Sai Baba of Shirdi Sai Baba, an Indian religious figure who lived from the mid-19th Century to 1918. He was considered a Guru and holy man to both Hindus and Muslims.
Sai Baba of Shirdi taught that all religions led to the same goal, and sought to show the underlying unity between the Muslim and Hindu faiths. One of his most famous sayings was “God is the Owner of us All”
His philosophy ingrained ‘Shraddha’ meaning faith and ‘Saburi’ meaning compassion. According to him Shraddha and Saburi were the supreme attributes to reach the state of godliness.
It is believed that at a tender age of 16 years Shri Sai Baba arrived at the village of Shirdi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and remained there till his death. He found shelter in Khandoba temple, where a villager Mahalsapathi in the temple addressed him as Sai or Saint.
Baba reportedly arrived at the village of Shirdi in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India, when he was about sixteen years old. Although there is no agreement among biographers about the date of this event, it is generally accepted that Baba stayed in Shirdi for three years, disappeared for a year and returned permanently around 1858, which posits a possible birth year of 1838. He led an ascetic life, sitting motionless under a neem tree and meditating while sitting in an asana.
The people of the village were wonder-struck to see such a young lad practicing hard penance, not minding heat or cold. By day he associated with no one, by night he was afraid of nobody.
His presence attracted the curiosity of the villagers and the religiously-inclined such as Mhalsapati, Appa Jogle and Kashinatha regularly visited him, while others such as the village children considered him mad and threw stones at him. After some time he left the village, and it is unknown where he stayed at that time or what happened to him. However, there are some indications that he met with many saints and fakirs
Sai Baba's Teachings
Shirdi Sai Baba was against all persecution based on caste or religion. He openly defied the religious orthodoxy that was most prevalent then. Also, though Sai Baba was himself a sanyasi, he advised his followers to lead a normal family life and experience the world as it was.
In his personal spiritual practice, Sai Baba observed both the Hindu and Muslim worship procedures. Though he shunned the regular use of rituals, he was all for the practice of namaz, chanting of Al-Fatiha, and Qur'an readings during all major Muslim festival days. Occasionally, Sai would recite theAl-Fatiha himself. He also enjoyed listening to moula and qawwali accompanied with the tabla and sarangi.
Sai Baba advocated that his devotees should lead an ethical and moral life,help others and love everyone without discrimination. He also advocated Nishtha (perseverance), Shraddha (dedication) and Saburi (patience). He advised his devotees and followers to keep performing their worldly duties, without being attached to them, and to keep being content, regardless of the life situation they had to face.
Sai Baba would often interpret Hindu and Muslim religious texts, explaining the meaning of the important portions from each text. His discourses would touch upon advanced subjects such as Advaita Vedanta, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga.
He also encouraged charity and placed great importance on the act of giving and sharing. It was his view that everyone should keep aside a sum for charity and give it away to the poor and the needy. He also asked his followers never to belittle anyone who was in dire need, and also to keep helping others whenever and in whatever way they possibly could.
Some famous sayings of Shirdi Sai Baba:
· No harm shall befall him who sets his foot on the soil of Shirdi.
· He who cometh to My Samadhi, his sorrow and suffering shall cease.
· Though I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall ever protect my devotees.
· Trust in Me and your prayer shall be answered.
· Know that My Spirit is immortal. Know this for yourself.
· Show unto me he who sought refuge and been turned away.
· In whatever faith men worship me, even so do I render to them.
· Not in vain is My Promise that I shall ever lighten your burden.
· Knock, and the door shall open. Ask and ye shall be granted.
· To him who surrenders unto me totally I shall be ever indebted.
· Blessed is he who has become one with me.