The Famous Pilgrim centre of Shri Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, one of the richest temples in Maharashtra, has Ornaments and Jewellery worth over Rs.32 crore (Rs.320 million) and Investments running into Rs.4,27,17,02,929 (Rs 420.17 crore), according to official documents. The Administration of Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi), governed by the Managing Committee which was constituted by the Maharashtra Government way back on 23rd August`2004 has:
- Kisan Vikas Patras worth Rs.51,71,00,100 (Rs 51.71 crore).
- Government of India 8% Saving Bonds amounting to Rs.48,15,53,000 (Rs 48.16 crore).
- Irredeemable Bonds of Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran worth Rs.8 crore (Rs 80 million)
- Rs.3,19,30,49,929 (Rs 319.30 crore) in various nationalised banks.
- It has Rs.47,82,31,835.64 (Rs 47.82 crore) as Trust Corpus Fund.
- Gold worth Rs.24,41,10,640-cr
- Silver worth Rs.3,26,19,152-cr
- Silver Coins worth Rs.612,317 (Rs 6.12 lakh)
- Gold Coins worth Rs.1,28,89,749 (Rs 1.288 crore)
- Gold pendants worth Rs.1,12,31,903 (Rs 1.123 crore)
The Trust Auditor Mr.Sharad S Gaikwad in its annual audit for 2009-10 said that the Temple Trust has Ornaments & Jewellery whose total worth stands at Rs.32,23,59,372 (Rs 32.236 crore).
This Annual Report was tabled in Maharashtra's State Legislature during its winter session in December 2010.
The Sai Temple has earned a surplus income of Rs.94,67,79,142 (Rs 94.677 crore) in the year 2009-10, as against Rs.87,22,71,012 (Rs 87.227 crore) in the year 2008-09.
The total income during the year 2009-10 was Rs.1,64,88,01,030 (Rs 164.88 crore) by way of rent, interest on savings bank accounts, investments & donations, as against Rs.1,51,51,43,503 (Rs 151.51 crore) in previous year. The Immovable property & buildings are worth Rs.79,28,30,95 (Rs 79.28 crore), including the Statue of Sai Baba worth Rs.8 lakhs (Rs 800,000), the annual report stated.
The Chartered Accountancy firm also suggested the Managing Committee to dispose off precious stones valued at Rs.2,00,79,164 (Rs 2 crore) by conducting public auction, at regular intervals to augment its revenue.
During the year 2009-10, the Sai Baba Temple received donations of 147.10 grams Gold valued at Rs.2,44,888 (Rs 2.448 lakh) and Silver weighing 4508 grams whose present cost at the end of fiscal year 2009-10 was Rs.1,02,640 (Rs 1.026 lakh).
Fomer Union Minister Arjun Singh visit SHIRDI - 3rd January 2011GOLDEN GARLAND DONATED TO SAI BABA AT SHIRDI 01st Jan`2011 On 01st Jan`2011, Smt.Pratima Rani Das, a Sai Devotee from Mumbai`Maharashtra donated a 1 Kg Golden Garland worth Rs.19 Lakh to Sai Baba at Shirdi. Also present on the occasion were, Deputy Executive Officer of Sai Baba Sansthan Trust Dr.Yashwantrao Mane & Temple Incharge Shri.Ramarao Shelke.
Source: http://www.saiamrithadhara.com/flash_news.html~~ ELUSIVE SEARCH FOR SHIRDI SAI BABA'S REFLECTION ON THE MOON ~~17th November`2010
Bhubaneswar: The devotees of Shirdi’s Sai Baba in Orissa scampered out of their homes on Tuesday 16th Nov night in the hope of seeing their deity Shirdi Sai Baba's image reflected on the Moon. Hundreds of them rushed out of their homes in Bhubaneswar and adjoining Cuttack to look at the Moon with reverence, as news spread by word of mouth about the celestial spectre. Some of them even offered prayers and started singing Sai bhajans. However, as they strained their eyes to scan the Moon’s surface from their ethereal location to savour the moment, they could not discern anything novel. It was after all a rumour. The incident had become a major topic of discussion among the common people on Wednesday 17th Nov morning. Nobody knows from where or how the rumour started floating around. But many residents said they came to know about it from their relatives through the mobile phones. “Around midnight I got a frantic call from one of my relatives who advised me to rush out and see the picture of Shirdi Sai Babu on the surface of the Moon. I went out but could not see anything. The Moon was looking as before and there was nothing unusual”, said Ashok Jena, a retired banker. However, a few others said they could identify a hazy picture on the Moon’s surface which indeed was looking like the eyes of the Shirdi Sai Baba. There are others who are of the view that police should take stringent action against the people who were responsible for such rumour mongering. “The police should identify these rumour mongers and take them to task, so that in future people would think twice before floating this type of rumours around”, said Saroj Mishra, a home maker. The local police maintained that people themselves alone can stop rumour mongering. “The rumour mongers will stop their activities if the common people start ignoring them. “But unfortunately people get influenced by these rumours. This has been proven by Tuesday night’s incident,” said a senior official in the office of the Bhubaneswar police commissioner.
Source: Elusive search for Shirdi babas reflection on moon~~ MARBLE DONATED FOR DWARKAMAI AT SHIRDI ~~ 11th October`2010
A Sai Devotee from Jaipur 'Shri Arjun Prajapati' recently donated White Marble to the Sai Baba Temple at Shirdi, for the flooring of the inside portion of Dwarkamai where Baba's Grinding stone, Bag of Wheat and the Water-pot of Teertha Jal are kept. (Not the Courtyard area where Baba's Sitting Stone, Cooking Hearth or his Wooden post are present)Devotees Abbhinav Joharri and Rajendra Prajapati each got a Tile of Marble Blessed at Baba's Samadhi first. The Flooring work was completed in time for Sai Baba's Punyatithi Celebrations`2010.
~~ GOLDEN PADUKAS & NECKLACE DONATED TO BABA AT SHIRDI ~~On the Occasion of Sai Baba's Punyatithi`2010 at Shirdi, during the "Bhiksha Zoli" programme, devotees have made anonymous donations to Sai Baba.
On 16th Oct`2010, a Devotee donated a Necklace made of 1kg Gold & worth approx Rs.20 lakh. Along with Rubies and Emeralds studded, it has a "OM" symbol made of Diamonds also. The Devotee has requested anonymity.
On 17th Oct`2010, another Devotee donated Padukas made of 2kg Gold & worth approx Rs.41 lakh at Dwarkamai`Shirdi. After the proper Rituals, the Golden Paduka have been installed on the Stone on which Sai Baba used to Sit in Dwarakamai. The Devotee has requested anonymity.
With these Gold Donations, now the Sai Sansthan has approximately 200 kg Gold and 3000 kg Silver.
- 1kg GOLDEN NECKLACE FOR BABA -
- 2kg GOLDEN PADUKAS FOR BABA AT DWARKAMAI -