Archive for ◊ March, 2009 ◊

Sairam friends,

Shirdi is situated in Maharashtra state, India. The nearest airport is Aurangabad ( 126 kms ) but most devotees who travel from abroad reaches Mumbai airport. I write this article to help both the locals and also devotees from abroad to reach shirdi safely from Mumbai.

To help Saibaba devotees to reach shirdi by bus , car,Taxi  :

A useful Shirdi to Mumbai Map ( scroll down )

For sai devotees from America, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore , dubai and other middle east countries , i tried to give basic information about their journey from Mumbai to Shirdi.

Guidance to help Sai devotees coming from Foreign countries to Shirdi :

The distance between Mumbai to shirdi is approx 260 kms.  Mumbai airport is also the closest international airport to reach shirdi. So sai devotees who wish to come to india especially for shirdi darshan can come to mumbai and then take a Bus or taxi to shirdi.

Flight which reaches india in day time is fine :

Try to book a flight which reaches india in day time so that its easy for you to get buses to shirdi as most of buses from Mumbai to shirdi starts in evening.

From Airport to Dadar or any place where you can get shirdi bus :

If you are sure you can check out of the airport  before  9 Pm indian standard time, then its ok to travel to Dadar by taxi from where you can get Bus to shirdi. Tell the cabs driver that you wish to reach the place where you can get buses to shirdi.

I don’t have any association with travel agents or taxi or bus.  There are few who provide shirdi Cabs services direct airport pickup ,you can choose the car you wish to travel. search google.com with term ” shirdi cabs ”

Make sure you are aware of approx cost, prices are listed below. There are bus to shirdi which starts even at 11 in night but if you come alone and for women sai devotees, its not safe. Ofcourse everyone says Saibaba is there to protect. You also have to plan your trip safely.

Taxi from Mumbai to Dadar to get shirdi Bus : 200 to 500 Rs ( 10 to 15 $ max )

Bus from Mumbai to Shirdi

Non Ac Bus – 200 Rs ( 5 $ )

Ac Bus – 250 Rs

Volvo Bus – 300 to 450 Rs. ( 10 $ )

Shirdi Cabs – Hiring a car can take you shirdi with in 5 to 6 hours

Cabs from Mumbai to Shirdi – 3500 INR to 6000 INR for one way. ( approx 90 $ to 150 $ ) . Must be within 12,000 R.s for two way if you return within a day.

One of my Sai friend came from australia , took a taxi with driver from mumbai to shirdi, used the taxi for 5 days and then went back to mumbai all for 20,000 Rs. . Personally, if you ask me  , i suggest prefer a one way drop which is affordable.

You can also get buses from Andheri east, ask driver to take you to place in Andheri east or Dadar to get shirdi Bus. If you want to book a taxi directly to shirdi, it must cost you between 3500 to 6000 for one way but i don’t want to take the risk of recommonding any travels. Do a search in google.

If your flight arrives late night to Mumbai airport :

If your flight arrives late night or too early in the morning, better stay in a friends house or hotels in mumbai . There are few near airport. I really don’t have idea about budget Hotels in mumbai.  If your flight arrives early morning 2 Am to 4 Am ,  wait in airport for 2 hours and then take taxi to Dadar to take Bus to Shirdi.

Theres a cabin inside airport campus itself to book taxi or you can check  www.merucabs.com . For airport to dadar or andheri east pick up. I recommond them as i have experienced their service though a bit expensive.

Bus route from Mumbai to Shirdi :

Some buses goes to Nasik and then to shirdi others take a short cut avoiding nasik.

Bus route – Mumbai- Nashik- Niphad- Yeola – Shirdi

Pune and Aurangabad airport can be a option to reach Shirdi:

Distance between Pune to shirdi – 190 Kms

Bus route – Pune- Kalamba- sangmner- Talegaon- shirdi

Distance between Aurangabad to Shirdi 126 kms.

Bus route – Aurangabad- Vaijapur Yeola- Kopargaon-Shirdi

Theres also a Airport in Pune and Aurangabad . you have to check if theres convinient flight to reach Aurangabad.

Shirdi to Mumbai trains :

Personally travel to shirdi by train is recommonded only for people who are used to places in Mumbai as there are several railway stations.  Click here for list of trains from shirdi to mumbai

Shirdi Map -

Shirdi to Mumbai by road is displayed in the below Map.

Sai bless you for a peaceful journey, accomodation in a comfortable Hotel and happy Sai Darshan.

View Larger Map

Shirdi Trains – Its for you to check the Indian railways website if the information below is right.

I have only tried to help sai baba devotees and cant be responsible if you plan your trip withour confirming.

Sai Nagar Shirdi Railway station :

A new Railway station has been build in shirdi called Sai Nagar. Its just 3-4 kms from the Main saibaba temple in shirdi.
Please don’t mail me asking about train timings and trying to understand how to travel by train to shirdi if you are new to mumbai and  if you came from other countries or states. The best option is to book a travels bus and reach shirdi by bus comfortably.

I have provided the train numbers . All you have to do is register in irctc.com and check to confirm for seat availability and also timings. DO NOT TAKE ALL THE INFORMATION HERE to plan your trip. You have to take responsibility. I have just tried to help you with some basic information. Further i have not travelled to shirdi by train .

The other nearest railway stations are Kopargaon – KPG ( 10 miles from shirdi )
Manmad – 49 kms from shirdi

you can register in www.irctc.com and from Mumbai CST or Mumbai LTT ( Lokamanya tilak kurla ) search for trains to
Sai Nagar shirdi
Manmad
and
Kopargaon
For people who travel from other states in india and who come from other countries ,Please please go by Bus from mumbai to shirdi. Thats the best option as you might not be used to Mumbai Local trains for transit.
You can use the alphabats in www.irctc.com – Indian Railway reservation and also www.trainenquiry.com to check for seat availability.

CSTM – Mumbai CST
LTT – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Mumbai situated in Kurla
BCT – Mumbai Central
SNSI – Sai Nagar shirdi station

Train which goes to Shirdi Sai Nagar , Kopergoan ( 15 kms ) and Manmad ( 49 kms )
1. Mumbai shirdi special
Train number – 0177

departure at 10.20 P.M reaches shirdi at 5. A.M in Sainagar station

2. Tapovan Express :

Train number : 7617

Departs @ 06:10AM
Arrives @ 12:11PM
reaches Rotegaon/RGO
(37 km from Sainagar Shirdi)

3.Devgiri Express
train number – 7057
Departs @ 09:05PM from Mumbai CST.

5.Shirdi Fast Passenger
Train number – 1333
Departs @ 10:55PM
Mumbai cst
Reaches after a 10 hour journey next day morning at 10.30 to Sai Nagar shirdi station.

6. Pushpak Express
train number – 2534
Departs @ 08:20AM from Mumbai cst
Arrives @ 12:48PM to Manmad ( you can get down in kopergaon station )

Return journey by train from Shirdi Sai Nagar station to Mumbai

1. Shirdi Mumbai Special
Train number – 0118
Departs @ 07:30AM in shirdi
arrives mumbai Cst at 02:25PM

2.Tapovan Express
Train number – 7618

Departs @ 03:50PM from Ratangoan situation 37 kms away from shirdi

3.Mumbai CST Fast Passenger
train number – 1334

Departs @ 04:40PM Sainagar Shirdi/SNSI
Arrives @ 04:25AM next day early morning.

trains From Kopergoan railway station ( 15 kms from shirdi )

4..Manmad LTT Express
train number – 2118

Departs @ 08:35AM
Manmad Junction/MMR
(41 km from Kopargaon)
Arrives @ 01:00PM
to LTT ( kurla lokamanya tilak railway station, mumbai )

5.Panchvati Express
Train number – 2110
Departs @ 06:10AM
Manmad Junction/MMR
(41 km from Kopargaon)
Arrives @ 10:23AM ro Dadar Mumbai.

Thanks and hope it helps.

I always prefer Bus journey from Mumbai to shirdi and back from shirdi to Mumbai which takes only 7 to max 9 hours .I shall write another article about bus journey later

Sai bless you for a peaceful journey to shirdi , nice hotel to stay and Happy Sai Darshan

Venkat

30 :03 : 2009

Sai Ram friends,

This Approx Distance from New Delhi to Shirdi is 1200 Kms

I have included very few trains which goes from New Delhi to Shirdi. You can search for trains which goes to following stations near shirdi

1.Kopergoan – 15 kms

2.Mammad – 40 kms

Now shirdi has its own Railway Station so some of the trains which halts at kpergoan for few minutes might come to shirdi station too. You have to verify this.

Register in www.irctc.com and check for trains which goes from New Delhi  to Goa,Bangalore etc. This way the trains will cross Manmad or Kopergoan stations.

List of few trains from New Delhi to Kopergoan

1.Train number – 2628 -  karnataka express

New Delhi to Bangalore will Half few minutes at Kopergoan . The Map below shows the approx route of this Train journey from Delhi to shirdi.

Most train takes the following route from New Delhi

New Delhi – Mathura – Agra – Gwalior – Jhansi – Bhopal – Bhurhanpur – Jalgoan – Manmad – Kopergoan

2.  Train Number 2680 – Goa express from Nizamuddin

Goa express also comes from Delhi via Kopergoan.

Return journey – Shirdi To Delhi trains

1. Same train goes back to Delhi from Kopergoan station. Karnataka express – Train No  2627

2. Goa express – 2779 – Kopergoan to Delhi

Friends , At present am able to list only above 2 important trains. You can check in Indian railway reservation for other options

1. Delhi to Nasik trains

Two hour journey From Nasik many buses are there to shirdi apart from trains but mostly these trains are always full as it comes from Punjab via delhi.

Try this train which comes to Manmad station

Train No. 2618 Mangla LKDSP Express

From Nizamuddin ( NZM ) to ernakulam .

It halts at Manmad and also Nasik. Get down at Manmad and take bus just an hour journey to Shirdi

2. Delhi to Pune trains - from Pune go to Shivaji nagar bus stand and get Shirdi Bus ( 5 hour journey )

3. Delhi to Mumbai trains – From mumbai buses can be got from dadar, borivali,andheri etc to shirdi ( 7 to 8 hours )

Shirdi Map – Delhi to Shirdi :

Google Map shows Bus route . I have tried to make it approx for New Delhi to Shirdi train route based on Karnataka express.

New Delhi – Mathura – Agra – Gwalior – Jhansi – Bhopal – Bhurhanpur – Jalgoan – Manmad – Kopergoan

View Larger Map

Sairam friends,

By grace of sai i was able to do a approximate change in car route from chennai to shirdi  so that you can get a idea how most of the trains towards Mumbai travels.

Chennai to Shirdi Distance – 1200 Kms ( approx )

Chennai to Pune by train and from Pune to shirdi by bus

The best way is take any train which goes to Mumbai via Pune. Get down in Pune railway station, ask for Shivaji Nagar bus stand. From here there are various Bus to Shirdi. If you dont get shirdi bus, please go to Ahmadnagar and from there to shirdi. This is the safe way for women , children and old people.

Short Cut – if you feel secured , Try to get down in Daund station and travel to Ahmandnagar by bus  :

You can get down in a station called Daund which comes a couple of hours before Pune station, This is a small train junction. Once you get down in daund , walk out of the railway station, there will be few autos…ask them to take you to the junction where 3 roads meet. This is where Ahmadnagar and shirdi bus comes.

The auto takes just 10 minutes to reach this point where three roads meet. You have to wait in the corner and look for Nagar bus ( Ahmadnagar ) which takes you to Ahmadnagar bus stand. From Ahmadnagar there are frequest Bus to Manmad which stops in shirdi or direct Shirdi Bus.

If you get down in daund, Make sure you experience State trasport bus with no much comfort but its going to save you more than couple of hours.

Shirdi Map – It shows Bus route from chennai to Shirdi.

I have adjusted appox train route from Chennai to Shirdi

A – Chennai , B – Shirdi

Did you see a place in the map called Baramati before Pune . Double click to zoom in and look above. In light words the Railway station Daund can be seen.

This is where you can get down if the train goes in day time. Its recommonded you get down in pune only if the train travels daund in night time as its not safe. I mean better directly reach Pune and from there take Bus to Shirdi.

View Larger Map

Om Ganeshaya Namaha

Dwarakamai , You can call it old Masjid or perceive her as Goddess Mahalakshmi ,Durga or you can simply say ” This old little masjid is where our Sai choosed to live during his life time in Shirdi “. What ever way you perceive her, Dwarakamai truely is the most sacred place in shirdi.

Even when you stand outside in the street and look in to the walls and Portrait of Sai Baba, you can feel Sai has made you come to Shirdi especially for this moment, The moment you breath the air near Dwarakamai.

A humble request to do a simple meditation remembering Sai Baba everyday

Life of Simplicity : Sai lived in a old Masjid called “Dwarakamai”

How holy is our Sai, How simple is he. He choosed to live in this old Masjid for over 60 years untill his samadhi in 1918. It is only after our  Sai Baba has his Samadhi that the present Samadhi Mandhir became the place were Sai choosed to bless us through his divine grace.

Even the very sight of Dwarakamai will make you feel blissful. Oh yes . Forget the crowd,rush, your own hurry to finish darshan soon etc. Just look at the Holy Dwarakamai where our great Saint Sai Baba spent years leading a life of simplicity and a Life where all he did was spreading Love.

Sometimes we are allowed to climb the steps in Dwarakamai , be there few seconds in the Que, feel the warmth of Dhuni ( sacred fire Lit by Sai ) . How beautiful it is to enter the same holy Masjid where Sai Baba has done many divine leelas. To us these are leelas ( miracles ) but to sai , he always likes to show himself as a Humble servant of God and that he is just a witness to the events which happens by Grace of God.

Offer Dakshina along with  ego,lust, pride,greediness

What ever you offer to Sai , little money or flower or shawl do it with  pure thoughts to express your devotion :

Sai Baba used to get Dakshina during his life time, so do offer your Dakshina in the dakshina box kept in many places in samadi Mandhir , Dwarakamai and Chawdi. Let there be not even a slight thought that you “Give” something to Sai, let it be a humble offering which shows your devotion to Sai Baba.

Dwarakamai in Shirdi  : Exact Location :

Well, now lets continue to remember Dwarakamai . Dwarakamai is situated outside the temple complex  and most of the times, you might have to take a small que to have Darshan of this holy Masjid. Theres a Hanuman mandhir and Chawdi near Dwarakamai.

Affectionate & kind mother “Mai” :

Once in 2007 when i had been to shirdi and was just coming out of the steps of Dwarakamai, a devotee who’s new to sai faith patted me n my back and asked ” what’s this Dwarakamai ? ‘ . I replied this is where Sai lived for several years and came to be known as “Dwarakamai “. He said ” i thought it has something to do with Mai , like a presence of Goddess in this holy masjid”.

When we deeply realize why its called Dwarakamai, the term “Dwaraka” in sanskrit means opening – a Door. This holy masjid our sai choosed to live is open to All , people of all religion, caste , creed and countries are allowed to have darshan of Sai Baba . “Open to all” philosipically stressing the message of equality between rich and poor, educated and less educated, all are welcomed by Sai Baba with same love and affection.

The term “Mai” could mean the Motherly love of a Saint . A Sadguru’s Love is equal to crores of Motherly Love.

So Dwarakamai can be a spiritual door to a saint whos love on us is so intense that he makes us forget the world.

Sai Dhayana : Simple Meditation remembering Sai Baba

What ever you see physically in Shirdi and all holy places , try to understand the internal subtle meaning meant for your Soul. The moment you accepted Sai as your Guru and show your devotion on Sai Baba, that moment itself you have climbed the steps of Dwarakamai and felt under the holy feets of Shree Sai Baba .

Let us offer garland of Jasmine, Roses , lilly and Lotus in our imagination to Sainath beautifully sitting in his Holy Dwarakamai. Now close your eyes for a minute and imagine that you are in late 18th century, have gone to have darshan of Sai and do the offering of flowers , finally surrendering your body, mind and Soul to Sainath.

Sai, you know whats good for us. Bless us enormously

Om Sainathaya Namaha

C.Venkat Raman

23 : 03  2009

continued …

What ever means you choose to come shirdi, Where ever you Stay, The Dwarakamai Experience you get is the most precious :

There are some sai devotees who always prefers to stay in the Hotels near Dwarakamai . Trust me, don’t be too demanding to sai baba that this is what you want in shirdi. What ever comfort you get accept it , try to adjust little discomforts because its a place different kinds of people come togather.

Be assured which ever hotel you stay during your Shirdi Trip,the few seconds you spend looking at Dwarakamai is the most precious time for you in shirdi.

Try not to look at Dwarakamai with lots of desires, pains and worries. Atleast for few seconds feel the happiness you can get by surrendering your self to Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Surrendering to Sainath first means NOT to THINK :

The reason Sai always encourages Naam smaran ( chanting of Gods name ) is that our human mind can never stop thinking. Spiritually Thinking itself causes all problems in life.  Because when you go to Sai and think about the problems ahead of you or desires in you, the probability of it coming true or not immediately comes to mind. Then all the time you will only be praying or pleading to Sai rather than showing your pure love on Sai. So be totally submerged in divine feelings of Sai.

Mind always thinks, you can’t change this Habit. So instead of thinking keep chanting in mind any mantra of Sai or simply say Sai Sai Sai …

Story of a Sai Devotee chandrabai in 1918 :

This Mother Sai is knows all your past , present and future and will bless you with whats good for you.

Once during Sai babas life time, a devotee by name Chandrabhai was serving Sai Baba. Sai asked her ” Bhau, whats your hearts desire ? ” . She said ” Baba , you know whats my hearts desire. What is there for me to Say ? ” This chandrabhai though shes in her late 40′s wanted to have a child and be a mother. Sai knowing her desire blessed to have a child. Three years after Sai Baba’s samadhi , chandrabhai gave birth to a child in the year 1921.

How beautiful is the above leela of Sai Baba friends. So DON’T keep your MIND WORKING like machine when you are in shirdi.

Atleast the few seconds and minutes you spend infront of Dwarakamai or near Dwarakamai, fell free as if you have now kept all your burdens down. This is not a magician who works miracles. Sai has to bless you based on laws of Karma. So have shradha and Saburi.  ( Faith and patience ) .

Sai knows all your pains and desires friend.

Be Totally free as if all  your life , past, present and future ,your parents,grandparents, children, wife, friends, career, wealth, health and ofcourse every kind of desire is kept in the holy feets of Shirdi Sai Baba.

Venkat

24 : 03: 2009