Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sai Baba of Shirdi

Shirdi Sai Baba sitting
Full name Sai Baba of Shirdi
Born unknown
Pathri, India
Died October 15, 1918
Era 20th century
Region India
School Advaita Vedanta, Sufism

Sai Baba of Shirdi (Unknown – October 15, 1918), also known as Shirdi Sai Baba (Marathi: शिर्डी साई बाबा), was an Indian guru, yogi and fakir who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim devotees as a saint. Some of his Hindu followers believe that he was an incarnation of Shiva or Dattatreya. Many devotees believe that he was a Sadguru. There are many stories and eyewitness accounts of miracles he performed. He is a well-known figure in many parts of the world, but especially in India, where he is much revered.

The name 'Sai Baba' is a believed to be a combination of Persian and Indian origin but the fact is thatSāī is name from Indian origin meaning "Sakshat Ishwar" given by the priest Mahalsapati ( a close devotee of Sai Baba) during the evening when baba returned to shirdi after leaving shirdi earlier in his teen days( reference to it could be found in Sai Charitra). Although the priest Mahalsapti confesses the fact that he also does not realise him giving the name of "Sai" to Baba. Baba (honorific) is a word meaning "father; grandfather; old man; sir" used in Indo-Aryan languages. The appellative thus refers to Sai Baba as being a "holy father" or "saintly father".[1] His parentage, birth details, and life before the age of sixteen are obscure, which has led to a variety of speculations and theories attempting to explain Sai Baba's origins. In his life and teachings he tried to reconcile Hinduism and Islam: Sai Baba lived in a mosque which he called Dwarakamayi, practiced Hindu and Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions and was buried in a Hindu temple in Shirdi. One of his well known epigrams says of God: "Sabka Malik Ek " ("One God governs all") which traces its root to the Bhagavad-Gita and Islam in general, and Sufism, in particular. He always uttered "Allah Malik" ("God is Master"). He had no love for perishable things, and was always engrossed in self-realization, which was his sole concern.

Sai Baba taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace,and devotion to God and guru. His teachings combined elements of Hinduism and Islam and tried to achieve communal harmony between these religions.

Sai Baba remains a very popular saint[2] and is worshipped by people around the world. Though the debate over his Hindu or Muslim origins continues to take place, his personal religious practices such as belief in the unity of God, reciting Al-Fatiha among other Quranic verses, liking Namaz as a way of prayer, and other individual preferences such as the attire of a Muslim saint with head covered, consumption of meat and abstinence from alcohol point more to him being a Muslim. According to Purdom, when Kulkarni Maharaj strongly requested Upasni Maharaj to pay a visit to Sai Baba, Upasni replied 'Why should I go to a Muslim?'[3] He is also revered by several notable Hindu and Sufi religious leaders. Some of his disciples received fame as spiritual figures and saints such as Upasni Maharaj, Meher Baba, Saint Bidkar Maharaj, Saint Gangagir, Saint Jankidas Maharaj and Sati Godavari Mataji.[4][5]

Contents

Early years

Details of the time and place of Sai Baba's birth are unknown. Various communities have claimed that he belongs to them, but nothing has been substantiated. It is known that he spent considerable periods with fakirs, and his attire resembled that of a Muslim fakir. Baba reportedly arrived at the village of Shirdi in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India, when he was about 16 years old. Although there is no agreement among biographers on 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.[6]

Some claim Baba was born on 29 September 1835, but there is no apparent reason on how the date was arrived at. In any case, the only agreement amongst historians and his devotees is that there is no conclusive evidence of his birthday and place. He led an ascetic life, sitting motionless under a neem tree and meditating while sitting in an asana. The Sai Satcharita recounts the reaction of the villagers:

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.[7]

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.[8] 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, and worked as a weaver; he claimed to have fought with the army of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.[9]

Shirdi and teaching

In 1858 Sai Baba returned to Shirdi with Chand Patil's wedding procession. After alighting near the Khandoba temple he was greeted with the words "Ya Sai" (Marathi:welcome saint) by the temple priest Mhalsapati. The name Sai stuck to him and some time later he started being known as Sai Baba.[10] It's also widely believed that he was either already known as Sai, or looked like one to the priest as it's improbable for a hindu priest to address a saint perceived by him to be a hindu by a muslim title of Sai. It was around this time that Baba adopted his famous style of dress, consisting of a knee-length one-piece robe (kafni) and a cloth cap. Ramgir Bua, a devotee, testified that Baba was dressed like an athlete and sported 'long hair flowing down to his buttocks' when he arrived in Shirdi, and that he never had his head shaved. It was only after Baba forfeited a wrestling match with one Mohdin Tamboli that he took up the kafni and cloth cap, articles of typical Sufi clothing.[11] This attire contributed to Baba's identification as a Muslim fakir, and was a reason for initial indifference and hostility against him in a predominantly Hindu village.[12] According to B.V. Narasimhaswami, a posthumous follower who was widely praised as Sai Baba's "apostle", this attitude was prevalent even among some of his devotees in Shirdi, even up to 1954.[13]

For four to five years Baba lived under a neem tree, and often wandered for long periods in the jungle in and around Shirdi. His manner was said to be withdrawn and uncommunicative as he undertook long periods of meditation.[14] He was eventually persuaded to take up residence in an old and dilapidated mosque and lived a solitary life there, surviving by begging for alms and receiving itinerant Hindu or Muslim visitors. In the mosque he maintained a sacred fire which is referred to as a dhuni, from which he had the custom of giving sacred ash ('Udhi') to his guests before they left and which was believed to have healing powers and protection from dangerous situations. At first he performed the function of a local hakim and treated the sick by application of Udhi. Baba also delivered spiritual teachings to his visitors, recommending the reading of sacred Hindu texts along with the Qur'an, especially insisting on the indispensability of the unbroken remembrance of God's name (dhikr, japa). He often expressed himself in a cryptic manner with the use of parables, symbols and allegories.[15] He participated in religious festivals and was also in the habit of preparing food for his visitors, which he distributed to them as prasad. Sai Baba's entertainment was dancing and singing religious songs (he enjoyed the songs of Kabir most). His behavior was sometimes uncouth and violent.[16][17]

After 1910 Sai Baba's fame began to spread in Mumbai. Numerous people started visiting him, because they regarded him as a saint (or even an avatar) with the power of performing miracles,[18] they built his first ever temple at Bhivpuri, Karjat as desired by Sai Baba.[19]

Notable disciples

Sai Baba left behind no spiritual heirs and appointed no disciples. In fact, he did not even provide formal initiation (diksha), despite requests from some of his devotees. Some disciples of Sai Baba achieved fame as spiritual figures like Upasni Maharaj of Sakori and Meher Baba of Ahmednagar. After Sai Baba died, his devotees offered the daily Aarti to Upasani Maharaj when he paid a visit to Shirdi, two times with an interval of 10 years.

Teachings and practices

Shirdi Sai Baba, leaning against the wall of his masjid, with devotees

In his personal practice, Sai Baba observed worship procedures belonging to Hinduism and Islam; he shunned any kind of regular rituals but allowed the practice of namaz, chanting of Al-Fatiha, and Qur'an readings at Muslim festival times.[20] Occasionally reciting the Al-Fatiha himself, Baba also enjoyed listening to moulu and qawwali accompanied with the tabla and sarangi twice daily.[21] He also wore clothing reminiscent of a Sufi fakir. Sai Baba also opposed all sorts of persecutions on religious or caste background.

Sai Baba was also an opponent of religious orthodoxy - both Hindu and Muslim.[22] Although Sai Baba himself led the life of an ascetic, he advised his followers to lead an ordinary family life.

Sai Baba encouraged his devotees to pray, chant God's name and read holy scriptures - he told Muslims to study the Qur'an, and Hindus, texts like the Ramayana, Vishnu Sahasranam, Bhagavad Gita (and commentaries to it)and , Yoga Vasistha.[23] He advised his devotees and followers to lead a moral life, help others, love every living being without any discrimination, treat them with love and develop two important features of character: faith (Shraddha) and patience (Saburi). He also criticized atheism.[24] In his teachings Sai Baba emphasized the importance of performing one's duties without attachment to earthly matters and being ever content regardless of the situation.

Sai Baba also interpreted the religious texts of both faiths. According to what the people who stayed with him said and wrote he had a profound knowledge of them. He explained the meaning of the Hindu scriptures in the spirit of Advaita Vedanta. This was the character of his philosophy. It also had numerous elements of bhakti. The three main Hindu spiritual paths - Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga - were visible in the teachings of Sai Baba.[25] Another example of the way he combined both faiths is the Hindu name he gave to his mosque, Dwarakamai.[26]

Sai Baba said that God penetrates everything and lives in every being, and as well that God is the essence of each of them. He emphasized the complete oneness of God which was very close to the Islamic tawhid and the Hindu doctrine, e.g. of the Upanishads. Sai Baba said that the world and all that the human may give is transient and only God and his gifts are eternal. Sai Baba also emphasized the importance of devotion to God - bhakti - and surrender to his will. He also talked about the need of faith and devotion to one's spiritual preceptor (guru). He said that everyone was the soul and not the body. He advised his disciples and followers to overcome the negative features of character and develop the good ones. He taught them that all fate was determined by karma.

Sai Baba left no written works. His teachings were oral, typically short, pithy sayings rather than elaborate discourses. Sai would ask his followers for money (dakshina), which he would give away to the poor and other devotees the same day and spend the rest on buying wood to maintain Dhuni. According to his followers he did it in order to rid them of greed and material attachment.

Sai encouraged charity and the importance of sharing with others. He 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 Hari (God) will be certainly pleased if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from you and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him like a dog."[27] Other favorite sayings of his were: "Why do you fear when I am here",[28] "He has no beginning... He has no end."[28] Sai Baba made eleven assurances to his devotees:

Sai Baba of Shirdi (took samadhi in 1918)
  1. Whosoever puts their feet on Shirdi soil, their sufferings will come to an end.
  2. The wretched and miserable will rise to joy and happiness as soon as they climb the steps of Dwarakamai (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 all who come to Me, who surrender to Me and who seek refuge in Me.
  8. If you look at Me, I look at you.
  9. If you cast your burden on Me, I shall surely bear it.
  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 devotee.

Worship and devotees

The Shirdi Sai Baba movement began in the 19th century, during his life, while he was staying in Shirdi. A local Khandoba priest - Mhalsapati - is believed to have been his first devotee. However, in the 19th century Sai Baba's followers were only a small group of Shirdi inhabitants and a few people from other parts of India. It started developing in the 20th century and even faster in 1910 with the Sankirtans of Dasganu (one of Sai's devotees) who spread Sai Baba's fame to the whole of India. Since 1910 numerous Hindus and Muslims from all parts of India started coming to Shirdi. During his life Hindus worshiped him with Hindu rituals and Muslims revered him greatly, considering him to be a saint. Later (in the last years of Sai Baba's life) Christians and Zoroastrians started joining the Shirdi Sai movement.[2]

The Sai Baba Mandir in Shirdi is active and every day worship of Sai is conducted in it. Pilgrims visit Shirdi every day. Shirdi Baba is especially revered and worshiped in the state of Maharashtra and in Gujarat. A religious organization of Sai Baba's devotees called the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust is based there. The first ever Sai Baba temple is situated at Bhivpuri, Karjat.

The devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba have spread all over India.[2] According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Religion there is at least one Sai Baba mandir in nearly every Indian city.[2] His image is quite popular in India.[2] Some ordinary non-religious publishing houses (such as Sterling Publishers) publish books about Shirdi Sai written by his devotees.[29] Shirdi is among the major Hindu places of pilgrimage.[30] The Shirdi Sai Baba movement is partially organized. Only a part of his followers and devotees belong to the Shri Saibaba Sansthan or to other religious organizations that worship him.

Beyond India the Shirdi Sai movement has spread to other countries such as the U.S. or the Caribbean. Sai Baba mandirs and organizations of his devotees have been built in countries including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the USA. The Shirdi Sai Baba movement is one of the main Hindu religious movements in English-speaking countries.[31]

According to estimates the Sai mandir in Shirdi is visited by around twenty thousand pilgrims a day and during religious festivals this number amounts to a hundred thousand.[32]

Sai Baba had many notable disciples and devotees:

  1. Nana Saheb Chandorkar: Deputy Collector – legend has it that Baba saved his daughter Mayna from labor complications.
  2. Ganapath Rao: Popularly known as Das Ganu, police Constable, later resigned to become an ascetic.
  3. Tatya Patil: Kote Patil and Bhaija bai's son had immense faith in Sai Baba and served him until Sai Baba took samadhi. He's also known to be Sai Baba's younger brother.
  4. Bhaija Bhai kote patil: Sai Baba treated her as his mother.
  5. Madhav Rao Deshpande: Later known as Shama, one of the staunch devotees of Sai Baba who had relations of 72 births with Sai Baba.
  6. Hemadpant: Baba allowed him to keep memos and write Sai Sat Charitra.
  7. Mhalsapati: A poor priest of Khandoba Temple, who had relations of 72 births with Sai Baba.
  8. Dasganu: Dasganu was like a messenger of Sai, he moved from place to place spreading Sai Baba's fame.
  9. Shravani and her family: Great devotees of Sai Baba. They have immense faith in him.

Reported Miracles

Sai Baba's millions of disciples, followers and devotees believe that he had performed many miracles. Some of them were: bilocation, exorcisms, curing the incurably sick, helping his devotees in need in a miraculous way, reading the minds of others. Numerous inhabitants of Shirdi talked about these miracles. Some of them even wrote about them in books. They talked and wrote about how they (and others) were the witnesses of his unusual Yogic powers: levitation, entering a state of Samādhi at wish, even removing his limbs and sticking them back to his body (Khanda Yoga) or doing the same with his intestines.

Some additional famous examples of such miracles include making the river Jumna (Yamuna), taking a disease of another, appearing in flesh and blood after death, appearing beaten when another was beaten, preventing a mosque from falling down on people, and more.[33]

According to his followers he appeared to them after his death, in dreams, visions and even in bodily form, when he often gave them advice. His devotees have many stories and experiences to tell.[34] Many books have been written on these events.

Historical sources

Biographers of Sai Baba (e.g. Govindrao Raghunath Dabholkar, Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja, Smriti Srinivas, Antonio Rigopolous) have based their writing on primary sources. One such source is the Shirdi Diary by Ganesh Shrikrishna Khaparde, which describes every day of the author's stay at Shirdi.

Speculation about the unknown episodes of Sai Baba's life are primarily based on his own words.

The most important source about Sai's life is the Shri Sai Satcharita, written in Marathi in 1916 by Govindrao Raghunath Dabholkar, whom Sai Baba nicknamed Hemadpant.[35]

Consisting of 50 chapters, it describes Baba's life, teachings and the various miracles he performed for his devotees. It describes how one should surrender one's egoism at God's feet and trust one's guru to carry one across the ocean of worldly existence. It explains how God is supreme and His devotees should trust Him and love Him with all their heart. It teaches that God is present in all forms - human, animal, insect and plant. Everything on this earth is a form of God and must be treated with love and respect.

The book talks about Baba's lifestyle, and his selfless attitude and love towards his devotees. His love is compared to a mother's love: caring and loving when needed and reprimanding when a mistake is made.

Other important sources about Sai Baba are books by B. V. Narasimhaswamiji such as Sri Sai Baba's Charters and Sayings or Devotee's Experiences of Sai Baba. Sri Sai Baba and His Teachings by Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja is an in-depth study of Sai's life routine and activities.

In various religions

Sai Baba depicted on a tapestry

Hinduism

During Sai Baba's life, the Hindu saint Anandanath of Yewala declared Sai Baba a spiritual "diamond".[36] Another saint, Gangagir, called him a "jewel".[36] Sri Beedkar Maharaj greatly revered Sai Baba, and in 1873, when he met him he bestowed the title Jagadguru upon him.[37][38] Sai Baba was also greatly respected by Vasudevananda Saraswati (known as Tembye Swami).[39] Sai of Shirdi was also revered by a group of Shaivic yogis, to which he belonged, known as the Nath-Panchayat.[40]

Other religions

Sai Baba is considered a Pir by some Sufi groups. Meher Baba declared Baba to be a Qutub-e-Irshad - the highest of the five Qutubs, "Master of the Universe".[41] Baba is also worshipped by prominent Zoroastrians such as Nanabhoy Palkhivala and Homi Bhabha, and has been cited as the most popular non-Zoroastrian religious figure attracting the attention of Zoroastrians.[42]

In culture

Sacral art and architecture

In India, in nearly every larger city there is at least one temple dedicated to Sai Baba.[2] There are even some in towns and cities outside India. In the mosque in Shirdi in which Sai Baba lived there is a life-size portrait of him by Shama Rao Jaykar, an artist from Mumbai. Numerous monuments and statues depicting Sai Baba, which serve a religious function, have also been made. One of them, made of marble by a sculptor named Balaji Vasant Talim, is in the Samadhi Mandir in Shirdi where Sai Baba was buried.[43] In Sai Baba temples, his devotees play various kinds of devotional religious music, such as aarti.[44]

Indian Postal Service released a commemorative stamp on Sai Baba on 20 May 2008.[45]

On July 30, 2009, the New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah inaugurated what has been acclaimed as the largest solar steam system in the world at the Shirdi shrine. The Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust paid an estimated Rs.1.33 crore for the system, Rs.58.4 lakh which was paid as a subsidy by the renewable energy ministry. It is said the system can cook 20,000 meals per day for pilgrims visiting the temple .[46][47][48]

Film and television

Sai Baba has been the subject of several feature films produced by India's film industry.

Year Film Title role Director Language Notes
1977 Shirdi ke Sai Baba Sudhir Dalvi Ashok V. Bhushan Hindi Also featuring Manoj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, Sachin, Prem Nath
1986 Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam Vijayachander K. Vasu Telugu Dubbed into Hindi as Shirdi Sai Baba Ki Kahani, into Tamil as Sri Shiridi Saibaba
1989 Bhagavan shri Sai Baba Sai prakash Sai prakash Kannada
1993 Sai Baba Yashwant Dutt Babasaheb S. Fattelal Marathi Also featuring Lalita Pawar
2001 Shirdi Sai Baba Sudhir Dalvi Deepak Balraj Vij Hindi Also featuring Dharmendra, Rohini Hattangadi, Suresh Oberoi
2005 Ishwarya Avatar Sai Baba Mukul Nag Ramanand Sagar Hindi Composite movie drawn from Sagar's TV serial, Sai Baba.
2008 Malik Ek Jackie Shroff Deepak Balraj Vij Hindi Expected release in 2008. Also featuring Manoj Kumar, Divya Dutta, Rohini Hattangadi, Zarina Wahab and Anup Jalota as Das Ganu.

Also a Shirdi Sai Baba picture also is seen in the music video Say Hey (I Love You) by Micheal Franti.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. p. 3. ISBN 0791412687. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Srinivas Sathya Sai Baba movement
  3. ↑ The God-Man: The life, journeys and work of Meher Baba with an interpretation of his silence and spiritual teaching, Crescent Beach, South Carolina: Sheriar Press, 1971, p. 23).
  4. ↑ Ruhela, S. P. (ed), Truth in Controversies about Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, Faridabad, Indian Publishers Distributors, 2000. ISBN 8173411212
  5. ↑ Dabholkar, Govind Raghunath, Shri Sai satcharita : the life and teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba (1999)
  6. ↑ Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. p. 45. ISBN 0791412687. 
  7. ↑ Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. p. 46. ISBN 0791412687. 
  8. ↑ Parthasarathy, Rangaswami (1997). God Who Walked On Earth: The Life and Times of Shirdi Sai Baba. Sterling Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 81-207-1809-7. 
  9. ↑ (To Balakrishna Upasani Shastri) "I was at the battle in which the Rani of Jhansi took part. I was then in the army." Quoted in Narasimhaswami, B.V. (1986). Sri Sai Baba's Charters & Sayings. All-India Sai Samaj, Madras. p. 209. 
  10. ↑ Bharadwaja, Acharya E. (1996). Sai Baba The Master. India: Sree Guru Paduka Publications. p. 21. 
  11. ↑ Warren, Marianne (1997). Unravelling the Enigma: Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism. Sterling Publishers. p. 104. ISBN 81-207-2147-0. 
  12. ↑ Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. pp. 51–52. ISBN 0791412687. 
  13. ↑ Narasimhaswami, B.V. (1990). Life of Sai Baba (Vol. 1). Madras: All-India Sai Samaj. p. 24. : "One very closely associated devotee of his, now living, still believes that Baba was 'only a Mohammadan.' What can 'only a Mohammadan' mean? It means that even after 25 years of personal experience of him and 36 years of his post mortem glories, the devotee treats him as a communalist just as he did when Baba was in the flesh."
    Narasimhaswami, B.V. (1990). Life of Sai Baba (Vol. 1). Madras: All-India Sai Samaj. pp. 24–25. : "Baba wished to convince the devotee, if he was a Hindu, that he was Mahavishnu, Lakshminarayan, etc., and he bade water flow from his feet as Ganga issued from Mahavishnu's feet. The devotee saw it and praised him as 'Rama Vara', but as for the water coming from his feet, that devotee simply sprinkled a few drops on his head and would not drink it coming as it did from a Mohammadan's feet. So great was the prejudice of ages that even one, who thought of him as Vishnu, thought he was a 'Muslim Vishnu'. Prejudices die hard and the devotee wondered and wonders how people can believe that Baba was a Brahmin and that his parents were Brahmins when he had lived all his life in a mosque and when he was believed to be a Muslim."
  14. ↑ Warren, Marianne (1997). Unravelling the Enigma: Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism. Sterling Publishers. p. 45. ISBN 81-207-2147-0. 
  15. ↑ Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. p. 86. ISBN 0791412687. 
  16. ↑ "That Shirdi Sai Baba was eccentric is well-attested, for it seems that he was sometimes of uncouth and violent behavior." In Bowen, David (1988). The Sathya Sai Baba Community in Bradford: Its origins and development, religious beliefs and practices. Leeds: University Press. p. 135. 
  17. ↑ "Of unpredictable moods, devotees remember him as both loving and harsh. When he got angry, often for no apparent reason, he would scream or abuse people, sometimes for hours at an end, at times even tearing off his own clothes." In Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. xxxiii. ISBN 0791412687. 
  18. ↑ Warren, Marianne (1997). Unravelling the Enigma: Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism. Sterling Publishers. pp. 340–341. ISBN 81-207-2147-0. 
  19. ↑ Sai Ananta - Kaka Saheb Dixit Trust of Shri Sai Baba at www.saiananta.com
  20. ↑ Warren, Marianne (1999). Unravelling The Enigma: Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism. Sterling Publishers. p. 29. ISBN 8120721470. 
  21. ↑ Ibid. p.30
  22. ↑ Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. p. 139. ISBN 0791412687. 
  23. ↑ Dabholkar/Gunaji Shri Sai Satcharita/Shri Sai Satcharitra chapter 27. He was impressed by the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita and encouraged people to follow it in their own lives.[1]
  24. ↑ Dabholkar/Gunaji Shri Sai Satcharita/Shri Sai Satcharitra chapter 3 [2]
  25. ↑ Rigopoulos, Antonio (1993). The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. SUNY. pp. 261–352. ISBN 0791412687. 
  26. ↑ Hoiberg, Dale; I. Ramchandani (2000). Students' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan. http://books.google.com/books?id=ISFBJarYX7YC&pg=PA324&ots=1vYEoNWtwv&dq=%22Sai+Baba+of+Shirdi%22&sig=i_gEG0qxDKxFR7AuWhsXxbjITBg&output=html. Retrieved 2007-12-01. 
  27. ↑ Dabholkar (alias Hemadpant) Shri Sai Satcharita Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Shirdi, (translated from Marathi into English by Nagesh V. Gunaji in 1944) available online or downloadable
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Saibaba.org". http://chavadi.saibaba.org:8080/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  29. ↑ "Sai Literature". http://www.shirdibaba.org/books/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  30. ↑ Gibson L. Modern World Religions: Hinduism - Pupil Book Core p. 42
  31. ↑ Brady R., Coward H. G., Hinnels J. H. "The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States" p. 93 [3]
  32. ↑ "Temple Complex". http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/main_english/shirdi/templecomplex.asp. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  33. ↑ http://www.saibaba.org/
  34. ↑ Ruhela Sri Shirdi Sai Baba - the universal master pp. 141-154
  35. ↑ It was translated into English by Nagesh Vasudevanand Gunaji.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Who is Shirdi Sai Baba"". http://templeofpeace.org/history.html. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  37. ↑ "A Short Biography of Shree Sadguru Beedkar Maharaj". http://www.swamisamarth.com/parampara/beedkar_biography.html#An%20Avadhoot%20appears%20in%20front%20of%20Shree%20Beedkar%20Maharaj. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  38. ↑ "Beedkar Maharaj". Sai Vichaar, Oct 06, 2005, volume 8, issue 2001. http://www.saibaba.org/newsletter8-21.html. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  39. ↑ Dabholkar/Gunaji Shri Sai Satcharita/Shri Sai Satcharitra chapter 50 [4]
  40. ↑ Ruhela Sri Shirdi Sai Baba - the universal master p. 27
  41. ↑ Kalchuri, Bhau: "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986. p. 64
  42. ↑ Hinnels J. R. Zoroastrians Diaspora: religion and migration p. 109
  43. ↑ Ruhela Sri Shirdi Sai Baba - The Universal Master
  44. ↑ "Welcome to Shirdi Sai Trust - Arathi Timings". http://shirdisaitrust.org/sst_arathi_timings.html. Retrieved 2007-10-30. 
  45. ↑ "Indian Postal Service site". http://www.indiapost.gov.in/stamps2008.html. 
  46. ↑ Express India Shirdi Gets Largest Solar Cooking System
  47. ↑ Deccan Chronicle Shirdis solar cooker finds place
  48. ↑ Thai Indian Shirdi Gets worlds largest solar steam system
  49. ↑ "TV's fascination for the gods". http://www.blonnet.com/life/2005/10/07/stories/2005100700180400.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 

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