Sri Shirdi Sai Dhyana Mandir, Railway New Colony, Visakhapatnam.

Aum Sai Ram.

This is the Fourth Temple on which i'm writing article that I visited during my 17th Pilgrimage to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple at Visakhapatnam & Kakinada between 17th July 2013 till 26th July 2013.

This is the 3rd temple to be visited at Visakhapatnam under the Pilgrimage Series for my Sai Photo Blog.

To see Complete List of Temples Visited under Pilgrimage Series Visit:
Raghav's Sai Baba Temple Pilgrimage Series.

To see Complete List of Temples Visited during 17th Pilgrimage Visit:
17th Pilgrimage to Sai Baba Temple.

After visiting the Sri Sadguru Sai Baba Mandir at M V P Colony, we returned back to home as my Brother in law has to leave for his work. We reached home by 9:45. Relaxed a bit & had our Morning breakfast by 10am. After my Brother in Law left for Work, Me & My sister started towards this Sai Baba Temple near Railway Exhibition grounds at around 10:45am.

On Reaching this temple, I felt so happy as it was quite big, quite spacious & also looked very neat & well maintained with very Gud Painting etc. We headed Straight towards the first floor of the temple complex where the newly installed 5.5ft Black Granite Statue of Sri Sai Baba is present.

On seeing the sanctum of Sri Sai Baba i was all praises for the same as it was quite a bill Hall with his sanctum in the end. Sai Baba's Sanctum as been Air Conditioned. The Prarthana Mandir or the Hall can easily accommodate around 500 people during a Puja event etc.

Sanctums for Sri Siddhi Vinayaka & Sri Kanaka Durga are also installed in front of the Sai Baba's Sanctum towards the left & right side. A Silver & a Pancha Loha Statue of Sai Baba used as Utsav Murthy is also placed below the Main Statue of Sri Sai Baba.

After having the Darshan, I started speaking to the founder of this temple Mr. Shesha Giri Rao, nick named as Sheshu Garu. A Gentle & Pious Man. He was the one who was took the initiate to build a temple for Sri Sai Baba & stated the work with a small sanctum of Sai Baba in 1994.

As the conversations began to flow between us, i was able to grasp lot of details regarding the temple activities & other things related to Sri Sai Baba & their Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR] as a temple trust.

After getting the 1st Hand information on the temple as well as personal experience in life with Sai Baba, i came down towards the ground floor of the temple premises where the Palki, Swing - Uyyalla, Utsav Murthy of Sri Sai Baba along with Nageshwara - Sarpa Raja is present.

I then visited the Dhuni & Gurusthan on the ground floor. It is around 12:00 Noon & as the Aarti ceremony commenced we attended the Aarti & received the Blessings of Sri Sai Baba. We also received Theerth Prasad.

I got the Opportunity to visit this temple again on 22nd July 2013 during the Guru Pournima with my Aunty & got the blessings of Sri Sai Baba. Though it was raining heavily on Guru Pournima at Visakhapatnam, Lot of Sai Devotees had gathered in the evening for the Bhajan & Palki Utsav.

Close to around 3000 Sai Devotees were fed with Prasad meals after the Mid Day Aarti at the temple Premises.

Seperate set of Snaps of Sri Sai Baba's Alankar & various alankar in the temple have also been put in the article along with the complete Snaps of the Temple Sanctum.

After attending the Madhyan aarti & receiving the Theerth prasad, we headed back to home to take some Rest. Have Lunch & again start back to visit Sri Sai Baba temples in the evening Session.

To see Complete set of 59 Snaps of this Temple Visit:
Sri Shirdi Sai Dhyana Mandir, Railway New Colony, Visakhapatnam

To see Complete set of 59 Snaps of this Temple Visit:
Sri Shirdi Sai Dhyana Mandir, Railway New Colony, Visakhapatnam

Highlights of this Temple:

1. This temple is famous for its 5.5ft Black Granite Statue of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. It is one of the Oldest  & one of the biggest by Area & Temple size in this Locality near to Railway Station.It is around 1 Km from Visakhapatnam Railway Station.

2. The Temple was initially inaugurated on 14th Oct 1994 & a 2ft Mud Statue of Sri Sai Baba was installed in the temple Premises. Over the Years as the temple began to grow & develop, The first floor of the present temple Complex was Constucted.

As the Mud statue started losing its Life, It was decided upon to install a Stone Statue of Sri Sai Baba. As the New Building was completed, it was decided to built the Sanctum of Sri Sai Baba on the first floor of the temple complex & use the ground Floor as Dhyan Mandir.

On 25th October 2007, yet another Sri Sai Baba Pujyathithi daym the Prana Prathistha of the Present Main 5.5ft Black Granite Statue of Sri Sai Baba was performed.

A Silver Simhasan has been installed around the statue of Sri Sai Baba. A Silver & Panchaloha Utsav Murthy of Sri Sai Baba has also been placed in front of the main Statue on the first floor.

The Old Damaged/ Not Suitable Statue of Sri Sai Baba was immersed in to the Ocean after the installation of the granite Statue. The Old Sanctum on the ground floor is kept empty & utsav Murthy is Placed there on Thursdays & special Days & Bhajans & other Spiritual Programs are held there.

3. The Main Temple complex has the Sanctums of Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Kanaka Durga, Nageshwara - Sarpa Raja, Swamy Ayyappa, Dwarakamai, Dhuni & Gurusthan. A Life Size Cement Potrait of Sri Sai Baba & Sri Dattatreya have been designed on the entrance of the 1st floor.

4. Dhuni (Sacred Fire) with Gurusthan is present at the left side of the temple & was installed in 1994 when the Mud Statue of Sri Sai Baba was installed in the temple Premises.

5. Special Puja, Abhishek, Annadanam, Spiritual Programs, Bhajans & other rituals are conducted during Temple Anniversary every year, Ugadi, Sri Ramanavami, Guru Poornima, Gokulashtami, Vijayadashmi - Sai Baba Punyathithi & Datta Jayanthi.

6. Every Thursday Annadanam is performed & about 100 - 150 people are fed with Lunch after the Madhyan Aarti & with Tiffins after the Night Shej Aarti. Annadanam on a very large scale is conducted on special days & during Guru Pournima & Sai Punyathithi as many as 2000 - 2500 Sai Devotees are fed with Prasad Meals.

7. Panchamrutha Abhishek to the Main Statue of Sai Baba is Performed on every Thursday & Special Days. Sheera Abhishekam is performed on all the Days.

8. Palki Utsav is performed on all the Thursdays & Special Days in the Temple Premises. Uyyalla - Swing Seva is also performed on All Thursdays & Special Days at night after the Shej Aarti.

9. Yoga, Meditation Classes are conducted freely in the temple Complex Regularly.

10. Ayyappa Puja & Mala Dharana is performed during the Ayyappa Pilgrimage Season & the Devotees Start their Ayyappa Deeksha & end the same in this temple.

11. Spiritual Discourses by Prominent Personalities is conducted during the Special Days at the temple Premises.

12. Medical Camps, Eye Camps & Blood Donation Camps are held regularly & Sai Devotees are motivated to participate & get the benefit from these various health camps.

13. Bhajana Mandali has been formed by the temple & Bhajans are Regularly performed at Temple Premises on Thursdays, Special Days. The group also visits various Devotees Home & performs Bhajans when Invited for the Same. Nominal Fees is taken for organising Bhajans at home. Cultural Events are also promoted & performed in the temple.

14. Annual Pilgrimage to Shirdi is performed from the temple from the Year 1994 & as many as upto a 1 Lakh devotees have utilised the Opportunity & visited Shirdi.

15. Annual Parayan Saptah is performed in the temple Premises & as many as 1000 Families participate in the yearly event & make it a Grand Success.

I'm now sharing few Snaps of the Statue of Sri Sai Baba that has been installed in this temple Premises.

Snaps of Alankar of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba on Guru Pournima Day 2013.

To see Complete set of 59 Snaps of this Temple Visit:
Sri Shirdi Sai Dhyana Mandir, Railway New Colony, Visakhapatnam

Slide Show of Photo Album

Temple Address

Sri Shirdi Sai Dhyana Mandir.

Opp Railway Ground, Railway Exhibition Ground Road,
Railway New Colony.
Visakhapatnam : 530016.
Andhra Pradesh.

Landmark

Opp. to Railway Exhibition Grounds on Railway Exhibition Grounds Road. While traveling from Railway Station towards NH 5 via Railway New Colony, Temple is on Right side of the Road after the Round About towards Dondaparti/ Daimond Park.

Contact Person

Sri T Ram Babu - Temple Founder.

Sri M Shesha Giri Rao [Sheshu Garu] - Temple Founder.
+91 80197 04567

Prana Prathistha Date of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

2ft Mud Statue: 14th October 1994.
Vijaya Dashami Sai Baba Punyathithi Day.

5ft Black Granite Statue: 25th October 2007.
 Vijaya Dashami Sai Baba Punyathithi Day.

Temple Timings

5:00 AM to 1:00 PM
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Aarti Timings

Kakad Aarti: 05:15 AM
Madhyan Aarti: 12:00 PM
Dhoop Aarti: 06:15 PM
Shej Aarti: 08:30 PM

After the Darshan, we reached back to home as it was around 1pm. After Lunch & a Quick Nap, we headed towards the Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Dhyan Mandir [Shirdi Replica] near Jagga Rao Bridge, Akkayyapalem to see the 5.5ft Marble Statue of  Baba. More on this temple in the Next Article.

Courtesy:
Article & photo: Raghav N

Special Thanks to Mrs.  Padma & Mr. Balakrishna, Visakhapatnam for Accommodating me during my Stay in Visakhapatnam & also helping me with Providing 2 Wheeler, 4 Wheeler to Visit Sri Sai Baba Temples in & around Visakhapatnam City.