Sai Baba first visited Maharastra’s village Shirdi when he was 16 years old. People were taken aback when they saw him, a young child conducting deep meditation in asana under a Neem tree for several days without food or even water. This piqued the interest of the young baba. Bayajabai, the village chief’s wife, inquired about Sai Baba’s well-being during his boyhood. She began bringing food to Baba gradually. Baba began to treat her as his mother as the days went by. Mhalspati, the local chief and a priest who was once possessed by Lord Krishna, declared that there is a holy spirit here, pointing to Sai Baba.
Baba motioned to the neem tree and requested that it be dug up to its roots. The peasants dug it up after listening to Baba’s instructions. As the earth’s layers wore away, they discovered a slab of stone, oil lamps lighting without oil, and air, all of which defied science. They discovered a vessel in the shape of a cow’s mouth on a wooden table in the same location. This is the holy site where Baba’s guru performed penance, he clarified. He further advised that instead of worshipping me (Sai Baba), people should worship the tree and leave it alone. No one had touched it before today. A pilgrim’s first stop in Shirdi is this tree.
Baba had a distinct personality that drew a lot of attention; during the day, he was not linked with anyone and was not frightened of anyone. Some others mistook him for a lunatic and threw stones at him, injuring him bodily. Baba initially stayed at Shirdi for about three years. After that, Baba left Shirdi for a year, and very little was known about Sai Baba during that time. According to legend, he met many saints, and fakirs, and even worked as a weaver.
Sai Baba returned to Shirdi permanently in the year 1858. Baba stayed under the neem tree for nearly five years, and he frequently wandered in the jungle around Shirdi, where he was very uncommunicative because he spent so much time in meditation. Baba gradually moved his residence to a nearby mosque. Baba was visited by a large number of Hindus and Muslims. Baba kept a sacred fire called dhuni burning in the mosque. The visitors were all given sacred ash by Baba. People believe that ash is the most effective medication for all kinds of health problems.
Baba was everyone’s god, and he used to attend every religious holiday. Baba had a propensity for cooking, which he shared with all of his devotees as “Prasad” during their stay. Baba’s favorite pastimes were religious singing and dancing. The number of visitors to Shirdi progressively grew as time went on. Baba was always a proponent of generosity and reveled in the joy of giving.
Holy words by Sai baba
- Don’t chase away any creature who comes to you for assistance. Respectfully receive them and treat them properly.
- Give thirsty people water, hungry people food, and strangers a place to stay on your verandah.
- If someone asks you for money and you don’t want to give it, don’t give it, but don’t yell at him either.
- Baba always preached unconditional love for all living beings.
- He urged absolute loyalty and faith in the Almighty’s might and bounties (ALLAH MALIK), as well as patience in waiting for the fruits of one’s actions (KARMA).
- Devotees have self-generated conviction and faith as a result of Baba’s grace that whatever their dreams and objectives are, they would never go ignored by Baba.
- Baba’s Divine Love and Blessings are bestowed directly on him, without the use of any intermediaries.
- He also requested Dakshina (money) from guests, which he would donate to others later.
- Sai Baba is always available to assist and guide anyone who seeks his blessings.
