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Sivanesan Swamiji was born at Nayakkarpalayam in Coimbatore district on the Ramanavami (i.e. 12th April, 1927). His parents Alamelu and Muthaiah were cultured and well off. He was the youngest child, who was really not interested in formal education, though He did study upto 8lh standard. He was withdrawn and would wander of to far off places and meditate in solitude, often missing His meals. He was searching for that light and after His mother's death He left home. He came to Bombay, and did various jobs, there He met Muthaiah Swami of  Vallanadu village who became His mentor and Guru. He Progressed rapidly spiritually, and learnt much about the Self, and Vedanta. Deep in His heart He was longing  for 'the light'. He left Bombay and wandered about, and had a brief stay at Nityanand Ashram. From thence to Nasik and finally to Shirdi in 1953. As soon as He stepped into the Dwarakamai, He knew He had found ‘The Light' and Baba enveloped Him with His grace. The love and bond between the two was so deep that He never left Shirdi.

His life at Shirdi was an endless 'Seva routine'. He worked and cleaned every temple in Shirdi, but his favourite was DWARAKAMAI. The lamps of Dwarakamai shone like gold, after He cleaned them. He was made incharge of the Chavadi. He looked after it lovingly but never forsook Dwarakamai. In His spare time He would clean the Dwarakamai from top to bottom.

His clothes were a simple white and he was just as pure. Any dakshina he received was immediately spent on buying sacred books or food for the poor. Swamiji was a voracious reader and a linguist. He knew about ten languages, thus he held Satsang with anybody, advising and helping them along (using the mother tongue of the devotees). He was a great advocate of ‘Pradakshina' and would be up, and doing pradakshina around Gurusthan at about 3.00 or 3.30 AM, thence it was Lendi Bagh and Datta Mandir. He also advised his devotees to do the same for their health, and spiritual well being. He started the Chavadi Bhajans after the Evening Arati for an hour. He used to sing bhajans like "Sai Naam Sukhadaayi" "Haridwar Mathura Kashi" but his favourite was "Sai Bhavani" which is sung the world over.

Dhuni Puja was a 'must' ritual with him. Many devotees have benefitted from this and are continuing to do so. He gave Baba's Udi and Tirth to everyone who went to see him and nobody returned empty handed. But life at Shirdi was not easy. He often went hungry and without a place to rest. But this only made Him more energetic, it seems.

He was an apostle of Baba and He spread Baba's name throughout the world, by asking Baba devotees to build Baba temples, write their experiences, do Satsang and Naam Jap.

After short illness He took Mahasamadhi on 12th February, 1996. His Mahasamadhi is on Pimpalwadi Road about two and half kilometres from Prasadalay. The Sree Sadguru Sivanesan Swamiji Gurukulam, his Samadhi and the Museum is maintained by M/s.Meher Dhun Endowment Trust (R) as a Public Charitable Trust.

The Museum has some rare collections of pictures of Swamiji, Articles used by him like Cloths, Books, Idols etc.

Although Swamiji is not with us in the physical body, His love and legacy lives on. Numerous  Baba Temples are found all over the world. These were constructed upon his advice and instructions. His love for ‘Naam Jap’ and ‘Bhajans’ have flourished everywhere. In Gangapur there is a trust by name “Dattaguru Bhandara Trust (R)” (http://dattagurubhandara.org/pujyasri.html) who have dedicated the trust to Pujyasri.Sivanesan Swamiji, where there is Akhand Naam Jap and Nitya Anna Daan throughout the year. Most endearing is that Swamiji gives dream visions and Sakshatkar in which he advices, encourages and blesses and inspires his devotees to continue doing Saibaba’s Seva.

Sivanesan Swamiji Samadhi Mandir  is open from  5:30  AM in the morning till  11:00 PM in the night.

Aarti Timings

Kakad Aarti

5:30 AM

Madhyanha Aarti

12:00 Noon

Dhoop Aarti

6:30 PM

Shej Aarti

10:00 PM

Annual Festivals Celebrated in the Gurukulam:

  1. 12th April  of every year – Sivanesan Swamiji Birth Day.
  2. 12th February of every year – Swamiji Punyatithi  
  3. Datta Jayanthi
  4. Ramanavami
  5. Vijayadashmi 
  6. Gurupoornima  - Palki Utsav 

For further details please contact the Ashram at the below mentioned address:

The Sree Sadguru Sivanesan Swamiji Gurukulam,
Pimpalwadi Road, Shirdi.
Contact Person: Sri.Dinesh Pandey
Phone Number: +9198920 47031

 

(Source: Article Courtesy: Ambrosia in Shirdi by Sai Bhakta Vinny Chitluri, Shirdi. Photographs Courtesy: Meher Dhun Endownment Trust (R), Shirdi).