Shraddhavans’ visit to sacred Pathri - the birthplace of Shirdi Saibaba
We Shraddhavans are well aware that Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu (Dr. Aniruddha Dhairyadhar Joshi) reveres Shree Saibaba of Shirdi as his Digdarshak Guru, the Guru who guides. The sacred mantra of Saibaba, “Om Krupasindhu Shree Sainathay Namah,” forms an integral part of our collective prayer held every Thursday at Shree Harigurugram. While speaking about the sacred text Sai Satcharitra, Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu often reminds us, with great tenderness, that it is not merely a chronicle of Sai Baba’s leelas, describing how He rushed to the aid of devotees stranded in suffering and despair. It is equally, and more profoundly, an account of the devotees themselves, ordinary beings whose extraordinary devotion and unwavering faith drew Saibaba’s grace into their lives. The Shree Saisatcharitra Panchsheel Examination, conducted under the guidance of Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu, was based on an in-depth study of the 53 chapters of the Sai Satcharitra. Through this unique initiative, Sadguru Bapu demonstrated his long-held conviction that science and spirituality go hand in hand. Viewing the Sai Satcharitra through a scientific approach was something few could have imagined, yet Bapu made it accessible, logical, and deeply inspiring. The lectures and explanations delivered during these practical examinations have since been systematically compiled into a dedicated Practical Book, preserving this synthesis of science, spirituality, and devotion for future seekers.
In a discourse delivered on June 19, 2025, Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu shared that the real name of Shirdi’s Sai Baba was Hari Parshuram Bhusari, and that Pathri, a town in Parbhani district, is His birthplace. At this very place, there is built a temple, simple in structure, yet radiant with spiritual resonance, marking a site where history, faith, and bhakti quietly converge.
Just a month ago, nearly 150 Shraddhavan devotees from Aniruddha Upasana Kalyan Kendra undertook a heartfelt journey to Pathri during the period of Vardhaman Vratadhiraj. What they experienced there went far beyond a physical visit. This entire experience of this visit has been documented in a video which they later published on YouTube. This visual offering became a blessing for us, allowing us to behold the temple built at the birthplace and to feel the quiet sanctity of its sacred environs. The video also respectfully acknowledges the researcher whose dedicated efforts helped bring this long-forgotten chapter of history into light, and it thoughtfully showcases the belongings of the house associated with Sai Baba’s early life. A local news channel from Pathri covered the event, highlighting the arrival of such a large group of Shraddhavans and recognizing the quiet yet powerful spiritual significance of their pilgrimage. It became a moment of collective remembrance—for the village, for the devotees, and for all who believe that divine presence leaves gentle footprints across time.
The joy that these Shraddhavans carried back was not loud or celebratory, it was inward, serene, and deeply fulfilling.
“Pathri today carries a deeper identity, one shaped not by boundaries, but by awakened faith. Through Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu’s words, the devotion of Shraddhavans, and the humble voices of local custodians of memory, this sacred place reminds us that when truth surfaces through sincerity, it does not shout—it softly illuminates hearts.