Shirdi Sai Baba is an Indian saint who is revered and worshipped by millions of devotees across the globe. He is believed to be a manifestation of Sri Dattaguru and was fondly called Sai. Sai never claimed to be a God and humbly preached that he was only a representative of God, but his disciples consider him to be a God. His teachings have a strong bearing even in modern days and his motto of “Sabka Malik Ek” which loosely translates to “There is only one God” has immortalized him as a God for devotees from several religions.

There are several documented evidences of Sai’s miracles and the then tiny village Shirdi in modern day Maharashtra served as the epicenter of his life and his preaching. The temple in Shirdi to this day continues to attract millions of devotees every year from all parts of the country and abroad. The temple and its surroundings bear a testimony to his august presence despite leaving for his heavenly abode more than a century ago.

It is believed that the name Sai Baba is a combination of Indian and Persian origin where the word Sai is from Indian Origin meaning Sakshat Ishwara and the word Baba as used in Indo Aryan Languages means Father/Sir/Grandfather.  It can be said that the name Sai Baba denotes Saintly Father or Holy Father. The life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba are very well documented in the Sai Satcharitra which is written by Shri Hemadpant in Marathi. Later translated in to several languages including English, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Odiya, Bengali, and Nepali among others, the biography of Sai Baba received personal consent and blessings from Baba himself.

The entire life of Sai is considered to be a lesson for the humanity. His humility, his teachings, his lifestyle and his caring nature act as a beacon for the humanity that is lost in darkness. The entire life of Sai is not known. For instance, the details of his life till the age of 16 are vague and thus have led to various speculations about his origin and his life during the time. But time and again, Sai, at various occasions indicated that his life has transcended many generations thus suggesting his divine presence through the time in various forms. However, in his incarnation as Sai Baba, he lived in an old dilapidated mosque which he called Dwarakamai. He practiced both Hindu and Muslim traditions and through his life and his teachings, he taught that the God is only one and only the paths to reach him vary. To prove his point that God is only one, Sai never endorsed any religion and he conscientiously practiced rituals in both religions in an effort to ensure harmony amongst the human beings.

Sai Baba preached that human beings shouldn’t love perishable things and should move towards self- realization. He opposed all forms of persecution based on religion and caste and opposed religious orthodoxy. He encouraged his devotees to pray to their God and read their scriptures. He often quoted from Ramayana and Mahabharata to Hindu followers and encouraged Muslims to read Qur’an, thus promoting harmony among all.