This is my Eleventh Pilgrimage to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temples at Machilipatnam in Krishna Dist of Andhra Pradesh. Sai Devotees can go through links placed in the Right Side Bar to view the list of all temples visited by me under the Pilgrimage series.
I was Invited to attend a Opening Ceremony of Spiritual Library to be held at Sri Sai Baba Mandir, Circar Thota in Machilipatnam on 23rd Oct 2011. So I planned to visit some temples in Vijayawada on 21st & 22nd Oct before heading to Machilipatnam. As Planned, I successfully completed my 10th Pilgrimage at Vijayawada covering a total of 14 temples of Sri Sai Baba.
I along with Mrs. Padma Karunakaram started our journey towards Machilipatnam by around 6:30am. After reaching Machilipatnam at 8:30am, we completed our morning breakfast at a hotel nearby the Bus Stand. R R Bhavan hotel, opposite to the Bus stand is a Decent Vegetarian hotel providing good quality food & beverages.
I was curious to visit the very famous Sri Naga Sai Baba mandir at Machilipatnam about which we had previous written articles & published Snaps. When we Inquired at the hotel, we came to know that it is at a distance of less than 200mtrs from the bus stand & one could reach there in minutes. We could also see the Nagabarana (Snake head) of the statue from the hotel. Thus we walked towards the Sri Sai Maharaj Devalayam.
We visited 2 temples at Machilipatnam & this is the 1st temple visited by us during our 11th Pilgrimage to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temples at machilipatnam on Sunday, 23rd Oct 2011.
To See Complete Set of 60 Snaps of this Temple Visit:
Sri Lakshmipuram Vittal Rao the Founder of this temple is a Bank employee working with the State Bank of Hyderabad. He got inspiration to Build a Unique temple of Baba at Machilipatnam.
In 1994, a Property near to the Zilla Court Centre was purchased with donations from Sai Devotees & Foundation stone to build a temple for Sri Shirdi Sai Baba was laid.
In 1997, A 7.5ft Height Marble Statue of Sri Sai Baba with Abhaya hastam (blessing Right Hand) in standing posture was installed in the now completed temple of Sri Sai Baba. A 5.5ft Cement statue of Sai Baba was installed in the front of this Standing statue of Sai baba & Sai Devotees were allowed to touch & also place flower garlands to Sai Baba.
Work to build the largest Statue of Sai Baba was progressing during this period & in 2007, A 54ft Height & 36ft Wide Cement Statue of Naga Sai Baba was completed & unveiled to all the Sai Devotees of Machilipatnam. In 2007 this was the only tallest statue of Sri Sai Baba to be completed in the World. Sai Baba sitting on Stone Posture with Nagabarana ( 5 headed Snake) above the head was inaugurated. It is designed in front of a 3 storey temple of Sai Baba.
A 4ft Dwarakamai Statue of Sai Baba is also installed in the temple premises near to the main sanctum. A Pancha Loha idol of Sai Baba is also present in front of the main statue & used for Palki Utsav.
Sai Baba Nanda deepa has been installed towards the left at the entrance of the temple with a diya burning day & night. A Dhuni of Sai Baba is also installed to the right at the entrance of the temple. Dhuni Puja Material is sold at the entrance of the temple by street vendors.
Highlights of this temple
Daily Abhishekam is performed to the Main Statue of Sri Sai Baba & Ashtothara shatanamavali Puja/ Archana are performed during the Day time.On Thursdays the temple is opened between 5:15am till 10:30pm & Sai Devotees from machilipatnam & nearby towns/villages visit Baba to take his blessings.
Sai Chalisa Chanting is done daily after the dhoop aarti to Sai Baba.
Sai Bhajans are performed between 7:00pm - 8:00pm on thursdays. Palki Utsav is performed on thursdays at 8:30pm before the Shej Aarti.
Annadanam is also conducted on every thursdays & 15 Lady Sevak's of the temple prepare meals to around 1500 Sai Devotees. Annadanam is done through out the day on the 1st & 2nd floor of this temple.
On Rama Navami, Guru Pournima, Sai Punyathithi & Dusshera Special Puja, Aarti, Annadanam & Satsangs are performed in the temple premises. A 24hr Bhajan & Satsang program is the highlight during the special Days.
Future Plans in the temple
The 1st & 2nd floor of the temple premises are getting renovated. Meditation Hall & Dining hall with kitchen has been planned in these floors respectively.A 3 Acre land has been acquired recently during 2008 at Nadupuru, a village around 10kms from Machilipatnam to build & run an Orphanage & an Old Age Home with a Capacity of around 250 members.
Plans to Paint the 54ft Naga Sai Baba Statue with special Water proof material so that the statue can be preserved for at least 500 years are being done.
To See Complete Set of 60 Snaps of this Temple Visit:
54ft height * 36ft Wide Marble Statue of
Sri Sai Baba at the entrance of the Temple.
7.5ft Marble Statue of Sri Sai Baba in
Standing Posture with Abhaya Hastam inside the temple.
4ft Dwarakamai Statue of Sri Sai Baba
to the Side of the Main Statue of Baba.
5.5ft Cement of Sri Sai Baba in front
of the 7.5ft Marble statue of Sri Sai Baba.
Nanda Deep in front of the Temple.
Dhuni of Sri Sai Baba in front of the temple.
Snaps taken during Various Ceremonies at this temple.
Photo Courtesy: Ms. Kamala Sai Ram
To See Complete Set of 60 Snaps of this Temple Visit:
Slide Show of the Photo Album
To See the Previous published Snaps of this temple Visit:
Temple Address
Sri Sai Maharaj Devalayam.
Zilla Court Centre,
Machilipatnam. 521002.
Krishna Dist.
Andhra Pradesh.
Contact Number
Sri. Lakshmipuram Vittal Rao
- Temple Founder & President
+91 94403 46750
Temple Phone No:
+91 8672 224965.
Directions
From Machilipatnam Bus Stand towards Zilla Court Centre - 2oo mtrs.
Land Mark
Near to Zilla Court Centre.
Temple Timings
05:15 am - 01:00 pm
05:00 pm - 09:30 pm
Thursday Temple Timings
05:15am - 10:30pm
Aarti Timings
Kakad Aarti - 05:30 am
Madhyana Aarti - 12:00 pm
Dhoop Aarti - 06:00 pm
Shej Aarti - 08:30 pm
Sri Sai Maharaj Devalayam.
Zilla Court Centre,
Machilipatnam. 521002.
Krishna Dist.
Andhra Pradesh.
Contact Number
Sri. Lakshmipuram Vittal Rao
- Temple Founder & President
+91 94403 46750
Temple Phone No:
+91 8672 224965.
Directions
From Machilipatnam Bus Stand towards Zilla Court Centre - 2oo mtrs.
Land Mark
Near to Zilla Court Centre.
Temple Timings
05:15 am - 01:00 pm
05:00 pm - 09:30 pm
Thursday Temple Timings
05:15am - 10:30pm
Aarti Timings
Kakad Aarti - 05:30 am
Madhyana Aarti - 12:00 pm
Dhoop Aarti - 06:00 pm
Shej Aarti - 08:30 pm
Courtesy:
Article & Photo: Raghav N
Data:Mrs. Padma Karunakaram. Rajahmundry
Special Thanks to Sri L Vittal Rao the founder of this temple for providing me with
the complete details of the temple & allowing us to take snaps in the temple premises.
Special Thanks to Ms. Kamala Sai Ram for providing us with
snaps of Sai Baba taken during different ceremonies.
Article & Photo: Raghav N
Data:Mrs. Padma Karunakaram. Rajahmundry
Special Thanks to Sri L Vittal Rao the founder of this temple for providing me with
the complete details of the temple & allowing us to take snaps in the temple premises.
Special Thanks to Ms. Kamala Sai Ram for providing us with
snaps of Sai Baba taken during different ceremonies.
