Kudal Shirdi Saibaba temple – First temple in India after Mahasamadhi of Sai Baba

Sairam friends,

I got this wondeful news from one of my Sai friend. He happened to visit this Shirdi Saibaba temple situated in Kodal. Kudal is a small village in Sindhudurg District in Maharastra,India. Now read the Mail below…..

Dear Venkat,
Sairam I am forwarding you photographs of  a temple built in 1922, the first temple in India after mahasamadhi of Sai Baba in 1918.

Kudal Sai mandhir is situated in a scenic place – see below Photograph of Saibaba and the Temple

The temple was built by Mr Ramchandra Ravjee Madave, Baba gave him one rupee and with that One rupee in 1919 the frist death anniversary was celebrated at Kudal, and on 1922 he built a temple for Baba at Kudal, 1954 he was also one of the persons in In staling statue of Baba at Shridhi, he was also a trustee of Shridhi Sansthan.

This temple is in   Kudal near Kudal railway station and Kudal is near to Goa 100kms from Goa In maharashtra and is on Mumbai Goa route also.

Note – The first Shirdi Saibaba temple is actually built in 1916 in Bhivpuri ( outskirts of Mumbai). The below link is one of my first few articles in StarSai.

Read about Bhivpuri Shirdi Saibaba temple

Thats 2 years before saibaba’s Mahasamadhi and Kudal should be first saibaba temple built in India 2 years after Saibaba’s Mahasamadhi in 1922. I love the simplicity of the Kudal sai mandhir friends.

regards
Lakshmi Varadharajan

Just 10 minutes after i posted this article my Sai friend Trish contributed below information and Photos on Kudal temple.

Shri Sai Baba’s first Punyatithi observed with 1 Rupee given by Sai !

Village Kavilkate is located about half a mile to the west of Kudal railway station in Sidhudurg district of Maharashtra state. In the village, there is a beautiful temple of Shri Sai Baba in Sai Nagar. The lovely statue of Sai Baba gives emmense pleasure to the eyes and the tranquil surroundings give calm peace of mind to the devotees. The creation of this temple is an ample evidence of Shri Sai. A resident of Kavilkate Late Ramchandra Madaye was an ardent Datta devotee.

He had a Drishtant (vision or divine appearance) that Lord Datta is in Shirdi in the form of Sai. And, this Datta’s Das – who was always engrossed in chanting the name of God Shri Grurdev Datta – turned towards Shirdi. He almost lost consciousness, when he had first Darshan of Shri Sai. He had the unique bliss of having met Datta. Sai Baba gave him a Rupee One. He preserved it as a price-less treasure. He took several residents of Kudal with him to Shirdi and gave them the benefit of Sai Darshan.

In 1918, Sai Baba took Mahasamadhi on the day of Vijayadashmi, Tuesday, the 15th October. In 1919, Baba’s first Punyatithi (death anniversary) was publicly observed in Kudal besides Shirdi. It was observed at the hands of Madayebua. He utilized the One Rupee given by Baba for the purpose. Thereafter, in 1922, on the fourth Punyatithi of Sai Baba, Madayebua built a Sai Mandir. He installed a six feet statue of Sai Baba sculpted by Shri Baburao Sarang.

After Baba’s Mahasamadhi – as per His own wishes – His mortal body was placed in Butti Wada at Shirdi and a tomb was erected over it. A photo frame was positioned there. After 36 years, in 1954, a five and half feet statue, sculpted by Shri Bhausaheb Talim, was installed in Sai Samadhi Mandir.

Late Shri Nagesh Atmaram Sawant was actively associated with the installation of the statue. He was also a Managing Trustee of the  Sai Sansthan for a long period of time. In an article, written by him (published in  ‘Shri Saileela’ – Year 7th, Volumes 5-6-7), he has stated about Kudal’s Madayebua’s Mandir as follows –

In December 1922, I went to Konkan on vacation. I met Shri Madayebua in the Shri Sai Darbar established by him. A large and fully asceticism image of Shri Baba has been installed there. Seeing such a brilliant image, who cannot be blessed with heavenly contentment ! My joy knew no bounds. My delight increased many times, as I received a  latest copy of ‘Shri Saileela’ there and avidly read it.

The Mandir built by Dattadas Madayebua was renovated in 1983 and a new seven and half feet statue (sculpted by Shri Sham Sarang – son of ShriBaburao Sarang) was installed. The Madir was managed from 1922 to 1946 by Dattadas Madayebua, from 1946 to 1999 by his son Shri Shripad Madaye and therafter by his grandson Shri Rajan Madaye.

– Sadanand L. Wairkar
Borivali, Mumbai.

(Article and Photo used by courtesy of devotee who wrote them)

Please share any photos,experiences about Kudal Shirdi saibaba temple friends. Seems its around 100 kms from Goa.