Chavadi In Shirdi Of Sai Baba
Chavadi These Days
Chawdi is very important place in Shirdi as Sai Baba used to spend alternate nights, during the last decade of his life. Every alternate night Sai Baba was taken in a procession from Dwarkamai to Chavadi, which is beautifully described in the Blessed book Sai SatCharitra. Link to the description
Even these days the procession takes place every Thursday, in Shirdi. The picture of Sai Baba, which is placed on a silver throne in the right side of the Chavadi (here Sai Baba used to sleep), is placed near the Samadhi near the foot of Sai Baba’s Statue. Also Sai Baba’s footwear and Satka, which he used while he was in body are placed near the Samadhi of Sai Baba. Watch video of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Chavadi Utsav ( Palkhi Utsav )
At 9.15 in the evening garlanded portrait Sai Baba is reverently carried by the great grandson of Tatya Kote Patil, the son of Baijabai, who used to search for Sai Baba in jungles, and feed Baba, who used to roam about in near by jungles. Sai Baba called Baijabai as her sister and Tatya Kote Patil, used to call Sai Baba as Mama, meaning maternal uncle. Also mentioned in Sai Sat Charitra is that Tatya Kote Patil used spend nights in Dwarkamai with Sai Baba and other Devotee Mahlsapati. Bhagat Mahlsapati shouted “Ya Sai” (welcome Sai), when Sai Baba first came to Shirdi, with the marriage procession of Chand Patil’s wife’s brother’s son, and alighted at the foot of Banyan tree Khandoba Temple.
The great grandson of Tatya Kote is preceded by one of the Mandir staff carrying the Satka and the Padukas (footwear of Sai Baba). The procession moves to the Dwarkamai with sounds of drumbeats and other musical instruments, very similar to the description provided in Sai Sat Charitra. In Dwarkamai the Portrait is placed on silver throne and Bhajans are sung in much festive moods for 15 minutes. Then the portrait is again carried in the palanquin and with much music and Bhajans and shouts of victory to Sai, fire crackers bursting. In such festive environment the palanquin is parked outside the Chavadi and the portrait is carried to the silver throne and aarti is performed.
Sai Baba's Portrait In Chavadi placed where Sai Baba used to Sleep every alternate nights
Sai Baba controlled World War 1
SAI BABA controlled World War I. When the Master would come from the mosque to the temple of Gopal Rao, his arti would be sung between these two buildings. At that time, when he was walking between the mosque and temple, a strange light would be seen on his face. It was also noticed that he would make strange signs in the air with his fingers. This behavior continued daily for four years, from the start of World War I to its conclusion.
During the war years, Sai Baba would often say:
"My light is of God; my religion is Kabiri – Perfect Mastery – and my wealth lies in the blessings I alone can give."
"I am the Supreme Soul – the entire creation. I am everything and I am in everyone.
"I am formless and I am everywhere. I am not this body you call Sai.
"I am the Supreme Soul – the entire creation. I am everything and I am in everyone.
"I am in saints, criminals, animals, and everything else ... Nothing happens without my wish.
Source Lord Meher
* Sai Baba started sleeping in Chavadi around 1909, when one stormy night it was raining very heavily and the masjid walls were leaking. The devotees asked Sai Baba to move in other place, to which He was resistant. Eventually the devotees virtually forced Sainath Maharaj by half picking him up and carrying him to Chavadi, since then Baba, spent every alternate nights in Chavdi.
* Chavadi is also significant as the formal worship of Sai Baba was Started there. The night Sej arati was started in Chavadi upon arrival of Sai Baba from Dwarkamai and later morning Kakad Arati was offered to Sainath Maharaj when he woke up.
As we enter the Chavadi we have the Darshan of the portrait above. This portrait was painted by a devotee name Ambaram, from a small town Navsari, which is very near to the writers home town Surat. The devotee was blessed by Sai Baba's darshan in dream in 1953, when he was only18 years old. The navsari people being touched by Sai Baba's picture by Ambaram, collected donation, bought the portrait, and brought it to Shirdi.
* Right Hand side, where Sai Baba Used to Sleep, he also used to call his Guru's place. Here females were not allowed, that custom is still maintained and only male Devotees can enter this section. Devotees are found bowing in reverence to Sai Baba's Photo, praying, few devotees also sit there and chant Mantras and remember Baba. It has been one of the favorite place of the writer. i spend much time sitting here in silence. The energy level here is really amazing.
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