The story behind Aarti Sai Baba

Sai Baba said, "Aree Madhava (Madhavrao Aadkar), why are you trying to hide the paper? Read it aloud!"

Madhavrao read the poem devoted to his Guru Shri Sai, in form of Aarti, which got composed, while he was in Shirdi in 1903-04 A.D.

On hearing it Sai Baba said, "Your this aarti will look after welfare of devotees."

Which is this Aarti of Sai Baba?

As we know there are many aartis of Sai Baba daily sung in Shirdi Samadhi Temple and temples of Shirdi Sai Baba around the world.

Aarti Sai Baba composed by Madhavrao Aadkar, is the one, which is sung in afternoon aarti and evening aarti in Shirdi Samadhi temple. Lyrics of this arati and it's meaning are also written at the end of Shri Sai SatCharitra published by Shri SaiBaba Sansthan Shirdi.

Online you can watch this aarti video along with lyrics and meaning, on blogpost titled Aarti Sai Baba.

Madhavrao Adkar

Little more about Madhavrao Aadkar

Madhavrao Adkar was one of the contemporary devotees of Sai Baba of Shirdi. He was very good friend of Das Ganu Maharaj. Both of them regarded Shri Sai Baba as their spiritual guru. Both of them had a sweet voice and sung spiritual and religious songs. They composed these songs also. Thus they were excellent medium for popularizing Sai's grace and stories, through their compositions and songs.

It was Das Ganu, who took Madhavrao Adkar to Baba Sai in Shirdi. Mahavrao Adkar considered and honored Das Ganu as his elder brother and had much regards for him. Das Ganu, reciprocated these feelings. To the extent that he made Madhavrao sit for puja and garland him, and touch his feet with devotion. Dasganu affectionately called him 'Baban'.

Madhavrao Adkar visits to Shirdi

Whenever Madhavrao visited the sacred land Shirdi, he would stay in that divine place for longer periods of time. He sustained himself by taking private tuitions. And as soon as he felt the pull towards Shirdi, he would set off for the same.

Das Ganu Maharaj

In the year 1903-04 A.D. once while he was in Shirdi, totally immersed in devotion of Baba. Suddenly a poem in form of Aarti was composed. He wrote it on a piece of paper. When Das Ganu read it he was much happy and was amazed to read that wonderful composition. Though Madhavrao himself was not much exited about it. He just put the paper with the aarti in his pocket.

Both of them went for Baba's darshan in Dwarkamai. Sai knew Madhavrao was trying to hide the paper containing Aarti. So the conversation happened which is given at the beginning of this blog post.

There few more stories of Madhavrao Adkar. Which i feel would me much better that they become part of Baba Sai's stories blog and linked to contemporary devotees of Sai Baba of Shirdi.