Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

In honour of Skanda Vale’s 50th Anniversary, in 2023, we consecrated a new temple for Shirdi Sai Baba.

The temple is open for darshan throughout the day — daily aarti is an integral part of the Sri Ranganatha puja and is held every morning at 09:30.

“Selfless service alone gives the needed strength and courage to awaken the sleeping humanity in one’s heart.”

— Shirdi Sai Baba

WHO IS SHIRDI SAI BABA?

Shirdi Sai Baba is essentially your highest Self, the deepest existence itself, the source, being, and mover of all things. When we worship and identify with Sai Baba, we move towards relating to this concept. His form represents the inner Guru, the supremely loving, self-sacrificing, all-encompassing Godhead.

This form has a historical name, shape, and story that we can draw inspiration from. In the 1850s, a young, ascetic-looking man arrived in the town of Shirdi in Maharashtra, India. He took up residence under a tree and later in a mosque and became known as Sai Baba or the “saintly father.” He never claimed allegiance to any religion and taught people according to their own inclinations.

Initially, some people considered him mad due to his solitary nature and spiritual austerities. However, as time passed, more and more residents recognized the power of his presence and the depth of his insight. Sai Baba’s devotees grew exponentially during his lifetime and included people of different religions and backgrounds.

Guru Sri Subramanium spoke very respectfully of Shirdi Sai Baba as a great and eccentric sage – simultaneously fierce and tender with his devotees. Shirdi Sai drew mantras and sayings from different spiritual traditions and was a representative of the Divine Beauty and Divine Will accessible in all religions and paths. He also stood against all forms of discrimination.

Sai Baba of Shirdi left his body in 1918 but is still revered by his many devotees and in the places of worship dedicated to him. The final resting place of his body in Shirdi has become one of the major pilgrimage centers in India, with around 25,000 pilgrims visiting it daily. Today, a prayer is sung at ceremonies for Sai Baba that translates to:

"In essence, there is no difference whatsoever between Hindu and Muslim. You took birth in a human body to show this. You look with affection on both Hindus and Muslims. This, Sai, who pervades all, as the soul of all, demonstrates."

the inspiration for our temple

The inspiration to build a temple for Sai Baba at Skanda Vale began when a devotee offered to donate a special murti (statue) of Baba. The resident monastic community felt clearly that this should be a life-sized murti, housed in a dedicated temple accessible throughout the day.

As construction began, the temple’s design and surroundings unfolded naturally. All the wood used was sourced from trees on the ashram’s land, while features like the dome, landscaped grounds, mosque-inspired arch, and intricate ceiling mosaic emerged with ease and flow.

The inauguration ceremonies took place from 9-12 June 2023, with priests from Sai Baba’s main temple in Shirdi conducting traditional rituals. The temple, though newly consecrated, already feels like an ancient space, filled with stillness and presence.