Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Mylapore, Chennai
Shirdi
Sai Baba Temple is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Indian Saint Sai
Baba of Shirdi located in the Mylapore in Chennai City in
Tamilnadu. The Sai Baba Temple located at Venkatesa Agraharam Street in
Mylapore is also known as All India Sai Baba Samaj. The temple was built in
commemoration of Saint Shirdi Sai Baba who became a proponent of Sufism and
used to perform miracles. To the present day, the light lit by Sai Baba is
still here. The Temple is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Sai Baba in
South India.
It is
the first Sai Baba Temple in the entire Chennai. Sri Narasimha Swamy was the
founder member of this temple. The temple, also known as 'Shirdi of the South',
it sees many devotees from all over the country paying a visit to the temple. The
temple is administered by All India Sai Baba Samaj. The temple allows people
from all walks of life irrespective of their religion. The large hall inside
the temple is suitable for meditation as well.
History
Sri Shirdi
Sai Baba Temple in Chennai was built to commemorate the memory of Shirdi Sai
Baba who was born in Shirdi as a Hindu and was brought by a Muslim Fakir. He
later became an exponent of Sufism. He too performed “Sithu” (Miracles) like
his mentor. The temple was built in 1952 by Narasimhaswami, Sai Baba devotee
from Salem, out of money donated by a Chettiar merchant. In the beginning, he
worshipped a picture of Baba under a tamarind tree on the street where the
temple is now located.
Later,
he moved the picture to a small house in Nanjunda Rao Colony in Mylapore.
Swamiji constructed the present temple with help from his friend J.D. Pannalal,
and performed the first consecration. This is considered the most trusted
temple in India. The temple is the headquarters of the All India Sai Samaj. Its
main object being propagation of the life and teachings of Sri Sai Baba of
Shirdi. Through two decades of tireless preaching, during which he travelled
almost the entire Bharat, Sri Swamiji made the name of Sri Sai Baba as familiar
as that of Siva, Rama and Krishna.
Sri
Swamiji authored many books highlighting that Sri Sai Baba’s mission was to
bring together two communities opposed to each other – the Hindus and Muslims –
within a common fold, that Baba promoted a religion of love with peace and
harmony, and that Baba belonged to no particular religion or faith, that he was
neither Hindu nor Muslim, with his birth and early life shrouded in mystery.
The
Temple
The
interior of the shrine is aesthetically designed with white marble stones and
the walls of the shrine holds an arch made of gold. For Shirdi Sai Baba, a tiruvaachi
made of silver has been built. This is the only temple where devotees are
allowed to touch, garland and photograph the idol. The picture worshipped by Narasimha
Swamiji is considered as the moolasthana. Marble Statue of Sai Baba was
installed 16 years ago.
The
unique attraction of the Sai Baba temple of Chennai is that it still holds
aflame a part of the flame (Jyothi) in Shirdi that was lit by the Saint
himself. Other shrines like Lord Krishna and Lord Rama, the two
incarnations of Vishnu are also in the temple.
This
temple is unique. On Thursdays, a Muslim gentleman chants the Koran at about
4.30 p.m. and on Sundays, Christian will have a Bible reading, apart
from bhajans on Thursdays. The samadhi of Sri Narasimha
Swamiji is located inside this temple. On Thursdays about 1,000 people take
part in the annadhanam and on other days Prasadham is
offered to devotees. Offerings in the form of rice, dhal and sugar are accepted
and there are three huge vessels for this purpose.
Temple
Opening Time
On
Thursdays, the temple is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on other days it is
open from 5 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Festivals
Many
festivals are organised here, the most important one being the 10-day Navarathri celebration,
which ends on Mahasamadhi day, which falls on Vijayadasami. As Baba wanted his
devotees to celebrate his birthday on Sri Rama Navami day, various events are
organised that day. Guru Poornima is also celebrated. Birth anniversary of
Narasimha Swamiji will be celebrated every year on August 21.
Devotees
throng the temple on Thursday, the special day for Sai Baba, following the
preaching and bhajans of Bhagwan Shirdi Sai, in the heart of the city of
Chennai. On Sundays Agni Pooja is performed. People come here to attend the
Agni Pooja, a special pooja which is performed on every Sundays.
Contact
All
India Sai Samaj,
56,
Alamelumangapuram Road,
Mylapore, Chennai
- 600 004
Phone: +91 44 2494 0784
Connectivity
For
brief details, please refer below link;