Be hospitable to anyone who comes to you.

Give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothing to the naked and

shelter to the homeless and God will bless you. Whatever you give me will come

back to you redoubled. If you sow then only can you reap.

One who is enlightened will not make a noise about it. You cannot escape what is

pre-ordained. You may face it with a groan or a smile. Only that choice is

yours. Earth will return to earth, and the soul will fly away. Practice before

you preach.

*****

Daily Schedule at Shirdi

Programs

Time

Kakad Aarti     

Holy Bath of Shri Sai Baba

Darshan Begins

Satyanarayana Pooja

Abhishekam

Noon Aarti

Pravachan or Poojan

Dhoop Aarti

Bhajan, Kirtan, Vocal Music etc.

Shej Aarti

5:15 a.m.

6:00 a.m.

7:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m. &; 10:30 a.m.

9:00 a. m.

12:00

4:00 p.m.

Sunset

9:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

10:00 p.m.

 The "Agamas" mention 16 acts for the performance of the Pooja.

1.       Offering "asana" or "seat" to the deity or idol / image.

2.       "Swagata" or welcome to the lord.

3.       "Padya" or worship of the feet of the deity with water.

4.       Arghya (water offering made in the vessel).

5.       Achamana (water for sipping).

6.       Madhuparka (honey, ghee, milk and curd for offering).

7.       Snanama (bath)

8.       Vastra (cloth or garments for the deity)

9.       Bhushana or ornaments.

10.   Gandha (perfume)

11.   Pushpa (flower offering)

12.   Dhoop (Incense Sticks)

13.   Deepaka (Lighted lamp)

14.   Naivedya (Food or fruit)

15.   Tambulam (betel leaf, nuts etc.)

16.   16. Vandana (Prayer)

Sandalwood and saffron paste, flowers, rice coloured with turmeric and Kumkum,

holy Padukas (foot wears) of Sai Baba, prayer beads, rosary and oil for the

Nanda-deep.

The distance of Shirdi from some important cities is as under

Sai Baba's place Shirdi (Maharashtra State) is a very sacred, powerful and

important place of pilgrimage in India. One can visit this holy place easily.

It is a well-developed town connected by bus routes. There is an important

Railway Station, Kopergaon, though which the Karnataka Express from New Delhi

to Bangalore passes. A number of trains from Bombay and Delhi also pass through

Manmad station. Shirdi is only about 58 kms from Manmad and buses and taxis are

easily available to reach there.

1

Bombay to Manmad

216 Km.

2

Manmad to Kopergaon

43Km

3

Pune-Dond to Kopergaon

273Km

4

Sholapur to Dond-Kopergaon

384Km

5

Madras to Dond-Kopergaon

1210Km

6

Sikandrabad to Manmad

630Km

7

Bangalore to                             Sholapur-Kopergaon

737Km

8

Delhi to Manmad

1282Km

9

Delhi to Kopergaon

1325Km

10

Hawra-Ittarsi to Manmad

1913Km

11

Hawra-Nagpur to Manmad

1708Km

12

Jabalpur-Ittarsi to Manmad

732Km

13

Ahmedabad-Jalgaon               to Manmad

700Km

14

Bhopal to Manmad

576Km

15

Bhopal to Kopergaon

619Km

16

Bombay - Nasik - Shirdi

270Km

17

Pune - Sangamner - Shirdi

207Km

18

Pune - Ahmednagar - Shirdi

200Km

19

Aurangabad - Baijapur - Shirdi

148Km

20

Aurangabad - Shirdi

137Km

21

Sholapur-Ahmednagar-Shirdi

315Km

22

Dhule-Manmad-Shirdi

142Km

23

Surat-Nvapur-Manmad-Shirdi

342Km

24

Surat-Nasik-Shirdi

304Km

25

Weed-Shirdi

212Km

26

Hyderabad-Usmanbad-Shirdi

658Km

27

Manmad-Shirdi

65Km

28

Kopergaon to Shirdi

18Km

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