Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sai Baba of Shirdi
Photograph of Sai Baba (c. 1915)
Religion	Hinduism
Philosophy	Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga
Personal
Nationality	Indian
Died	Shirdi, Bombay Presidency, India
Senior posting
Title	Hindu Lord Incarnation of Lord Shiva
Religious career
Disciple(s)	Mahalsapathi, Madhav Rao (shama), Nanasaheb peshway, Bayijabai, Tatya Kote Patil, Kakasaheb Dixit, Radhakrishnamaai, Hemadpant, Bhuti, Das Ganu, Lakshmi Bai, Nanavali, Upasni Maharaj, Abdul Baba, Sapatanekar, Nanasaheb Chandodkar, B.V. Narashima Swamiji.

Sai Baba of Shirdi, also known as Shirdi Sai Baba was an Indian spiritual master who is regarded by his devotees as an incarnation of God (avatar), saint, fakir, and satguru, according to their individual proclivities and beliefs. He was revered by both his Hindu and Muslim devotees, and during, as well as after, his life it remained uncertain if he was a Muslim or a Hindu. This, however, was of no consequence to Sai Baba. He stressed the importance of surrender to the true Satguru, who, having trod the path to divine consciousness, will lead the disciple through the jungle of spiritual training.

Sai Baba is known by people around the world. According to accounts from his life, he preached the importance of realization of the self, and criticized love for perishable things. His teachings concentrate on a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and guru. Sai Baba also condemned distinction based on religion or caste. Sai Baba's teaching combined elements of Hinduism and Islam: he gave the Hindu name Dwarakamayi to the mosque in which he lived, practised both Hindu and Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions, and took samadhi in Shirdi. One of his well-known epigrams, "Allah Malik" ("God is King") and "Sabka Malik Ek" ("One God governs all"), is associated with Hinduism and Islam He is also known to have said, "Listen to me and your prayer shall be answered".

Sai Baba's real name is unknown. The well-known saints Madhavnath and Satya Sai Baba of The Puttaparthi have also indicated Pathri to be the birth place of Sai Baba. Shri Sai Janmasthan Mandir is located at Pathri, District Parbhani, Maharashtra and is built in the birth place of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. Some people believe that he was born on September 28, 1835, though there are no authentic information to prove it. When asked about his past, he often gave elusive responses. The name "Sai" was given to him when he arrived at Shirdi, a town now in the west Indian state of Maharashtra. The word "Sai" refers to a religious mendicant but can also mean "God". In several Indian and Middle Eastern languages the term "Baba" is an honorific signifying grandfather, father, old man or sir. Thus Sai Baba denotes holy father, saintly father or (venerable) poor old man. Some of Sai Baba's disciples became famous as spiritual figures and saints, such as Mahalsapati, a priest of the Khandoba temple in Shirdi, and Upasni Maharaj. He was revered by other saints, such as Saint Bidkar Maharaj, Saint Gangagir, Saint Janakidas Maharaj, and Sati Godavari Mataji. Sai Baba referred to several saints as 'my brothers', especially the disciples of Swami Samartha of Akkalkot.