MUSIC SHOP TURNED INTO A SAI BABA TEMPLE`AHMEDABAD

SHREE SARVA SIDDH SAI DHAM -
Opp.Lal Darwaza Bus Stop,
Near SBI Bank,
Ahmedabad - 380001
Gujarat, India

Possibly this is what traders might dub as ‘Trick of the Trade’, others would attribute it as ‘Faith meets Wit’!
Meet an ingenious 53 year old Muslim trader from Lal Darwaza in Ahmedabad`Gujarat, India
whose ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking not only protected his 15-year old shop from being razed,
but also helped spread piety in the area.

It so happened that this trader used to operate a small Music cassette / CD shop in Lal Darwaza until
the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) came up with ‘beautification’ plans for the same area.
Faced with imminent eviction from his property,
the trader hit upon a brilliant idea to protect his shop from being sacrificed by the AMC.
Last month, he suddenly downed shutters of his shop located on the main road
and even though music still flowed from the premises, it was steeped in devotion for Shirdi Sai Baba.
Installing a marble Idol of Sai Baba, this cassette-CD shop was turned into a full fledged Sai Baba temple !

Named 'Shree Sarva Siddh Sai Dham' this Sai Temple has been operational since 09th Feb`2012
and has turned out to be a real rainmaker as it has already attracted donations upwards of lakh rupees !
As having a Sai Baba temple in the area has come as a blessing in disguise for people,
with hordes of devotees flocking to the temple daily.

Shirdi Sai Baba holds a special place among devotees’ list of Gods, irrespective of religion,
and the rising footfalls at the temple and expanding coffer only portray his popularity
and following in the Lal Darwaza area of Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

But, sources close to the development doubt the trader's motive as he is not known to be a devout follower.
Many also confide in hushed tones that he is using religion to escape the law,
as places of religious interest or worship cannot be easily razed.
They said that the primary intention behind the conversion
was to ensure the safety of his shop which falls under the category of encroached land.

Another reason for opposing this temple,
at this location was that it was located right next to a public toilet.

In addition, this premises is currently undergoing dispute of ownership,
as according to AMC sources, the trader had illegally registered himself as its owner
while originally this premises belonged to the civic body.
Even though a case regarding this has been filed in the court, the trader has managed
to get a stay order against the demolition, after he converted his shop into a temple.

However, the trader denies such allegations and says he is simply a devotee.
He said that he believed in equality of all religions and he was prompted him to start the temple
since he had a vision of Shirdi Sai Baba in his dreams 12 years ago.
He had also hired a Brahmin to look after the premises. He said that he believes in Sai Baba
and knows that he will help him get through this.