Ganapathi, Shani and Mahadev Temples

These ancient temples (Small Mandirs) dedicated to Ganapathi, Shani and Mahadev were near each other, and situated in front of the Old Bhakta Niwas (queue complex).

Old Shani & Mahadev Temples - Photo Courtesy: Shri.Vinesh, Bangalore

Out of the Dakshina money that Baba received he got Tatya to repair these temples. On December 26,1998, after due ritual and ceremony (Utthapan Vidhi), the deities of these temples were moved to the Kalasha Mandir under the temple expansion plan. New temples were built. These temples are contiguous with each other, and located in front of the Queue Complex inside the Main Temple Complex.  On 3rd July, 1999 the deities were housed back in these temples with elaborate ritual and ceremony.

The Samadhi of Tiger

This Samadhi is in front of the Mahadev Temple. In the Shri Sai Satchritra, Chapter 31, the leela of the ailing tiger is narrated. In 1918, a week before Baba’s Mahasamadhi, a bullock cart with four Darveshis and an ailing tiger came to the door of the Dwarakamai. The Darveshis pleaded for permission to bring the tiger inside. They exhibited the tiger that was the source of their income. They had heard of Baba’s miraculous cures, so they had brought him to Shirdi. Shyama told Baba about their request and permission was granted.

The tiger was brought inside. It climbed the steps of the Dwarakamai, and looked lovingly at Baba for a few seconds. Then it extended its paws and laid its head on them and did namaskar. Then it let out a terrible roar, dashed its tail on the ground and breathed its last. Baba took out 50 rupees from his pocket and gave it to them, thus a debt was paid. Here there was a rinanubandhic tie between the tiger, the Darveshis and Baba and the cycle was completed. The tiger attained sadgati (salvation) at Baba’s feet, and the Darveshis were paid a debt of 50 rupees.

At that time Jyotindra Tarkad was sitting next to Baba. Later, he asked Baba as to what had happened between the tiger and him. Baba replied, “That tiger was tormented by terrible pain from his illness, and was pleading to be relieved from it. I felt a lot of compassion for it so I asked Allah Mia to relive it and grant it salvation. Now that tiger is free from the cycle of birth and death. So I asked them to bury it in front of Mahadev’s temple”.

Old Picture of Tiger's Samadhi (Photo Courtesy: Shri.Nandakumar Revannath Deshpande Nimonkar)

Samadhi of Tiger

(Source: Ambrosia in Shirdi and Baba’s Gurukul by Vinny Chitluri).