Places that Baba Visited - Rahata

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VES (ARCH)

At this Arch, the villagers came with band and music to receive Baba whenever He went to Rahata. With a great elate ceremony they accompanied Him in procession when He returned to Shirdi.

To be more precise, whenever Baba came at the entry gate of Rahata, Shri.Kushal Chand would send message to Shri.Saidubhai to welcome Shri Baba inside Rahata village. Shri.Saidubhai Sayyed would then  go to the entry gate and welcome Baba inside Rahata village with Band and Tasha instruments. (Source: Shri.Mehboob Sayyad Ji, Great Grandson of Shri.Saidubhai Sayyad).

Location Link to Ves of Rahata is as follows: https://goo.gl/maps/4JtfG8HdWs4JMhgZ8


Ves (Arch) Rahata

KUSHALCHAND'S HOUSE

Baba loved Chandrabhan Saand of Rahata. After Chandrabhan, Baba loved his nephew Kushalchand equally or even more and watched his welfare. Baba rarely left Shirdi but He visited this house off and on. The people of Rahata welcomed Baba at the Ves (arched gate) with great pomp and ceremony with band and music. Kushalchand took Baba home and seated Him comfortably, and offered a good lunch, then they talked freely and merrily for sometime and Baba would return (Ref. ESS, Ch. VIII)

 


Kushalchand's House

Kushalchand's House Inside (Resembling Dwarakamai)

An incident is mentioned where Baba sent Dixit to go to Rahata and fetch Kushachand. Simultaneously He gave a dream Darshan and asked Kushalchand to come to Shirdi. At that time Kushalchand did not have a "tonga" and at that very moment Dixit reached with his 'tonga' and told him that Baba had sent him to fetch him. Such was the love that Baba had for Kushalchand (Ref. ESS, Ch. XXX).

The location link to Kushal Chand's House is as follows: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SeJdUjHyZPCQqRFc9

KALPAVRUKSHA TREE

Whenever Baba went to Rahata, He would sit under this tree. From here, He would send a lad to call Kushalchand. Kulshalchand wanted to give Baba a royal welcome, so he would send message to Shri.Saidubhai to welcome Shri Baba inside Rahata village. Shri.Saidubhai Sayyed would then  go to the entry gate and welcome Baba inside Rahata village with Band and Tasha instruments. (Source: Shri.Mehboob Sayyad Ji, Great Grandson of Shri.Saidubhai Sayyad).

Also when Baba left, Kushalchand would once again arrange the musical band of Saidubhai Sayyed, bid farewell to Baba at the Ves or Arch Gate of the village. Location link to Kalpavruksha Tree is as follows: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5SJvGu7A2sSJkHeKA

Kalpavruksha Tree

Kalpavruksha Tree where Baba sat

IDGAH

A short distance from Kushalchand's house is this Idgah. One Fakir from Ahmadnagar named Jawahar Ali came to Rahata with his disciples, and stayed near the Veerbhadra temple. This Fakir was very learned and had a sweet tongue, and hence many devout villagers came to him and respected him. With the help of these villagers he started to build an Idgah. (a wall before which Muslims pray on Idgah day) near the Veerbhadra temple.

Idgah

There was some quarrel on account of this and Jawahar Ali had to leave Rahata. So he came to Shirdi and started acting as Baba's Guru. He took Him away to Rahata. But the devotees of Baba could not bear to part with their Sadguru, so they went in a deputation to bring Baba back. Baba was standing near this Idgah and they told Him of their wish and finally succeeded in bringing Baba back to Shirdi (Ref. ESS, Ch.V). The location link to Idgah is as follows: https://goo.gl/maps/4KZvsGV94KpLcHkR8

 

MARUTI MANDIR

Laxman Govind Munge states that he first visited Baba in 1890. Baba then stayed at this Maruti Mandir in Rahata. He had gone to Rahata for help, to get funds for his marriage and Baba provided the money through His Leela.
Outer View
Old Idols
New Idol
Holi Paduka

 

The location link to Maruti Mandir is as follows: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zHJiCmTLEEqR3Wsz8

VEERABHADRA MANDIR (JAWAHAR ALI)

This famous Veerabhadra Mandir is situated in Rahata Village at a distance of just 5 Kilometers from Shirdi.

A special mention has been made about this Mandir in Chapter 5 of Shri Sai Satcharitra which is as follows:Once a Fakir from Ahmednager by name Javahar Ali, came to Rahata with his disciples and stayed in Bakhal (spacious room) near Veerabhadra temple. The Fakir was learned, could repeat the whole Koran and had a sweet tongue. Many religious and devout people of the village came to him and began to respect him. With the help of the people, he started to build an Idgah ( a wall before which Mahomedans pray on Idgah day), near the Veerabhadra temple. There was some quarrel about this affair, on account of which, Javahar Ali had to leave Rahata. Then he came to Shirdi and lived in the Masjid with Baba. People were captured by his sweet talk, and he began to call Baba his disciple. Baba did not object and consented to be his Chela. Then both Guru and Chela decided to return to Rahata and live there. The Guru (Teacher) never knew his disciple’s worth, but the disciple knew the defects of the Guru, still he never disrespected him, observing carefully his duties. He even served the Master in various ways. They used to come to Shirdi off and on, but their main stay was in Rahata. The loving devotees of Baba in Shirdi did not like, that Baba should stay away from them in Rahata. So they went in a deputation to bring Baba back to Shirdi. When they met Baba near the Idgah and told the purpose for which they came, Baba said to them that the Fakir was an ill-tempered fellow, he would not leave him and that they should better return to Shirdi without him, before the Fakir returned. While they were thus talking, the Fakir turned up and was very angry with them for trying to take away his disciple. There was some discussion and altercation and it was finally decided that both the Guru and Chela should return to Shirdi. And so they returned and lived in shirdi. But after a few days the Guru was tested by Devidas and he was found wanting. Twelve years before Baba arrived in Shirdi with the marriage-party, this Devidas aged about 10 or 11 came to Shirdi and lived in the Maruti temple. Devidas had fine features and brilliant eyes, and he was dispassion incarnate and a Jnani. Many persons, namely Tatya Kote, Kashinath and others regarded, him as their Guru. They brought Javhar Ali in his presence, and in the discussion that followed, Javahar was worsted and fled from Shirdi. He went and stayed in Bijapur and returned after many years to Shirdi, and prostrated himself before Sai Baba. The delusion that he was Guru and Sai Baba his Chela, was cleared away, and as he repented, Sai Baba treated him with respect. In this case Sai Baba showed by actual conduct how one should get rid of egoism and do the duties of a disciple to attain the highest end, viz., self-realization. This story is told here according to the version given by Mahalsapati ( a great devotee of Baba).

Contact Details:

Shri Veerabhadra Mandir
Rahata Village-423 107,
Ahmednagar District,
Maharashtra, India.

The location link to Veerabhadra Temple is as follows: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Mmm2n9agc1xaYTq18

VEERABHADRA (BIROBA) TEMPLE

This Temple is about 5 KM from Kalpavruksha Tree. It is one of the oldest temples around Shirdi and it is very likely that Baba had come here. The local villagers till date seek the deity's guidance at this temple before taking important decisions, by placing their questions and getting answers in Yes or No. A stone's spontaneous movement provides them guidance. The location link is as follows: https://maps.app.goo.gl/L8b3tBYraQqYRRJ59

(Source:Ambrosia in Shirdi by Vinny Chitluri, Shri.Mehboob Sayyad, Great Grandson of Shri.Saidubhai Sayyad, Photo Courtesy:Shri.J.Subramanya Bangalore and Smt.Soumya Jadhav, Bangalore)

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