To pen down words to give a life-sketch of  well known and  most revered Sai Personality Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba would be like gathering pebbles along the sands of a vast ocean.

Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba was a Bala Brahmachari Sage, who for many years, tirelessly worked for spreading the word of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi not only in India but across the seven seas to the continents of the world.

Born on the 20th February 1936 at Khar, Mumbai to param Pujya Swami Karunananda, who later became his Guru, and Mata Chellamal, He grew up to be initiated by his most illustrious father, who himself was a great spiritual person, a Gayatri Mantra Siddha and an author of a number of books on spiritualism. Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba's academics from St. Anthony's Convent School, Government Intermediate College and Allahabad University and thereafter, his services in the Indian Railways were but, mere interludes, along his unique passage towards Reality and its goal wherein intense Sadhana has become his way of life. 

About the time when Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba was 22 years of age, he came in contact with the renowned lady saint, 'Sri Aadi Maha Shakti Balayogini Saraswati Amma' of Versova, Andheri, Mumbai, when he visited her Ashram on 7th December, 1958. The young Narayan prostrated at her lotus feet and said, "Maa, bless me that I may want nothing upto my last breath''. The powder had been transformed to a dazzling metallic figurine of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Amazed at what he beheld, Narayan asked "whose icon it was ?''. Maa replied and said, "This is Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi who would reveal Himself to you and guide you  in your quest and His Message would become a torch light for you.'' Further on the Maha Shivratri of 1959, a dazzling metallic Shivling appeared from nowhere in the palm of Shri Sai Narayan Baba in the presence of Mataji. Once again during the auspicious Shri Rama Navami of 1959 another metallic dazzling icon of Shri Sai Baba appeared in the palm of Shri Sai Narayan Baba. Out of the three, one of the icons of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, after being worshipped by Shri Sai Narayan Baba for a few years disappeared miraculously. But the two other icons, one of Shri Sai Baba & another of Shiva are worshipped regularly as per the Vedic rites and these two Murtis are exhibited for Darshan once in a year i.e., on the auspicious Deepavali day. These icons are present in the Shri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan, Panvel. Before Sri Aadi Maha Shakti Balayogini Saraswati Amma attained immortality, she willed that all her rare idols of worship i.e., Durga Mata, Shivling, Nandishwar, Shaligram, Shankh etc. that belonged to her Ashram in Versova, be given to Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba. 

While working with the Railways, Shri Sai Narayan Baba lived in Kurla Railway quarters which he converted into a small temple of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi in 1964, giving it the name 'Shri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan' after his revered father and Guru. Soon his name spread far and wide as he began to wring many a miracle, healing the sick and consoling the trought, in mind and aloud he emphasizes that it is Baba and Baba alone who is the Giver. With increasing devotion to Shri Sai Baba, the Shri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan has traversed from 1964 to date and now stands as a beautiful landmark in Panvel a little ahead of the S.T. Bus Stop as one goes towards Pune. The temple programme starts at 3:15 a.m. everyday echoing the Kakad Aarti and other rituals which include the Mahabhishek of Shri Sai Baba with 108 litres of milk and more than 1100 litres of water on Thursdays which is ardently collected by throngs of devotees in general and patients in particular, for it has proved to be beneficial for all ailments physical and mental. Shri Sai Baba's magnificent Murti was made by the Late Sri Harish Talim who was the son of Sri Balaji Vasant Talim who had sculpted the original Murti of Baba in Shirdi. On the Maha Shivratri of 1969, Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba delivered extempore, the divine epoch "Shri Sai Mahima'' which is the essence of the glory of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. The Shri Sai Mahima is a Sai - praise chanted in 15 stanzas in just 20 minutes. For Sai Devotees it has become a daily prayer, and is very popular abroad and in Shirdi itself. People in any frame of mind find peace and solace in it.

The Shri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan was founded by Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba on 28th February 1964 and has since worked towards a number of activities in charity, all under his personal supervision. Care for the poor cover a free medical dispensary with qualified Lady Doctors for Homeopathic, Allopathic and Ayurvedic treatment, and a Nursery school for the children of Panvel, who are given free pre - primary education in English. Both the dispensary and the Nursery School are located within the premises of the Sansthan. Distribution of free study – material  in the form of text and notebooks, etc. and uniforms to over 600 scheduled caste students,  conducted several marriages of girls. His personal interest in the Blind inspired him to give generous donations to the N. A. B. in Khandala regularly. 

In recent times, a Modern Gaushala with Swedish technology in automation engineered by M/s. Alfa Laval Agri Limited, was donated by Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba to the 110 inmates of the Leprosy Institute in Shantivan about 10 Kms before Panvel. Satguruji has provided nine Holstein and Jersey breed cows to the Institute. The milk yield is entirely for the lepers there. Another such Gaushala with the latest Alfa Laval technology was built in Panvel in the premises of the Sansthan and the yield from the three Holstein Cows goes entirely to the children of the hutments. 

As he radiated the splendour of godliness, Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba took aspirants from all parts of the World to new heights of spiritual awareness by his tireless efforts to spread the word of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. On requests from Sai devotees he set up many Sathsang  centers in India and abroad, among them being in U.S.A., London, Lagos, Honkong and Australia. Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba had visited all these Countries and more and had given interviews to B.B.C. & Asia News to bring Shri Sai Baba awareness. The Senate of America had origin gathering along with the people of these countries and organized prayer meetings bringing in and spreading Sai awareness. In 1996/97, 108 murtis of Sai Baba were installed at various centers outside India. Once a year, heads of all these Sathsang centers in India and abroad, get together at Shirdi for an International Convention where they narrate their centre's activities and exchange views. 

The Shri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan has a huge International complex in Shirdi consisting of:

1) A huge wonderfully built 6000 sq. ft. Hall for International convention.
2) Innumerable A/c & Non - A/c rooms self - contained flats. 
3) Car parking. 
4) In built electric Generator etc. 

The complex can easily accommodate over 600 visitors at a time, which hosts this Annual International pilgrimage convention. This is held on  the third Saturday of November every year and is highlighted by the Vishwa Shanti Maha Rudra Yagna for World peace. 

Another Annual Pilgrimage  is held around Shri Krishna Janmasthami when about 100 devotees are selected to join Shri Sai Narayan Baba to Haridwar & Rishikesh for Sathsang and meditation. He celebrates the Krishna Janmasthami in the Sansthan temple in Delhi. 

In recent times, Shri Sai Narayan Baba's significant contribution to Sai devotees is the 'Sri Gita Chalisa' wherein, from the 700 shlokas of the Sri Bhagawad Gita, 40 shlokas have been selected to compile the Chalisa. The Gita Chalisa with these 40 shlokas only now stands to be an essence of the complete Bhagawad Gita. Gita Chalisa has been translated in all major languages in India. 

Sadguru Shri  Sai Narayan Baba  tirelessly  worked day and night to spread Baba Consciousness for a good today and a better tomorrow.

Sadguru Shri Sai Narayan Baba after serving Sai devotees in a very unique way for more than 60 years, breathed his last on an auspicious Thursday on 20th May 2021.

Daily Programme Schedule at Panvel Ashram:

Ashram Timings

Programme Details

Pujya Gurudev Shri Sai Narayan Baba personally conducted Mantra Sadhana every Wednesday evening from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm and also on Sunday Morning from 9.00 am. to 10.30 am.

Devotees desirous of taking Darshan used to attend the Mantra Sadhana to receive Pujya Gurudev's blessings. Sansthan's book stall contains various publications and cassettes of the Sansthan such as Sai Mahima, Gita Chalisa, Shirdi Darshan, Thought of The Day etc which have been personally written by Shri Sai Narayan Baba.

Special Thursday Programme With the chanting of Vedic Mantras every Thursday morning there is a large gathering of Devotees at Panvel Mandir to witness the Abhishek to Shri Sai Baba's Murti with over 2500 litres of Water Jal & then with 108 litres of Milk. After this devotees are allowed to perform Abhishek to Baba's Murti.

This 2500 litres of Abhishek Jal of Baba is taken by various devotees for their daily consumption. This Abhishek Jal has miraculous curative properties & has cured various terminally ill patients in India & abroad from their ailments. Even after many years of storage this Jal retains the same fragrance & is fit for human consumption. This is truly a miracle of Shirdi Sai Baba at Panvel Mandir.

This is followed by Archana & Aarati and Palkhi procession of Shirdi Sai Baba's Murti. It is indeed a breathtaking sight. Sai devotees can also participate in this Puja and Abhishek.  if they are unable to visit the Ashram personally, this Puja can be performed  on their behalf & prasad will be sent to them.

Publications of Sri Bhagawati Sai Sansthan, Panvel

Contact Details

(Courtesy: Shri.Manohar Chandra Ji, Mumbai and Smt.Suma Shekar, Bangalore)