Shirdi Sai Baba

Sai Baba of Shirdi
Photograph of Sai Baba
Religion	Hinduism
Philosophy	Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga
Personal
Nationality	Indian
Died	15 October 1918(1918-10-15) Shirdi, Bombay Presidency, India
Resting place	Samadhi in Shirdi
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 is an Indian spiritual leader and is regarded by his devotees as a saint, a fakir, a satguru and an incarnation (avatar) of God. He is revered by both his Hindu and Muslim devotees during, as well as after his life.

According to accounts from his life, he preached the importance of realization of the self, and criticized love towards perishable things. His teachings concentrate on a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to the God and guru. 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 also condemned distinction based on religion or caste. It remains unclear if he was a Muslim or a Hindu. This, however, was of no consequence to Sai Baba. His 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 both Hinduism and Islam. He is also known to have said 'Look to me, and I shall look to you.'

Sai Baba's date of birth and his birthplace remains unknown and is debatable due to lack of evidence and no definitive information exists to prove it.

Sai Baba's real name remains unknown. The name 'Sai' was given to him by Mhalsapati 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.