Shirdi Sai Baba Temple – Where Faith and Patience Live

A majority of Indians, and even countless people worldwide, are devotees of Sai Baba. For those in the know, Sai Baba of Shirdi propagated faith and patience, i.e. Shraddha and Saburi, respectively. Also called Shirdi Sai Baba, he is revered by those belonging to both Hindu and Muslim faiths and is called saint and fakir according to the different beliefs. There are several legends attached to the story of Sai Baba. One thing that stands out about Sai Baba is that he had no desire for materialistic things. What he believed in were love, peace, harmony, forgiveness, charity and an undivided devotion to God.

Sai Baba combined elements of both Hinduism and Islam in his teachings. The mosque that he lived in was named Dwarkamayi by him and his teachings included “Sabka Malik Ek” and “Allah Malik”. While Sai Baba’s real name and birthplace are unknown, he was given the name ‘Sai’ by Mahalsapati, a local temple priest. ‘Sai’ in is a Persian title given to Sufi saints which means “poor one”. While the stories associated with the Shirdi Sai Baba temple are fascinating to say the least, let’s take a look at some other interesting aspects of his history. If you’re planning a visit to Shirdi any time soon, do check out the lovely hotels in Shirdi on Travelguru!

The Temple

The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple was built over the samadhi of Sai Baba, and is visited round the year by countless Sai devotees. Built in 1922, the Shirdi Sai Baba temple was established to continue the services of Sai Baba. It is said that Sai Baba visited Shirdi at the young age of 16 and stayed there, never to leave, until his death in 1918.

Samadhi

The Samadhi Mandir is where the sacred body of Sai Baba is resting in samadhi. The things that Baba used on a daily basis are all preserved here in a special room. The mandir has an idol of Sai Baba made completely out of marble. This site has a lot of items, inscriptions and pictures that talk about the life of the saint.

Dwarkamai

Dwarkamai was an old abandoned mosque that Sai Baba turned into his home. It was him that gave the mosque the name Dwarkamai. People would come to visit Baba at Dwarkamai and it is here that he rid people of their burdens. Dwarkamai consists of a portrait of Sai Baba and a huge stone on which he sat.

There are a lot of other temples and sites of historic and religious importance here that one must visit to feel the positive vibes and spirituality. If you want to visit Shirdi to pay homage to the Baba, check out Travelguru hotels in Shirdi and start planning your trip right away!