heritageshirdi

Baba converted Shri Keshav Rao Pradhan a Sceptic into ascetic and built His Temple by him at Bhivpuri (Ukrool)

Bhivapuri is a station in central railway about five miles on the Bombay side of Karjat on the Bombay-Poona railway line। The Station is mainly built to facilitate the industrial concern of Tatas situated on a hill nearly but it has assumed importance on quite a different count. More than 50 years back one Shri Keshavrao Pradhan had a house with a small piece of cultivated land at Ukrool a village on the east side of Bhivapuri railway station. Shri Pradhan had to be on tour in his service, Nasik-Manmad Daund and such other places being in the itinerary. Naturally he used to hear much about Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. But he was a non-believer. On one occasion however one of his friends nearby compelled him, out of love to accompany him to Shirdi. Both of them went there and stayed a couple of days. When Mr. Pradhan saw Shri Sai Baba and witnessed his greatness it made such an import on his mind that his skepticism was replaced by complete devotion and faith. Thence forward Shri Pradhan made it a point to go often to Shirdi for having "Darshan" of Shri Sai Baba. Every time, he used to get an interview with him he entreated to come to Ukrool. After listening to his often repeated request Shri Sai Baba one day picked up on of his replices given to him by a devotee and hand over to Shri Pradahan and said "Go to your own place, erect a temple of this and don't return here again. Be gone". This happened in the year 1916. After that event Shri Pradhan revisited Shirdi once, but venerable Sai Baba remembered him and asked him to quit forthwith. "When I came to your house, why are you here? Your own place is Shirdi for you now I" were His words of advice. It was quite alright the replica was with him, but Pradhan was not able to satisfy for himself the promise, "I have come to your house". He was some what sad. After some days, he erected a temple near his house at Ukrool ceremoniously and established the replica there after due consecration. The daily worship and offerings began to be observed and some functions performed occasionally at the new temple. The temple is surrounded by beautiful seneries and there are big trees around. It was a very quiet place suitable to the Saintly Sai Baba. Nobody disturbed the peace and silence by the night. It so happened that after the temple was built, even though there was nobody around, the noise of the temple door being opened used to be heard after midnight and Sai Baba used to be seen going about in the precincts of the temple, sometimes taking rest under a tree. At about 3 A.M. in the night, Sai Baba would return to the temple and close the door behind him. The noise of closing the door was also audible. This was seen and heard not only by Shri Pradhan and his family members but even by the guests at his house. This was a sufficient proof for Shri Pradhan to make him a devotee of Shri Sai Baba and thence forward, he spent his time energy and money in Baba's service. Verily this was Brahma embodied visiting Shri Pradhan's house and there was no other desire left in his mind except to be united with his beloved Baba. Shri Pradhan spent thousands of rupees and built the Shrine-room, the spacious meeting hall, a wide verandah and the guest house. Sai Baba at Shirdi went into Mahasamadhi in 1918, but this did not mean break in the happiness of having his company for Shri Pradhan, because Sai Baba's immortal Spirit was always present with him. In 1924, Shri Pradhan's daughter was given in marriage to one Shri V. A. Gupta of Dadar, Bombay. Shri Gupta .vas a pious gentleman. The new relationship deepned his faith and he developed a keen interest in the maintenance of the temple, Bhivpuri (Ukrool) and took part verv jealously in the various religious functions. Shri Gupta's influence infused devotion towards Shri Sai Baba among the minds of many of his friends also and the number of devotees visiting Bhivapuri Sai Temple began to increase. Shri Gupta had an opportunity to visit Shirdi in 1936. The grandeur of the Samadhi Mandir, the magnificence of the dally worship, prayrse and the great congregation of devotees from all parts of the country coming daily and on the special occasions sent a thrill through the heart of Sri Gupta. With folded hands and in all humility, he prayed to Shri Sai Baba. "O Baba! when can such a grand temple come up at your Bhivpuri? After all, it wholly depends upon your will? The call of the devotee was heard by Sai Baba, and Bhivpuri Sai Temple more and more famous from that day. In 1939, Shri Pradhan expired, leaving the responsibility of the temple to his sons and son-in-law, with the help of friends in the same year, they formed an institution by the name Shri Sadguru Sainath Seva Samsthan, with seven trustees. Besides Sri G. K. Deshmukh and Shri A.K. Wani officers of the Hindustan Construction Co. also take great interest in its activities. As more and more persons experiences about Sai Baba's benevolent existence, there the pilgrim increased in number and the old temple become inadequate to accommodate them. Renovation was therefore undertaken. But though the brick was completed the construction work was not possible, for want of funds and material. So late Shri Narayan Purohit started a parayan (continuous reading) of Baba's Satcharitra as a prayer to Shri Sai Baba to complete the work. After 3 or 4 days, he saw Sai Baba in a dream wandering about and asking persistently "where is My Dhuni? If there is no Dhuni, how can this be Shirdi? How will the temple be complete? Sai Baba was angry and was throwing stones everywhere." He thus appeared for two consecutive nights during that period, Shri Purohit was taken aghast. He went to Dadar and related to Shri Gupta the whole story of the dream. Shri Gupta came to Bhivpuri with other committee members, and by the system of lots, ascertained the wish of Sai Baba, who gave a positive indicating to start the Dhuni. A place was fixed for the Dhuni and it was duly constructed a size 8'x4'. Shri A,R. Walawalkar grandson of late Shri Dabholkar, the author of Baba's original Satchari-tra in Marathi lit the Dhuni for the first time on 7-4-1949, the day of Ramanavami at about 10 A.M. Shri Walawalkar also stayed at Bhivpuri under the directions of Shri Sai Baba received by him at Shirdi in a dream. Shri Kunaresan Sanarth who met the committee members on one occasion kindly bore all the expenses for the roof and other structures around the Dhuni. This Dhuni is continuously burning, The expenses were first born by Shri Chavan from Dombivli but are now made out of the donations received. This institution is run very satisfactorily. Various important functions are held and there are special functions of Ramnavami and Samadhi Day. Prof. D.D. Parachure offers his services in the form of Keertans on these two occasions. Many great personalities have visited this temple and helped it financially and made good suggestions for its improvements. The interest and enthusiasm of all these persons deserved sincere appreciation from the trustees. Such is the wonderful story of Bhivpuri Sai Temple, the story of how Shri Sai Baba kept His promise and came to stay at Bhivpuri also. This place is now a living centre of the spiritual influence of Shri Sai Baba and no wonder, persons who visit it once come to have the darshan of Shri Sai Baba more and more frequently with renewed devotion.

Surrender Shri Sai Completely ! Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be there !!