He led a strict, ascetic life sitting under a Neem tree, meditating with total indifference to cold, heat, or rain. When the young Fakir returned to Shirdi after a short absence, he was welcomed with the words “Ya Sai”, after which people started calling him ‘Sai Baba.’ Sai Baba stayed in Shirdi initially for three years, following which he disappeared and returned in the year 1858. He first showed up as a young lad of sixteen years sitting under a Neem tree in Shirdi. Sai Baba’s actual name remains unknown, and no documented evidence regarding his birth and parents exists. The teachings of Baba were focussed on Devotion, Self-surrender to Sat-guru, Service, and Compassion.

It claimed him to be an incarnation of Lord Hanuman. The sacred book about the first incarnation of Lord Dattatreya ‘Sreepada Sreevallabha Charitaamrutam’ written during his lifetime prophesied the incarnation of Sai Baba. He was equally revered among both Hindus and Muslims and is now worshipped all over the world. Sai Baba of Shirdi is an Indian spiritual master considered to be among the highest category of Yogis and seen as a manifestation/Avatara of Lord Dattatreya.

Sai baba shirdi live