Samadhi Mandir (The Shrine)
This is the most important site in Shirdi and the main focus of Sai worship and devotion, for it is here that we find the samadhi (tomb) of Sri SaiBaba. Before he left the body Baba promised, I shall be active and vigorous even from the tomb and people are drawn from all over the globe to offer their prayers here and take Baba's darshan.
Baba took mahasamadhi in 1918. The shrine which houses Baba's tomb was originally constructed as a private house by a wealthy devotee. The building work was started in 1915 after the devotee had been blessed by a vision of Baba and instructed to do so. The exquisite white marble statue of Baba which sits on the platform around the tomb was installed much later, in 1954.
Arati is offered four times a day in front of the tomb and abhishekam is performed in the early morning. Devotees may enter the Samadhi Mandir via the Queue Complex through out the day until the night arati at 10 p.m., after which the shrine is closed.