Dear readers
I was really happy to receive a mail from a Sai bhakt giving more insight details about the Sai temple Bhivpuri .This Sai bhakat has personally gone few days back to Bhivpuri for Baba's darshan .He has been kind enough to update all the details so that this information benefits all devotees who wish to visit this temple.Please read the following mail .
Jai Sai Ram
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Sairam Manisha ,
The Bhivpuri Road Shirdi Baba temple is on the left hand side (or the western side, Karjat is on the northern side, Bombay on the southern side) of the platform as you get out of the train. It can be reached by walking through the fields, but for a city-bred, it is a nerve wracking experience as you wouldn't know when and where a snake would chance to visit you :-) and the path is so narrow at places and untravellable (requires jumping at one particular point). Imagine going there during the torrential rains.
Of course for the people who reside there, it is a way of life.... There is also a pucca motorable road (a surprise in Mumbai) which is used by people when they drive from various locations in the city rather than chance a travel by the crowded (yet faster) local train. The train takes close to 2 hours to reach Bhivpuri from Bombay's Victoria Terminus Station. On getting out of the train, walk on the platform (in south direction), cross the track (a not-so dangerous thing here because of the low frequency of the trains, but do look around, there is also an overbridge for the same purpose) and ask the tea shop/ saloon wala about the Shirdi Baba temple. They will wave both their hands in opposite directions - meaning that it can be reached in either of the ways - one by the field and the other by the road - both take the same time to reach: about 10 minutes. The field is at the back of the temple and the road at the front of the temple.
The reason this is mentioned - one might expect a temple 'gopuram' (or spire) like in Shirdi or any other temple, but it's hard to spot in this case. The people point to a building with a white flag fluttering, but to the untrained eye all one can see is old village houses and the green fields. If any senior member is visiting the place, it's better to keep to the road.
A Kalash is going to be installed on the temple - at a cost of 11 Lakhs and it seems a donor has already agreed to fund the entire amount. Cost escalations are expected. The temple is also going to be renovated. The expected time frame - one year. The temple is manned by a hospitable pandit and his wife - she acts as a guide and informs devotees about the story behind Mr.Pradhan ( when she deduces correctly that an outsider is in their midst). She speaks a good deal of Marathi, Hindi and English. The sanctum sanctorum (where the Deva's photo is installed, alongwith His padukas) is kept under lock and key (she explained that there are cases of theft in the vicinity) and the outside room is not so, it is just kept latched. One can open it and sit inside the hall. There are paintings/ photos/ frescoes on the walls (much like Shirdi Sai Samaj at Mylapore, Madras).
Next to the temple (on its left hand side) is a corridor with a Tulsi plant and a house on its left hand side. Mr.Pradhan's granddaughter lives there with her family.
The front of the temple is extremely cool because of the shade of the Peepal or Banyan tree (can't remember which one) and it is a very nice place to sit (in the Hall or next to the Dhuni) and just reminisce. Probably Shirdi would have been like this in the early 20th century.... no crowds, only quiet...
A Dhuni faces the temple.
The temple remains closed between 1 and 4 in the noon....
A receipt is given for any contributions made to the Kalash/ renovation after filling up necessary form(s).
©SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE INFORMATION
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