About Shirdi
Shirdi is a town and falls under the jurisdiction of municipal council popularly known as Shirdi Nagar Panchayat, located in Rahata Tahasil in Ahmednagar District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Shirdi is best known as the late 19th century home of the popular guru Shirdi Sai Baba. As of the 2001 India census, the population of Shirdi stood at 26,169. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Shirdi has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 62%. In Shirdi, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age. But, Shirdi being a pilgrimage centre, it also has a large amount of floating population. On any given day some 25,000 devotees come for darshan. On holidays the number reaches to about half a million people. Due to easy availability of jobs, a lot of migrant population, mainly of unskilled labourers from UP, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, etc. also reside here. They are not part of any census.
Places to visit in Shirdi
Khandoba Mandir
This place is near Shirsainath Hospital. Baba stepped here in Shirdi at the foot of banyan tree near Khandoba Temple along with Chand Patil’s wife’s nephew’s marriage party. The then Pujari Mhalsapati welcome Him by calling “Ya Sai”.
Gurusthan Mandir
This is the place where Baba first appeared to the world as a boy of 16 years & this place is supposed to be Baba’s Gurusthan. the famous Margosa (Neem) tree is here. it has a reference in Shri Sai Sat-charita. Devotees claim that their ailments are cured by burning incense here on Thursday & Friday.
Sai Baba’s Samadhi Mandir
The Samadhi Mandir is the resting place of Shri Sai Baba, where his belongings are preserved and daily rituals are performed. Built with white marble, it houses a beautiful Italian marble idol of Baba made in 1954. The temple accommodates 600 devotees and remains open from 5 AM to 10 PM.
Dwarkamai (Masjid)
Baba stayed here for 60 years, blessing countless devotees. The ever-burning Dhuni, sacred Udi, and the Shila where Baba sat remain preserved. Devotees are also drawn to the site’s oil paintings and the place where Baba cooked food for all.
Chavadi Mandir
Baba used to proceed in procession from Dwarkamai to this place and rest here at night. Even today, every Thursday, Baba’s Photo, Holy Padukas, and Satka are taken in a Palanquin procession. The Chavadi has two parts, one with Baba’s portrait, his wooden bed, and white chair.
Lendi Baug
Lendi Baug, near Gurusthan, was created and watered daily by Baba, who often rested under a neem tree here. He dug a small pit under the tree and kept a lamp (deep) constantly burning in it. Today, a marble octagonal deepgriha called Nanda Deep stands here, with the flame still burning.
Nandadeep
This is the place where Shri Sai Baba used to go for stroll. Nandadeep is kept constantly burning near the tree planted by shri sai Baba Himself. There is also Datta Mandir in this garden & Shri Sai Baba’s deloyed Horse ‘Shamkarna'(Shamsunder) is taking Eternal Rest here. There is also a well here called as ‘Baba’s Shivdi’.
Other Temples premises complex
In addition 3 other Temples are in Temples premises complex : 1) Shri Ganesh Temple, 2) Shri Shani Temple & 3) Shri Mahadev Temple