SAMADHI MANDIR
The
Samadhi Mandir is the place where the mortal remains of Shri Sai
Baba are entombed. The 'Samadhi' is built in white
marble, with ornamental borders of beautiful inlay work. A
magnificent idol of Shri Sai Baba carved
out in Italian marble is there along the 'Samadhi'.
The artist Late Shri Vasant Talim from Mumbai had sculpted this
masterpiece with the direct inspiration of Shri Sai Baba.
The statue assumes almost a reality in which the devotees see Him
alive, as if the Master is himself sitting there benedicting his
children. The chief attraction lay in his eyes with compassionate
moisture in them. When his gaze falls upon a devotee the eyes
seem to be probing into the innermost recesses of mind.
This was installed in the year 1954, before which
there was a portrait placed on the
'Samadhi' dais. The ambience of the Samadhi
temple where the Supreme Master is resting eternally, is enveloped
with overwhelming serenity and all pervading peace. This is
the Royal Court of Lord Sai, the Spiritual Emperor of the Universe
adorning a throne with a stately gold umbrella over Him.
The whole marble structure comprising of the 'Samadhi'
and the idol makes a square platform with three steps positioned
in its centre and a grill around it. In the front of 'Samadhi'
there is a big conference hall in which 500 people can stand
comfortably at a time.
Samadhi Temple is a double storied building with
a basement. A few rooms are used for the office of temple
administration. There is a Gold 'Kalash' on the steeple
of the temple, which was installed in the year 1952 on the Vijay
Dashmi day (Dussehra).
One of the rooms on the side of the conference
hall houses all the articles used by
Sheri Sai like his long shirts 'Kafni' , begging bowls, baton
(Satka), a few clay pipes and leather
slippers (Paduka) - all what he possessed in his Royal
Poverty 'fakiri'. Besides these articles the ornamental
dressings of the horse 'Shyam Sundar'
and other items of the palanquin procession in his days are also
displayed. One can have a look at them from the main hall
itself through the glass window. The Shirdi Sai Sansthan Trust
preserves all the articles.
All the formal worship is offered to Shri Sai in
the Samadhi Temple only, including the sacred bath and Aartis.
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