Our History

Shri Sai Baba knew all yogic practices. He was well versed in the six processes, including Dhauti, Khanda Yoga and Samadhi, etc. He demonstrated His mastery over yogic exercises many times.

Yet, if you think that he was a Hindu, He looked like a Yavan. If you think Him to be a Yavan, he looked like a pious Hindu. No one knew whether he was a Hindu or a Mohammedan. Inferences could be drawn from His dress or body features, but all such superficial inferences were meaningless. They did not serve any purpose.

He celebrated the Hindu festival of Rama-Navami with all due formalities and at the same time permitted the ‘Sandal’ procession of the Mohammedans. He encouraged wrestling bouts in this festival and gave good prizes to winners. When the Gokul Ashtami came, he got the ‘Gopal-Kala’ ceremony duly performed and on Id festivals, he allowed Mohammedans to say their prayers (Namaj) in his masjid.

Once at the Muharram festival, some Mohammedans proposed to construct a Tajiya or Tabut in the Masjid, keep it there for some days and afterwards take it in the procession through the village. Sai Baba allowed the keeping of the Tabut for four days and on the fifth day removed it out of the Masjid without the least complication. He allowed all the devotees to celebrate festivals at Shirdi according to their preferences and the various religions in vogue adopted by them. In Baba's Masjid except a garlanded wall there is no image or photograph of any deity.

If we say that he was a Mohammedan, his ears were pierced (i.e. had holes according to Hindu fashion). If you think that he was a Hindu, he advocated the practice of circumcision (though according to Mr Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who observed him closely, he was not himself circumcised. Wide article in Sai Leela on 'Baba Hindu Ki Yavan' by B.V. Deo, page 562). If you call him a Hindu, he always lived in the Masjid; If Mohammedan, he had always the Dhuni - sacred fire there, and the following things which are contrary to Mohammedan religion, i.e., grinding on the hand mill, blowing of the conch and bells, oblation in the fire, Bhajan, giving of food, and worship of Baba’s Feet by means of ARDHYA (water) were always allowed there. If you think that he was a Mohammedan, the best of Brahmins and Agnihotris, leaving aside their orthodox ways, fell prostrate at his feet. Those who went to make inquiries about his nationality were dumbfounded and were captured by his Darshana. He gave visions of all the respective Gurus and deities according to devotees' choice whether expressed or hidden. Baba, when asked about his creed, said that he belonged to a Saint Kabir's creed.

So none could definitely decide whether Sai Baba was a Hindu or a Mohammedan. This is no wonder; for he who completely surrenders himself to the Lord, by getting rid of his egoism and body - consciousness thus becomes one with him, and has nothing to do with any questions of caste or nationality. Such a one as Sai Baba was, saw no difference between caste and among beings and beings. He took meat and fish with Fakirs, but did not grumble when dogs touched the dishes with their mouths. Thus Sai Maharaj was beyond all personal references, time and space dimensions.

Such a unique and wonderful GOD incarnation was Sai Baba.

[* Note--(1) Mhalsapati, an intimate Shirdi devotee of Baba, who always slept with Him in the Masjid and Chavadi, said that Sai Baba told him that he was a Brahmin of Pathari and was handed over to a Fakir in his infancy, and when He told this, some men from Pathari had come, and Baba was inquiring about some men from that place. [Video Sai Leela 1924, Page 179. (2) Mrs. Kashibai Kanitkar, the famous learned woman of Poona says of the experience No.8, published on Page 79, Sai Leela Vol. 11,1934, - 'On hearing of Baba’s miracles, we were discussing according to our theosophical convention and fashion whether Sai Baba belonged to black or white lodge. When I went to Shirdi, I was thinking seriously about this in my mind. As soon as I approached the steps of the Masjid, Baba came to the front and pointing to His chest and staring at me spoke rather vehemently - 'This is a Brahmin, pure Brahmin. He has nothing to do with black things. No Musalman can dare to step in here. He dare not.' Again pointing to his chest - 'This Brahmin can bring lacks of men on the white path and take them to their destination. This is a Brahmin’s Masjid and I won’t allow any black Mohammedan to cast his shadow here.']

Sai Baba is widely regarded as an incarnation of God, but he always said that he was an obedient servant of God. Through an incarnation he showed the people the way how to behave satisfactorily and carry out the duties of their respective stations (Varnas) in this life. He never emulated others in any way, nor asked others to have something done for him. For him, Who saw the Lord in all movable and immovable things of this world, humility was the most proper thing. None he disregarded or disrespected; for he saw Narayan (Lord) in all beings, he never said, 'I am God,' but that he was a humble servant and he always remembered him and always uttered - 'Allah Malik' (God is the sole proprietor or Owner). By his thoughts and worldly behavior He established ideal values and virtues of faith, patience and humanity. One should concentrate on and do faithfully one's duties assigned to him/her by GOD and wait patiently for the results (fruits) of his action (Karma) because the effect of any cause is always determined by GOD.

There are many so-called Gurus, (imposters) who go about from house to house with cymbals and veena in their hands, and make a show of their spirituality. They blow mantras into the ears of their disciples and extract money from them. They profess to teach piety and religion to their disciples, but are themselves impious and irreligious. Sai Baba never thought of making the least show of his worth (piety). Body-consciousness, he had none, but he had great love for the disciples. There are two kinds of Gurus: 'Niyat' (appointed or fixed) and 'Aniyat' (unappointed or general).

The latter by their advice develop the good qualities in us, purify our hearts and set us on the path of salvation; but contact with the former, dispels our duality (sense of difference); and establishes us in Unity by making us realize 'Thou art that' there are various Gurus imparting various kinds of wordy knowledge, but he, who fixes us in our Nature (Self) and carries us beyond the ocean of wordy existence, is the Satguru. Sai Baba was such a Satguru. He always said, 'Words create delusion (MAYA BRAHMA) But Company of Sat Guru (SATSANG) imparts knowledge by removing ignorance. His greatness is undescribable. If anybody went to take His darshana, he, without being asked, would give every detail of his past, present and future life. He saw Divinity in all beings. Friends and foes, the virtuous and the vicious were alike to Him. Disinterested and equal-balanced, He obliged also the evildoers. He was the same in prosperity and adversity. No doubt, ever touched Him. Though He possessed the human body, He was not in the least attached to his body or house. Though he looked embodied, he was really disembodied, i.e., free in this every life (MUKTITAMA).

Origins nobody knew the parents, birth or birthplace of Sai Baba. Many inquiries were made, many questions were put to Baba and others regarding these details, but no convincing answer or information has yet been obtained. Practically we know nothing about these matters.

Note: These words uttered by SAI BABA have been actually heard by the daughter-in-law of Mrs Bayajamaa Kote Patil. She was a witness to the dialogue between Mrs Bayajamaa Kote Patil and BABA who came for Bhiksha at Mrs Bayaja's place.

He first manifested himself as a young lad of sixteen under a Neem tree in Shirdi for the sake of Bhaktas. Even then He seemed to be full with the knowledge of a Brahman (the only one Universal force or energy governing all matters). He had no desire for worldly objects and pleasures even in dreams. He renounced Maya (delusion) and Mukti (deliverance) was at his feet. With his blessings many souls attained liberation.For all the seekers he uttered only three words- 'ALLAH ACHCHA KAREGA' by way of his blessings. Everything will be fine by the GRACE OF GOD

One old woman of Shirdi described him as follows:

This young lad, fair, smart and very handsome was first seen under the Neem tree seated in an ‘asana’ (a Yoga posture). The people of the village were wonder-struck to see such a young lad practicing hard penance, not minding heat and cold. By day he was associated with none, by night he was afraid of nobody. People were wondering and asking, when this young chap had turned up. His form and features were so beautiful that a mere look endeared Him to all. He went to nobody’s door, always sitting near the neem tree. Outwardly he looked very young; but by his action he appeared to be really a Great Soul. He was the embodiment of dispassion and was an enigma to all. Nobody knew his whereabouts and his mysterious behavior (Leelas).

It is said that one day, God Khandoba at Shirdi possessed the body of some devotee and people began to ask Him, 'Deva (God), you please enquire what blessed father’s son is this lad and when did He come'.

God Khandoba asked them to bring a pickaxe and dig at a particular place. When it was dug, bricks were found underneath a flat stone. When the stone was removed, a corridor led to a cellar where cow-mouth-shaped structures, wooden boards, necklaces were seen.

Khandoba said, 'This lad practiced penance here for 12 years.' When the people began to question the lad about this, He put them off by telling them that it was His Guru’s place, His holy ‘Watan’ (inheritance) and requested them to guard it well.

The young Baba thus stayed on in Shirdi for a period of three years. Then, all of a sudden, He disappeared. After some time, He reappeared in the Nizam State near Aurangabad and eventually again returned to Shirdi with the marriage party of one Chand Patil, when He was twenty years old.

Return to Shirdi

There lived in the Aurangabad district (Nizam State), in a village called Dhoop, a well-to-do Mohammedan gentleman by the name Chand Patil. While he was making a trip to Aurangabad, he lost his mare. For two long months, he made a diligent search but could get no trace of the lost mare. After being disappointed, he returned from Aurangabad with the saddle on his back. After travelling four Koss and a half, he came, on the way, to a mango tree under the foot of which sat a fakir (queer fellow). He had a cap on His head, wore a Kafni (long robe) and had a 'Satka '' (short stick) under his armpit and he was preparing to smoke a Chillum (pipe). On seeing Chand Patil pass by the way, he called out to him and asked him to have a smoke and to rest a little. Fakir asked him about the saddle. Chand Patil replied that it was of his mare, which was lost. The queer fellow or Fakir asked him to make a search in the Nala(small stream) close by. He went and the wonder of wonders! He found the mare. He thought that this Fakir was not an ordinary man, but an Avalia (a great saint), A queer personality. He returned to Fakir with the mare. The Chillim was ready for being smoked, but two things were wanted; (1) fire to light the pipe, and (2) water to wet the chhapi (piece of cloth through which smoke is drawn up). The Fakir took his prong and thrust it forcibly into the ground and out came a live burning coal, which He put on the pipe. Then He dashed the Satka on the ground from whence water began to ooze. The chhapi was wetted with that water, was then wrung out and wrapped round the pipe. Thus everything being complete, the Fakir smoked the Chillum and then gave it also to Chand Patil. On seeing all this, Chand Patil was wonderstruck. He requested the Fakir to come to his home and accept his hospitality. Next day he went to Patil's house and stayed there for some time. Patil was a village officer of Dhoop. His wife’s brother’s son was to be married and the bride was from Shirdi. So Patil made preparations to start for Shirdi for the marriage. Fakir also accompanied the marriage-party. The marriage went off without any hitch, the party returned to Dhoop, except the Fakir alone stayed in Shirdi and remained there forever.

How the Fakir got the name ‘Sai’

When the marriage - party came to Shirdi, it alighted at the foot of a Banyan tree in Bhagata Mhalsapati’s field near Khandoba’s temple. The carts were loosened in the open courtyard of Khandoba’s temple and the members of the party descended one by one, and the Fakir also got down. Bhagat Mhalsapati saw the young Fakir getting down and spontaneously accosted Him 'YA SAI' (Welcome Sai). Others also addressed Him as Sai and thenceforth he became known as Sai Baba.

Upon his return to Shirdi, Baba stayed there for an unbroken period of sixty years, after which He took His Maha-Samadhi in the year 1918.

Initially, Sai Baba stayed on the outskirts of the village of Shirdi, then under a neem tree for four to five years at the spot now called Gurusthan, before shifting to an abandoned mosque which later became known as Dwarkamai.

Slowly his greatness was revealed and his fame spread far and wide, until by the end of his life he was attracting thousands of people to Shirdi. In the last decade of his life, Baba was worshipped with all pomp and ceremony and the mosque was likened to a maharajah’s ‘darbar’, yet Baba never changed His simple and austere lifestyle of the Puritans.

Greatness of UDI
(It's Miraculous Powers)

UDI It is well-known that Baba took Dakshina from all, and out of the amount thus collected, He spent a lot on charity and purchased fuel with the balance left with Him. This fuel He threw in the Dhuni - the sacred fire, which he kept burning. The ash from this fire was called Udi and it was freely distributed to the devotees at the time of their departure from Shirdi. Udi or ash is the purest substance on earth having tremendous powers of doing and undoing and is the result of sacrifices offered to fire (agni) which purifies everything by destroying whatever is evil. Performing 'Yagha' (Dhuni) is the most pious ritual recommended in the ancient Vedic literature.

There is a deeper underlying significance behind Baba’s practice of distributing Udi. Baba taught by his udi that all the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the ash. Our bodies composed of wood or matter of the five elements will fall down, become inanimate after all their enjoyments are over, and will be reduced to ashes. In order to remind the devotees of the fact that their bodies will be reduced to ashes, Baba distributed Udi to them. Baba also taught by the Udi that the Brahma is the only reality and the universe is ephemeral and that no one in this world, be he a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here (in this world) alone and we have to go out alone. It was found and is even now found out, that the Udi cured many physical and mental maladies, but Baba wanted to din into the devotee's ears the principles of discrimination between the Unreal and the Real, non-attachment for the unreal, by His Udi and Dakshina. The former (Udi) taught us discrimination and the latter (Dakshina) taught us non-attachment. Unless we have these two things, it is not possible for us to cross over the sea of mundane existence. So Baba asked for and took Dakshina, and while the devotees took leave, He gave Udi as Prasad, besmeared some of it on the Bhaktas' foreheads and placed his boon-conferring hand on their heads. When Baba was in a cheerful mood, he used to sing merrily. One such song was about Udi. The text of the Udi song was, 'Oh, playful Rama, come, come, and bring with you sacks of Udi.' Baba used to sing in very clear and sweet tones.

So much about the spiritual implication of Udi. It also had its material significance. It conferred health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, and many other worldly gains. So the Udi has helped us to gain both our ends - material as well as spiritual.

Mission and AdviceSaint Ramadas (1608-1681) flourished in the 17th century and fulfilled to a great extent his mission of protecting the helpless cows and Brahmins against the Yavanas powerful (Mohammedans or Followers of Islam), but within two centuries after him, the split between the two communities -- Hindus and Mohammedans widened again, and it is believed that Sai Baba came to bridge the gulf.

His constant advice to all was to this effect. God is the only One Almighty Master of all souls and never discriminates while showering his Love on the souls who are all equals before him. He loves every soul irrespective of his/her vices or virtues. "Rama (the God of the Hindus) and Rahim (the God of the Mohammedans) are one and the same; there is not the slightest difference between them; then why should their devotees quarrel among themselves? You ignorant folk, children, join hands and bring both the communities together, act sanely and thus you will gain your object of national unity. It is not good to dispute and argue. So don't argue, don't emulate others. Always consider your interest and welfare. The Lord will protect you. Yoga, sacrifice, penance, and knowledge are the paths (means) to attain God. If you do not succeed in this by any means, in vain is your birth. If any one does any evil unto you, do not retaliate. If you can do anything, do some good unto others." Baba shall always support any truthful thought or action.

This, in short, was Sai Baba's advice to all; and this will stand in good stead both in material and spiritual matters. Baba assured, without any discrimination, all the seekers (MUMUKSHUS) His divine and unfailing support for material welfare and spiritual elevation. There is no soul in the world who has not experienced Baba's instant support and protection in a moment of crisis.