ABOUT SAI DHAM:- Origin of Sai Dham: SAI DHAM – the abode of Sai, a place where Baba is omnipresent in all directions. INTRODUCTION:--To begin, SAI DHAM started with the Chadha family comprising of Smt.Sulakshna Chadha(mother), Vineet Chadha, Navina Chadha and their children- Raghav and Namya. We all are staunch believers of Sai Baba united in our thoughts and actions, that is, to spread the message of Baba. This is also nothing short of a miracle as you will read on and when the story will unfold you will realize that this was our DESTINY. We are extremely lucky and blessed that our SUPREME LORD—SAI NATH gave us this opportunity and thought us worthy enough to give us a chance to serve HIM. Now join me as I, Navina Chadha, take you back to my childhood to reminiscence how it all started. BACKGROUND – I have been a devotee of Sai Baba since Class XII as I believe he gave me ‘darshan’ by coming to my house. He was dressed in his white robe and Patka and told me about my future. He said that I should worship Sai Baba on Thursday. Till then I had no clue of who Sai Baba was and I did whatever he had asked me to and my faith grew as all his predictions came true. Seeing my firm conviction, after my marriage-my husband and family also started believing in him. We started visiting Shirdi regularly & Sai temples nearby in Delhi whenever possible. It was in June 2007, and as usual we had gone to get blessings of Sai in Shirdi. It was my birthday on 21st June and a Thursday that day. It was my innermost desire to take Baba’s Pratima and keep it in our Mandir at home. My mother-in-law gifted me a beautiful idol of baba and it was the best gift anyone could ask for. Being a Thursday, there was a huge crowd at the Samadhi Temple in Shirdi. Luckily, a guard saw us and took us to Baba’s Darbar where the priests did the Abhishek of the Murti. Then the Pratima was taken to Dwarkamai where dear Baba was made to sit on the Palki, which was being readied for the procession of Thursday. This way chhote Baba come to us to stay in our hearts forever. On our journey back to Delhi, we did not have confirmed tickets and were worried how we would be able to protect the idol. Again, we were stunned by his divine powers as a coolie approached us asking if we needed tickets. To our disbelief he gave us confirmed tickets for AC 2 tier whereas we had our booking in AC 3tier. The TC upgraded our seats from 3AC to 2AC and we all came back seated comfortably with Baba’s Pratima resting on an entire vacant sleeper as that person (whose sleeper it was) did not come. On reaching Delhi we took Baba’s idol to Sai Mandir at GH-14, Paschim Vihar from where we had got connected to Baba. It was Sunday & the whole temple was decorated with flowers. On inquiring we got to know that a devotee had got the whole temple decorated that day. So baba had made the place special for his arrival and our ‘Little Baba’ was worshipped by everyone present before entering our house. From here we started doing the four artis daily as in Shirdi. Soon neighbours come to know about this and started attending the artis especially on Thursday evenings. Another miracle happened when we were praying that we needed guidance to perform the rituals of the artis in the proper way as we were doing what was to the best of our knowledge. A program was being organized by Sai Prerna Trust of which my husband is a trustee. In this event Shri Ulhasji – main pujari of Shirdi Sansthan was going to recite the artis. His hotel bookings were there but he wanted to stay with us in our house. This was a big blessing is disguise as he advised us about Bhog mantras to be recited & some things to be taken care of, so now we were aware of the correct way and there was no doubt in our mind that Baba had only sent him so that his Puja & Aarti could be done in a systematic way. He himself sang the arti at our house and enthralled us all. We could never dream that a pujari from Shirdi Sansthan would be singing artis in our house. Soon my husband took over the morning Snan Seva and would get up at 4:00 a.m. for meditation, and then do Kankad Aarti at 5:00 a.m. daily. Infact, there was a big change in the entire family and all of us – me, my mother-in-law and my two children got fully involved in following the routine strictly so much so that our whole life now revolves around our Sadguru – Sainath. In response to our devotion there was a change in Baba’s Pratima also. His eyes which looked blank & expressionless earlier seemed to have opened & lighted up and it seemed he is looking & speaking to you. Everyone noticed that the pupils of the eyes had become black in colour. This was nothing short of a miracle. COMING OF BADE BABA TO SAI DHAM COMING OF BADE BABA TO SAI DHAM Meanwhile we were planning the position of the Mandir in our new house that was under construction. We had named our new house ‘Sai Dham’. Seeing that about 30 people come every Thursday we thought of the bigger room overlooking the lobby & kitchen apt for the Mandir (It was also on the east according to Vastu). A beautiful marble stage resembling one in Shirdi was decided upon. Coincidentally, Navneet Agnihotri (renowned artist famous for his paintings of Baba) was going to Jaipur to get a Murti of Baba for himself so on our request he selected one of size 3 ft. for us too. When we went to Jaipur to finalize it we liked another one which was a big Pratima of 4½ ft. It had the most calm and serene look, instantly attracting us. We decided on it & my husband called up the person who was making the stage of 2 ft x 2 ft to increase its size as the Pratima we were getting was a bigger one. To our surprise the person said that he didn’t know how he had made a mistake and cut the marble of double to size i.e. 4 ft. x 4 ft. – exactly to match the size of the Pratima we had selected. So now we know that, He, the Supreme Power, only knows what is in store for us. So from the little Baba who had become so endearing we now had a life size Pratima of Baba coming to our new house. Before going to select this idol, I had already envisioned in a dream that Baba was entering our Block B-1 in his white robe and everyone is showering petals and covering the path with flowers so that his feet do not touch the rough ground. So slowly we graduated in our faith & devotion exactly 1½ yrs after following the regime of artis 4 times a day and were now ready to serve a life size pratima of Baba. Before deciding on Baba’s Sthapna in our house, my husband tried to mobilize opinion and keep the idol for worship in our block’s Mandir i.e. Ram Mandir in B-1, Paschim Vihar. But due to some constraints this could not happen and it is the blessing of our life that Baba decided to stay with us. So to proceed and make proper arrangements for the Sthapna my husband again called upon Ulhasji (main pujari of Shirdi Sansthan) to come and do the puja and a ‘Chal Pran Prathistha’ was duly performed on 9th November, 2008. Before this the Murti was kept in food grains for a few days as per the ritual. Again being human, we were doubting our ability to take care of Baba in a proper manner and wondering how we will be able to cope with everything as steadily Baba was becoming popular in our colony. Again he put to rest all our doubts on the day of Sthapna itself. My husband got a call from his buyer giving a huge order for an entire year of same kind of shoes (he is a footwear exporter). Now he could devote all his time for Baba’s Seva and not worry about business. This was Baba’s way of saying that “Once you entrust yourself into my-hands, you do not have to worry”. Infact I feel we are a living example of this vachan of Baba. He fulfils all the desires of his devotees till he qualifies them for eternal peace under his care. This was how Baba entered our lives and due to the faith & devotion shown by his devotees we have been a witness to umpteen miracles and experiences in this past one year. With each day, the number of Baba’s devotees are increasing manifold each having their own unique experience and attraction towards Baba. May Shri Sai Baba bless all of us with his grace and show us the path of divine purpose of life. Navina Chadha - Sai Dham Om Sai Ram
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:14:17 +0000