Shirdi Sai Baba

by Rajender Pal

Sai Baba of Shirdi holds a unique place in the rich tradition of saints in India. Being an embodiment of self-realisation and perfection, his mission on earth was not solely to preach but to awaken mankind through his messages of love and righteousness. Shirdi Sai Baba, an Indian spiritual guru and a fakir, a personification of spiritual perfection and an epitome of compassion, transcended the barriers of religions, and was regarded by his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint. His real name, birth place, and date of birth are unknown. He is believed to have lived between 1838 and 1918. There is no clear record of his given name, or of his origins. However, there are some indications based on his own words that he was born in a Brahmin family in the village of Pathri, under the name Haribhau. According to estimates he was born circa 1838. He lived in a mosque, and after death, his body was cremated in a temple.