3 lesson from Shirdi Saibaba – Garland to saibaba statue on top of Temple

For years I avoided writing about this sacred Nagasai mandir where I go almost Thursday from 1993 and every day from 2005 . Though I have been spreading sai Leela all these years through StarSai network of websites, I tried to keep away from writing about Nagasai mandhir, coimbatore,

NagaSai – The temple which I respect more than my own life.

Below is the Photography of Nagasai taken On Guru purnima day 2009 with the kind request of my Sai friend Kannan. After this, I avoided taking photos of Saibaba in this temple as my camera fell down and I took it as a message from Saibaba to better feel the peace in Nagasai standing far away and not take too many rights.

Reasons to avoid writing about Nagasai mandhir :

If I live in the United States or the U.K or in India with a big position ( what people call as a career ), its easy to do anything boldly. I am living like a poor fellow searching for life and my only place of peace in this holy temple for years.

(Edit- When I read this article in 2020, I am surprised if that’s how I lived years back)

I wonder if it’s Possible to Make money writing about temples. If it is then I would not be wearing a Torn chappel for months now.

I realized people must not bother me while I am in Saiaba temple asking why I wrote about this temple, what I get by this all this. Of course, it’s a natural feeling in India for people to doubt others. Once I even came across words that I am making money etc.

Maybe it was not addressed directly on me but generally, people do tell their comments and I really wanted to put one big Namaskaram and stay away from Writing about the temple where I step in even twice in a day and spend hours doing some seva for sai if I am in Coimbatore.

Many times I was pained why people hurt someone who really wants to spread the Glory of Saibaba and this Nagasai mandhir is also one such beautiful paradise where Saibaba is blessing thousands of devotees with good health, peace, and prosperity.

Finally, after 5 years of wait, the time has come to write a Beautiful incident that happened in Nagasai mandhir .

Clarification :

To whom so ever it may concern – This article about Nagasai mandhir , Coimbatore is written only to spread the Glory of Shirdi Saibaba and not for any material benefit, etc. The below photos were taken in 2007 by my friend Kanna who wholeheartedly Contributed these beautiful Saibaba Photos to use in this article. The incident happened in 2009 September.

3 lessons from Shirdi Saibaba while I offered flowers to Saibaba statues over the top of Temple

Sairam friends
I was another day with worries wondering what I am going to do with life, career, etc and how am going to make my parents happy. I wonder if sai will ever show me a path.

Some people are meant to be successful and some like us meant to clean the ditch in the temple. We love it and we do it.

We are few sai friends, Ramanujam, Vengadesh, Vijaykumar, Subramaniam, and myself who used to take care of Dhuni – Dwarakamai in Nagasai mandir in our hometown Coimbatore. It’s not that we have a badge etc to do this work. Nowadays if you have to do some seva in a temple, people give you a Badge, a Post, and what not probably a T-shirt. Ha ha..

I wonder what Saibaba used to give to his close devotees who served him during his lifetime. I hope all Saibaba got to give is his sweet Smile, Encouraging words, and of course his deep unconditional love on devotees.

So we are some of those Unrecognized, Middle class, “We don’t have a job to do ” guys whos only peace and happiness is in Standing somewhere near the Dhuni, cleaning the Dwarakamai place, cleaning big Saibaba portraits, Offering big garlands to Saibaba paintings and statues on top of the temple, etc. Even today in the next hour am going to do the usual Pilgrimage I take for years.

A Pilgrimage to Shirdi Saibaba temple – Every day :

I take a bag with a Saibaba book, some money. Atleast 30 rupees and  Take a bus to Saibaba Koil stopping. I get down in signal of Saibaba koil stop with much requests from sweet Coimbatorians standing near the steps of the Bus “Anne yeranganum ,Tallunga ” . Some of these strangers shouts at you with so much care  “Don’t get down when the bus is stopped in signal” .   As I cross the Mettupalayam road and enter the temple…..every day different things happen.

1 . At times you come across devotees who smile to you. And also devotees who look at you as if the guy who always comes around Dhuni and irritates is coming.

2. There’s someone to greet. Atleast there’s this guy in Chappel stand Nagendran to say “Sai ram vaanga” …Sairam Welcome.  Whenever he looks at me he asks why my friend Kanna dint came. Whenever he see Kanna, he asks why Venkat dint came…Haha… So there’s someone to think about us in Nagasai mandhir . To be honest the only who always thinks about us is our Saibaba .Its written in Tamil Nan Iruka Bayam yen – “Why fear when I am here”

Lighting 3 Ghee lamps to Nagasai Dhuni Baba :

The first thing I do is wash my legs, come to the shop, give 10 rupees and take 3 lamps. One ghee lamp is 3 rupees in Tamilnadu India, as of now. Soon such rates will be history.

Then as I step inside the Dhuni Dwarakamai place, I say Saibaba epidi iruka – ‘Saibaba how are you “. The Dhuni priest is someone whom few don’t like but I like and respect him a lot. You can see www.shirdisaibabadhuni.com for my love for Dhuni and how I used to come around Dhuni in this temple for hours together.

My love for Sacred fire – Dhuni that Shirdi Saibaba created :

In 2005 I used to come around this Sacred fire of Shirdi Saibaba ( continuation of fire from Shirdi is bought here and we offer coconuts, woods to maintain this holy fire ) . Nowadays from 2009, this Nagasai mandir gets so many thousands of devotees, especially on Thursdays. So I felt its better to do other works and reduced to come around dhuni. I don’t want to bother other devotees’ devotion.

I clean the tray where they light lamps whenever a candle is put off, I light it. Like a fool mad fellow I always stand near this tray where they light lamps. Especially on Thursdays, I love to do seva here as many sai devotees light lamps and I take off the lamps which are over and light lamps which are put off my wind.  By the time the night arti starts, I and some of sai friends take the wooden logs and drop it or keep it near Dhuni so that the watchman will offer it at the night time.

As a team, I and my sai friends will clean this Dwarakamai dhuni place every Wednesday night and also get down the tank near dhuni to collect the ashes, drop them in the pot and filter it. The softer the udi the happier we will be with satisfaction.

Today it was over 9 when night arti was going on in Nagasai mandhir and the usual sai friends who offer flowers to all saibaba big portrait didn’t come as they had some official work. They were busy with some work. So I and one of another friend kanagavel offered it.

I also dug dhuni as tomorrow is Thursday and they offer many coconuts to Nagasai …so want to make sure it’s clean

It was over 9.30 and the temple was closed. Kanagavel offered the last remaining garland to a Saibaba portrait kept in the main hall where sai stirs with his hand inside the pot kept ..u know the hundi painting of Saibaba. This photo is kept where they do food offerings in the temple.

Searching for Garland to offer to Saibaba statues on top of the temple

Then he was asking me where are the flowers to be offered to the Saibaba statues over the Saibaba temple building. You know the Saibaba statues over dhuni – Dwaraka Mai

In the front side 3 Saibaba statues and right side one Saibaba statue. I found out the flowers and gave them to Kanagavel.

Meanwhile, he kept on asking me how to climb over the terrace of Nagasai. I told him I fear doing such works but Vijaykumar used to hold a steel rod and climb. Somehow I myself claimed carefully praying Saibaba.

You know there’s this steel pillar which was in the corner and we have to hold it and climb. The other side was compound over which glass pieces were cemented for protection. The past 6 months I also have a sudden nervous problem where the nerves in my leg will pull suddenly if I twist it etc. So I was scared of what if such things happen. I kept saying Saibaba a prayer.

Saibaba, only because none of Sai friends who offer flowers to the top sai murti came, I am doing this small effort. So be with me and help me do it.

I got some fear and also a beautiful expression of devotion in me. You know when Saibaba really lived in Dwarkamai, people who wish to have his darshan will shed tears the moment they go near Saibaba.

Once I claimed I felt happy. I also had fear really because it was getting late for me to go home and also I really felt its Nagasai inviting me to his paradise to see the unseen beauty of the temple where I have been going over 17 years. (From 1993). It’s a roof and almost the gopuram.

Now I shall elaborate on how I offered garland to each statue on the front side of Nagasai mandhir. The incident happened in 2009 September and the photos were taken by my friend Kanna in 2007  with permission from Temple people.

Offering flowers to Dwarakamai Saibaba :

This statue is kept on the top of the temple to its right side. It was very easy and simple to take away the old garland which was offered the previous week Wednesday night. I threw the old garland down for Kanagavel to catch it.

I was filled with devotion and excitement as I felt after 17 years I got a chance to see the unexplored places of Nagasai temple. I go to this temple every day and do little sai service as much as I can. I have spent hours in this temple. Now that I am on top of it, I felt its Saibaba’s intention to take me closer to his big Dwarakamai statue.

I was filled with emotions as I offered the Garland to this Dwarakamai Saibaba

About Below Shirdi Saibaba Photo :

You can scroll up to see this Saibaba statue in the center of Nagasai temple. My friend Kanna took photos. Am happy it is helping me now to spread the Glory of Shirdi Saibaba …May Sai bless his family

Offering flowers to Saibaba sitting over snake – NagaSai :

Nowadays you can’t see all these 3 statues because they have put a steel sheet as a shelter. So when you walk towards the entrance, you have to look up. There’s a space provided between the main building and steal roofing throw which you can see all these 3 Saibaba.

This main statue over the temple looks so beautiful. Saibaba looks smiling and sitting over the snake. The snake is like a seat for Saibaba and its 5 head like a shelter to Sai. whenever I go to Nagasai mandir, I will look up and try to see this Saibaba as he has a powerful look. Whenever my other sai friends and the priest climbs to the terrace and offered garland, I never thought its this risky.

Especially the Sai statue in the center is very Big and one has to hold the walls of the terrace, leap ahead, and only with the left hand, we can take away the garland offered last week and offer the new one again for the coming Thursday. We do this changing of garland once every week.

In my mind, I told Saibaba all my personal prayers. haha as I thought this is the right time when sai himself pulled closer to him. I told Saibaba to take care of my parents, sister, brother in law, and her baby Katya. I also prayed for all StarSai family and everyone who comes to Nagasai mandhir in the years to come.

I really was wondering how I am going to offer the garland to the main Saibaba on the snake statue.

Since its Navratri day, the serial light was on ( for decoration ). I really was too much into thanking Saibaba for giving this opportunity to a guy who fears for every little thing in life to climb to the top of his holy mandir. Then they switched off the serial light so that its safe for me to climb over the wall from where I have to leap and offer the garland.

I did have fear in my friends but I was too much involved in doing the work Saibaba made me do. I climbed slowly, from below I was instructed by 2 sai friends. I told Saibaba to protect me and safeguard me from falling down etc. This happens to someone as fearful as me.

While I leaped ahead, I felt sure it’s not possible to offer the garland with the right hand but it’s ok when it comes to devotion, there are no rules. I slowly held the wall with my right hand, leaped, took the old garland, dropped it down.

Then I took the New garland, with much patience offered it to Saibaba over the snake statue – The Glorious NagaSai .

It was truly a wonderful feeling friend. I asked if the garland is centered properly. My sai friends instructed me to straighten it and I did as they said. Then I was filled with emotions as the beautiful Nagasai who has welcomed me for years finally allowed me to offer garland to him.

Of course every week someone is doing it. The point is someone who fears for little things has held the wall, leaped ahead, and offered garland. This is true because of Saibaba’s blessings and his kindness on my friends.

Offering garland to Saibaba sitting with the palm over his cheeks :

This is the Saibaba whom we all love a lot. Some devotees named him  Cell phone baba because it really seems as if he’s holding a cell phone. Really it’s only because of their devotion. The reason is that whenever we look to the top and pray this Saibaba for the welfare of the temple or any public welfare surely this Saibaba will listen to it as if we directly spoke to him. The Saibaba sitting sadly in photo generally pose is actually beautiful and a bit smiling in this statue in Nagasai mandir.

I went to the left corner of the temple terrace, took off the old garland, and offered the new one to this beautiful Saibaba with the palm over his cheeks.

Surprise to see the beauty of this statue :

Since we always see this statue from down we dunno whats kept under Saibaba’s legs. I was surprised to see, the same was in the painting of Saibaba, there was a matchbox, a chillum, etc kept made of stone below this statue. I felt how beautiful and realistic they made these statues with love and devotion to our Saibaba.

Offering Garland to Dwarakamai Dhuni Saibaba :

Then I moved down, walked to the right side of the temple, climbed over the steel roofing, there were neem tree branches and once I cross it, the Dwarakamai dhuni terrace comes. Here the Saibaba is so so so so beautiful. Many times I used to stand below in the temple ground and look at this Saibaba with devotion. I feel our Saibaba during his life whenever I see this beautiful murti.

I claimed slowly, took off the previous week’s garland, dropped it down. kanagavel threw the new garland to my palm. I caught it gently and offered garland to this Saibaba over Dwarakamai statue.

Then again I walked through the steel roofing, got down to the terrace of the main building, climbed up to terrace, and went towards the left side for temple. There’s a Saibaba statue here as if Saibaba is holding his tin and going for Bhiksha and also blessing us with a smile. I loved this Saibaba so much when I got down the parapet wall. I saw a few lizards have made it dirty. I cleaned them with my palm, offered the garland with both my hands gently, and touched Saibaba’s holy feet.

Surrendering to Nagasai – The God who gave meaning to my life :

I was filled with devotion and tears of joy as Saibaba blessed me to offer garlands to all the five big murtis kept over the top of the temple. It was so dark. I ran to the middle of the temple terrace, fell down from head to toe, and recited Mahalakshmi Ashtakam. Once before 2 years I got a dream as if Instead of Nagasai there’s a Mahalakshmi Statue and the priest is showing aarti to it. So I feel this beautiful Sai is Mahalakshmi herself.

Sweet Mud of  Saibaba temple :

I kissed the terrace, some mud went in me and I really wanted them. I told Saibaba thought I didn’t settle down in my life, career, I feel really gifted as this holy temple has given me a place to learn about Shirdi Saibaba, do good deeds to many sai devotees and especially the days I used to come around the sacred Dhuni in Nagasai mandir from 2005 for more than 3 to 5 hours every day as written in shirdisaibabadhuni.com

How beautiful were those days and how sweet is our Sai who pulls his devotees to him and makes them do what they never expected to do?

I love Sai, Truly madly deeply :

Friends, anyone can go over a terrace of the temple and offer garland. I am not writing all this to say as if I did something big. It’s afterall a small thing. The moral of the entire incident is this

lesson one from Shirdi Saibaba :

“When you are devoted to Saibaba, Never fear.
Never. If you fear then you are hurting Saibaba.
At least to do good deeds Never ever fear. If Saibaba can inspire you to do something good, Saibaba obviously will also bless you to do it.”

It’s not me who planned to offer garland to Saibaba statues over the temple. Even before an hour I dint even imagine am going to do it.
So the second lesson is this

Lesson 2 from Shirdi  Saibaba :

Do not act with cleverness and plan things in life. Surrender yourself with pure love and devotion to Saibaba. Never say
“I” am doing it. Let go of all your ego, pride, and just do your work for yourself, your family, and of course Sai.

You can really feel yourself doing great things without your own knowledge.

Something I wish to share is never ever felt painful that Saibaba is not taking care of me and not showing me the right education, job, and relationships, good health, etc. Simply let go of all your needs and desires. Ever remain in the holy feet of Sainath.

Lesson 3 from Shirdi Saibaba

“I will make you do what I want you to do rather than helping you to do what you plan to do” – Sai

Yes I plan many things,. we all desire and plan 1000 things related to our personal life, career, and business. When we are devoted to our Shirdi Saibaba at times we wonder why Saibaba is not helping us. Sai does. Maybe sai wants us to do something else.

Maybe Saibaba wants me to go through sufferings and pains over 10 years to take me close to him. So close that I will kiss and eat the Mud over the Top this holy Saibaba temple where I go every single day for years.

Hope you got some inspiration from these beautiful Incidents friends. If you have time, please read below or go to next Sai Leela.

Writing about Nagasai Mandhir

It’s been years since I have made starsai.com. I did mention Nagasai temple earlier as it’s like a school for me where Saibaba taught me beautiful things to serve Sai devotees’.

The posters I made for StarSai.com – the little ones were even seen in some tables of the temple. Once someone casually told me people are speaking you are making money out of all this. I felt painful and decided its better to write generally about Saibaba and not about Nagasai temple because am already from a middle-class family and tomorrow if someone blames me, I won’t be able to bear it.

Even in Gurupurnima 2009, I was requested to take photos of Nagasai main statue inside the temple hall but someone told me not to give it out. I wondered what they mean. I took over 100 photos of Saibaba. It was truly painful as I took strain to take photos but I won’t be allowed to publish for everyone to see.

It’s just a small thing and I also dint felt like asking for permission.

I want to be a little servant of Shirdi Saibaba and not be known to anyone that I have a website for Sai etc.

So I decided to respect their feelings and until this moment I have never published any of the photos I took.

Later when I had been to Kumbakonam my camera lens broke to my shock. I wondered why Sai dint protects my costly camera. The lesson I learned is Saibaba doesn’t want me to get into this Photographing stuff because people to different decorations to Saibaba, if I photograph it I will be tempted to use it in the website someday and I don’t want to go against the temple rules. I wonder what rules it is. If a Sai magazine, a general magazine can write about even Thanjavur’s big temple why not about publishing photos of this Nagasai mandir.

With this confidence, I have written about Nagasai temple today at StarSai.com . I have only used the closeup of main Nagasai though I have over 100 photographs of Nagasai taken on my own.

I just want to express my Love for Nagasai, My gratitude to everyone involved with the growth of the temple and Ofcourse I believe its Saibaba who made me write this.

The time has come finally for me to express my gratitude to

The Great Nagasai mandir

The people of Coimbatore who comes to this beautiful temple

The trustees of this temple whom I respect as they gave freedom for devotees to do Seva for sai. Only because of this gratitude I don’t want to publish the main statue of Saibaba unless I get formal permission from them someday.

I also thank the servants in Nagasai mandhir, the staff, and all the priests who do seva. There are people who sing bhajans here, there are people who take care of Dhuni – the sacred fire of Saibaba, some take care of cleaning, and some doing Annadhan, Some devotees organize festivals of Saibaba, Vilaku pooja, etc.

School of Shirdi Saibaba is in you :

If there is one place where I got to learn Shirdi Saibaba, truly it is my mind. That’s where one can really learn and feel Saibaba. But the place where sai wants me to feel him is Nagasai mandhir of Coimbatore and I will ever be thankful to sai for this.

I offer every single word in this article as a dedication to thank all those sai devotees who gave me a smile, kindness, accepted the Saibaba photos I used to give for years and ofcourse to very few devotees I request to light lamps regularly.

I love Lighting lamps

I love my Sai

and I love my sweet Nagasai

Sai, ever live in us and bless us all with good thoughts, actions, good health, peace, and prosperity

Om Sainathaya Namaha

C.VenkatRaman – 23 :09 :2009

(Edit – I did read this article again in September 2020. Nowadays, I am not serving much in Dhuni of Saibaba temple as my friends take care of it. But I happily join them whenever they ask me to do something. A lot has changed over the years but my love for Nagasai Mandir and the environment it offers me never changes for a lifetime)

Always in the holy feet of Shirdi Saibaba

Thousands of Shirdi sai baba temple are built around India and even in Tamilnadu. Nagasai mandir is truly close to my heart because to me its a university where I learned many ways to serve sai and sai devotees in the years to come. Sai baba himself has confirmed that this temple is like my school and I gain experience to work for Shirdi Saibaba all my life by learning wisdom, knowledge, and humanity from this beautiful temple.