Visit to Shiridi

Kishore C.S. (Oct 2000)

(Note: This is my second article on my travel experiences. I would be adding breif travelogue articles in future also.)

According to some popular beliefs, it is said when the god wants you to come to Him, he will take care of everything. Especially in reading life story of Shiridi Sai Baba it is noted that Baba decides when one should come to see him. I didn’t know much about Shiridi Sai Baba till my marriage. As my in-laws were devotees I also had a curious desire to visit Shiridi. Typically I always plan well ahead on how I travel and where I have to stay. I don’t like a hassled and troublesome journey any time. Staying in Chennai, I really have to plan well to go to Shiridi which is a long way.

On one occasion I happened to visit my in-laws in Hyderabad for a couple of days. My wife delivered baby who was two months old by that time. One fine day, my mother-in-law asked me whether I wanted to go to Shiridi. It came as a surprise to me. I was not even thinking of that possibility. I immediately knew that the call has come for me to visit Him. Within next one hour I went out to purchase tickets for me and my wife to go to Shiridi by bus. Travel from Hyderabad to Shiridi is convenient by Luxury buses that ply every night.

Setting our apprehensions to rest, we decide to leave our daughter in care of my in-laws. The journey had been comfortable. Based on directions given by in-laws we got into a hotel and immediately after bath went for darshan. We also got darshan without any problems. I was overwhelmed by the fact that the divine grace takes one through an experience even though we are unprepared. I was very happy that I made the visit. We just spent the day in Shiridi and returned to Hyderabad the same night. Our young daughter also stayed in her mother’s absence without any problem.

This experience has made me convinced of two facts. We don’t know when the calling comes and He takes care of everything.

As it is not possible to visit Shiridi, very regularly, I do take some occasions to send money by post. The following is the address to which payments can be made by Cheque/MO and receive prasad by post.

Shiridi Sai Samsthan
Shiridi
Ahmednagar – 423 109
Maharashtra