This year we decided to spend the Pongal holidays visiting Shirdi. We reached Mumbai on 13th and left by surface to Shirdi. The amost eight hour ride is covered by good roads. NH3 takes you right up to Nashik. Thereafter the road to Shirdi is single track. To reach Nashik you have to climb a small range of hills and pass through a canyon. The route is picturesque with a series of flat topped mountain ranges that are coloured in multiple stripes of grey, black and green.
We reached Shirdi late in the evening and were able to have great Dharshan of Baba! “Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings would come to an end,” this is the first of the Eleven Sayings of Shirdi Sai Baba. As my feet touched Shirdi soil I prayed that Baba should chase away all my sorrows and (why not?) the sorrows of the whole world. As we entered the Samadhi Mandir and approached the murthi or idol of Baba sitting resplendent in on a golden throne with a Golden chatra over his head Baba seemed to smile enigmatically at me, as if challenging the validity of my prayer!
I bowed my head in humility and prayed instead for his presence with me throughout the year and his guidance and support in all my lawful undertakings.
The next day we visited the other places of interest like Dwarka Mayi, the Masoodhi-Mandir where Baba spent the day and the Chavadi where he spent the night. Those who have read Sat Charitram will understand the divine importance of these two places, as the shrines where Baba lived, loved and spread his light of Knowledge to the whole world.
We were also able to visit the house of Lakshmi Bai a devotee who was allotted the blessed task of feeding the Baba regularly. Once Baba gave Lakshmi Bai 9 (Nine) coins. This was symbolic of the nine types of devotion that have to be shown to the supreme Godhead. These coins, bearing the faces of the British emperors, are on display in this small shrine together with a small marble idol of the recipient.
We then went to the Kandhoba temple where Mahalsapathi the Priest of this shrine greeted Baba and said, 'Avoji Sayee Baba' when Baba entered Shirdi along with Shanti Patil's Marriage group. This spot where Baba placed his feet on Shirdi soil is a place of worship here.
Inside the Mandhir complex we can see the neem tree where Baba was first seen as a sixteen year old lad. This is called Gurustan.
When we were moving around the temple premises, there was a lot of activity and devotees were made to move aside and make a pathway. Assuming that it must be a politician or a film star, we moved to corner of the path and awaited the arrival of this VIP. This was none other than Shri Shri Ravishankar who then sweeped by with a whole gang of fawning devotees and “followers”. As the retinue passed there was a lot of shouting of “Jai Guruji” etc. The same procedure was followed when the “great man” left the temple. I colud feel no aura or power emanating from him. What truly pained me was the fan fare and unnecessary pompousness that was quite unbecoming in the shrine of the greatest saint who lived like a fakir and begged for his daily meal. Baba did not burn wood in his Dhuni. No! he burnt our sins in it, and purified in the fire of knowledge we may come out to lead lives of simplicity and happiness! He did not grind flour in his mill, he ground our ego there that we may emerge selfless, pure and emancipated!
I am sure the “Divine Fakir” was standing somewhere in the corner of the temple looking at Guruji Ravishankar as he made his way to the shrine of Shirdi Sai Baba. I am sure he was repeating the words “Allah Malik, Allah Malik,” as he watched this display of unnecessary and avoidable pomp and glory for someone who is, after all, a human being and thus equal to all. A true Sadhu considers himself to be nothing; he has no identification with the I. He observes as Saakshi, he is not tainted by actions!
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