Baba Sitting on Stone.

Aum Sai Ram.

The Stone on which Baba sat.

 This stone is placed in the center of the eastern wall of the Sabhamandap. Baba used to sit on this stone facing west. Small marble padukas were installed on this stone. Now the marble padukas are replaced with silver padukas.

 Baba often sat in the Sabhamandap. It was the portico in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum, (Dwraka Mai). There Baba sat on this stone. First this stone was adjacent to the Dwarka Mai. Later it was moved to the eastern wall.

 Once a phelvan (body builder), who was extremely proud of his strength came to Shirdi.  Baba casually asked him to move the stone, from its original place to where it now.  But try as he may it did not budge an inch. The phelvan stood silently, looking at the stone and then at Baba.  Then Baba laughed and with his satka played with it as if it was a small ball. Then with 3 steps small he moved it to the eastern wall. Needless to say the phelvan was humbled, and he returned home.

Ref Sai Baba Hach Chamatkar by Dr. Keshav B. GavankarGavankar.

Source: Baba’s Gurukul compiled by Vinny Chitluri.

Original Snap Sai Baba in the Chavadi - Raj Upchar Photo.

Aum Sai Ram.

This is an Original Photograph of Sai Baba in the Chavadi.

It’s known as the ‘Raj Upchar’ photograph. Raj upchar consists of an elaborate ritual that consists of about 30 smaller rituals including a Snan of various ingredients. They are ‘Panchamrut snan’, ‘Sudh Dravya snan’, Chandan snan and Abhishek. Since all these rituals cannot be performed to a photograph only ‘Panch Ppchar’ is performed.

This Photograph is taken to the Samadhi Mandir, every Thursday in the afternoon. There it is placed on the Samadhi, after Dhoop Arati at 8.45 p.m. It is then taken in the Palki Procession.

It is the only photograph that has been clad with a silken ‘Sovala’. Here an explanation is necessary. Some Brahmins who are considered pure, and holy (sovale) have by ablution or other purification rituals attained the state of the highest and most sacred. 

If they come into contact with persons or articles that are ‘ovale’ (impure) their state of sovale is tarnished. 

This word is used for clothes, utensils, food and things in general. These are made fit for use after washing and other purification rituals. But silk and woolen clothes are used by the sovale person without any restriction.

Baba’s photograph is taken to the Samadhi Mandir where the Pujari does ‘Panch Upchar’. That is Applies Gandh or Sandal wood paste. Offers Pushpa (Flowers), Dhup (Incense), Deepa (lighted lamp) and Naivedya (Food Offering).

Then the photograph is clad with the silk sovale. This is the dress code or way of tying the dhoti with pleats covering the genital organs tightly for males. And for females the pleats of the sari do the same..

Now the photo in the 'Ladies side' of the Chavadi also has a 'sola' and the timings for the Arathi's have changed.

Sai Baba Fake Photograph.

Aum Sai Ram.

On the Internet is a widely circulated Sai Baba Fraud Picture that is claimed to be an authentic photograph of Shirdi Sai Baba. The Fake Sai Baba Picture in question is a photograph that was “antiqued” to make it look older than it actually is.

Fake Photographs displayed in Web Media and Social Networks as original Photographs of Shri Sai Baba and Shirdi - Courtesy:Vinny Chitluri

Baba Rarely gave His consent for His photographs to be taken. However a few photographs were indeed taken. Most of these photographs were taken after 1900 and at that time Baba was not young.

The Above photograph was first published in 1930 in a Magazine called “Manoranjan” and Shri.Shripad Keshev Naik had written that this was “Shri Samarth Shirdi Che Sai Baba”.

However this photograph is of SHRI ADVETANAND SARASVATI BAAL BRAMACHARI SWAMI MAHARAJ of Sarvabhauma Datta Sansthan, Vitthal Chaitanya Vishranthi Mutt, Ganagapur, Gulbarga District of Karnataka State.

This Swami took Samadhi in Bhadrapad Ved Panchami in Shake 1830 that is 1908 of the English Calander. This information was provided by a person whose father was a disciple of this Swami and he had the photograph of the Swami from his father. (Reference: Sai Anantha. July 2009, year 4, Ank 14)

It is very disconcerting that major Sai Baba websites carry this picture on their websites claiming it is an authentic picture of Shirdi Sai Baba. It isn’t. For those who love, adore and respect Shirdi Sai Baba, this article is intended to foster devotion.