Temples in Shirdi
Shirdi's shrines tell one story, the life of Sai Baba, and most of them sit inside or beside a single temple complex. A mosque, a village hall and a Khandoba temple matter here as much as the main mandir.
Samadhi Mandir
The main temple stands over Sai Baba's tomb. It began as a stone mansion, the Buti Wada, built by the Nagpur devotee Gopalrao Buti, and Baba was buried there in 1918. Today a marble statue of Baba sits above the samadhi, and the day runs to four aartis. Darshan in the Samadhi Mandir starts at about 6:25 am after the morning rituals. Details are on the Samadhi Mandir page.
Dwarkamai
Sai Baba lived in this old mosque for around sixty years and named it Dwarkamai. He kept a fire, the dhuni, burning here, and the ash from it, udi, is still given to pilgrims. A large portrait of Baba by the Mumbai artist Shama Rao Jaykar hangs inside. See Dwarkamai.
Chavadi
The old village hall across the lane, where Baba slept on alternate nights. It is the turning point of the Thursday palkhi. By long custom one section, where he slept, is closed to women. See Chavadi.
Gurusthan and Lendi Baug
Gurusthan marks the neem tree under which the young Baba was first seen sitting. Lendi Baug is the garden he watered himself, with a lamp kept burning and small shrines to his devotees. Both are inside the complex.
Khandoba Mandir
A small temple to Khandoba, the warrior form of Shiva worshipped across the Deccan. Its priest Mhalsapati greeted the young fakir here with "Ya Sai" and became his closest devotee. See Khandoba Mandir.
Shani Shingnapur
About 70 km away, a black stone to Shani stands on an open platform with no roof. Oil offerings must now use sealed, branded oil. Women were allowed onto the platform in 2016. See Shani Shingnapur.
Visiting respectfully
Phones, cameras and water bottles stay outside the Shirdi temple premises. Remove your shoes, cover shoulders and knees, and keep your voice down in the queues. Accept udi and prasad with your right hand. Politely refuse anyone offering to arrange special darshan for money; the trust books only through its own counters and website.
Questions
Shirdi — FAQ
Is Dwarkamai a mosque or a temple?
It was the village mosque, and Sai Baba named it Dwarkamai. Today it is looked after by the temple trust and visited by people of every faith, with the dhuni fire still burning inside.
Who is Khandoba?
Khandoba is a form of Shiva, worshipped as a warrior god across Maharashtra and the Deccan. His temple in Shirdi matters to Sai devotees because its priest gave Baba his name.
Can women enter every part of the Chavadi?
By an old custom, women do not enter the section of the Chavadi where Baba slept. The other section is open to all. Follow the signs and the staff on the day.
Can women worship on the platform at Shani Shingnapur?
The temple trust opened the platform to women in April 2016, after a Bombay High Court ruling. Rules for climbing it have changed over the years, so ask the staff what applies on the day.