A week before i was walking by Sakthi dham temple in saibaba colony and wished to go into the Mandhir. I saw the priest of Hanuman Mandhir who is close to me. I offered 51 Rupees as Dakshina to Hanuman. The priest said with a smile

” Hanuman wont accept this,you must give 500 Rs to buy sweets because his birthday is coming”.

(The Photography of Lord Ganesha,Shirdi saibaba and Hanuman is of the Small saibaba mandhir in my house.Not Sakthi dham temple i mentioned above)

Hanuman came to my Shirdi sai baba mandhir making it also a Hanuman Temple

Offering Dakshina to get Sweets for Hanuman – Anjaneya Jayanthi:

I simply laughed and offered 51 Rs. I sat and felt may be Hanuman really wanted me to Offer sweets for Hanuman Jayanthi, looked into my shirt pocket which fortunately had 500Rs. I took it and gave the priest. A Old man sitting near the Hanuman priest was saying, give it next week a day before Hanuman jayanthi , other wise, he will get sweets for himself and eat.The priest said no no , surely i will use it to get sweets for Hanuman.

Hanuman Jayanthi Pooja in my house lighting 11 lamps and doing abishekam with Milk and water

I Din’t liked what the old man commented and wanted to indirectly say whats offered to God must belongs to God and even if the priest is going to have it, i think its right.

I told the hanuman priest

” Its Dakshina, so even if you get sweets for your little son, i will be happy”.

The priest replied” You come on Hanuman Jayanthi next saturday (24th december 2011).Your sweets will be offered to Hanuman”

I felt happy and directly went to Nagasai mandhir(shirdi  saibaba temple in coimbatore) and did some seva near holy Dhuni (sacred fire of Shirdi Sai baba)

My father made this Little Saibaba temple, after few month i kept Lord Ganesha and later Hanuman came

How Hanuman came into my little Sai mandhir:

Four month back,One of my friend Udayakumar invited me for birthday of his one year old son. I wanted to gift him something divine and got a Hanuman statue made in brass. I called up my Mother and told her am going to Udayakumars home and that i got a Hanuman statue as gift. My Amma said Hanuman has to be kept in a very sacred place and if you give as gift to kids, they might play and even if its kept in your friends home, it must be kept in pure place.

So i kept Hanuman with myself and got it home. Amma din’t wanted me to keep Hanuman inside the house as she said we have to be very clean and pure (i always keep my book self very dirty…he he and arrange it every 3-4 month).So i said is it ok to keep Hanuman near Saibaba in our temple. Amma and Appa approved this idea and thats how Hanuman came to my “Worlds smallest Saibaba temple”

Hanuman Jayanthi Pooja - Love the way the lamp glows as if it is thankful for being offered to Hanuman - Lets chant " Sri RamaJayam"

Waking up and cleaning on Holy Day of Hanuman Jayanthi:

I woke up at around 6.40 and decided to clean my room with water and also the Sai mandhir. Once i did that, the old man who cleans vessels in our house got me the milk pocket. I took it in a vessel and did Abishekam for Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and our shirdi saibaba. We have Beetle plant in our house itself. So i plucked few beetle leaves, washed them and arranged infront of Sai.

Hanuman and the holy lamp - If our thoughts and actions are pure Hanuman will live in ourself as "Light"

I decided to light “11 LAMPS” keeping them over sacred Beetle leaves.

Soon the temple turned divine with 11 holy lamps lit to glorify and celebrate Hanuman Jayanthi. I was really happy for this friends. I had to make coffee for old dhottapa. so kept the milk in Gas stove and came running with my Camera. In between i used the change the song being played in my P.C ..Sai aarti, Hanuman Chalisa, Vishnu sahasranamam etc.

Saibaba’s Respect and Love for Lord Hanuman (Maruti is also called Anjaneyar in Tamilnadu)

Once it was raining in shirdi. Sai used to stay in the Hanuman mandhir near by dwarakamai . Rain water kept falling from the roof to platform (floor) where sai used to sit but saibaba continued to be there. A man asked him to go to the upper platform where Hanuman was also there. Sai told him

“We must not be in equal position of Maruti.”

This incident so beautifully explains sai always considered himself as Sevant of God and his immense love and respect for Lord Hanuman.

Saibaba’s blessings for child birth and suggestion to Repire the Hanuman mandhir adjacent to Dwarakamai:

A devotee named Gopal Gund married thrice (in late 18th century, men marry again if they can’t have child with first wife) but was none of his wife had a child. He went to Shirdi and saw saibaba in dwarakamai (holy Masjid). By sai grace Gopal Gund was blessed with a son. To express his gratitude, Gund requested saibaba’s permission to repire Dwarakamai. Gund would have wished to repair masjid because the roof of dwarkamai must have leaked during rain and also the floor must not have been good.

Sai who always lived a very ordinary life with out much comforts for himself suggested Gopal to repair the Hanuman mandhir adjacent to Dwarakamai. Gund happily agreed to do it. In Sai satcharitra, we can learn that this Gopal Gund also started the Annual fair celebrating Ram Navami in Shirdi in 1896-97.

How beautiful is Saibaba’s heart and way of life that he din’t want comfort for himself but considered repiring Hanuman mandhir to be more sacred work.

I am really happy to present these beautiful divine moments through these photos

Power of Lord Hanuman – Anjaneyar:

Lord Anjaneyar is very powerful because when we were kids my sister was not feeling well. My Amma was consoling her when suddnely a letter written by one of Ammas relative fell down from the self on top. (Those days in 1986 people used to communicate by Inland letter). The letter had a Hanuman Mantra in tamil which my mother taught for us. So i believe Hanuman will bless us with purity of thoughts, actions and will power.

Light lamps at home or in temple for Hanuman regularly and keep chanting any mantra of Hanuman you can learn to recite especially Hanuman Chalisa.

People who dont know Hindi can easily learn other mantras.

God will fulfill earnest wishes of devotees:

Myfather has habit to write Sri Ramajayam in a note book everyday which also pleases Hanuman. Last year my father and a friend of his tried much to build a Hanuman temple inside our colony Ganesha mandhir campus. There was some men who were not interested in it ( including the priest) and it was stopped.

I felt happy Hanuman came to live happily in our Sai mandhir at home itself making it a Hanuman mandhir too. My humble request is when people try to spoil any good efforts you do, try to be calm. Gradually you will realize God will fulfill your wishes.

Why two Hanuman Jayanthi in tamilnadu(south india):

I went to Sakthi dham temple this evening to collect the prasad. The priest was happy to see me and Gave me sweets which i shared with my friends in Nagasai mandhir. A lady was asking how come there are 2 Hanuman jayanthi. The priest said North indians celebrate during april/may Chitra naksatra on full moon day and based on tamil scriptures, its celebrated on Moola nakshatra. Since its North indian temple in tamilnadu, They celebrate Hanuman Jayanthi on both the Nakshatra.

Lord Hanuman bless you and all sai children

Aum sri sainathaya namaha

Venkat

24/12/2011

Note- Hanuman Jayanti comes in a different day in North india. In Tamilnadu we mostly call Hanuman as Lord Anjaneya or Anjaneyar.

Hanuman Devotees have a look at exclusive website for Lord Hanuman  Saihanuman.com

I feel happy to write about Chepparai Natarajar Temple in Rajavallipuram Village, Tirunelvelli. The Lord shiva here is also called “Alagiya Koothar” The one who’s dance is beautiful or one who is beautiful and dancing .

Rajavallipuram – My mom’s village . My first home :

This is the village situated in Tirunelvelli district of Tamilnadu on the banks of River Tamiraibarani . In 1980′s when me and my sister were kids , we used to pack our bags for a stay in grandparents house every summer.  My Thatha Sankarasubramanian ,paati chellamaal and other mamas , athais used to give us the best they can untill we return to coimbatore. When i was born i was taken to this grandparents house and lets consider it as the first shelter God gave me in this birth – My thathas house in Rajavallipuram Village.

I still remember my thatha aasking as soon we enter house

” Vengatu , summa irukiyala…”

The native Tirunelveli tamil of asking “Are you ok – Fine !  ” and we used to joke

“Aaama , Summa dhaan iruken”

I can’t forget the days they get us hot Alwa and omapodi during night times ….my thatha affectionately asks “Pandam saaptiala”

Blessed with beauty of Nature :

The mud path leading to river is full of greenary ! Its agricultural treasure and the breeze makes us feel exited.

We remember my mom and all relatives walking to the small mud path which leads to the River where they dip into the river and take bath. At times Maatu vandi – cart with 2 cows will cross us in Ferrari speed with a friendly invitation to get in .

Once we reach the river banks we used to jump in exitement and usual warning from elders .

“Vengatu … indra …. aathula thanni narayaa oodudhula paathu kulikanum , enn kaiyaa pudila”

Theres too much water in river , be careful , hold our hands !

Me and my sister get scared of getting into the river , so we use a Mug to take the water from river banks and pour over us.

chepparai natarajar also called Alagiya Koothar

Photo of Lord Nataraja in copper statue – Chepparai Natarajar used by Courtesy

Chepparai Natarajar Temple :

On the way to the Thamaraibarani river towards right in the mud path is this Ancient sacred temple of Lord Shiva as Natarajar called – Chepparai Kovil – or Chepparai Natarajar temple.

Story behind Chepparai Natarajar Temple :

My amma used to tell the history ( stalapuranam ) behind Chepparai Natarajar temple many times but this time i use a article in Dinamalar Newspaper for referance to write this.

The Lord Nataraja Statue in Chidambaram :

There was a king by name Singavarman who ruled “Uthiradhesam ” . Singavarman was tyrant ruler and his people suffered a lot. Later he changed to be a good hearted man and decided to go to forest for doing meditation  ( Dhavam ).  He saw the sages Pathanjali munivar and Vyakarapadhar .  Lord Shiva gave them darshan and the King also had witnessed it. The sages asked the kind to build Lord Nataraja temple in Chidambaram .

The Kind asked the Sculptures to make a Natarajar statue made of Copper and they created a beautiful Nataraja statue . The statue in copper metal itself was so captivating that the king wondered how beautiful it will be to make similar statue of Natarajar in Gold.

Sculpture Namasivaya muthu ordered to create Natarajar in Gold :

The King ordered the head sculpture Namasivaya Muthu to create Natarajar statue in Gold. The statue was made in Gold but seems every night Lord Shiva would drop a copper coin over it secretely to change the golden statue in to copper sttaue.

The king was shocked to see this and ordered to keep the head sculpture in the forts Jail. The sculpture pleaded the King to prove his innocence but in vain.

Dream Vision – I wish to be in Copper :

That night Lord Shiva as Natarajar appeared in Dream to the king and said

“I don’t wish to be in Gold, i wish to be in Copper”.

So the King released the sculpture.

Lord shiva’s guidance to carry the copper statue towards south :

Lord shiva also asked the King to do this…The copper Nataraja must be carried by the sculpture – Namasivaya. The place where the copper statue weighs too much that they can’t proceed further, that will become the residance of the Copper Nataraja and the Temple must be built there.

Thus when the sculpture Namasivaya came towards south carrying the Nataraja statue over his head on the banks of river Thaamaraibarani , it wighed so much that he could not move ahead. so the statue was placed there.

Copper in Tamil is “Cheppu ” . Hence the name “Chepparai Natarajar ”

King Raama Paandiyan built Chepparai Natarajar temple :

The kind Raama paandiyan built Chepparai Natarajar temple. Even the temples Gopuram is made of Copper which is a beauty to see.

Friends, In recent years i have never visited the temple and all i have is memory of my childhood days. When i go to Chepparai Natarajar temple next time i wish to take few photos.

Aerial view of Chepparai Natarajar and correcting Google Maps :

Now flash back over. It was sometime in november 2010 that me and my chittapa were trying to spot my Amma’s village in Google map.  It was really hard to spot the exact place and finally after 30 minutes we could even spot our thathas house.

I dragged the curser down to see the path…the beautiful still greenish way towards the river.  Suddenly i saw someone had mistaken the Chapparai Natarajar temple for someother temple and it was included in google maps also.

Google maps approved Chepparai Natarajar temple :

My amma was angry that Chepparai Natarajar temple was misunderstood as another temple and marked in Google as i told this to her. I told her we will try to request them and prove its Chepparai Natarajar temple. I marked it and wrote,

“This is my mothers village and we know for sure its Chepparai Natarajar temple. Its thousands of years old and sacred Lord Nataraja temple.”

After 2 weeks the good news came, though the old temples name was still there, The name “Chepparai Natarajar was also included.

Shirdi Sai baba’s guidance to learn about greatness of Chepparai Natarajar temple :

The day before i corrected google maps marking , i had a dream as if i am entering an ancient Lord shiva temple and bowing to shiva, Then another dream where i pray happily and i see the name “Muthu Thillai “. Later when Google approved the presence of Chepparai Natarajar in the exact place, i had a dream as if i am showing pilgrims the way to reach Rajavallipuram .

My amma’s kuladaivam ‘Gobal swami – a holy snake with kalasam ‘ is also in this village  as a privatly worshipped god.

Its holy day of Arudhra Darisanam …for long time i desired to Write about the greatness of Chepparai Natarajar. After todays morning pooja, i started it. My parents wanted me to go to Bank and pay phone bill etc. I din”t had my breakfast though its going to be afternoon .

I feel really satisfied , Today is 6th Birthday of StarSai.com , entering 7th year and i am writing about the greatness of Chepparai Natarajar , The God who blessed me with sweetest Mother on earth from a village , the world won’t care about if not the sacred Lord Shiva Temple – Chepparai Natarajar .

Sai ki jai
Aum Namah Shivaya

C.Venkatraman
december 22nd 2010

About ARUDHRA Darisanam
Arudhra Darshan is observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January) on Thiruvathirai Nakshatram. It is essentially a Shaivite festival and celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form. Arudhra signifies the golden red flame and Shiva performs in the form this red-flamed light

Google maps – I hope the name soon turns as Chepparai Natarajar temple .


View Larger Map


A dream vision that made me realize how God responds to the love we show on them.

Sri Venkateswara Swamy of Tirumala Hills – Tirupati

The God who opens his eyes to bless devotees who chants his holy name with love and devotion

Sairam friends,

It was early morning on November 4th 1978 . My father had been with his friends to have darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara in Tirumala Tirupati after official duty in chennai. Those were the days where you can’t send good news by mobile phones . One of his friend gave him the news “your son has born” since the office people got a phone call from my mothers village.

When ever i am fed up with life and ask my parents why they named me Venkatraman my father replies “I was in Tirupati when i got news about your birth”. Another reason was since my fathers name is chandrasekaran he thought his son will become someone as big a scientist as Sir.C.V.Raman. Oh that never came true . What came true was my Love for Lord Sri Venkateswara.

Darshan of Lord Venkateswara teaches us the art of patience – Wait …wait..Your turn will come :

When i was very little in early 1980′s , my parents had took me to Tirupati . All i remembered about that trip was we were asked to sit in a huge que like cell and every few hours , the grill will be opened to reach the next few cells/rooms where devotees had to wait to take darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara. I was too small to understand we are going to have darshan of God and got fed up with the waiting.

Sri Venkateswara sacred Darshan

My devotion towards Lord Venkateswara :

I used to worship Lord Ganesha and Murugan a lot for years along with Shirdi Sai baba. Somehow i never really had the attachment or lets say devotion on Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala , Tirupati as i felt having named after this God, he never favoured me and all the i desired in my career and personal life never happened. Some strange feeling which made me feel this is a God of rich people, who blessed them for the money they offer in the temple and that Sri Venkateswara won’t bless ordinary people like me.

Years later , a Sacred Journey to have darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara :

My father always used to say from 2005, you must go Tirupati because “The one who goes Tirupati and returns will have a positive change in their life ”

In 2007, my neighbours planned to go Tirupati and i was asked to join them. The car started in coimbatore by night.

Chanting “Sai Vengusa ” Contineously all through the journey towards Tirupati :

Narasimha swamiji has mentioned in one of his books that the Guru of Saint shirdi sai baba is known as Vengusa and he has meditated in Tirumala for over 12 years worshipping Sri Venkateswara swamy. Many sai devotees has contradictory views to this concept of Narasimha swamiji as they feel Shirdi Sai baba himself is a incarnation and that he has no Guru. I too totally don’t have any idea about it but i liked the name “Vengusa ” . So the simple way to chant was discovered as “Sai Vengusa ”

I used to chant Sai Sai Sai always and this time since i am going to Tirupati , i felt like calling Sri Venkateswara swamy as ” Vengusa ” .

I started chanting

Sai Vengusa

Sai Vengusa

Sai Vengusa

in my mind itself for hours togather…i was mingling with others who came to pilgrimage but in my mind , the chanting was going on… I truly imagined how it would have been if really Sri Venkateswara is in my heart , imagined as if i am offering flowers to sai and venkateswara and continued to chant.

at times i also chanted

“Om Namo Naarayanaya

Om Namo Venkatesaya

Om Namo Srinivaasaaya”

Reached Tirumala by evening :

We reached Tirumala by evening , had coffee , dosa etc. One aunty went with her husband to offer her hair and then we reached the room. We started again to book for Angapradhikshanam – Rolling our body as an offering to God around the temple. The que was long but by sai grace we were able to get the opportunity. We are supposed to take bath the next day late night may be at 1.PM and go for the Angapradhikshana.

Taking bath in cold water , Shivering too early in the morning to do Angapradhikshana :

We woke up at 12.30 in night, took the car some where near the sacred Pushkarini to have bath. I wore vesti and a towel around my hip. All of us were shivering too much while walking towards Holy Pushkarini. That day, for maintainance purpose, it was closed and all we had is a pipe to take bath.

I was chanting “Sai Vengusa…Sai Vengusa….Naraayana…Venkatraama…Shivering and pouring water over myself.

Angapradhikshana – Offering ourselves – This Body in the holy feets of Lord Sri Venkateswara :

I wonder how i can describe the spiritual meaning of Angapradhikshana .

It could be like , we are surrendering oneself – our body, mind and soul in the holy feets of the great Lord Sri Venkateswara swamy.

We are supposed to roll around the temple on the floor . The 3 sides sides of the temple will be covered by rolling ourselves. Then we will be allowed to have darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara . Sometimes we only have to do Angapradhishana and darshan is not allowed.

Anyway,

We were waiting for the Angapradhikshana timings around 3-4A.M , i am not sure of timings friends. Then we went in que and laid down on the floor, kept our palms upwards and joined palms as if praying Venkateswara and started rolling.

Most devotees chant in praise of the lord as this

Venkatramana,

Govindha…Govindhaa.Govindhaaa..

I felt good for this friends..the physical strain in rolling is never felt, we happily felt a blissful feeling as we continued to roll chanting in praise of the Lord. I also reciting Mahalakshmi Ashtakam while rolling and once in a while chanting Sai Vengusa and Om Namo narayanaya , om namo venkatesaya and Om namo srinivaasaya.

Finally the 3 sides of temple was covered and we woke up slowly . We all felt satisfied as we got opportunity to do Angapradhikshina in holy Tirupati temple – The adobe of Srinivasa.

A holy Dream vision which made me realize how much the god responds to the devotion we show on him :

We all came back to room around 4.30 A.M after having tea, Took bath and slept. I hugged the holy Sai satcharitra book on my chest friends. I was too tired and slept nicely. The surprise was the dream i had ..

In the dream i saw this..

I saw a small temple…Its like temple inside which we can only keep idol of God and cannot enter. I mean to say it was like small temple some people construct in house. The temple had Lord Sri Venkateswara swamy beautifully shining with all his glory.

A priest is showing lamps, Aaarti to Lord Venkateswara swamy.

Suddenly i hear a voice,

“Crores of devotees comes to see me and today i am opening my eyes to see you “

As soon as i heared this voice, i saw

Lord Sri Venkateswara opening his eyes, It was not a ordinary way of simply opening friends. It was as if his eyes were twinkling and like a flash light , he opened his eyes for a moment, closed it in fraction of second, again the eyes were opened. It was like a divine play of Lord Sri Venkateswara. Even when i write this i could feel how little we humans ask only for materialistic benefits from Venkateswara but the God on other hand responds for our devotion by giving a dream to even a very ordinary person like me.

Then while Sri Venkateswara swamy was opening his eyes , i am taking the aarti and showing to the Lord with such happiness i can’t write in words.

After few minutes, i woke up and can remember this dream very clearly.

I remembered something i saw last evening,

We went to meet a bank officer as soon as we reached Tirupati . He had a poster on his table with the photo of sri venkateswara swamy and a wonderful wordings

“Its not the Darshan you Get – Its the darshan he gives ”

How beautiful and meaningful is this sacred words friends. We all say we had darshan of God when we go to any temple but in true sense, its the darshan the god gives us out of love on us.

The dream i had was so touching that i felt my life will have a positive turn from then on… That day , we had good darshan of Venkateswara and i thanked swamy for blessing me with such a dream.

What really god wants me to tell the world through this dream :

I wanted to make a seperate website for Lord Sri Venkateswara writing about this leela as soon as i came to Coimbatore. It was 2007 and now its 2010 when i actually write this article friends. I din’t had much change in my career or personal life and still have some problems. All i know is Lord Venkateswara blessings are on me and someday i will tell the world that such thing happened in my life during my pilgrimage to Tirupati.

When i look back with love on Lord Tirupati and Kalyani , i felt how did they bless me with such a beautiful dream . There are so many people who are more devoted to Tirupati Venkateswara swamy than me. I know few people only worship this God alone. I don’t wake up early in morning or lead any kind of spiritual life.

Only thing that my father follows is Listening to Vishnu Sahasranaanam every single day and writing “Shree RaamaJayam ” in a note book.

So may be Lord Venkateswara swamy wants me to let all his devotees know the greatness of chanting the Gods name, any small mantra or focussing your mind on God during your Tirupati pilgrimage.

Friends, All i did was childishly choosing to chant “Sai Vengusa ” and ” Om namo Narayanaya ” on my way to tirupati and all through my stay there.

May be you also can try to chant any mantra or simple holy name of Lord Sri Venkateswara, Some of you who can recite Vishnu Sahasranamam can also recite it in your journey.

Chanting in Mind is very powerful :

I was contineously chanting only in my mind and never realized i will be blessed with such a dream vision. I know Lord Sri Venkateswara has a heart that melts for any innocent , pure devotion shown on him. Keep chanting any small holy name like

“Om Namo Narayanaya”

“Govindha”

or any small mantra you like,

Surely you will feel the blessings of Lord Shree Venkateswara is on you and your family.

Note : Not all get dreams and even i may not get such beautiful dream again. What matters is the message from this experience. Don’t give importance only to darshan. Lord Sri Venkateswara dwells in your own heart and the little temple i saw was the temple i made in my imagination.

So learn to see the God in you and when you go Tirumala , thank the Lord for the Darshan you had inside , The self realization you had in youself .

After this trip to Tirupati,

I realized this too is a God who’s heart melts for pure devotion.

Imagine the dream friends, How beautiful itself to see the God who opens eyes for simply chanting his holy name for one single day.

Please chant any small holy name of any God you like or any small mantra you like atleast 10 minutes a day.

The God lives in you, There’s a little universe and little temple in yourself, when you do Naam smaran or any form of bhakti whole heartedly, The God responds to you.

Om Namo Narayanaya

Om Namo Venkatesaya

Om Namo Srinivaasaaya

C.Venkatraman

july 20th 2010

Sairam friends, Though i am working on StarSai.com writing articles to inspire and motivate sai devotees in the path of light for past 6 years from 2004, The blog was started only in 2009 and yes though i have already crossed 100 articles, This is the 100th blog and i wanted to write about the sweet experience i got from devotion on Lord Sri Venkateswara during my journey to Tirumala Tirupati.

Note : StarSai.com only inspires devotion on Sai and all Gods with divine experiences . Other information about Tirumala Tirupati, Darshan timings , Accomodation details can be found in below website. Please contact them directly.

Tirumala.org – Tirumala Tirupati Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple Darshan and Photos

Wikipedia.com – Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

I am happy to announce Starsai Family is blessed with Lord Sri Venkateswara as its my 100th article in blog section.

By grace of Shirdi Sai baba and Goddess Durga we went on a pilgrimage to temples in Kumbakoram and Mayiladuthurai in Tamilnadu,India.  Five of us who serve in Nagasai mandhir in coimbatore like cleaning, sweeping, distributing annadhan, Digging dhuni and filtering Udi were exited to see this beautiful simple and truly wonderful Shirdi Sai baba temple situated between Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai. There are town buses going from Kumbakonam to Kadhiramangalam . Confirm if the bus stops in Shivaramapuram which comes 3-4 kms ahead of Kadhiramangalam or get auto from Kadhiramangalam.

The best part of our pilgrimage to Kumbakonam temples is that we stayed on a holy pournami – Full moon day night in the shirdi sai baba temple in shivaramapuram village.

Shirdi Sai baba Photos from saibaba temple in a beautiful scenic village :

Shirdi Sai baba photos from temple on way between Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai

Locating the ShivaramaPuram shirdi Sai baba temple :

The temple is built by contribution from my close sai family , Mr.Mohanji and Renuka and taken care by the priest Mr.Veeraraghavan . Lets also a Pancha muga Aanchaneyar in this temple. The temple is not easy to locate as its in a small village called Shivaramapuram. If you are going to Thanjavur , Kumbakonam temples for pilgrimage and happen to travel from Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai, Try to locate this temple in the mainroad between Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai .

Its easy to locate this temple if you are travelling by own vehicle or taxi. After crossing Thiruvidaimaruvur and Aduthurai  continue your jouney for another 8-9 kms. A small village called Kadhiramangalam appears after which you can ask for exact location of Shivaramapuram village. From the road you must try to locate the gopuram of this saibaba temple and take the narrow path which leads you to Sai baba of Shirdi.

To avoid confusion, let me confirm, There seems to be a Shirdi Sai baba temple in kumbakonam town itself and this images you see are from “Shivaramapuram temple ” a very small temple located in a scenic greenish village on way from Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai.

I would like to present few beautiful Shirdi Sai baba photos from the temple :

Shirdi Sai baba beautiful photos

Holy paadhukas of Shirdi Sai baba kept in the entrance of Shirdi Sai baba temple :

I really loved this beautiful little holy Padhukas of Shirdi Saibaba…Hope you like it too friends..

shirdi saibaba padhukas

The soft light falling on the beautiful Paadhuka of shirdi saibaba…I really loved this photo friends as it shows how soft is our sai…the early morning light is beautiful

shirdi sai baba decorated with beautiful ornaments and orange dress in temple

This is the full form of Shirdi Sai baba statue in the village temple located on the way from Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai.

Shirdi Sai baba Smiling :

shirdi sai baba smiling i love this photo so much

I love this photo as it has a Pink glow and Saibaba’s face is as if shining by Moon Light on Full moon day

Lord Dattatreya  :

Lord dattatreya on the wall of saibaba temple

Radhe Krishna :

We all loved this Radhe Krishna on the wall of Sai temple. They look really beautiful friends..

Radhe krishna beautiful togather ...

They really smile and shows how much they love each other…Impressive Radhe krishna statue in the sai temple wall.

A small simple sweet Saibaba temple

Shivaramapuram Village – Shirdi Sai baba temple

shirdi saibaba temple located between kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai

This is what i call as being simple as sai himself. Less than 5 to 10 devotees can actually stand infront of saibaba in this temple. Few steps leads to the temple as if taking us to the the paraside of Saibaba. There are many who build shirdi sai baba temples now a days. What matters is how sacredly and devotedly the pooja and the dicipline is carried out in the temple with out ego from people who maintain temple.

No one was present when the priest Mr.Veeraraghavan started the Morning kakad aarti but i could feel his devotion on sai and his sincerity in doing the aarti on time. I took bath fastly in the bore pipe and ran to join him …He invited me inside the temple and for first time in my life, i showed the panchaarti , the five wick lamps ..

Simply Gorgerous Saibaba.

All of us from nagasai mandhir enjoyed this kumbakonam trip since we happily spent many hours in this peaceful Shirdi Sai baba temple . The shivaramapuram village seems to be choosen by sai to remain there forever and bless devotees whole heartedly.

Lets surrender in the Holy feets of Saint Shirdi Sai Baba :

shirdi sai baba holy feets

Om sri sainathaya namaha

C.Venkatraman

27 :06 :2010

Other temples we visitedin our pilgrimage to Thanjavur- Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai…

We visited temples like Thingalur – Lord Chandra temple, Garbarakshambigai temple, Pateeswaram Goddess Durga temple, Swami Malai Lord Murugan temple, Suryanar temple , Kanchanur – Lord Sukra temple, Thirumananjeri temple with lord Kalyana sundareswarar and Goddess Kokilambigai,  Vaidheeswaran temple where the goddess who came in my dream Thaiyal naayagi amman was there. I was also happy to have darshan of Goddess Sri Brahma Vidhya who came in my dream in the Bhudhan temple.

All photos are copyright protected and must not be reproduced in other websites etc. You can download the photos by right clicking and save in your p.c

I woke up with a beautiuful dream of shirdi saibaba as which guided me to create websites for helping students learn various arts including cinematography. I never wanted to involve myself with filmmaking again so avoided it but then it was this dream as if i am shooting a movie made me realize i must work on websites to help students learn various arts .

I was going through the tamil news paper dinamalar and found its

“Lakshmi Narasimhar Jayanthi”

lakshmi narasimhar jayanthi

Vow its my Amma’s favourite God. Back in 2003 when i was into filmmaking, i used to offer a yellow flower and a ghee lamp in shiva vishnu temple in chennai. This Lakshmi Narasimhar used to be behind the wall of temple . Once a old lady told me if you want to do something good, feed 1000 people ,, if you have no ability to feed 1000, feed 1000 ants. From that day i used to pack 3 covers with sugar and drop one cover some where in corner of temple. Once the priest was talking to himself ” who’s this dropping sugar everyday, ants are coming” . I got shocked and felt thank God he don’t know its me. hA HA

I always pray Lakshmi narasimhar to bless my sister with a kind hearted husband and in 2004 when my sister got married i know its grace of Lakshmi Narashimhar.

Pooja for Lakshmi Narasimhar :

I did abishekam to Lord Ganesha , Dattatreya, Shirdi Saibaba, Shiv Ling, Saraswathi and yes our graceful Mahalakshmi . She really was vibrant when i did abishekam with honey. As the honey flowed over Mahalakshmi , Sai and Dattatreya i really felt blissful. Then i did abishekam with water and chanted “aadithya hrudayam’ – the lord surya mantra i love.

Then Amma asked me to recite below mantra she likes for 108 times. Its so beautiful which says Lakshmi Narasimhar is Mother, Father, Friend and savouir .When we say this mantra 108 times surely Lakshmi narasimhar comes immediately to us friends..Amma believes in this

“Maathaa Nrushimha , Pitha Nrushimha :

Pratha Narashimha , Shaga Narashimha :

Vidhya Narashimha , Dhravinam Narashimha :

Swaami Narashimha , Sagalam Narashimha :

Idho Narashimha, Pradho Narashimha:

Yadho Yadho Yaahi, Thatho Narashimha :

Narashimha Dhevaath  paro nagasith

Dhasmaan Narasimha Saranam Prabadhye ! “

Amma has a diary where she wrote 1 to 108 and she asked me to tick one by one as i recited the mantra 108 times.

After reciting this mantra i has tears flowing down my eyes as i could feel the grace of Sat Datta and Lakshmi Narasimhar.

Saint narasimha saraswati Ganagapur

The sacred book “Guru charitra and Shree Paadha shee vallabha charitramrutam ” says the saint who lived in 13th century ‘Sri Narasimha Saraswati “  born in Narasobwadi and had samadhi in Ganagapur is a avatar of Lakshmi Narasimhar himself.

When there are people who argue that god never exists and the kaliyug gets more spoilt, God takes avatar as saint and this Lakshmi narasimhar is verily present in his avatar as saint ‘Sri Narasimha saraswati ” . I request you to read “Guru Charitra ‘ especially the tamil version available in Mylapore shirdi saibaba temple is excellent.

Then i ran to Amma’s room, took Guru charitra and read a beautiful song in praise of Narasimha saraswati. As i recited, i felt tears in my eyes remembering how graceful the saints are on me and why they are taking care of me like a child in mothers lap.

Amma made panagam with lemon and sugar ..I offered it as Naivaidhya to all Gods.  Amma asked me to keep it infront of Lakshmi narasimhar and i did.

I wanted to express this immediately to all my sai friends, so started writing this article

A request – Serve devotees , make them satisfied and you serve God :

A month back me and my parents went to Lakshmi narasimhar temple where they have policy of giving kumkum only to for devotees who do archana. We din’t know this and amma asked for Kumkum. The priest harshly said ” Did you do archana, only for people who do archana, kumkum is given”

The priest dont have to give the packet , he can give a bit of kumkum atleast when a devotee asks for it. I felt pained and felt priests can have rules as its their living but once in a while try to do good karma by satisfying devotees. Some may be rich and some poor and all deserves Lakshmi Narasimhar’s blessings. When God shows equality to all why does  a priest who serves God din’t realize this.

All who has true faith on Lakshmi Narasimhar are rich and all who whole heartedly remember Lakshmi Narasimhar are pure and they don’t have to belong to any so called “sacred” caste .

Let us all bow to Lakshmi Narasimha and be blessed with good health, peace and prosperity

oM SRI SAI RAM

Venkat raman

26 : 05 :2010

A holy Lakshmi Narasimhar jayanthi day.

Lakshmi Narasimhar sloka in www.prapatti.com is beautiful

http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/mp3/nrusimhaprapatti.mp3

sai ki jai

Years later even now my mother follows the same “Tamil Pongal ” Tradition in front of our house in coimbatore.

Tamil Pongal Thanks giving to Sun God Surya Deva

Yeturday my mother was sitting on floor outside house in the cement flooring trying to draw a line ..I told her i will draw the lines on all four sides myself…We draw a square on surface with brick powder and keep doors in the drawing .A imaginary divine Kitchen where sky is the roof. You can see in above photo a brown color border ..Thats our imaginary Kitchen. You can also see on top corner of Banana leaf the rice is filled as offering to surya deva over which my Amma has kept a little flower.

As far as i know most families living in city don’t have time and facility to follow our cultural way of celebrating pongal. Once i remember my mother telling me that Pongal is the festival of farmers because they thank the Sun God “Surya Deva” for blessing them for good harvest.

My love for Surya Deva is inspired by my mothers liking for reciting Aadithya hrudhayam and bowing to Sun every morning . By sai grace i created SunGodSurya.com which helps to spread the message of surya devotion and bowing to Sun God every morning.

Happy Pongal  : 14:01:2010

The day started with a Sms from one of my friend in north india “On this makar sankranti , sweet surprises, rays of joys,so much fun and grand celebration to you and all …Happy Makar Sankranti”. The day we celebrate Pongal is also Makar sankranti in north india.

A little later i got a call from my chittapa to wish me “Happy Pongal” .I din’t attend the call as i don’t want to show anyone that i dint woke up yet.

Finally  a Pongal SMS filled my mobile phone as below ”

“Wish you a very Happy pongal, pot rice to Sun God, Sugar cane to cow and Ox, sweet rice to you and me ” Happy pongal” .

Believe it or not millions of tamilians would have started their Pongal through such Sms greetings. well, they would have tasted Pongal too made in Gas Stove. They would have gone to temples , greeted their friends and relatives and sat infront of T.V. How many of us Bowed to Lord Surya.

Will todays Tamilians bow to lord surya and Thank the Sun God for blessing us with this beautiful life, the light , plants, trees , food and yes Green energy.  I wish we spread the message to the world with a new term for Pongal

Pongal – “Thanks giving day for Sun God – surya deva”

Only when you call it thanks giving day in American style , we will be motivated to go out , look at Glorious Sun God , bow to him and thank him for all that he has blessed us with .

I woke up a bit late. yes i am also one of those ignorant tamilian who doesn’t care to wake up early on this auspicious day. As the morning sun streaked inside our house, I sat in Varanda  and turned the pages of the tamil newspaper Dina Malar which according to my mother is the greatest informative newspaper ever.At times i joke to her that if i want to make her believe something, i have to make it appear on Dina Malar.

True to my mothers liking, today the Dina Malar carried a wonderful big painting of Lord Surya deva which i photographed to present to all devotees .

Sun God surya deva with Arunan who rides horses

The Painting of lord Surya Deva courtesy of Dinamalar newspaper.

I took bath , did Abishekam to Lord Ganesha, Mahalakshmi, Shiva lingam with Nagam, Saraswathi , Shirdi saibaba and Dattatreya. I sang the song i love most “Aadithya hrudhayam ” Looking at Shirdi saibaba as i used to do guru pooja for sai in surya lokha by chanting the names of sacred gurus.

While i was reciting the mantra Aaditya hrudhayam in praise of lord surya, the Pongal was being cooked in open air infront of our house in 3 mud stoves and bronze pots.

Pongalo Pongal :

My amma called me to come outside soon as the pongal has already come out…ozzing out of the sweet pongal which is very auspicious. I missed to take a photo of this beautiful event which tamilians consider as blessings of God which will also bring good health, peace and all wealth and prosperity to ooz out in our family like the Pongal did from the Pot.

Now lets see how we celebrated the Pongal , a tradition carried from my mother all the way from her village…

Pongal festival with mud stove fire woods and bronze pot

My parents keep 3 such Mud stoves , fire it with dry woods and start to cook Pongal traditionally with Bronze pots.  We have to spread sand on the floor and keep the mud stoves over them.

By the time i came out for prayer with my camera, the sweet pongal has already oozed out. I missed it but i felt happy while i was reciting aaditya hrudhayam mantra in praise of lord surya deva in my pooja room , pongal has oozed out in front of our house.

I went outside and looked at the 3 beautiful mud stoves,..it was sunny day..so appa and amma were working eagerly with sweat to create the great meals. Look at this..

Tamil pongal festival celebrated in our house

My amma and appa creating sweet Pongal

Its always my fathers responsibility to take care of the mud stoves,He carefully lights them with dry woods, maintain the level of fire and take care of Pongal being cooked. My amma comes from kitchen every now and then to stir the rice inside . If not stirred properly, the pongal will stick to the pots.  This year i never did my share of stirring but i happily gave a pose in photo we took as if i am stirring..ha ha

I asked my father will the pongal oozz out again so that i can take photos, he said it will only oozz out once and you were reciting mantra eagerly at that time inside house. I asked him where is the brown color pongal as all the pots were in white. He said mother will come with the sweet paagu ..Once poured, it turned to brown color .

Here comes the real color of Pongal for me friend..

sweet tamil pongal

Sairam friends,

Hope you loved the pongal festival celebration in our house. Theres more to this auspicious festival of Tamilians than sending Sms and watching Tv and going out with friends for movies.

Theres this sacred “Tamil Pongal” Which are disappearing from our culture. What ever way you make pongal, my humble request is

1. Worship lord Suya

atleast slightly Bow to Sun god when you see sun every morning . Sun god worship will bless you with good health and wealth. Further Thanking Sun God itself will make us a better human being.

2. Help the poor and handicap

Did you see the painting published in Dinamalar. The one sitting infront riding horse is Arunan. It seems arunan is handicap in legs. So Surya deva always blesses the one who helps the handicap . Any thing you do for a handicap person increases your count in bank of blessings.

3. Always be thankful to your ancestors

Thank your grand parents who are no more for the life they have given your parents and you. Try to spend 5 minutes to think about their traditions and way of life and follow them in any modern way possible.

Its been 5 years of StarSai.com , i have never thought about showing myself to sai children. Here comes my Amma , Appa and me …I was in hurry and dint comb hair..he he. as usual !!!…

venkat posing as if he cooks pongal with amma and appa

My sister indra, brother in law kamesh and their baby Katya in the other side of planet earth in America are always in our prayers and  our prayers to all Tamilians , Indians and everyone whom we request to celebrate Pongal ( usually jan 14-15th every year ) as Thanks giving day for Sun God surya deva.

Its 2 in after noon friends. I dint had the taste of pongal yet. We offered Pongal inside our house in 3 banana leaf to all gods, offered little to crow, to the saibaba in our small temple and then amma, appa and aunts had pongal.. I decided to write this article to inspire everyone to remember Surya Deva and importance of thanking Sun God whole heartedly

It took hours for me to write..every 10 minute amma was shouting at me with love

“Venkatraama….pongal saapudu’

I shall go and have pongal and you please remember to join your hand and bow to surya deva every morning or atleast once every month or atleast every sunday or once in a year on the auspicious Tamil Pongal festival.

Bow to shri sai, peace be to all

Om sri sainathaya namaha

தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி !

என்னாட்டவர்க்கும் இறைவா போற்றி !

C.Venkatraman

Little servant of Shirdi saibaba

14 :1:2010

Note – Lord surya temples are in Suryanar kovil near  Kombakonam, Thirumeeyachur , Goddess lalithambigai temple also has blessings of lord surya and lord shiva. In north india Surya temple is in Konark.

I came across this beautiful photo of Shirdi Saibaba and requested my sai friend Shweta to know where it was taken. She said its from a  Saibaba temple in Dehradun

I wish to show this beautiful Sai Baba to all sai children.. am not sure where the temple is located…

Sai baba sitting with smile to bless you in dehradun

( Photo of Saibaba published only for personal use to inspire sai bhakti. Copy right belongs to temple )

Om sainathaya namaha

Venkat

By grace of Sai i wish to have darshan of Lord Arunachaleswarar in Thiruvannamalai .

Karthigai Deepam : The great Light of God on Holy hills :

The temple is known for its holy deepam ( jyothi ) which is lit over the mountain every year during the month of Karthigai.

Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar statue kept during navratri festival

Thiruvannamalai is situated in Tamilnadu and well connected by Bus from chennai and other places in tamilnadu.

The Holy mountain is so sacred that thousands of devotees comes around the entire hill every month during pournami ( full moon day ). Its known as Giri valam

Since i have not been gifted so far to do pilgrimage to Thiruvannamalai am not able to write much friends. I have heared there are

Saint Ramana Maharishi :

Ramana maharishi ashram and also ashram of sheshadri swamigal. The saint who served in shirdi from 1954 to 1996 sivanesan swamiji was with Ramana maharishi for 3 years after which he went to shirdi. Now theres a samadhi of sivanesan swamiji 3 kms from shirdi temple.

Om namah shivaya

C.VenkatRaman

My grandfather and father loves Palani Murugan . I also used to worship lord Murugan a lot as Murugan is our Family deity. Kula dhaivam.

Lord Murugan who is brother of Ganesha is also called skandha, Kumara and mostly in north india as Karthikeya.

Palani Murugan statue kept during Navratri festival gollu

Many times from 2005 i had offered my hair in the holy feet of Lord Murugan in Palani Murugan temple. I also love Marudhamalai murugan temple as its situated in coimbatore

Lord Murugan as Guru :

It was 2008 when i was in mumbai i became staunch devotee of Lord Dattatreya. During this time also i used to do abishekam to Lord Dattatreya statue in my room and recite the holy mantra of lord Murugan “Skandha Guru Kavasam”

Sometimes when i see Lord Dattatreya and Lord Murugan i feel they both are one and the same. Once i told my sai guru in shirdi about this feeling and the same day he saw a dream like this

He saw Lord Murugans face and other features were like that or Lord Dattatreya holding kamandalam and damaru , trishool etc.

It was the time i made a website for lord dattareya dattatreyalotus.com and i also got a mail from a devotee in delhi that he used to believe that Lord Dattatreya and Lord Murugan are one and the same.

( Its just a personal faith am sure all god is one and some devotees perceive Murugan as Guru avatar . so they associate dattatreya with murugan )

Skandha Guru Kavasam :

I wish everyone in india knows tamil atleast because they will realize the beauty of Skandha Guru kavasam. I love this song so much that i used to go to Anuvavi subramanian temple ( situated on the other side of marudha malai hills .route is through thadagam No :11 A and 26 A bus from coimbatore )

from 2005 to 2006 i used to go to Anuvaavi subramaniam temple every tuesday. There are only 2 bus and the entire day will be spent to reach the temple and offer avul, oil for lamps and sugar for lord murugan. The murugan in this temple is called “Kalyana subramaniar”

The murugan is with valli and daivanai in anuvavi murugan temple. Its so beautiful so beautiful to be in this temple because no big crowd in here. I used to claimb above to the shiva sannidhi and start to recite “Skandha guru kavasam”

The words i like from the great mantra is

Anbiladha idam angum ingum illai appa

engum niraindha anbe enn skandha appa.

In skandha guru kavasam ( tamil song for Lord karthikeya, murugan ) i love these words

“Thathuvam marandhu , thannaiyum marandhu,
Nalladhum , kettadhum, Naaan enbadhum marandhu,
paava punniathoodu paraloogam marandhida chai,
Arul veli vittu evanai agalaa iruthiduvaai”

“Ellai illaadha anbe iraiveli endrai nee,
Angin ganaadhapadi engum anbenrai…….
anbilaadha idam angum ingum illai endrai,
engum niraindha ,anbe enn guru naadham appa”

My simple translation with  local english ( lol ) is this….

Discovering lord Murugan :

“Listen to him who says

love is eternity
love is shiva, love is sakthi ,
love is hari , love is brahma,

love is deva, love is human,
love is you , love is me,

love is truth , love is joy,
love is tranquility, love is happiness,
love is silence , love is moksha,

Love is everything and theres not a place in and beyond universe where there is no love.

“Sonna badi saidhaal subramanya guru naadhan
Than oli perum sudaraai unn ulle dhaan irupaan”

The moment you do what he says , he is not mere a God in statue ,

he lives in your own heart as a enormous flame of light .

Anyway

My pilgrimage to Palani Murugan temple :

coming back to my describe the greatness of Palani Murugan temple.  the best part of this temple is claimbing the holy hills by foot.  Many wonder why Murugan always chooses to recide on top of the hill. Personally i feel when we claimb the hill itself most of our sins are washed away. Our karmic bond, attachments etc are removed and the feeling when one finally reaches the abode of Lord Murugan is eternal.

Take proper care during any pilgrimage any where in india :

There are some people who get hurted, cheated or irritated during their pilgrimage . Remember its a commercial world and you have to take proper care where ever you go. When it comes to pilgrimages in india , remember God will surely show you the right way.

Navabasana statue – Palani Murugan statue by saint Bohar :

The greatness of Palani Murugan statue is that its made of 9 different materials by the saint Bohar almost 2000 years back for the welfare of people in Kaliyug. The big statue you see has another small statue of murugan which is this Navabasana murugan.

Saint Bohar Samadhi :

My favourite place in Palani murugan temple is the saint Bohar sannidhi. I love to feel the greatness of this saint who dedicated his life for welfare of people who is going to worship lord murugan in the years to come.

When the temple is crowded we cant even sit and meditate here for 2 minutes but luckily i have sat in bohar samadhi place for 5 to 10 minutes and did meditation.

I am happy to write about Palani Murugan my family deity in starsai.com after 5 years. I love Murugan and i have realized Murugan also shows his grace on me and our family.

Keep chanting any Murugans mantra

Om saravanabava

C.VenkatRaman

always in the holy feets of shirdi saibaba

NagaSai – The temple which i respect more than my own life.

Below is the Photography of Nagasai taken On Guru purnima day 2009 with kind request of my Sai friend Kannan Sai. After this i avoided taking photos of Saibaba in this temple as my camera fell down and i took it as a message from Saibaba to better feel the peace in Nagasai standing far away and not take too much rights.

Saibaba statue in Nagasai temple has beautiful deep dark eyes

Reasons to avoid writing about Nagasai mandhir :

If i live in United states or U.K or in India with a big position ( what people call as career ) , its easy to do anything boldly. I am living like a poor fellow searching for life and my only place of peace is this holy temple for years.

I wonder if its Possible to Make money writing about temples. If it is then i would not be wearing a Torn chappel for months now. he he

I realized people must not bother me while i am in Saiaba temple asking why i wrote about this temple, what i get by this all this. Ofcourse its natural feeling in India for people to doubt others . Once i even came across words that i am making money etc.He he he..may be it was not addressed directly on me but generally people do tell their comments and i really wanted to put one big Namaskaram and stay away from Writing about the temple where i step in even twice in a day and spend hours doing some seva for sai  if i am in coimbatore.

Many times i was pained why people hurt someone who really wants to spread the Glory of Saibaba and this Nagasai mandhir is also one such beautiful paradise where Saibaba is blessing thousands of devotees with good health, peace and prosperity.

Finally after 5 years of wait, time has come to write a Beautiful incident which happened in Nagasai mandhir .

Clarification :

To whom so ever it may concern – This article about Nagasai mandhir , coimbatore is written only to spread the Glory of Shirdi Saibaba and not for any material benefit etc. The below photos were taken in 2007 by my friend Kanna who whole heartedly Contributed these beautiful Saibaba Photos to use in this article. The incident happened in 2009 september .

Nagasai Mandhir - See 3 beautiful saibaba statues on top of temple

3 lessons from Shirdi Saibaba while i offered flowers to saibaba statues over the top of Temple

sairam friends
I was another day with worries wondering what i am going to do with life,carrer etc and how am going to make my parents happy. I wonder if sai will ever show me a way.

Some people are meant to be successful and some like us meant to clean the ditch in temple. We love it and we do it.

We are few sai friends, Ramanujam, Vengadesh, Vijaykumar, Subramaniam and myself who used to take care of Dhuni – dwarakamai in Nagasai mandhir in our hometown coimbatore. Its not that we have a badge etc to do this work. Now a days if you have to do some seva in a temple, people give you a Badge, a Post and what not probably a T shirt. Ha ha..

i wonder what saibaba used to give to his close devotees who served him during his life time. I hope all saibaba got to give is his sweet Smile, Encouraging words and ofcourse his deep unconditional love on devotees.

So we are some of those Unrecognized , Middle class, “We dont have a Job to do ” guys whos only peace and happiness is in Standing somewhere near the Dhuni, cleaning the dwarakamai place , cleaning big Saibaba portraits, Offering big garlands to Saibaba paintings and statues on top of temple etc. Even today in the next one hour am going to do the usual Pilgrimage i take for years.

A Pilgrimage to Shirdi Saibaba temple – Every day :

I take a bag with a Saibaba book, some money. Atleast 30 rupees and  Take a bus to Saibaba Koil stopping . I get down in signal of saibaba koil stop with much requests from sweet coimbatorians standing near steps of the Bus “Anne yeranganum ,Tallunga ” . Some of these strangers shouts at you with so much care  “Don’t get down when bus is stopped in signal” .   As i cross the Mettupalayam road and enter the temple…..every day different things happens

1 . At times you come across devotees who smile to you. And also devotees who look at you as if the Guy who always comes around dhuni and irritates is coming.

2. Theres some one to greet. Atleast theres this guy in Chappel stand Nagendran to say “Sai ram vaanga” …sairam Welcome.  When ever he looks at me he asks why my friend Kanna dint came. When ever he see Kanna, he asks why venkat dint came…Ha ha… So theres someone to think about us in Nagasai mandhir . To be honest the only who always thinks about us is our Saibaba .Its written in Tamil Nan iruka Bayam yen - “Why fear when i am here”

The Dwarakamai where i used to come around Sacred Fire Dhuni

Lighting 3 Ghee lamps to Nagasai Dhuni Baba :

The first thing i do is wash my legs, come to the shop , give 10 rupees and take 3 lamps. One ghee lamp is 3 rupees in Tamilnadu india, as of now. Soon such rates will be  a history.

Then as i step inside the Dhuni dwarakamai place, i say Saibaba epidi iruka …’Saibaba how are you “. The Dhuni priest is someone whom few dont like but i like and respect him a lot. You can see www.shirdisaibabadhuni.com for my love for Dhuni and how i used to come around dhuni in this temple for hours togather.

My love for Sacred fire – Dhuni that Shirdi Saibaba created :

In 2005 i used to come around this Sacred fire of Shirdi Saibaba ( continuation of fire from shirdi is bought here and we offer coconuts , woods to maintain this holy fire ) . Now a days from 2009, this nagasai mandhir gets so many thousands of devotees especially on thusdays. So i felt its better to do other works and reduced to come around dhuni. I don’t want to bother other devotees devotion.

I clean the tray where they light lamps, when ever a candle is put off, i light it..Like   a fool mad fellow i always stand near this tray where they light lamps. Especially on thursdays i love to do seva here as many sai devotees light lamps and i take off the lamps which is over and light lamps which is put off my wind.  By the time the night arti starts , me and some of sai friends take the wooden logs and drop it or keep it near Dhuni so that the watchman will offer it in night time.

As a team me and my sai friends will clean this dwarakamai dhuni place every wednesday night and also get down the tank near dhuni to collect the ashes, drop them in the pot and filter it. The softer the udi the more happy we will be with satisfaction .

Today it was over 9 when night arti was going on in Nagasai mandhir and the usual sai friends who offer flowers to all saibaba big portrait din’t came as they had some official work.They were busy with some work . So me and one of another friend kanagavel offered it..

i also digged dhuni as tommorow is thursday and they offer many coconuts to nagasai …so want to make sure its clean

It was over 9.30 and temple was closed…kanagavel offered last remaining garland to a saibaba portrait kept in main hall where sai stirs with his hand inside the pot kept ..u know hundi painting of saibaba .This photo is kept where they do annadhan in mandhir.

Searching for Garland to offer to Saibaba statues on top of temple

Then he was asking me where are the flowers to be offered to the saibaba statues over the saibaba temple building..u know the saibaba statues over dhuni – dwarakamai

infront side 3 saibaba statues and right side one saibaba statue…
I found out the flowers and gave to kanagavel…

mean while he kept on asking me how to climb over terrace of nagasai…i told him i fear to do such works but vijaykumar used to hold a steel rod and climb… Somehow i myself claimed carefully praying saibaba..

You know theres this steel pillar which was in corner and we have to hold it and claimb. The other side was compound over which glass pieces where cemented for protection. The past 6 month i also have sudden nervous problem where the nerves in my leg will pull suddenly if i twist it etc.So i was scared what if it such things happen. I kept saying saibaba a prayer.

Saibaba, only because none of sai friends who offer flowers to the top sai murti came, i am doing this small effort. So be with me and help me do it.

I got some fear and also beautiful expression of devotion in me. You know when saibaba really lived in dwarakamai, people who wish to have his darshan will shed tears the moment they go near saibaba.

Once i claimed i felt happy …I also had fear really because it was getting late for me to go home n also i really felt its Nagasai inviting me to his paradise to see the unseen beauty of the temple where i have been going over 17 years. ..Its roof and almost the gopuram.

Now i shall eloborate how i offered garland to each statue in front side of nagasai mandhir. The incident happened in 2009 september and the photos were taken by my friend Kanna in 2007  with permission from Temple people.

Beautiful Shirdi Saibaba on top of temple - Dwarakamai Blessings

Offering flowers to Dwarakamai saibaba :

This statue is kept in top of temple to its right side. It was very easy and simple to take away the old garland which was offered the previous week wednesday night . I threw the old garland down for kanagavel to catch it .

I was filled with devotion and exitement as i felt after 17 years i got a chance to see the unexplored places of Nagasai temple. I go to this temple everyday and do little sai seva as much as i can. I have spent hours in this temple. Now that i am on top of it, i felt its saibaba’s intention to take me closer to his big dwarakamai statue.

I was filled with emotions as i offered the Garland to this Dwarakamai Saibaba

About Below Shirdi Saibaba Photo :

You can scroll up to see this saibaba statue in center of Nagasai temple. My friend Kanna took photos .Am happy it is helping me now to spread the Glory of Shirdi Saibaba …May Sai bless his family

Shirdi Saibaba beautifully sitting on the Snake - NagaSai

Offering flowers to Saibaba sitting over snake – NagaSai :

Now a days you can’t see all these 3 statues because they have put a steal sheet as a shelter ..So when you walk towards entrance, you have to look up.Theres a space provided between the main building and steal roofing throw which you can see all these 3 saibaba.

This main statue over temple looks so beautiful. Saibaba looks smiling and sitting over snake…the snake is like a seat for saibaba and its 5 head like a shelter to sai . when ever i go to Nagasai mandhir, i will look up and try to see this saibaba as he has a powerful look. When ever my other sai friends and the priest claimbs to the terrance and offered garland ,  i never thought its this risky.

Especially the sai murti in center is very Big and one has to hold the walls of the terrace , leap ahead and only with left hand we can take away the garland offered last week and offer the new one again for the coming thursday. We do this changing of garland once every week.

In my mind i told saibaba all my personal prayers ..ha ha as i thought this is right time when sai himself pulled closer to him. I told saibaba to take care of my parents, sister, brother in law and her baby katya. I also prayed for all StarSai family and everyone who comes to Nagasai mandhir in the years to come.

I really was wondering how i am going to offer the garland to the main Saibaba on snake statue.

Since its navratri day, the serial light was on ( for decoration )..i really was too much into thanking saibaba for giving this opportunity to a guy who fears for every little thing in life to claimb to top of his holy mandhir. Then they switched off the serial light so that its safe for me to claimb over the wall from where i have to leap and offer the garland.

I did had fear in me friends but i was too much involved into doing the work saibaba made me to do. I claimbed slowly , from below i was instructed by 2 sai friends. I told saibaba to protect me and safe guard me from falling down etc…Ha ha…this happens to someone as fearful as me.

While i leaped ahead, i felt surely its not possible to offer the garland with right hand but its ok when it comes to devotion , theres no rules. I slowly holded the wall with my right hand , leaped, took the old garland , dropped it down .

Then i took the New garland , with much patience offered it to Saibaba over snake statue – The Glorious NagaSai .

It was truely wonderful feeling friends. I asked if the garland is centered properly. My sai friends instructed me to straigten it and i did as they said. Then i was filled with emotions as the beautiful Nagasai who has welcomes me for years finally allowed me to offer garland to him.

Ofcourse every week someone is doing it ..The point is someone who fears for little things has holded the wall , leaped ahead and offered garland . This is truly because of Saibaba’s blessings and his kindness on me friends.

Shirdi Saibaba in this statue is so realistic and powerful

Offering garland to Saibaba sitting with palm over his cheeks :

This is the saibaba whom we all love a lot. Some devotees named him  Cell phone baba because it really seems as if hes holding a cell phone.Really its only because of their devotion. The reason is that when ever we look to the top and pray this saibaba for welfare of temple or any public welfare surely this saibaba will listen to it as if we directly spoke to him. The saibaba sitting sadly in photo generally pose is actually beautiful and a bit smiling in this statue in nagasai mandhir.

I went to the left corner of temple terrace , took of the old garland and offered the new one to this beautiful Saibaba with palm over his cheeks.

Surprise to see beauty of this statue :

Since we always see this statue from down we dunno whats kept under saibabas legs. I was surprised to see, same was in the painting of saibaba, there was a match box, a chillim etc kept made of stone below this statue..i felt how beautifully and realistic they made these statues with love and devotion on our saibaba.

Dwarakamai of shirdi saibaba in Nagasai temple where theres Dhuni

Offering Garland to Dwarakamai Dhuni Saibaba :

Then i moved down, walked to right side of temple, claimbed over the steal roofing , there were neem tree brances and once i cross it, the Dwarakamai dhuni terrace comes…Here the saibaba is so so so so beautiful. Many times i used to stand below in the temple ground and look at this saibaba with devotion. I feel our saibaba during his life time when ever i see this beautiful murti.

I claimed slowly, took off the previous weeks garland, dropped it down . kanagavel threw the new garland to my palm. I catched it gently and offered garland to this Saibaba over dwarakamai statue.

Then again i walked through the steal roofing, got down to the terrace of main building , claimbed up to terrace and went towards left side for temple. Theres a saibaba statue here as if saibaba is holding his tin and going for Bhiksha and also blessing us with smile. I loved this saibaba so much when i got down the parapat wall. I saw few lizards have made it dirty. I cleaned them with my palm, offered the garland with both my hands gently and touched saibabas holy feets.

Surrendering to Nagasai – The God who gave meaning to my life :

I was filled with devotion and tears of joy as saibaba blessed me to offer garlands to all the five big murti kept over the top of temple..It was so dark.. I ran to the middle of the temple terrace , fell down from head to toe and recited Mahalakshmi Ashtakam…Once before 2 years i got  a dream as if Instead of Nagasai theres a mahalakshmi statue and priest is showing arti to it. So i feel this beautiful Sai is mahalakshmi herself..

Sweet Mud of  Saibaba temple :

I kissed the terrace, some mud went in me and i really wanted them. I told saibaba thought i dint settle down in my life, carreer, i feel really gifted as this holy temple has given me a place to learn about shirdi saibaba, do good deeds to many sai devotees and especially the days i used to come around the sacred dhuni in nagasai mandhir from 2005 for more than 3 to 5 hours everyday as written in shirdisaibabadhuni.com

How beautiful were those days and how sweet is our Sai who pulls his devotees to him and makes them do what they never expected to do .

I love Sai, Truly madly deeply :

Friends, anyone can go over a terrace of temple and offer garland. i am not writing all this to say as if i did something big. Its afterall a small thing. The moral of the entire incident is this

lesson one from Shirdi Saibaba :

“When you are devoted to saibaba, Never fear.
Never. If you fear then you are hurting saibaba.
Atleast to do good deeds Never ever fear. If saibaba can inspire you to do some thing good, saibaba obviously will also bless you to do it.”

Its not me who planned to offer garland to saibaba statues over temple..Even before a hour i dint even imagine am going to do it.
So second lesson is this

Lesson 2 from Shirdi  saibaba :

Do not act with cleverness and plan things in life. Surrender yourself with pure love and devotion on saibaba. Never say
“I” am doing it. Let go of all your ego, pride and just do your work for yourself, your family and ofcourse Sai.

You can really feel yourself doing great things without your own knowledge.

Something i wish to share is never ever feel painful that saibaba is not taking care of me and not showing me right education, job and relationships, good health etc. Simply let go of all your needs and desires. Ever remain in the holy feets of sainath.

Lesson 3 from Shirdi Saibaba

“I will make you do what i want you to do rather than helping you to do what you plan to do” – Sai

Yes i plan many things,. we all desire and plan 1000 things related to our personal life, career and business. When we are devoted to our shirdi saibaba at times we wonder why saibaba is not helping us. Sai does . May be sai wants us to do something else.

May be saibaba wants me to go through sufferings and pains over 10 years to take me close to him. So close that i will kiss and eat the Mud over the Top this holy Saibaba temple where i go every single day for years.

Hope you got some inspiration from these beautiful Incidents friends. If you have time , please read below…Or go to next Sai leela.

Writing about Nagasai Mandhir

Its been years since i have made starsai.com . I did mentioned nagasai temple earliar as its like a school for me where saibaba taught me beautiful things to serve sai devotees.

The posters i made for starsai.com the little ones were even seen in some tables of temple. Once someone casually told me people are speaking you are making money out of all this. I felt painful and decided its better to write generally about saibaba and not about Nagasai temple because am already from a middle class family and tommorow if someone blames me , i wont be able to bear it.

Even in gurupurnima 2009, i was requested to take photos of Nagasai main statue inside temple hall but someone told me not to give it out. I wondered what they mean it. I took over 100 photos of saibaba. It was truly painful as i took strain to take photos but am myself wont be allowed to publish for everyone to see.

Its just a small thing and i also dint felt like asking for permission .

I want to be a little servant of shirdi saibaba and not be known to anyone that i have a website for sai etc.

So i decided to respect their feelings and untill this moment i have never published any of the photos i took .

Later when i had been to kumbakonam my camera lens broke to my shock . I wondered why sai dint protect my costly camera. The lesson i learnt is saibaba doesnt want me to get into this Photographing stuff because people to different decorations to saibaba, if i photograph it i will be tempted to use in website someday and i dont want to go against the temple rules. I wonder what rules it is . If a sai magazine, general magazine can write about even Thanjavur big temple why not about publish photos of this nagasai mandhir.

With this confidence , i have written about Nagasai temple today in StarSai.com . I have only used the closeup of main Nagasai though i have over 100 photographs of Nagasai taken on my own.

I just want to express my Love for Nagasai, My gratitude to everyone involved with the growth of temple and Ofcourse i believe its Saibaba who made me write this.

Time has come finally for me to express my gratitute to

The Great Nagasai mandhir

The people of coimbatore who comes to this beautiful temple

The trustees of this temple whom i respect as they gave freedom for devotees to do seva for sai . Only because of this gratitude i dont want to publish the main statue of saibaba unless i get formal permission from them someday.

I also thank the servants in nagasai mandhir, the staff and all the priests who do seva. There are people who sing bhajans here , there are people who take care of dhuni – sacred fire of saibaba, some take care of cleaning and some doing Annadhan, Some devotees organize festivals of Saibaba , Vilaku pooja etc.

School of Shirdi Saibaba is in you :

If there is one place where i got to learn Shirdi Saibaba, truly it is my mind . Thats where one can really learn and feel saibaba. But the place where sai wants me to feel him is Nagasai mandhir of coimbatore and i will ever be thankful to sai for this.

I offer every single word in this article as a dedication to thank all those sai devotees who gave me  a smile, kindness , accepted the Saibaba photos i used to give for years and ofcourse to very few devotees i request to light lamps regularly.

I love Lighting lamps

I love my Sai

and I love my sweet Nagasai

Sai , ever live in us and bless us all with good thoughts, actions, good health, peace and prosperity

Om sainathaya namaha

C.VenkatRaman – 23 :09 :2009

Always in the holy feets of shirdi saibaba

Thousands of shirdi sai baba temple are built around india and even in Tamilnadu. Nagasai mandhir is truly close to my heart because to me its a university where i learnt many ways to serve sai and sai devotees in the years to come. Sai baba himself has confirmed that this temple is like my school and i gain experience to work for Shirdi Saibaba all my life by learning wisdom , knowledge and humanity from this beautiful temple.