Portrait Of Sai Baba example essay topic

WHERE IS SHIRDI: Shiridi is a small village in Kopargam Taluk, Located within the city Ahmadnagar district of the Maharashtra State. Shirdi is a very sacred, powerful and important place of pilgrimage in India. This village is about 285-km and a 6-hour drive from Bombay. This little village is significant because Sai Baba spent his time here, sharing his wisdom. His devotee's regularly visit Shirdi to pay their respects to this great Saint. Sai Baba's shrine has been incorporated as one of the holy places in the world's map of pilgrimage.

His devotion to this village is what makes Shirdi such a special village. WHERE SAI BABA SPENT HIS TIME: Sai Baba spent most of his time both wandering the outskirts of village and neighboring jungles, or sitting under the neem tree totally self-absorbed. Dwarkamayee Masjid Baba lived Dwarkamayee Masjid for almost for 60 years. Sai Baba named this old Masjid as Dwa rka Mai. During the day he used to sit on a big stone, which is still preserved. Once Baba said to His devotee", This is Dwarawathi, who ever steps here will get health, and happiness and he will be freed from all difficulties".

There used to be no doors to Dwarakamayi and Baba never spoke to any one in secret. A portrait of Sai Baba, painted during His lifetime, is also kept here. One can see the sacred dh uni (fire) kindled by Sai Baba kept burning since then in front of the portrait. A grinding stone, a bathing stone, a wooden pillar, chula (stove), padukas (slippers) and T uls (Holy Basil) Vrindavan, which were used by Sai Baba are all maintained here.

Rath (carriage) and the palanquin are also kept here in a small room. Chavadi Towards the east of Dwarkamai there is a place called Chavadi where Sai Baba used to visit every alternate night. A number of portraits of deities are exhibited here since the days of Sai Baba. A wooden plank and a wheel chair brought for Baba but never used by Him are exhibited here. ABOUT SHIRDI TEMPLES: The Samadhi Temple was started during the lifetime of Sai Baba. With the hopes of having a temple of Sri Krishna, later when the construction was almost complete, Sai Baba said that he would stay there.

So after Sai Baba attained eternal peace His mortal remains were buried at the place. There is hall located next to this temple, which contains memories of Sai Baba. It is decorated with photos, of the saints and devotees of Sai Baba. After entering the hall one can see the statue of Sai Baba, in a sitting position.

Visitors of this temple can have a look at the articles used by Sai Baba exhibited in a room, on the left side of the hall. PUJA RITUALS: Rituals are: scripted patterned, or repeated actions in a certain order, performed with certain meanings attached. At 5.15 in the morning the Kaka d Aarti or the "early morning worship and prayer" is performed in the main chamber where Sai Baba's body has been entombed. Later on the Samadhi and the idol are washed ceremonially and everyday from 6.00 - 7.00 am the devotional songs on Sai Baba are played. Then the Abhishek (bathing of the deity) begins at 7.30 a.m. The noon Aarti (mid-day prayer) takes place exactly at noon.

There is a break after this Aarti until the programme of singing, Bhajan and Kirtan (devotional songs) in the afternoon. There is Aarti again at 6.30 p.m. (sunset prayer). Then there is Kirtan or Bhajan till 10 p.m. and the last Aarti called the She-Aarti (night prayer) takes place at 10 p.m. Thereafter Lord Sri Sai Baba is deemed to have gone to sleep as the devotees lovingly treat Him as a father.

On Thursdays, there is a procession of the Pali (Baba's carriage) and the Padukas (Baba's slippers) at night and five gunshots are fired at the time of the procession. Loudspeakers are arranged at the time of the aarti and on festival days. During each of these rituals, there are offerings made to the shrine of Sai Baba, in forms of garland, which are made of marigolds, food, money etc. HOW TO GET THERE Rail: The important railway station is at Kopergaon, through which few trains connecting major cities pass. A number of trains from Mumbai and Delhi also pass through Manmad station, which is another nearest place from where devotees can access Shiridi.

Road: One can access this holy place easily, as it is a well-developed town connected by bus routes. Shirdi is about 58-kms from Manmad, buses and taxis are easily available to reach there..