Blessed is Shri Sai Samartha who gives instructions in both temporal and spiritual matters to His devotees and makes them happy by enabling them to achieve the goal of their life, – Sai He who when places His hand on their heads transfers His powers to them and thus destroying the sense of differentiation, makes them attain the Unattainable Thing. – He who embraces the Bhaktas who prostrate themselves before Him with no sense of duality or difference. He becomes one with the Bhaktas as the sea with the rivers when they meet it in the rainy season and gives them His power and position. It follows from this that he who sings the Leelas of God’s Bhaktas is equally or dearer to Him than one who sings the Leelas of God only.
SSMCD Temple Hours:
Morning: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Evening: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
SSMCD Temple Thursday Hours:
Morning: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Evening: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
SSMCD Weekday / Weekend Aarti Hours:
Morning Hours: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Kakad Aarti: 9:00 AM
Madhyana Aarti: 12:00 PM
Evening Hours: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Dhoop Aarti: 6:00 PM
Shej Aarti: 7:30 PM
SSMCD Thursday Hours:
Morning Hours 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Kakad Aarti 9:00 AM
Abhishekam 9:30 AM
Madhyana Aarti 12:00 PM
Evening Hours 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Dhoop Aarti 6:00 PM
Sai Bhajans 7:00 PM
Sai Paduka Pooja 7:30 PM
Shej Aarti 8:15 PM
Significance Of Udi
Sacred Ash (Udi) of Sai Baba
One of Baba’s special features was that he always kept a sacred fire (Dhuni) burning. The ash from this fire was called Udi and it was freely distributed to the devotees at the time of their departure from Shirdi. What did Baba teach or hint by this Udi? Baba taught by His Udi that all the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the ash. Our bodies composed of wood or matter of the five elements, will fall down, after all their enjoyments are over, and be reduced to ashes. In order to remind the devotees of the fact that their bodies will be reduced to ashes, Baba distributed Udi to them. Baba also taught by the Udi that the Brahman is the only Reality and the universe is ephemeral and that no one in this world, be he a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here (in this world) alone and we have to go out alone. It was found out and is even now found out, that the Udi cured many physical and mental maladies, but Baba wanted to din into the devotee’s ears the principles of discrimination between the Unreal and the Real.
Scorpion Sting
Narayan Motiram Jani of Nasik was a devotee of Baba. He was serving under another devotee of Baba, by name Ramachandra Vaman Modak. Once he went to Shirdi with his mother and saw Baba. Then Baba Himself told her that he (her son) should serve no more, but start an independent business. Some days after, this prophecy turned true. Narayan Jani left service and started a boarding house, ‘Anandashram’ which thrived well. Once a friend of this Narayanrao was stung by a scorpion and the pain caused by it, was severe and unbearable. Baba’s Udi (sacred ash) is most efficacious in such cases; it is to be applied on the seat of pain, and so Narayanrao searched for it, but found none. Then he stood before Baba’s picture and invoked Baba’s aid, chanted Baba’s name and taking out a pinch of the ashes of the joss-stick burning in front of Baba’s picture and thinking it to be Baba’s Udi, applied it on the seat of pain and the sting. As soon as he took out his fingers, the pain vanished and both the person were moved and felt delighted.
Udi used to facilitate childbirth:
About 1904-05 Nanasaheb Chandorkar was Mamlatdar (revenue collector) at Jamner, in the Khandesh District, which is more than 100 miles distant from Shirdi. His daughter Mainatai was pregnant and was about to deliver. The case was very serious and she was suffering from labour-pains for the two or three days. Nanasaheb tried all remedies but they proved in vain; he then remembered Baba and invoked His aid. There in Shirdi, one Ramgirbuva, whom Baba called Bapugirbuva, wanted at this time to go to his native place in Khandesh. Baba called him and told him to take a little rest and stop at Jamner on his way home and give the Udi and Arati (spiritual ceremony) to Nanasaheb. Ramgirbuva said that he had only two rupees with him and that amount was barely sufficient for the railway fare up to Jalgaon and it was not possible for him to go from Jalgaon to Jamner, a distance of about 30 miles. Baba assured him that he need not worry, as everything would be provided for him. Then Baba asked Shama to write the well-known Arati composed by Madhav Adkar and give a copy of it with Udi to Ramgirbuva to be delivered to Nanasaheb. Then relying on Baba’s words, Ramgirbuva left Shirdi and reached Jalgaon at about 2:45 a.m. He had only two annas left with him and was in a hard plight. To his great relief, he heard somebody calling out “Who is Bapugirbuva of Shirdi?” He went to him and told him that he was the person Bapugirbuva. Then the peon, professing to be sent by Nanasaheb, took him out to an excellent tanga with a good pair of horses. They both drove in it. The tanga ran fast and early in the morning they came to a brooklet. The driver took the horses for watering them and the peon asked Ramgirbuva to partake of some eatables. Then both of them took the refreshments and started again. They reached Jamner at dawn. Ramgirbuva alighted to attend a call of nature and returned within a few minutes, but found that there was no tanga, no driver and no peon. He was dumbfounded. Then he went to the neighbouring Katcher and making enquiries, learnt that the Mamlatdar was at home. He went to Nanasaheb’s house and announced himself and gave Nanasaheb Baba’s Udi and Arati. At this time, Mainatai’s case was most serious and all were in deep anxiety about her. Nanasaheb called out his wife and asked her to give the Udi, mixed with water, to their daughter to drink, and sing Baba’s Arati. He thought that Baba’s help was most opportune. In a few minutes came the news that the delivery was safe and that the crisis had passed away. When Ramgirbuva thanked Nanasaheb for the peon, tanga and the refreshments etc. the latter was greatly surprised as he had sent none to the station and was not aware of any person coming from Shirdi.
Saved from Humiliation by Baba’s Grace and Udi.
Balaji Neweskar was a great devotee of Baba as was his son after him. Once it happened that at Balaji’s anniversary day, a certain number of guests were invited and dinner was prepared for them. But at the dinner-time, it was found that thrice the number of people invited turned up. Mrs Newaskar was in a fix. She thought that the food would not suffice for the people assembled and that if it fell short, the honour of the family would be at stake. Her mother-in-law comforted her by saying, “Don’t be afraid, it is not ours, but Sai’s food; cover every vessel with cloth, putting some Udi in it, and serve from the same without opening it: Sai will save us from ignominy.” She did as she was advised and it was found to their surprise and joy that not only did the food suffice for all, but plenty of it remained after serving. “As one feels intent, so he realizes accordingly” was proved in this case.
Latham Shirdi Sai Mandir Guidelines:
- PLEASE MAINTAIN “SILENCE” AT ALL THE TIMES & REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTION TO ANY TEMPLE ACTIVITY. Follow temple volunteer instructions at all times.
- Please seek consent from the volunteer on duty prior to assisting in any temple duties/activities.
- Pets are not allowed inside the temple.
- Please place your footwear properly in the shoe rack. Do not leave shoes outside or near the entrance.
- Please clean your hands with sanitizer prior to entering the Mandir.
- Please adhere to appropriate dress code at all times.
- No shorts for men and boys.
- No short skirts for women and girls.
- No specific restriction for kids.
- Please put all donations in hundi (cash/check). All checks are payable to “Shirdi Sai Mandir Of Capital District” or “SSMCD”.
- Please do not bring uncooked food as offering unless it is for annadhan/food pantry (includes lentils, rice, oil, ghee…). Cooked prasadam will be accepted at all times. Refrain from bringing leftover or offered food to the temple.
- Do not remove any CD’s/Tape’s from the temple.
- Please leave the books back in the library shelf after reading. Do not remove from the temple.
- Please return aarti books/sheets after use. An English version is available from the temple if needed.
- Do not post or write anything on the main notice boards. This is for “Temple Use Only”.
Please contact the board of directors if you want to donate something. This includes dress & alankar items for Baba. - Please do not eat past the centre curtains with mats on the floor in the mandir area. Please use the dining hall area.
- Please avoid using cell phones inside the temple as it could disrupt devotees/activity.
Baba’s darshan closes after Shej aarti. - For suggestions and comments, please use “Suggestion Box” located near the front desk.
- Distribution of flyers or pamphlets of other outside organizations please keep in racks at notice board near shoe stand.
- Posting on the notice board located near the shoe rack is limited to non-profit or charitable organizations. All other community-related postings should be reviewed and approved by the board prior to posting. However, the temple does not endorse any such postings on this notice board.
- Temple premises can be used by its devotees for religious purposes only and requires prior approval of the board. It should not conflict with any existing or future temple activities. A separate set of guidelines for “private use” of temple premises should be followed. You may bring pictures/idols/posters to the temple for use during such sessions and must be removed from the temple on the conclusion of the event. All such events will be held on the second hall (Dining area).
- Please refrain from bringing any old used pictures/idols/posters to the temple for disposition.
The temple venue shall not be used to conduct business, publicity, and/or outside organizational meetings. - Solicitation of any kind inside the temple premises is strictly prohibited. This includes selling and distribution of any printed materials, books, CD’s, cassettes and collection of donation/dues, phone numbers/email addresses not related to the temple.
- All temple events as deemed necessary by the board will take precedence over all other activities at all times.
- The temple board reserves the right to change/modify/revise these guidelines with or without prior notice.
Latham Shirdi Sai Mandir Address:
Shirdi Sai Mandir Of Capital District (SSMCD)
892 New Loudon Road,
Latham,
NY 12110.
Phone: 518-313-7048
Email: info@ssmcd.org, shirdisaialbany@gmail.com