A short summary on our Beloved Deity

As no one knows for certain about origin of this Universe, no one is certain about the origin of Saibaba. Accounts say that baba was first seen as a young lad of 16, smart and fair under a neem tree (Known as his Gurusthan - See the description of Sathe wada in the same page). He had an exceptional Godly aura that attracted the people of Shirdi and elsewhere towards him. He sat under a neem tree for quite some time. Baba then disappeared from Shirdi for a span of approximately four years. No one knows to where, but the page  "A message to all the people who are against SADGURU SAIBABA" of this blog gives us certain information. He came back to Shirdi in 1858 with the marriage procession of Chand patil. (For details, visit "Saibaba advent in Shirdi and Dwarkamai" page of this blog). The flock gathered under a Banyan tree in Khandoba Mandir, Shirdi, where Mahalsapati (The temple priest) addressed baba as "Ya Sai". And there it started the name of baba, Sai baba.! Saibaba had chosen his place of stay, a dilapidated mosque and named it dwarkamai. It shows his respect to both Hindus and Muslims sentiments. As Dwarka is the name of Lord krishna's mother. He lit a dhuni, which is considered sacred by Hindus, and similarly a bell was suspended in the mosque. That flame he lit years back, still shines bright in the Masjidmayi. His dress would have hallucinate someone for baba being a Muslim. Though none was able to make out precisely, which religion he  belonged to, who were his parents, where he stayed before he came to Shirdi and who was his Guru. Many questions were left unanswered. When someone asked baba, if he was a Muslim, he quoted the Shlokas in Sanskrit and said the name of Rama, while if asked baba being a Hindu, he would recite verses from Koran and said "Allah malik". Such is Saibaba. He never told anyone. Nor was anyone able to know who actually baba is. He was omniscient. He stayed in that Small mosque but knew what goes around in the world. No transaction happened, baba didn't know about. During the initial few days, not all, but a few people came close to baba. Those included Bhagat Mahalsapati, Bayjamai, Tatya Kote patil, Madhavrao deshpande aka shama, Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Bapusaheb booty and some others. He always said that Brahma is his father and Maya his mother. He embodied as a part of inevitable Karma, though he assumes no form. He is formless. In a short while his fame crossed Natoional boundaries, and people from everywhere started visiting Shirdi to take his Darshana. He lived on alms. He begged his food from houses at Shirdi. The food he received, shared with animals and other people. "Allah malik" was always on his lips, meaning "God is emperor and is one". He was fond of lighting lamps in Dwarkamai and some temples. He lit the lamps from the oil he received from the owners of grocery stores at Shirdi. Once they all decided, not to give baba any oil. When baba went to beg oil, he was refused. Baba went back to the Masjid, took water in his vessel, and filled a little remaining oil in that water. He took some of it in his mouth and after making it sacred, spit it back into the vessel. He then place wicks in the Diyas (lamps), and to the surprise of all, the lamps started burning, and burnt for the whole night. People were surprised and fell at baba's feet, seeking apology. Baba then said, that one should never lie. As Untruthfulness deprives one of God vision, and being truthful is a harder penance than any other sort of Sadhana. It brings one, closer to God and self realization. Baba during his life span, showed a number of leelas. He used to cure the non-curable diseases with mere ashes from the Holy fire, known as "Udi". (Still distributed in Shirdi). His words were always the line of rock, which one shouldn't ever cross. He bought anyone to Shirdi, like a thread tied on a bird's leg. None could have left Shirdi without his consent. Had anyone tried, was sure to face accidents and calamities befall on them. As his fame gained more people, a Chavadi procession began in Shirdi. Baba was taken with all the paraphernalia from Dwarkamayi to Chavadi, halting at Maruti Mandir and other places. This procession is carried till date in Shirdi. Baba used to cook food with his own hands and serve it to people at Shirdi. Everyone ate together with no discrimination of cast or creed. He cooked with his own hands. He immersed his bare hand in the hot cooking pot to shake the food thoroughly. But without a trace of burnt he used to take them out, to the surprise of all. Once while people were sitting in Dwarkamai to eat, the beams of mosque started trembling and was to fall. Being frightened the flock ran away. Baba at once said, "Stop" and the beams stopped mid way. The crowd fell at his feet, being embarrassed of not trusting their Guru. Thus faith on one's Guru is most essential. Once baba was sitting near the Dhuni. The flames started raising. Devotees nearby were anxious at this. Baba understood this. He thrust his Satka on the ground ordering the dhuni to calm down, and in a short while the Dhuni regained it's calm. This shows, how nature was under the control of our Sai baba. During the initial days, two wades, "Dixit wada" and "Sathe wada (Gurusthan)" existed. People who flocked at Shirdi stayed at these two places. Once when the sathe wada was under construction, a tunnel was dig. Further digging of it wasn't carried out. As the sight caught all. Inside it were burning four lamps, with a supernatural scent and some floral. People rushed towards baba, who said that it was the abode of his Guru, and one shouldn't disturb it. From there began the name, Gurusthan. It's said that the leaves of the Neem tree are sweet in taste, proving the sacredness of this place. An old lady once said, that there is tunnel below Gurusthan which leads to Dwarkamayi.
Bapusaheb booty, from Nagpur lacked no money. Once a thought to get a Wada built, arouse in his mind. Baba gave Darshana to bapusaheb in dream, while he slept in Dixit wada. Baba said that he should get a wada built. When he woke up, he saw Shama with tears in his eyes. On asking him, he was shocked to know, that the dream Shama had, tallied to his own dream. The work of Booty wada began. The center place was destined to be fixed with an idol of Lord Krishna. Baba said, that the work for wada should begin, and he himself will come there. No one understood the importance of baba's words, until his MahaSamadhi when he said that his body should be kept in Booty wada. This Booty Wada is the present Samadhi Mandir.
One who believed in his deity, found the same, one with Sai baba. Some one saw their Panduranga in him, while the other saw his Shiva in him. Das Ganu aka Ganpatrao went to Shirdi when he heard that Cholera didn't affect Shirdi as baba ground wheat flour to be spread on Shirdi's border. When he had a meet with Sai baba, he saw his deity, Pandurang of Pandharpur in baba. Similarly, Megha, Brahmin cook of Rao bahadur HV sathe. He was a pure Brahmin and believed a lot in Lord Shiva. He denied seeing baba, for he though the latter to be a Muslim. But soon he understood that baba was one with Shiva, and started offering him Bela leaves, the one offered to Shiva. Such's Sai baba.
On 15th October 1918, baba left his Mortal coil to assume his natural form of the supreme and be formless again. But he left the history of Shirdi to be written in Gold. Today baba's the maximum number of followers across the globe, from all religions. People in numbers reach Shirdi each day to see our Beloved baba's shrine. His miracles are still experiences, and one who devotees to him with whole heart becomes one with him and finds eternal bliss.

Following are the eleven assurances of Sai baba, which devotees still experience : 

1. Whosoever puts their feet on Shirdi soil, their sufferings will come to an end.

2. The wretched and the miserable will rise to joy and happiness as soon as they climb the steps of Mosque.

3. I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body.

4. My tomb shall bless and speak to the needs of my devotees.

5. I shall be active and vigorous even from my tomb.

6. My mortal remains will speak from my tomb.

7. I am ever living to help and guide those who come to me, who surrender to me and who seek refugee in me.

8. If you look to me, I look at you.

9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear them.

10. If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.

11. There shall be no want in the house of my devotees.

Bow to Saibaba and end your sufferings. He's a lot for everyone.
He says, "If you look at me, I look at you". If you'll extend one step towards him, he'll extend ten steps towards you. So don't delay. Surrender yourself on the lotus feet of baba Sai.
Om Sai Ram