Tiruvannamalai Adheenam Enlightenment Day

Vijayadashami is celebrated throughout India, under different names and with regional variations, as the victory of good over evil. For Shirdi Sai Baba devotees, it is venerated as the holy day that their beloved Gurudeva(Shri Sai Baba) attained mahasamadhi (also known as Punyatithi) and is a big festival in the temple.

Shri Sai Baba left his mortal coil on the 15th October 1918. Two years before i.e. in 1916 Sai Baba gave an indication of his passing away. It was as follows. On the Vijayadashami (Dasara) Sai Baba, all of a sudden got into wild rage in the evening, when people were returning from simolanghan (Crossing the border of the village). Taking off His head-dress, Kafni and Langota etc. He tore them and threw them into the Dhuni before him. He stood there stark naked and with his burning red eyes shouted “You fellows now have a look and decide finally whether I am a Muslim or Hindu” Everybody was trembling with fear and nobody dared to approach Baba. After some time Bhagoji Shinde the leper devotee of Baba went Boldly near him and succeeded in tying a Langota round his waist and said,” Sai Baba what is all this? Today is ‘Simolanghan i.e. Dasara’ Sai Baba striking the ground with his satka said,” This is my Seemolanghan”, Sai Baba did not cool down till 11.00 P.M. and people doubted whether the Chavadi procession would ever take place that night. After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and dressed Himself as usual and attended the Chavadi procession. By this incident Baba suggested that Dasara was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life.