My trip to SHIRDI
It was practically a call from the Shirdi wale Sai Baba and I went to Shirdi and had a darshan on 25th December 2013, the Wednesday. I only remember the song Chalo Bulaavaa AAyaa hai (चलो बुलावा आया है)
But do not plan a trip to Shirdi without confirming your darshan at Shirdi. The darshan can be booked by internet, a new system introduced from this month. You can book your darshan for Rs. 100 per head on online payment or book special darshan for aarthis for Rs. 500 per head on online payment. Your stay also can be booked with Sai temple management guest houses again through online. Otherwise hotels very near to the temple for Rs. 1500 per room are available.
I left Chennai by Mumbai mail on 23rd December 2013 night. My friends arranged for my trip. The train reached Daund Junction at 2200 hours the next day 24th December. I have arranged for a taxi from Shirdi to pick me up for Rs. 2900. It took nearly three hours to reach Shirdi. The road was bad. On the way I saw a truck loaded with sugar bags turned upside down on the way. Since it was a very busy season my driver was very tired and I was talking with the driver during the entire journey to keep him awake. I usually avoid night journeys. This trip once again advised not to travel in car by night.
For my convenience I booked a hotel which is just 100 meters away from gate No. 3 of the Sai temple. I booked for Morning Kakada Arthi at 0430 hours in the morning. So after our bath we left to temple at 0330 in the morning. On seeing my wife’s walking condition the security guards allowed us to go inside the temple through gate No. 3 itself. Otherwise another 250 meters walk is needed. We went inside and had a clear darshan and Kakada Arthi of Baba for one hour. Then we went around the temple for seeing various small temples, Dwarkamai temple, Chavadi, Gurusthan etc. We came out of the temple at about 0700 hours.
We took rest up to 1000 hours and went on a trip to Ellora Caves by taxi. We went to Aurangabad and saw GRUSHNESHWAR temple. It is the 12th Jothirlingam. Then we went to Ellora caves. Ajantha, Ellora and Mahabalipuram are to be seen by every one of us. They depict the Hindu, Jain and Buddist art of ancient India. Ellora has 40 caves divided into three parts. One belongs to Jain, the second to Hindu and the third to Buddists. It should be seen in all seasons, because in each season it will give a different look. Visit these places at a fairly young age because you have to climb a good number of hills. Otherwise you will go there with all enthusiasm but will see only see one or two caves. From there we went to a Hanuman temple known as SLEEPING HANUMAAN temple. From there we travelled to SHANI SINGNAPUR a place where Shani bhagawan is worshiped in the form of stone. On the way near to Ellora caves you can see Dauladabad fort also. I missed it for want of time. At Shani Singnapur also we had a peaceful darshan. We returned hotel at Shirdi at 2000 hours. The trip cost me Rs. 3200.
Next day we started from Shirdi to Nasik by taxi at 0800 hours. Nasik is about 75 Kms from Shirdi and the road was somewhat okay. Our first point was Triumbakeshwar temple which is about 30 kms from Nasik. This is also one of the 12 Jothirlingams. The temple here is a fine example of Maratha art of 17-18th century. I took Rs. 200 special darshan ticket and had darshan. The temple lies in the foothill of mountain Bramhagiri which is the origin of river Godavari (called here by name Ganga). The most attractive part of this temple is presence of 3 linga's each representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. All three resides in a hallow (looks like a grinding stone) space within the Shiva lingam. This temple is built by Shri Nana Saheb Peshawa in 1755-1786 AD .Its is built with black stone and the Shivlingam is said to be emerged naturally. The temple is bordered with around 20-25 stone feet wall in height. Temple is just 10 min walk from the bus stand and thus no need for auto's. Entrance gate will lead us to the queue which has logical separation of around 6-7 lines. The queue to the main temple passes through Nandi temple which is built in front of the Shiva temple, Nandi facing Shivlingam (as we know Shiva temple always has Nandi Idol where Nandi always faces Shiva lingam .Nandi Idol is sitting on a platform which is a foot or two in height and is carved out of white marble. Crossing this Nandi temple we step in to the Shiva temple .Then we enter a big hall whose roof is in dome shape from inside. The sanctum is not big and houses the main Shivlingam and three lings residing in hollow structure.
Next we visited PANCHAVATI . The RAM KUND, SEETHA GUHA, KALARAM MANDIR, KAPALEESWARA TEMPLE are the places to be seen at that place. It is belived that Sri Ram hid seethe in a cave here before going for fight with Kara and Dhushana. He planted five trees as a mark to identify the cave and hence the place is called as PANCHAVATI. For that matter Nasik itself got the name, because it is the place where Lakshman cut the nose of Soorpanaga.
Then we visited MUKTHIDHAM temple near Nasik railway station. Nasik is place where you get dry fruits at cheaper rates. We returned to Shirdi by night 2000 hours. Next day early morning at 0530 we again went to Sai Baba temple and had mukh darshan of Baba and visited all other temples near the main temple. We came to Sai Nagar station by 0745 and caught the Chennai exp feeling blessed by BABA.
It was practically a call from the Shirdi wale Sai Baba and I went to Shirdi and had a darshan on 25th December 2013, the Wednesday. I only remember the song Chalo Bulaavaa AAyaa hai (चलो बुलावा आया है)
But do not plan a trip to Shirdi without confirming your darshan at Shirdi. The darshan can be booked by internet, a new system introduced from this month. You can book your darshan for Rs. 100 per head on online payment or book special darshan for aarthis for Rs. 500 per head on online payment. Your stay also can be booked with Sai temple management guest houses again through online. Otherwise hotels very near to the temple for Rs. 1500 per room are available.
I left Chennai by Mumbai mail on 23rd December 2013 night. My friends arranged for my trip. The train reached Daund Junction at 2200 hours the next day 24th December. I have arranged for a taxi from Shirdi to pick me up for Rs. 2900. It took nearly three hours to reach Shirdi. The road was bad. On the way I saw a truck loaded with sugar bags turned upside down on the way. Since it was a very busy season my driver was very tired and I was talking with the driver during the entire journey to keep him awake. I usually avoid night journeys. This trip once again advised not to travel in car by night.
For my convenience I booked a hotel which is just 100 meters away from gate No. 3 of the Sai temple. I booked for Morning Kakada Arthi at 0430 hours in the morning. So after our bath we left to temple at 0330 in the morning. On seeing my wife’s walking condition the security guards allowed us to go inside the temple through gate No. 3 itself. Otherwise another 250 meters walk is needed. We went inside and had a clear darshan and Kakada Arthi of Baba for one hour. Then we went around the temple for seeing various small temples, Dwarkamai temple, Chavadi, Gurusthan etc. We came out of the temple at about 0700 hours.
We took rest up to 1000 hours and went on a trip to Ellora Caves by taxi. We went to Aurangabad and saw GRUSHNESHWAR temple. It is the 12th Jothirlingam. Then we went to Ellora caves. Ajantha, Ellora and Mahabalipuram are to be seen by every one of us. They depict the Hindu, Jain and Buddist art of ancient India. Ellora has 40 caves divided into three parts. One belongs to Jain, the second to Hindu and the third to Buddists. It should be seen in all seasons, because in each season it will give a different look. Visit these places at a fairly young age because you have to climb a good number of hills. Otherwise you will go there with all enthusiasm but will see only see one or two caves. From there we went to a Hanuman temple known as SLEEPING HANUMAAN temple. From there we travelled to SHANI SINGNAPUR a place where Shani bhagawan is worshiped in the form of stone. On the way near to Ellora caves you can see Dauladabad fort also. I missed it for want of time. At Shani Singnapur also we had a peaceful darshan. We returned hotel at Shirdi at 2000 hours. The trip cost me Rs. 3200.
Next day we started from Shirdi to Nasik by taxi at 0800 hours. Nasik is about 75 Kms from Shirdi and the road was somewhat okay. Our first point was Triumbakeshwar temple which is about 30 kms from Nasik. This is also one of the 12 Jothirlingams. The temple here is a fine example of Maratha art of 17-18th century. I took Rs. 200 special darshan ticket and had darshan. The temple lies in the foothill of mountain Bramhagiri which is the origin of river Godavari (called here by name Ganga). The most attractive part of this temple is presence of 3 linga's each representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. All three resides in a hallow (looks like a grinding stone) space within the Shiva lingam. This temple is built by Shri Nana Saheb Peshawa in 1755-1786 AD .Its is built with black stone and the Shivlingam is said to be emerged naturally. The temple is bordered with around 20-25 stone feet wall in height. Temple is just 10 min walk from the bus stand and thus no need for auto's. Entrance gate will lead us to the queue which has logical separation of around 6-7 lines. The queue to the main temple passes through Nandi temple which is built in front of the Shiva temple, Nandi facing Shivlingam (as we know Shiva temple always has Nandi Idol where Nandi always faces Shiva lingam .Nandi Idol is sitting on a platform which is a foot or two in height and is carved out of white marble. Crossing this Nandi temple we step in to the Shiva temple .Then we enter a big hall whose roof is in dome shape from inside. The sanctum is not big and houses the main Shivlingam and three lings residing in hollow structure.
Next we visited PANCHAVATI . The RAM KUND, SEETHA GUHA, KALARAM MANDIR, KAPALEESWARA TEMPLE are the places to be seen at that place. It is belived that Sri Ram hid seethe in a cave here before going for fight with Kara and Dhushana. He planted five trees as a mark to identify the cave and hence the place is called as PANCHAVATI. For that matter Nasik itself got the name, because it is the place where Lakshman cut the nose of Soorpanaga.
Then we visited MUKTHIDHAM temple near Nasik railway station. Nasik is place where you get dry fruits at cheaper rates. We returned to Shirdi by night 2000 hours. Next day early morning at 0530 we again went to Sai Baba temple and had mukh darshan of Baba and visited all other temples near the main temple. We came to Sai Nagar station by 0745 and caught the Chennai exp feeling blessed by BABA.
