Shirdi Sai Baba's Mahasamadhi On Vijayadasami Day.

Shirdi Sai Baba's Mahasamadhi on Vijayadasami day.

Shirdi Sai Baba is still living and continues his miracles for the millions of devotees all over the world, as He promised before shedding his mortal remains of the world and entering the state of His true Self. Tears fill the eyes of the devotees in thousands whose lives are filled with instances of incredible Sai Leelas.

Shirdi Sai Baba took His Maha Samadhi on Vijayadashami day. The day that Baba took Mahasamadhi, Tuesday 15 October 1918, was a very auspicious one for Hindus; it also happened to be the Muslim month of Ramzan. October 15 was the Hindu festival of holy Vijayadashami, a few minutes into Ekadashi (a significant lunar cycle in the Hindu calendar). Two months previously Baba had sent a message to Banne Mia fakir, saying that “On the ninth day, of the ninth month, Allah is taking away the lamp he lit”. He also sent some offerings to the fakir Shamsuddin Mia and a request to do moulu, qawali (both are types of devotional singing) and nyas (poor –feeding). Thus right up until his final moments in the body, Baba was embracing both communities.

The news of Baba’s passing spread quickly, and thousands came to Dwarkamai for a final darshan, queuing for five or six hours. The body was kept on the handcart all night, while preparations – digging a pit and building the platform – went on. Before the burial, Baba’s kafni was removed and he was given a final bath. It is reported that even at this stage, his body remained soft, as if he were merely sleeping, Earlier, while the body was in the wheel chair, his nose started to bleed (usually impossible for a corpse).
Thirty-six hours after he left his body, Baba was finally interred. Certain personal articles were buried with him: the broken brick, now mended with gold and silver wire, one of his satkas, a chillim, needle and cotton (Baba would mend his clothes until they were a mass of repairs, a cause of affectionate amusement among close devotees), some spices to preserve the body, and an old cloth bag that Baba never allowed anyone to touch, but which devotees investigated after his Mahasamadhi and found that it contained a green kafni and a cap. The burial was completed by very early Thursday morning. A photograph of Sai Baba was placed on a throne on the platform of the tomb. It remained there until the statue was installed in 1954. That picture is now kept in the recess of the Samadhi Mandir where some other things of Baba’s are on display.

Only his physical body vanished. His presence is felt by thousands of devotees. His teachings continue to guide and inspire millions of people.
The Mandir that we see now is about twice the size of the original building, having been later extended back from the stone arches. As the temple authorities try to find new ways of coping with the ever-increasing flow of visitors, various alternations are made. In 1998 a hall was added to the back of the Mandir, so that it has again almost doubled in size. A big beautiful hall, connecting Masjid (Dwarkamai) has been built up for Sai Devotees waiting in a queue.

Baba's Samadhi Mandir, the Samadhi of a poor saint with torn clothes and a mug, the Samadhi of a great Guru who could present Himself in the same form which a devotee wanted to have darshan, has become the third wealthiest place of worship in India. How this happened? Baba took Samadhi on Vijayadashami Day. The day He won the world with universal love.

Since then Vijayadashami is celebrated in Shirdi as Baba's Punyathithi. For Sai devotees, Vijayadashami is venerated as the holy day that their beloved Guru deva (Sai Baba) attained Mahasamadhi (also known as Punyathithi) and is a big festival in Shirdi.

This year Vijayadashami and Baba Punyatithi falls on October 18. Festivals at Shirdi From 17/10/2018 to 19/10/2018.
The Punyatithi festival is of great importance at Shirdi Temple and is spread over three days. Vijayadashami is a big festival in Shirdi, venerated as a holy day and it is visited by millions of pilgrims every year.
First day of festivities is marked with a huge procession which is taken out along with Sai Baba's image and Sai Satcharita written by his devotee, Hemadpant. On the main day, water from river Godavari is brought for Shri Sai Baba's holy bath and a procession on chariot is taken around with great devotion. Main temple remains open for 24 hours during final day of celebrations.
The important rituals during the Punyathithi period include - Kakad Aarti of Shri Sai Baba, Procession of Portrait of Shri Sai Baba and Pothi, Akhand Parayan of Shri Sai Satcharita in Dwarkamai, Chariot Procession etc.

Samadhi Mandir will remain open for Parayan throughout the night on the Shirdi Sai Baba Punyatithi day.

May Baba bless us all in abundance.

Om Sai Ram.