Anna Baba Aalayam - Noombal

SRI ANNA BABA MANDIR – A BRIEF HISTORY

Anna Baba Mandir stands at Aishwarya Garden on the Poonamallee High Road between Mangadu and Thiruverkadu, Chennai, which today is popularly called as Baba Nagar. The Temple Tower stands imposingly and can be viewed even from a distance, closely resembling the temple tower at Pandaripur, as Baba has manifested himself in this Mandir as Lord Venkatswara (Krishna), the Shikara (tower) is a pyramidal structure. The statue of Anna Baba inside the mandir in the Meditation Hall is facing west. He sits here in a boon bestowing posture with his left leg crossed, right leg folded at the knee, right hand lifted with the Abhaya Mudra of benediction and the left hand resting on a marble bolster. This symbolic pose promises the devotee release from all sufferings. His eyes are filled with compassion as if assuring the devotee “Why fear when I am with You?”

Why this manifestation of Anna Baba ?

Let us travel down memory lane – The year 1995, the person Shri R.V. Kumar of Ashok Nagar, Chennai , a Music Director by profession happened to visit the Sai Baba Temple at Injambakkam, Chennai, because of his friends. While in the Mandir he placed his head on the Divine Padukas, and instantly heard a voice saying ‘I desire to unite all the people and uplift them spiritually. I need to use you as a tool to accomplish this. When will you come within my fold?’

It was Shirdi Baba himslef talking to him. However Shri R.V. Kumar did not take this too seriously and thought probably it was his imagination.A few months later he made another visit to the same temple. And lo and behold he heard the same voice this time loudly and quite distinctly. He could not possibly ignore the voice.

But there was a hitch. He was basically a devotee of Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. And he also possessed the divine power of talking to her intimately. He pondered over this voice calling him to Baba’s fold. He decided to seek an answer to this at Madurai, at the holy shrine of Goddess Meenakshi.

When he sat meditating before the Sanctum Sanctorum, a six foot tall figure of Shirdi Baba walked out of the sanctum, and he visualised this in his deep meditation. He also heard the Mother’s divine voice telling him that Shirdi Baba was a Great Mahan who lived even after his Mahasamidhi. She further said that following Baba’s footsteps was the best path for him.

He was thus convinced, but he was perplexed and confused. but how was he to proceed?

Birth of BABA PRAYER CENTRE, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 83

As per Sri Sai Baba's advice, a Prayer center was commenced at Ashok Nagar which was called as Baba prayer Centre. Devotees started attending the Thursday meditation. Devotees who attended the prayer and meditation for six consecutive weeks had all their problems solved. Apart from this, Sri Kumar Baba also prayed for devotees who contacted him by phone, letters or email.

Baba then told him, ‘now that you have come within my fold, there is no action that you will perform independently. You will now be my tool and perform all that I wish and desire to do. You are at my behest and I will control all your deeds. I am Anna Baba and you shall henceforth be called Kumar Baba’.

Without any propaganda, the number of devotees increased from hundred to thousand. The Baba Prayer Centre needed a more spacious place to accommodate the devotees. With the blessings of Baba, and, due to the efforts of Guruji Sri Kumar Baba, this Anna Baba Mandir was born.

Our Guruji Sri Kumar Baba
Our Guruji Sri Kumar Baba was chosen by Shri Sai Baba himself to serve His true , loyal and faithful devotees to whom He had promised to take care of - birth after birth. He was born on 27-3-1947 to Sri Vedantam and Smt Kalyani at Madurai. Due to our merits in our previous birth , we are all lucky to be in the association of this divine personality, who has sacrificed his life for uplifting His devotees. He uses his powers for the benefit of mankind conferring both temporal benefits and spiritual benefits. He started the Baba Prayer centre in 1996 and even today conducts mass prayer for His devotees on Thursdays. Needless to say that the devotees request is fulfilled with the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba. He says that he is an emissary of Shridi Sai Baba and acts according to His instructions only. The Anna Baba Mandir was constructed in a record time of ten months without any propaganda or publicity and with the contributions from 108 devotees called Sai Souls( a name given by Shirdi Sai) mostly belonging to the middle income group. Sri Kumar Baba does not prescribe any Homam or costly Parikaram for people who approach him with their problems. His method of advising the devotee is very unique –prayer and repetition of the Lords name with total surrender to Sai. In the last six years, 24 couples who had been childless for more than 15 years have been blessed with children. Shirdi Sai Baba has asked Sri Kumar Baba to give the towel he uses to wipe the Shridi Sai Moorthy on Thursdays to cancer patients, who have to place this towel under their pillow. Likewise fifteen cancer patients have been cured. Moreover every Thursdays Shri Kumar Baba conducts Mass Prayer. Sai fulfills the sincere request of the devotees who participate in this prayer for six weeks personally.

A unique Mandir for the Guru by His Disciple
In the year 2000, when Sri Kumar Baba went to Tirumala to have the darshan of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji), He heard the divine voice of the Lord saying “Shirdi Sai Baba and I are one and the same. Baba’s erstwhile Guru Venkusa was my manifestation”. When Venkusa died, he entreated his disciples not to bury his body, but to burn it and then dig the area. He foretold that they would find the statue of Lord Venkateswara, which the devotees did find and later built a temple for Him. The temple can still be seen at Selu, near Manmad. Thus Baba proved to Sri Kumar Baba that he was the manifestation of Lord Venkateswara.

We have heard of disciples building temples for the Guru, but here we come across the reverse. Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi was an ardent devotee of His Guru Venkusa and Venkusa is an incarnation of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala. When Sri Kumar Baba started the Baba Prayer Centre in July 1996 at Ashok Nagar, it never struck him that he would build a Mandir for Baba , for he not only lacked the inclination but also the resources. On one Thursday, in the year 2000, when Sri Kumar Baba was in deep meditation he had a vision of Lord Venkateswara besieging him to build a Mandir for Baba and He assured Sri Kumar Baba that He would provide the necessary resources as and when he required. He further said that He (Lord Venkateswara) would also find a place in the Mandir. Thus the Guru was instrumental in providing a mandir for His most ardent devotee. This Mandir has also found space for not only Lord Venkateswara but also Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Krishna, Lord Rama ,Lord Shiva and Lord Maruthi as, Sri Sai Baba is the manifestation of all the Gods. Are there not instances in Sai Satcharita to vouch for these? Thus The Anna Baba Mandir has united the Saivaite and Vaishnavite sects in Hinduism.

Kumbabhishekam
The Kumbabhishekam of the Sri Anna Baba Mandir was performed on April 23, 2002 by H H Sri Sai Das Baba of Ujjain. The Mandir’s unique features are the daily ‘Anna Dhan’ at the Mandir, the Thursday Mass Prayer and the Guruvalam on Pournami (full moon day). Shri Kumar Baba, the founder of this Mandir, believed in constant prayer and meditation. He always emphasised in ‘Faith and patience’ the two upper-most qualities that Shirdi Baba requested of His devotees. When religion today has become fanatical, here was Baba preaching on humanity in religion.

Anbu-Amaidhi-Annadanam meaning Love-Peace and food for all is the tharakamantra of Sri Anna Baba Mandir, Chennai.

ANBU - Universal Love
If there is any quality that can rule this world- it can be only universal love as love binds the whole world. Love is the holiest of the Holy, says our scriptures. Love is the only thing that God expects from us, in return for all the boons we ask of him.
Where there is love, there is no fear and no tears. If there has been an avatar who has showered His all embracing uniform love to all His Bakthas, it is none other than Shirdi Sai Baba.

Anna Baba is none other than Shirdi Sai. In our mandir He is seated as Anna Baba in the posture of Dwarakamaye which means a place of prayer for people of all religions. He is an avatar who has come down to flood our hearts with love. Where there is love there is no falsehood. Shiridi Baba is the personification of Love which is necessary for our materialistic life in this world.

AMAIDHI – Universal Peace
A peaceful heart and a peaceful mind can bring forth creative and constructive thoughts. Anna Baba has shown us the path of peace through meditation. To lead a peaceful life, one has to purify the mind with prayer and meditation. Once the mind becomes calm and peaceful it becomes the abode of God.

Like a gentle breeze Anna Baba bestows peace on His devotees who throng to His Mandir with devotion and sincerity. Peace is bestowed not only on the individual who prays but on all his family and circle.

Like the flower that blossoms with the rays of the sun, the benign grace of Anna Baba blossoms our heart with love and peace.

ANNA DHAN
Next to Love(Anbu) and Amaidhi(peace) the third and the most important quality pre-eminently necessary for a human being is the act of charity – particularly Anna dhan.

Anna Dhan is twice blessed. It blesses the giver and the receiver. All religious scriptures affirm that of all the charities like giving alms, land, cows and clothes to the poor and needy, Anna dhan or offering food to the hungry is the best.

While there is always a desire for more when monetary or other forms of charity are made, feeding a hungry being gives complete satisfaction to the receiver, and of course, the giver also.

Sathguru “Sai Baba” has taken the manifestation of Anna Baba in this ‘Mandir’ at Chennai, to bestow all graces on all devotees who participate in the ‘Anna Dhan’ – particularly to the ordinary mortals who are caught in the quick-sand of a mundane materialistic life.

Nine fold path of Guruji Sri Kumar Baba

Guruji Sri Kumar Baba also mentioned that Sri Shirdi Sai Baba has given him certain rules and regulations to observe and follow meticulously.

Not to participate in any auspicious or inauspicious event like marriage or death in any household.
To Listen to the devotees pleas and petitions and pray for them.
Not to perform any pooja or ritual at the mandir except Anna Dhan and meditation which is an answer to all ills.
Not to borrow or lend money.
Where there is excess wealth, there is sin. So Shirdi Sai Baba besieged Sri Kumar Baba to construct this Anna Baba Mandir by accepting money only from the poor and middle class people This money could be donated only by 108 donors and they would be called as ‘Sai Souls’.
Sri Sai Baba instructed Sri Kumar Baba to be patient, calm and loving to His devotees. He promised that He is the manifestation of all Gods and all Gurus, Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Meenakshi would answer their prayers.
Shirdi Baba emphasised to Sri Kumar Baba that he was only a class monitor, taking care of the class (the world at large) and that Baba was the real Guru or Teacher.
Shirdi Baba has said that in the 60th year of Sri Kumar Baba He would proclaim to the world that both are one and the same.
Love Peace and Annadanam should be his life’s goal.

MANDIR DARSHAN

Dattatreya and Maha meru
Behind the idol of Anna Baba is the marble statue of Lord Dattatreya – a symbolic fusion of Brahma Vishnu and Shiva. In front of Dattatreya is the Panchaloka Maha Meru or the Sri Chakra. The Maaha Meru is worshipped by performing the Lalitha Sahasranamam Pooja on Fridays.

Behind Anna Baba is a larger than life towering statue of Lord Venkateswara on the left. Immediately behind the Anna Baba idol is a statue of Krishna Rama Shiva Maruthi Roopa Sai. On the right is the statue of Goddess Meenakshi divinely looking at her devotees.

Dhuni and Udhi
After circumambulating the statue we come to the outer ‘Prahara’ where we find the ‘Dhuni’ on the northern side. The Dhuni or the eternal fire that was ignited with embers from Shirdi, is a feature found in all Sai Baba temples. Shirdi Baba had kept a fire constantly kindled in the Dwarakamaye, which even today continues to burn.

The Udhi or the sacred ash that is distributed as Prasad has medicinal qualities. It is taken from the ‘Eternal Dhuni’, which is kept burning with twigs and logs of trees like Margosa, pipal and banyan, apart from other medicinal herbs dipped in ghee, offered by all devotees on Thursdays and Pournami days. The sacred ash collected from the Dhuni is distributed as Prasad to the devotees. Whoever applies it with faith and devotion will experience the miracle of their mental and physical discomfort vanishing immediately

108 Guru Pravesa Padukas
In front of the Dhuni the silver padukas of the Satguru are installed. These silver padukas are very sacred, because 108 couples have religiously performed pooja during the ‘Gurupravesa’ when Shirdi Baba and Kumar Baba were ceremoniously welcomed to their homes. The padukas were installed on the Second Anniversary (May 2, 2004) of the Mandir by H H Sri Sukumaran of Anna Nagar, Chennai.

108 Sai Souls
Beside the Dhuni on the Northern Wall, is a huge marble plaque, wherein the names of the 108 Sai Souls who had contributed towards the construction of this Mandir has been etched. The 108 Sai Souls have great significance similar to the 108 Potri or Ashtothram of Baba. Every day at 6.00 p.m., Guruji Sri Kumar Baba prays for the Sai Souls offering incense sticks, first to the plaque and only then to Anna Baba. Guruji says that reading the names of the Sai Souls, is equal to reading the Ashtothram of Baba once. At Shirdi, the ardent devotes of Baba and his contemporaries like Shama, Dasganu, Mahalsa, Booti, Tatya and so on are honoured by placing their photographs close to the Samadhi Mandir. Similarly, at the Anna Baba Mandir, the names of 108 Sai Souls, written on marble, is to honour their close association with Guruji and Anna Baba. All poojas in this Mandir commence from this place.

OM in the Pradakshina patha
On the right of the Dhuni is the ‘Anna Dhan’ hall and kitchen. When a devotee circumambulates the Anna Baba idol the Dhuni and the outer prahara of the Mandir he would have completed ‘OM in the pradikshina patha.

The 18 Holy Steps
As we come out of the Mandir we see a flight of 18 steps on the right. These 18 sacred steps have been built with offerings from eighteen Guruswamis of Lord Ayappa ,who have observed the vow and visited the holy shrine of Sabarimala 18 times. Anna Baba in a divine vision to Kumar Baba has said, that he would be present there on Makara Sankaranthi Day as Lord Ayappa. The 18 steps also signify the 18 visits of Guruji Sri Kumar Baba to Shirdi.

Unique Tower
As we climb the steps, pay our obeisance to Guru Vinayaka and approach the unique tower another wonder awaits us. On the tower, at the base, on the Western side we see the idol of Dhanvanti Murti – the Doctor of the Gods and Devas, and also of Ayurveda (the ancient science of Medicine). On the North we see the statue of Veda Vyasa who made common the Chathurveda to the whole world and also the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Every evening at 5.30 p.m., the Vishnu Sahasranamam is recited devotedly by all. On the East is seated Sathguru Sai Baba who emphasised the unity of all religions. On the South we find the idol of ‘Agasthiyar’ divine sage of the Tamils, who revealed the Lalitha Sahasranamam to his wife Lopamudra. The Laitha Sahasranamam Pooja is, therefore, performed in this Mandir on Fridays.

Kavacham – Metal Plate
Another unique feature of this Unique Tower, is the metallic kavacham. No other Baba Temple has this. The Anna Baba Mandir is the first temple in the World to have covered the Tower completely with ornamental kavacham. Above the Moorthy of Veda Vyas is the metallic engraving of Gomatha who bestows and ensures offsprings to the childless. Above the Moorthy of Baba, is an engraved work of Anna Pakshi, the celestial bird that has the capacity of separating water from milk. Similarly, Anna Baba takes the good qualities of a devotee, leaving out the evil ones. On the South, above Sage Agasthiyar, the Tamil Guru, is an engraving of Nandikeswarar, representing Lord Annamalai (Shiva). Circumambulating this Tower 12 times on Pournami is equivalent to circumambulating the Holy Annamalai Hill. (Girivalam). Above Guru Dhanvanthri, an aspect of Vishnu, the Doctor of Gods and Devas, is Adisesha (the five headed serpent) to eliminate the evil effects of Raghu and Kethu that are obstacles to performing the marriage of an individual. Thus an individual who circles the Tower, can be assured of securing a happy married life
ACTIVITIES

Thursday Mass Prayer
Every Thursday a Mass Prayer is held wherein devotees could place their requests and petitions before Anna Baba. These requests are read out and everybody attending the Prayer could pray for the same. This Mass Prayer has two fold purpose. Firstly the devotee learns to humbly place his need and desire before Anna Baba. Secondly, it also makes known the sufferings of so many others, with multifarious problems that the devotee feels his own problem is too small. A devotee who sincerely participates in the Thursday Mass Prayer for six consecutive weeks without a break has his desires fulfilled. Devotees are also given the opportunity to place their requests for prayers through phone or in person or through Email and Sri Kumar Baba would pray for them. Thousands of devotees have thus had their problems solved by Sri Kumar Baba’s personal prayers. Before the Mass prayer , Vishnu Sahasram Parayan is done followed by recital of 108 Potrigal of Baba.

Sunday Meditation
Meditation is the method of realxing the mind and gaining insight in to the nature of reality. Meditation is described as "listening to the silence between thoughts". It is one of the means of communing with God. Relaxation, mental clarity, concentration, peace of mind and self discipline are the important effects of meditation. In our mandir, Guruji Kumar Baba has introduced the Sunday meditation between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm. Devotees interested in participating in the sunday meditation assemble in the Prayer hall and perform pranayama and meditation for 30 minutes amidst the chanting of the mantra Om Sai Ram . this is followed by lunch at 12:00 pm. Every Sunday, Sathsang is conducted with the participation of all Baba devotees. It is used as a forum for devotees to share their experiences and miracles of Baba that has occurred in their lives. Devotees are encouraged to raise questions and elicit answers on any matter relating to religion and spiritual life. Eminent spiritual personalities are also occasionally invited to address and participate in the Sathsang. The proceedings of the Sathsang are also periodically publicised through the monthly newsletter of the Mandir, called “Baba Today”.

Anna Dhan
"Annadaname piravi Noi Thirkum Marundenbai Potri Om
Om One who said "Annadhanam" is the only cure for Karmic disease Be Praised Om" ---- (Shirdi Sai 108 Potrigal by Guruji Sri Kumar Baba)

Lord Krishna says in Bhagwad Gita "gifts given with the feeling that it is one's own duty to be charitable without expecting any return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered highest of all." Scriptures affirm that of all the charities like giving money, clothes, land to poor and down trodden , Annadhan (offer of food) is the best .Food given to the hungry, gives unbounded happiness, purifies the soul , and makes us realise that human community is one and indivisible. By this single act of Annadhan, the donor gets at once the divine blessings. No other charity can make a man feel satisfied as food served when a person is hungry.
Annadhan should be done only with the money earned by righteous means. This is most important. Annadanam removes the distortion in this birth . And it also has the power to prevent us from the distortion of birth itself. Annadhan should be done to the poor and needy. It can be done anywhere, but if done in group has more reward. Koodi vaazdhal kodi nanmai. (Unity is strength).
Shirdi Baba is named as Anna Baba in Anna Baba Mandir. Guruji Sri Kumar Baba’s main motive is providing food for all. Everyday food is provided to the needy and on Thursday mornings and Sunday mornings and Poornima days , large number of people throng to this mandir for annadhan.

Baba Brindavan- Spiritual Park
As part of the Mandir, there is a Spiritual Park, with a beautiful Garden made in about six grounds. The garden is spherical in shape and was dedicated to the public on 1st January 2004 by H H Sri Ramananda Bharathi Swamigal of Puthirankottai. Inside the park at the centre there is a small Thulasi peetam with the mrithue (holy sand) of Sri Raghavendraswamy, a relief of Lord Anjaneya on the East, Sai Baba on the West, Goddess Lakshmi on the North and Lord Guru Vinayaka on the South. Circumambulating the inner circle in the park bestows dual benefit. Apart from the spiritual, it also gives physical benefit for the circumambulation path is laid with pebbles which gives acupressure to the feet, thus enhancing blood circulation.

On Thursdays circumambulating the park 12 times, bestows Baba’s grace on the devotee. It showers blessings to perform marriages of children and siblings and the boon of a child to the childless. It also ensures good education. Thursday being the day ear-marked for the planet Guru and as Guru normally takes 12 months to cross each zodiac sign, the 12 pradakshinas have been specified. Circumambulating the path on Fridays, 15 times invokes the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. It assures a devotee a life free of wants, poverty and debt. On Saturdays Lord Anjaneya is circumambulated 27 times as there are 27 stars in the Tamil Calendar, to ward off the evil effects of Sani (Saturn). On Sundays Lord Vinayaka, is circumambulated 9 times to remove all obstacles in life and to obtain Navagraha preethi. The Spiritual Park is kept open from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., except on Pournami days when it is kept open till 10.00 p.m or till such time the Guruvalam takes place.Devotees can thus perform pradakshina at the park choosing a day of their need.

Guruvalam- Circumbulation of the tower
Circumambulation is an unique feature of our religion. The planets circumambulate the Sun, the bride and groom during the marriage ceremony take the Sapthapathi and circumambulate the sacrificial fire which is the crowning feature of the Hindu marriage. During festivals even the Utsav Moorthy from temples is taken round the town. Devotees perform Girivalam – the circumambulation of the sacred Hill at Thiruvannamalai. Lord Vinayaka got the divine fruit called Gnanapazham after circumambulating his parents whom he considered as the microcosm of the world. Thus circumambulation is the ideal form of worshipping God. But more than worshipping God, worshipping His most ardent devotee is considered exemplary. Our country has witnessed the birth of several rishis, sages, sannayasis and siddhas. Even though they have left their mortal remains, they still linger in space in a formless manner, acting as an armour and protecting all mankind. The full moon day (pournami) is an auspicious day when such great souls transcend to the earth to bless mankind. Our naked eyes cannot discern such a Siddha who may descend in the form of a dog, a beggar or even a leper. That is why Anna dhan performed on Pournami days has a special significance for unwittingly and unknowingly we may be feeding a Siddha Purusha. Sri Kumar Baba also distributes food packets to the poor at the Mangadu Amman temple besides the Annadanam that is performed daily at the Mandir.

Guruvalam is performed on Pournami from evening six to ten in the night. A devotee is expected to circumambulate the Unique tower twelve times after climbing the eighteen Holy steps while chanting the Sai Mantra. Attending three consecutive Pournami Guruvalam, ensures a devotee a life without ailment and disease. Further, the four Gurus in the Unique tower also assure several benefits. While Lord Danvantri, facing West, bestows healthy life, Lord Agasthiar, the Tamil Muni facing South enhances our knowledge, Lord Veda Vyas facing North enriches our spiritual life and Lord Sai Baba facing East bestows all benefits.

Divine Chanting for mental peace
The only chanting in the Mandir is the 108 lines in praise of Sadguru Sainath penned by Shri Kumar Baba himself, dictated to him Baba . “Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai” is also chanted continuously on important occasions by all devotees. The Mandir also reverberates with the sound of “Om Sai Ram” at all times when it is open, thus filling the devotees heart with peace, while meditating. A devotee who chants the 108 lines (Potri) 5 times consecutively derives the benefit of chanting Baba Sahasranamam. What an easy way for the ordinary folk to get the Lord’s blessings? The 108 lines or Potri as it is referred to are in simple Tamil easily comprehendible even to the illiterate. Yet they are very powerful mantras
Contact Us

For prayer requirements on all days contact mandir at 044 – 26496363 between 9 am and 12 Noon IST

For prayer requests email to Guruji Kumarbaba at babaprayer@hotmail.com or babaprayer@yahoo.co.in

For monthly newsletter email to babatoday@yahoo.com