He was very strongly neutral and belonged to both. Sai Baba did not identify himself with either Hinduism or Islam.

There would be no wants in the house of Sai Baba’s devotees.

One seeking Sai Baba’s advice and help would obtain it immediately.

Sai Baba will surely bear the burden cast on him.

If you look at Sai Baba, He will look after you.

Sai Baba would be ever living to guide and help all those who seek him, surrender to him and look to him for refuge.

The mortal remains of Sai Baba would speak from his tomb.

Sai Baba would be active and vigorous even from his tomb.

Sai Baba’s tomb would bless and address the needs of his devotees.

Baba would be active and vigorous even after leaving his earthly body.

Climbing the steps of the mosque will make those who are miserable happy.

A person setting their feet on the soil of Shirdi will see his/her sufferings end.

Govindrao Raghunath Dabholkar wrote the most well-known account of whatever is known of Sai Baba’s life in the Shri Sai Satcharitra. His disciples recount his parables as well as teachings orally and some of his disciples wrote them down. There is no written work that specifies his teachings. The underlying principle of all Sai Baba of Shirdi’s teachings is that there is a unity between all religions and that we are all governed by one omnipresent God. He was also called Sai Baba of Shirdi or Shirdi Wale Sai Baba.

As his fame spread he had devotees from other parts of the country as well. Later the villagers of Shirdi became his followers. His first devotee was Mahalsapati the local priest. Sai Baba did not preach or do anything to attract followers. Sai Baba at Shirdi with Disciples Devotees He advised living a moral life with love for all living beings. He was also against orthodoxy in Hindusim, Christianity and Islam.

He stood firmly against any kind of discrimination. He emphasised two important traits that one should cultivate, namely Shradhha (faith) and Saburi (patience). Sai Baba of Shirdi told Muslims to read the Quran and Hindus to read the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana. He advised that one should pray, chant God’s name and read the religious texts. Sai Baba delivered teachings and lessons in the form of parables and allegories. He also cultivated a garden, Lendi Bagh which is still a major attraction for pilgrims. Sai Baba healed the sick with these ashes much like an Hakim would. Baba maintained a sacred fire called a Udi in the mosque. He begged for alms and had visitors from both the Hindu and Muslim faiths. People convinced him to live in a dilapidated mosque. He meditated for long periods and did not communicate much. Sai Baba spent four to five years living under the neem tree and wandering in the jungles around Shirdi. Many people considered him as a Muslim fakir and this made the predominantly Hindu population of the village hostile to him at first. This clothing is associated with the Sufis. He also started wearing a Kafni robe that was knee length paired with a cloth cap. When the priest Mahalsapati saw him he welcomed him and addressed him as Sai. In 1858, Sai Baba returned to Shirdi at the Khandoba Mandir. It is also believed that he met with many religious people in the year that he was away from Shirdi. He stated that he fought with Rani Lakshmibai’s army in 1857. There is no evidence of what he did when he left the village. Some of his visitors were Mahalsapati, Kashinatha and Appa Jogle. The villagers wondered at the young boy who did not associate with anyone and feared none. He lived as an ascetic and sat in an Asana, meditating under a neem tree despite his young age. He stayed there for three years, went away for a year and then came back for good around 1858. It is believed that Sai Baba came to Shirdi when he was 16 years old.

He had in-depth knowledge of both Hinduism and Islam. Sai Baba of Shirdi has also stated that the wife of the Fakir entrusted him to a Hindu Guru Venkusa of Selu. He stated that he was the child of Deshastha Brahmins in Pathri village but was brought up by a Fakir in his infancy. He gave two different versions of his childhood.

Sai Baba himself was evasive in replies to questions about his origins. It is thought that Sai Baba was born in a place near Shirdi and with the name Haribhau Bhusari. There are no definitive records to confirm Baba’s early years.

Sai baba shirdi miracles