I have been visiting Shirdi 3-4 times in year, since last 7-8 years. I am usually accompanied by my friends Smit or Pranav. I had often read about the 5 perfect masters of Meher Baba. Also we have a small temple dedicated to Upasani Maharaj at Vile Parle, a suburb in Mumbai. So, I had this urge of visiting Sakori. It is just few kilometres away from Shirdi and used to wish that we would visit there on the next Shirdi trip. Finally, I got lucky om one of my trips with Smit.
We got to Shirdi by Dadar Sai Nagar Shirdi Superfast. This is a good choice as the timings are suitable for those wishing to attend the Kakad Arti. ( Departs Dadar - 21.45, Arrives Shirdi - 3.45 ( often early). We visit the Samadhi Mandir, take a stroll around the different Wadas. The feeling of the early morning cannot be explained. We are out of the complex by about 7.30 am. We have Poha and coffee and return to the Hotel. This time we decided to visit Sakori. We took a Rickshaw to Sakori. It was smaller than I had imagined, The Auto stopped near a small street leading to the Upasani Ashram. There were two stalls on the right hand side. One was a Nasta house (Snacks) and other shop sold things devotees would like to take to the Ashram.
The Nasta house was closed (It was just a table with stove, few benches for the customers). The bench were occupied by the Villagers who sat chatting. Their body language suggested it was a routine Mandali, that gathered. The other Pooja shop had 2-3 people who saw us and asked us to take something to the Ashram. I am usually not very accommodating to such shop keepers,, especially at the Temples and similar places who approach you, plead you to buy something as walk with you for some steps. But I could make out that this was a lean period for them and they really need some sales. So we went to the shop. We bought a few things. I was quite thirsty and asked the shopkeeper if we could have some water. He passed me the usual mineral water bottle I could not identify the brand, obviously it wasn't a new one, it was the one which we use to fill water after we buy a new sealed one. But i was amazed at seeing the water inside. It was sparkling! Completely clear and I started gulping the water. I had never drank anything so satisfying! I was feeling a bit shy but i could not resist this Amrit and almost finished 750 ml of the 1 litre. A bit embarrassed, i gave the rest to Smit. He to had a similar experience and we asked if we could have more. We told the shop the guy that we had never come across something like this and where does this water come from? As Shirdi is just few kilometres away and should have common source of water. The shopkeeper dispatched one guy to bring more and told us that the water is from the Lake that Upasani Maharaj had cultivated and we use water from there only. I was quite impressed and happy hearing that. Upasani Maharaj had given such a sweet experience just as we entered his zone. We had another round of the Amrit and thanked the shopkeeper and went ahead.
As we went ahead, we saw 3 buildings. One was definitely the Upasani Ashram but there were 2 more buildings. One was a small temple and other was big. We went towards the Upasani Ashram. The air there has a different feeling. No doubt it is a sparsely populated area, but it had a divine silence resonating. The entry of the Ashram has a line of photographs of different spiritual/mystic personalities lined and it goes on till the inner main temple. As many might know there is also Kumari Sansthan here. Godavari Mata, the first disciple of Maharaj lead this Sansthan. The kumaris who wished to learn Vedas, Mantras shastras and other divine sciences were welcomed here and trained. Initially Maharaj had chosen 24 Kanyas. More can be read about this on the net. I could see a partition inside and was quite impressed by what I saw. There was a partition and in one section the kumaris were busy with their chores, somewhere cleaning the idols, photos, other busy with reading pothis, and many more activities. they were dressed in most cultured way if i pardoned to say so. They were doing it with great devotion and one could make out that this was a daily affair. There was a very pure or "Sattvic" Air there. Silence was maintained. Apart from us there were not many more visitors. I felt like staying for few days, but the routine job life would not allow me. We sat for some time after I had curiously gone through Almost all the photographs. Some of which I can recollect - Paramhamsa Parvriajakacharya Tembe Swami, Rang Avadhoot, Sridhar Swami, Meher Baba, Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon, Hazrat Babajan, Tajjudin Baba (I should have written the 5 perfect Masters instead), Swami Sut, Gajanan Maharaj, Swami Samarth, and many more. After spending some time opposite Maharaj and Mataji, we went through backyard, which had some interesting places. There was the hut were Maharaj used to spend his time meditating and Also a Peepal tree where a Visage of Shri Ganesh had appeared. It is called "Chintamani Ganesh" or a wish fulfiller. (One can go to Sai Kalpa.com to read more).
More ahead there was a Go Shala with numerous cows. The feeling here is great and one of innocence. The harmless and divine cows also seemed to present in human forms as the Kanyas of the Ashram. Coming from the hustle bustle, materialistic air of Big city, one with the simpler needs or a seeker feel surely want to stay here. One middle aged guy started coming with us as we went by and becoming a guide, and after sometime with an embarrassing smile asked , " Paise deto ka Thode se?" (Can you give me some money?) I denied him and asked to go an do Mantra Jap instead. The round about the premises of the Ashram ended with a book stall. We went through some pages and returned again inside. We sat for sometime and bid a goodbye to Maharaj and Mataji, asking them to bring me here again.
We then went to a temple adjacent. It was Ek Mukhi Dutta Mandir. Interesting story about its inception can be found at http://saikalpa.com/shirdiaroundplaces.aspx?devoteename=Upasani. Dutta temple again had a great ambience. There was no one except the Priest. The Sanctom Sanctorum is on a elevated platform. We spent a while and then came out. Now, I was curious to see whose temple, the small temple was of? We got close and to my pleasant surprise, it was the Samdhi of Shri Bapusaheb Jog. I have read Sai Satcharitra and ardent reader of any articles realted to Sai, his followers of Shirdi, Bapusaheb Jog Alias Sakharam Hari was a great devotee of Baba. He along with his wife served Baba to the fullest and after death of Megha, Bapusaheb held the responsibility of performing Baba's Aarti. I was very happy to see the Samadhi of such a great and inspiring Devotee. I knelt down to him and we returned to Shirdi.
Sakori, especially the Ashram areas has divine air. I insist seekers like me who want to explore and feel such places to visit once.
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