History of the Temple
The main purpose of the temple is to extend peace and joy to entire humanity by earnest prayers for the welfare of all beings. Ordered by Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi Himself, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Pittsburgh was initiated in 1979 under His divine guidance. It was fully operational from July 24th 1985 and ran in a rented house in Turtle creek, a Pittsburgh suburb, till August 1988 and from September 1988, in the basement of 3744 Old William Penn Hwy. After many trials and tribulations, the Municipality of Monroeville approved the buildings on 1449 and 1451 Abers Creek Road, currently home of the temple, facilitating the purpose (resolution no: 90-25 ST dated august 13, 1991. ) We left a photograph of Sai Baba on the site on Vijayadasami, Thursday, October 17th in the presence of devotees. Later, a small Baba murthi from consecrated at the Samadhi Mandir and a life size picture of Baba were installed amidst a lot of devotees on Saturday December 7th 1991 (Sri Prajotpatti nama samvatsara, Marga Sukla Vidiya, Moola Nakshatra yukta Abhijit lagna at 12 noon.)
The Important Mile Stones of the Temple:
The Important Mile Stones of the Temple:
- Public water, sewer, driveway, parking lot, lighting and Sikhara pratishta.
- September 1994: Yagnasala (fire pit) with exhaust fan, Green house, Veda Pathasala dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
- July 19, 1997: Perni Cultural Hall for cultural events and personal religious functions like wedding etc.
- The murthy was dedicated on Friday, October 9th 2009 with Kumbhabhishekam, Baba’s birthday and Samadhi day. The main marble Statue of Shirdi Sai Baba was brought in by Mrs. Manjuben and Mr. Hiroo bhai Patel. Mr. Patel is the chosen devotee of Baba who planned the Sanctum Sanctorum.
The old building on site 1451 housing priests’ quarters was demolished in 2004 and a new building was constructed by April 2006 along with another one at 1443 Abers Creek Road in 2007, also for priests. A massive land slide occurred at the entrance of the temple in April 2008; it was redone and drive way was also repaved in September and October 2008.