Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and Sri B.V. Narasimha Swami

A couple of days ago I started rereading the book “Self Realisation—The Life and Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi” by B.V. Narasimha Swami. This is a wonderful book, which is highly recommended. Please do read.

Anyhow, today Guru Poornima is an excellent example of the Divine synchronicity of Saints and Masters. This book on Ramana Maharshi is written by a devotee who dedicated his life to Sri Sai Baba; who is my own Sadguru.

Sri B.V. Narasimha Swami came to Ramana Maharshi around 1929 and during his stay was inspired to write the biography of Bhagavan upon which all later biographies are solidly founded on. In addition while at Tiruvannamalai, B.V. Narasimha Swami was also instrumental in collecting much information on Sri Seshadri Swami which he handed over to Sri Kuzhumani Narayana Sastri, who used it as the basis of a biography on that great saint.

Although endowed with a incisive mind (Ramana Maharshi said Narasimha Swami was a “person of sharpened intellect”) he was drawn to the path of devotion. He travelled north and settled at Shirdi and in later years when he returned to the South visited Sri Bhagavan before going on to live at Madras.

At Madras, B.V. Narasimha Swami worshipped a picture of Sai Baba under a tamarind tree on the street where the Sai Baba Temple is now located. Later, he moved the picture to a small house in Nanjunda Rao Colony in Mylapore and constructed the present temple with help from a Chettiar merchant. The Temple was completed and consecrated in 1952 with its main object being the propagation of the life and teachings of Sri Sai Baba.

This is the only Temple where devotees are allowed to touch, garland and photograph the divine idol, which in this case is a marble representation of Sai Baba. In actual fact it is the picture of Sai Baba (worshipped for many years by B.V. Narasimha Swami) that is considered the moolasthana. B.V. Narasimha Swami is entombed in Samadhi at the Sai Baba Temple, Mylapore.

This Temple at Mylapore, Chennai is a wonderful, sacred space. If you are visiting or staying in Chennai, please spend time there.

Blessings of Light to all readers and friends of Arunachala Grace.

Outside Shirdi Sai Temple, Mylapore, Chennai

 

Marble statue of Shirdi Sai, devotees allowed to touch

Picture of Shirdi Sai Baba regarded as Moolasthana

Paintings around the inside of Temple. The Master loved dogs!

Puja conducted on the marble idol of Shirdi Sai Baba

Aarti after a special function at Temple