Shirdi

Abode of the charismatic Shri Sai Baba, Shirdi is the mystical town fragrant with the devotional intensity that sees devotees from across the world thronging to this small hamlet. Highly placed on the world map of spirituality, Shirdi is located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and close to the holy city of Nasik. It is the second most visited pilgrimage site in India, after Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. 

Such is the devotional strength of the place that even a casual visitor cannot remain unaffected by the faith and conviction of the devotees of Sai Baba. Bereft of any religious narrowness, Sai Baba was an Indian Guru revered by both Hindu and Muslim communities. He worshipped both at temples and mosques and encouraged tolerance between both faiths. His life and teachings are wonderful semblance of both faiths.  

Today, Shri Sai Baba has millions of devotees in India and abroad. Shirdi, an obscure village when he arrived there, has become a pilgrimage destination with over 25,000 pilgrims thronging there each day. The number of pilgrims climbs to over a hundred thousand on holidays and festival days. There are over 2,000 Sai temples in different parts of India and 150 abroad in places as far-flung as Canada and Kenya, Singapore and England. 

 

Life of Shirdi Sai Baba

Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi lived between 1838 and 1918. His real name, birthplace and date of birth are not known. An Indian spiritual guru and a fakir who transcended the barriers of religions, Sai Baba of Shirdi was regarded with great reverence by both Hindu and Muslim followers. He lived in a mosque and after death his body was cremated, his ashes enshrined in a temple.  

His philosophy ingrained 'Shraddha' or faith, and 'Saburi' or compassion. According to him Shraddha and Saburi were the supreme attributes to reach the state of godliness. 

Sai Baba is believed to have arrived at the village of Shirdi when he was about sixteen years old. He took up residence in a temple, where a villager at worship first called him Sai ("saint"). Bearing an extremely simple and ascetic life, Sai Baba lived in the village as a mendicant monk. His inherent charisma soon began attracting followers.  

Sai Baba of Shirdi lived an extremely simple and austere life, sleeping on the floor of the Shirdi temple and later taking a ruined mosque as his shelter. With his arrival to Shirdi, in no time he began exhibiting a magnetic attraction among people as they began flocking to him. He is attributed many miracles, doing things that were beyond a mortal's power. He never discouraged these attributes and soon his fame spread like wildfire. Many pilgrims came seeking his blessings. Such was his magnetism that even his mundane activities attracted large crowds.  

Popular among both Hindus and Muslims, Shri Sai Baba became a great building force between the two disparate communities. He regularly recited Hindu and Muslim prayers. His Hindu followers considered him to be an avatar or reincarnation of Shiva and Dattatreya. Sai Baba did not leave any written works. All his teachings were oral and easy to remember. His sayings were short, crisp and in layman language with which the common man could easily associate.  

Sai Baba encouraged charity and said, "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away; but receive them well and treat them with due respect."  

Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi was unique in the sense that he lived his message through the essence of his being. He lived among the common people adorning a torn kafni (long robe), sleeping on a mat using brick as his headrest, and getting his food by begging. His smile radiated a mystical charisma and a deep-seated inward look that transformed people who visited him. 

His most concise message was, "Why fear when I am here". Sai Baba said that he was a slave in the service of those who loved him. He is ever-living to help those who turn to him; and he has to take care of his children day and night.  

Sai Baba's mission was to restore belief in God and, according to him, "I give people what they want in the hope that they will begin to want what I want to give them (knowledge of the Ultimate)." He then taught values of total surrender to the Almighty Master (ALLAH MALIK EK- The only ONE) in order to experience His grace. 

Sai Baba's Teachings

Sai Baba of Shirdi is the epitome of reverence; a guiding force who generates supreme faith and confidence among his devotees looking for salvation and in quest overcoming the drudgery of living. As a divine mother he is saturated with love for those who seek him. With the mission of making people aware of  divine consciousness, and transcending the limits of mortal body, his teachings are guiding his devotees on the path of salvation.

Here are some teachings and philosophies of Sai Baba of Shirdi:

Shraddha
'Shraddha' is a Sanskrit word, which roughly means faith with love and reverence. Such faith or trust is generated out of conviction, which may not be the result of any rational belief or intellectual wisdom, but a spiritual inspiration. According to Sai Baba, steadfast love in God is the gateway to eternity. Baba reiterates the guidance of Shri Krishna to Arjuna - "Whosoever offers to me with love or devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of pure love is readily accepted by me".

Saburi
'Saburi'; means patience and perseverance. Saburi is a quality needed throughout the path to reach the goal. This quality must be ingrained in a seeker from day one, lest he loses his stride and leaves the path half-way

Purity
For Sai Baba, it was not the purity of the body but inner purity that mattered. No amount of physical and external cleansing would serve any purpose if the man remained impure in mind and heart. Therefore, Baba cautioned His devotees not to make austerity an end in itself, lest they should indulge in physical mortification.

Compassion
Himself an epitome of compassion and love, Sai Baba taught compassion among his disciples. Baba often told his devotees, 'Never turn away anybody from your door, be it a human being or animal'.

Complete Surrender to the Guru
Sai Baba put Guru on a high pedestal of reverence. For him Guru was the profound base of the path of devotion. Pointing to his physical frame, "This body is my house. I am not here. My Guru (Master) has taken me away". He asked for complete surrender to the Guru.

Udi
Udi or the sacred ash was produced from the perpetual fire called 'dhuni' lit by Sai Baba in Dwarkamai at Shirdi. Explaining the meaning of life, he would refer to Udi and taught that like Udi all the visible phenomena in the world are transient. Through this example Sai Baba wished to make his devotees understand the sense of discrimination between the unreal and the real. Udi taught the devotees discrimination or vivek.

Dakshina
Sai Baba would ask for 'Dakshina' or alms from those who visited him. In this way, Dakshina taught the devotees non-attachment to worldly things, or Vairagya.

Sayings of Sai Baba of Shirdi

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.

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