Sai Baba (Shirdi)

Sai Baba

Small Sai Baba Shrine by the Roadside, Bajirao Road, Pune (India)

Sai Baba (* around 1838 or 1856; † 1918 in Shirdi ) was a spiritual teacher , yogi and fakir who worked in Shirdi near Mumbai ( Maharashtra ). "Sai Baba" is an honorary title that has been bestowed upon him by admirers ( Pers. Sai "saint", Hindi Baba "father and mother"). Its popularity is said to have been due to its unique charisma. He tried to unite Muslims and Hindus and to overcome their differences: "I look at everyone with the same eye".

Life

Sai Baba lived in Shirdi , his real name is unknown. He was known for answering vague, misleading, and contradicting questions about his parents and origins, and insisting that those questions were irrelevant.

It is reported that he performed in Shirdi around the age of 16. The biographers agree that he stayed in Shirdi for three years, then left for about a year and returned to Shirdi forever around 1858, from which 1838 was derived as his presumed year of birth. He lived ascetic, sat immobile under a neem tree and meditated in yoga posture . “The villagers were amazed to see such a young fellow practicing such harsh penances without being bothered by the heat or cold. During the day he didn't look for anyone's company, at night he feared no one. ”His presence attracted the curiosity of the villagers and religious like Mhalsapati, Appa Jogle and Kashinatha visited him regularly, while others thought he was crazy and children of the village held him with stones pelt.

Apparently he healed people with vibhuti (holy ashes) and countless miracles happened in his presence.

Shirdi Sai Baba is seen by some of his followers as an avatar , a descent, from Shiva or Dattatreya , as a divine being. He is venerated as a saint especially in the area around Mumbai , numerous temples have been built in his honor.

Aftermath

Sathya Sai Baba and Bala Sai Baba claimed to be a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. Sai Kaleshwar referred to his teachings.

photos

literature

Hemadpant: Shri Sai Satcharita. Life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba from Shirdi . Sathya Sai Association, 2002, ISBN 3-932957-15-6 .

Web links

Commons : Sai Baba of Shirdi - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Literature by and about Sai Baba in the catalog of the German National Library
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Germany

Individual evidence

↑ Antonio Rigopoulos: The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi . State University of New York Press, 1993, ISBN 0-7914-1268-7 , pp. 45 .
↑ Antonio Rigopoulos: The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi . State University of New York Press, 1993, ISBN 0-7914-1268-7 , pp. 46 .
↑ Rangaswami Parthasarathy: God Who Walked On Earth. The Life and Times of Shirdi Sai Baba . Sterling Publishing, 1997, ISBN 81-207-1809-7 , pp. 15 .

personal data
SURNAME	Sai Baba
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Sai Baba of Shirdi, Shirdi Sai Baba
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Indian fakir and guru
DATE OF BIRTH	around 1838 or 1856
DATE OF DEATH	1918
Place of death	Shirdi

[1] Antonio Rigopoulos: The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi . State University of New York Press, 1993, ISBN 0-7914-1268-7 , pp. 45 .

[2] Antonio Rigopoulos: The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi . State University of New York Press, 1993, ISBN 0-7914-1268-7 , pp. 46 .

[3] Rangaswami Parthasarathy: God Who Walked On Earth. The Life and Times of Shirdi Sai Baba . Sterling Publishing, 1997, ISBN 81-207-1809-7 , pp. 15 .