Shirdi Temple has been engulfed in controversy over Sai Baba’s birthplace. The city witnessed a day-long bandh on Sunday due to the birthplace row of declaring Pathri, a village in Parbhani district as the birthplace of Sai Baba. And even though there was a bandh, the Shirdi temple remained open. This controversy over Sai Baba’s birthplace took place when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a grant of ₹100 crores to be given for developing Pathri, believed to be Sai Baba’s birthplace during his Marathwada tour. But the residents of Shirdi claimed that Sai Baba never revealed his birthplace during his lifetime. And the government grant would hurt their feelings.
What’s In It?
Sachin Tambe, Sri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust stated to a reputed news agency that if the government wished to give a grant for the development of a village there wouldn’t be any objection. But the fact that the government wants to give a grant for a village naming it to be the birthplace of Sai Baba would be opposed. He further added that very little is known about Sai Baba’s birthplace, parents, religion and caste. So claiming Pathri to be the birthplace on the basis of a book is considered to be incorrect.
On the other hand, residents of Pathri have welcomed this decision with open hearts. They are happy that the government has finally recognized the birthplace of Sai Baba and are giving it due importance. The trustee of Sai Baba Janmsthan Mandir in Pathri, Sanjay Bhursari stated that Vishwas Kher a devotee of Sai Baba has collected 29 pieces of evidence after researching for 20 years about Pathri being Sai Baba’s birthplace. Govind Dhabolkar and Das Ganu Maharaj have written biographies of the saint claiming Pathri to be his birthplace.
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What’s More?
While the rest of the town remains shut, Shirdi Temple is open for devotees. Temple units like Sai Bhakta Niwas, local medical shops, Sai Hospital, Sai Prasadalaya will remain open. Maharashtra State Regional Transport Corporation hotels and buses too will function normally. But public transport vehicles like taxis, autos will remain off the road. Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Chief Minister is holding a meeting to discuss the shutdown of Shirdi over his alleged comments regarding Sai Baba’s birthplace. In other news Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple To Introduce New Dress Code For Devotees