Shirdi Sai Baba temples in Machilipatnam, AP
54ft height * 36ft Wide Marble Statue of
Sri Sai Baba at the entrance of the Temple.
The name Shirdi Sai reminds everyone of the graceful and pleasant appearance of Lord Shirdi Sai blessing the devotees. In Machilipatnam, a big statue of Shirdi Sai is built and is attracting the tourists and devotees.
The biggest Sai Baba statue can be found on the main road of District court center in Machilipatnam. The statue is so big that anybody who goes near the temple can only touch his feet. The statue appears as if Baba is sitting on the first storey of the building. To view the statue completely, one has to stand away from the building and lift their heads. The biggest Sai Baba statue is sitting on a throne under the hoods of a five headed serpentine. The height of the statue is forty four feet and width is forty five feet. This has been declared the biggest Sai Baba statue in the world by India Book of Records. The statue is made by sculptors A. Manikyala Rao and his son Venkateswara Rao. The statue attracts the devotees with lifelike appearance. And many people not only from places around Machilipatnam come to have the darshan of Sai Baba.
The founder of Sai Baba temple in Machilipatnam is Sri Lakshmipuram Vittal Rao. He is a devotee of Sai Baba from a very young age. He wanted to build a temple at court centers, Machilipatnam. The cement idol of Sai Baba was installed in a shed on Vijayadasami day in 1994. The temple became famous with the devotees and a temple was built there after four years. Generally all the Shirdi Sai temples have the idol in a sitting posture. But in the Machilipatnam temple, the idol is in sitting position and the height of the temple is nine feet two inches. Annadanam is held every Thursday in the temple. More than two thousand people take the prasadam in the annadanam.
All the rituals performed at Shirdi are followed at the Shirdi Sai temple at Machilipatnam. Large number of devotees participates in these rituals. The founder of Sai Baba temple says that once he was travelling in a bus between Vijayawada and Tenali and Sai Baba appeared to him sitting on a hill. There was an old temple on the hill. He believed that it was the power of Sai Baba and he wanted to build the biggest Sai Baba statue.
The biggest Sai Baba statue at Machilipatnam was launched on Vijayadasami day in 2007. Rs.22 lakhs were spent for the construction of the statue and no donations were asked for the construction of either the temple or the statue. Festivals such as Gurupurnima, Vijayadasami, Sri Rama Navami and Ugadi are celebrated here on a grand scale. On special occasions thousands of devotees come to the temple. All the abhishekas and pujas are performed for free at this temple.
Highlights of this temple :
Daily Abhishekam is performed to the Main Statue of Sri Sai Baba & Ashtothara shatanamavali Puja/ Archana are performed during the Day time.
On Thursdays the temple is opened between 5:15am till 10:30pm & Sai Devotees from machilipatnam & nearby towns/villages visit Baba to take his blessings.
Sai Chalisa Chanting is done daily after the dhoop aarti to Sai Baba.
Sai Bhajans are performed between 7:00pm - 8:00pm on thursdays. Palki Utsav is performed on thursdays at 8:30pm before the Shej Aarti.
Annadanam is also conducted on every thursdays & 15 Lady Sevak's of the temple prepare meals to around 1500 Sai Devotees. Annadanam is done throughout the day on the 1st & 2nd floor of this temple.
On Rama Navami, Guru Pournima, Sai Punyathithi & Dusshera Special Puja, Aarti, Annadanam & Satsangs are performed in the temple premises. A 24hr Bhajan & Satsang program is the highlight during the special Days.
Future Plans in the temple
The 1st & 2nd floor of the temple premises are getting renovated. Meditation Hall & Dining hall with kitchen has been planned in these floors respectively.
A 3 Acre land has been acquired recently during 2008 at Nadupuru, a village around 10kms from Machilipatnam to build & run an Orphanage & an Old Age Home with a Capacity of around 250 members.
Plans to Paint the 54ft Naga Sai Baba Statue with special Water proof material so that the statue can be preserved for at least 500 years are being done.
Aarti Timings
Kakad Aarti - 05:30 am
Madhyana Aarti - 12:00 pm
Dhoop Aarti - 06:00 pm
Shej Aarti - 08:30 pm
Temple Address
Sri Sai Maharaj Devalayam.
Zilla Court Centre,
Machilipatnam. 521002.
Krishna Dist.
Andhra Pradesh.
Contact Number
Sri. Lakshmipuram Vittal Rao
- Temple Founder & President
+91 94403 46750
Temple Phone No:
+91 8672 224965.
Directions
From Machilipatnam Bus Stand towards Zilla Court Centre - 2oo mtrs.
Land Mark
Near to Zilla Court Centre.
Temple Timings
05:15 am - 01:00 pm
05:00 pm - 09:30 pm
Thursday Temple Timings
05:15am - 10:30pm
