ST0RY OF

SAI BABA'S PERPETUALLY BURNING DHUNI IN

SHIRDI ~~

Even today, in every corner of Shirdi, the presence of Sai Baba's Miracles can be
seen. Thats why, since the last 150 years Baba's Dhuni (Sacred Fire) is kept
perpetually burning everyday in Dwarkamai.

Fire is a manifestation of energy of which the whole universe is made and Fire
Sacrifice stands for the cosmic consciousness in which the manifold creation is
projected, maintained and constantly transformed.
Hence, ‘Dhuni’ is symbolic for burning down the sins to ashes, for those who seek
complete refuge in this peerless Master.

Sai Baba used to sit by the side of his "Dhuni" and look at it while being deeply
absorbed in thoughts. He used to distribute the 'Udi' the sacred ash of his Dhuni, to
all who came to Him, as a token of His grace.
This Sacred Ash had lots of miraculous curative powers too.

- THE STORY OF BABA'S PERPETUALLY BURNING DHUNI IN DWARKAMAI -

Shirdi Sai Baba's Gurusthan was below a huge Neem Tree.
When Baba came to Shirdi, he got the ground beneath this Neem Tree dug up
and found 4 miraculously burning earthen lamps buried underneath, along-with a
Rudraksha Mala. Baba regarded these 4 burning earthen lamps each symbolic for
Satya, Dharm, Peace & Love respectively.

In his previous lifetime, Baba had done his Tapasya / Guru Sadhana here at this very
point where the 4 burning lamps were found.
Hence, the name "GURUSTHAN"
 Baba then said that the time for the 4 lamps to continue burning in Gurusthan was
now over, and that they should be shifted from the Gurusthan to "Dwarkamai" his
Karmsthan, where they would continue to burn as his "DHUNI" till the time this
World exists.

Thus, Baba's Dhuni was placed in a 7’ by 5’ 2” place in Dwarkamai, having wooden

pillar on both the sides. The Padukas near the Dhuni is the spot where Baba used to
spend time in solitude everyday at 05:00 A.M.
There is an iron door that is opened to offer fuel.
Surprisingly the Wooden Pillars are not charred or ever burnt and no body is ever
burnt while cleaning it from inside.

In an incident related by Pujya Sivanesan Swamiji,

looking at the bellowing smoke, in 1974, a group of Russian scientists performed a
test for pollution. They were surprised to find only minimal count for carbon
monoxide and Sulphur Dioxide.

- WHAT THE UDI OF BABA'S DHUNI SYMBOLIZES -

Through Udi, Baba conveyed that all the visible phenomena in the universe are as
transient as the Dhuni's Ash.
Our bodies composed of the five elements will eventually be reduced to Ashes.
The "Brahman" is the only Reality and the universe is ephemeral and that no one in
this world is really ours. We come in this world alone and we have to go out alone.

The Udi also cured many physical & mental maladies, but Baba wanted to din into
the devotee's the principles of discrimination between the Unreal and the Real, non-
attachment for the Unreal, by asking for Dakshina and giving Udi.

The Udi taught "Discrimination" and the Dakshina taught "Non-attachment" and
without these two it is not possible to cross over the sea of the mundane existence.
So Baba asked for and took Dakshina, and while the devotees took leave, He gave
Udi as Prasad, besmeared some of it on the Bhaktas' foreheads and placed His boon-
conferring hand on their heads.

And when Baba was in a cheerful mood he used to sing,"Oh, playful Rama, come,
come, and bring with you sacks of Udi."
 "WHEN I NEED A LIFT,
GOD GIVES ME A PUSH.".....anOnymOus
rOhit beHaL