Brief story of Om Shri Sadguru Sai Seva Trust - Shri Umakant Deshpande, Translation by Vilas M. Karnik

"I don't aspire to establish an empire. Neither do I want to reach heaven nor I am interested in a rebirth. The only thing I desire is help needy people seek relief from pain and suffering."

The sentiments expressed in the above shloka inspired Shri Raghupathi Sir to establish a Public Charitable Trust "Om Shri Sadguru Sai Seva Trust" with the help of few of his students who themselves are luminaries in their respective professions and completely committed towards uplift of society. The trust was registered with Charity Commissioner under Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 vide Thane / Reg No E 1699 on 31 December 1996. The office of the trust is located at Dombivli. The actual activities of the trust are being carried out at Dapoli in Ratnagiri District in rural area about 220 km from capital of Maharashtra state, Mumbai.

Why Dapoli?
The rational behind choosing this area is quite simple. Entire region of Dapoli is lush green all round the year with picturesque and pleasant landscape. This keeps one away from daily worries and pains. Though the area is rich in natural endowment, it is inhabitated by a population which is very poor.

However, the local population is full of warmth and cooperation. The region is sparsely populated with small groups of habitants every 2 to 3 kms. Medical facilities (even the basic health care) are totally missing. Even if they are made available, they are beyond the reach of the most people because of their meager income. One of the major goals of the trust is to provide this population with modern medical and health care facilities at subsidized rates.

What is the current status?
Dr. Vaibhav Kulkarni, M.S., Dr. Gagan Patil, M.D. with their spouses have been the mainstay of hospital complex. So far the following have been made operative.

1) Opthalmology under Dr. Kaustubh Ranade
2) General Surgery under Dr. Vaibhav Kulkarni and his wife Mrs. Madhura Kulkarni
3) Gynacology under Dr. Gagan Patil and his wife Mrs. Sonali Patil

Future vision:
The Trust proposes to set up 40 bedded hospital complex and it will have facilities like:

• Crucial Care Units
• Operation Theatre Complex
• Pathology and Blood Bank
• Day Care Ward
• Trauma Center
• C.T. Scan
• Sonography
• Stress Test and Casualty with Ambulance Service equipped with state-of-the-art equipments
• Diagnostic Center

Needless to say that money so far provided by the Trustees themselves and other donors is not going to achieve the task of this gigantic nature. Trust depends on the donations from like-minded people and blessing of Sadguru Shri Saibaba.

Shri Umakant Deshpande
Translation by Vilas M. Karnik

How to subscribe to Facebook page for Shri Sainath Maharaj Trust

Steps to subscribe to facebook page for Shri Sainath Maharaj Trust

1. Login to Facebook with your account
2. Click on the link http://www.facebook.com/shrisainathmaharajtrust
3. Once on the page click on
   
4. Now you are subscribed to this page

Steps to unsubscribe from Facebook page for Shri Sainath Maharaj Trust

1. Login to Facebook with your account
2. Click on the link http://www.facebook.com/shrisainathmaharajtrust
3. Once on page click on
   
4. Now you are un-subscribed from this page.

Birth of Shri Sainath Maharaj Trust - by Umakant Deshpande. Transalation by Vilas Karnik

While it is impossible to think about Shri Sainath Maharaj Trust and Shri Raghupathi Sir separately, under strict instructions from "Sir" not to write anything about him, I am compelled to write this article avoiding reference to him unless very obligatory.

Shri Sainath  Maharaj Trust, alongwith its other arm viz. Om Shri Sadguru Sai Seva Trust, was set up with the assistance of some students of Dnyandeep Classes, Dombivli (of which Shri Raghupathi Sir was the principal) on 31st December 1996. Efforts to find out a suitable location started only thereafter. After covering about 6000 kms, Kherdi - a place 220 km from Mumbai and 6 km from Dapoli - was found to fulfill the vision that the Managing Trustee had.

The location abundantly bestowed by nature was also a place which was woefully short of medical facilities. Originally 3.5 acres of land was acquired with a view to have temples and hospital wards. Having done the preliminary work of levelling the mountanious area, planting trees, digging well, laying down electric cable etc. the actual construction work started in 1998. As per Guru Adnya (order), Padukas of Shri Sai Baba were ceremoniously brought from Shirdi to Dapoli by Padyatra (covering nearly 380 km on foot). The Trust has already set up temple of Dakshinamukhi Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, Vindhyavasini, Navgraha and Nagyugma is also in place. Saibaba temple is now complete. The Trust envisages setting up temples of Shri Dattatreya and Lord Shiva (idol of Shri Dattatreya, Shivlingam & Nandi have already arrived). There is a provision of Dhyanmandir (a place for meditation) beneath practically every temple.

It is important to note that setting up of temple is not an end in itself. It is a means of achieving greater aim as can be seen from the following objectives of Shri Sainath Maharaj Trust:

- Financial aid towards medical and engineering fields
- Construction of dispensary, health care center, hospital, providing medical facilities to poor and needy.
- Donation towards annadana (free meals)
- Donation towards maintenance and reconstruction of old temples, mutt.
- Construction of temple, ashram and meditation center.
- Sharing expenses of needy persons on auspicious occasions like marriage, thread ceremony etc.

This is not a place to recount the difficulties faced. It, however, needs to be mentioned that Shri Saibaba himself ensured that all difficulties could be surmounted. Time and again different people surfaced to ensure smooth sailing through turmoil waters.

In the end we seek blessings of almighty Shri Sainath and fall to his feet.

- Umakant Deshpande
Translation by Milas M. Karnik