Shiridi Sai Baba.

Sai Baba used to smoke beedi and eat mutton biryani. This is our thought process and Baba used to costantly monitor the thought process of his devotees by asking them what they were talking about in a very fatherly manner. 

Shiridi Sai Baba needs no introduction, however for the benefit of my readers I will add a few words about Sai Baba and why I think He is relevant in today’s context.

Sai Baba was first discovered as a young boy in Shiridi sitting under a tree in Samadhi and all the animals were circumambulating or going around Him as if drawn by a strange magnetic power. It was as if he was the post to which all the animals were tied by an invisible thread or rope.

The villagers respected Him, but He was indifferent to both honor & dishonor as children used to throw stones at this mad Fakir. Thereafter He disappeared and returned after a few years with a Muslim Family in their marriage party and stayed in Shiridi for sixty years.

Since the internet and many books and videos are there, I shall not write or repeat the same here about Sai Baba , but shall only write about why He is relevant today and can solve all our problems faced by Humanity all over the world.

Sai Baba was a Yogi who could perform many of the Yogic feats as described in the Yoga Sutra, He encouraged people to follow their own religion and scriptures . There was constant reading of religious scriptures in Masjidmayee where he chose to dwell – a dilapidated ,crumbling old mosque which he referred to as Dwarkamayee.

Sai Baba always uttered “Allah Mallik Hai” , “Ram Bhala Karega” and behaved as a Sufi Fakir and had full knowledge about the Muslim religion and therefore had both Muslim and Hindu Devotees.

He fashioned His abode as a Khanqah or Dargah of the Sufi Saints where constant Bhajan , Kirtan ,Aarti and singing in praise of God used to take place. If we observe – this had traces of the Bhakti Movement, similar to singing of Gurbani in the Gurudwara, singing of Qawwali in the Dargah of the Sufi Saints. The whole singing and music process is recognized today as the best healing and rejuvenating for mind and body as it elevates the mood.

Sai Baba had a constant fire burning much like the Yogis and followers of Zoroastrians and from that fire’s ashes he used to freely distribute Udi or ashes as Prasad which was also known as a cure for all ills and diseases.

Sai Baba also used to Himself cook for hundreds of people and operate a community kitchen where both vegetarian and non vegetarian food was cooked, it was similar to the langar of Gurudwara and free kitchens operated by Sufi Saints.

The whole purpose was to bring about social cohesion, mutual tolerance, serving the poor and hungry.

Shiridi soon became a Spiritual retreat where people from far and near came for His darshan or meeting Him to solve their problems and all were blessed and wishes fulfilled by the Grace of God.  

Shiridi soon became a social, cultural centre for rapid evolution of society and individuals benefitted from His holy company.

Today a lot of Sai Baba temples have come up all over the world and they all have the following :

1.  An idol of Sai Baba – like any Hindu Temple where the Deity is worshipped as father, mother , preceptor , Guru  and to focus their attention and communicate to a form who can help in communicating with the formless God.   
2. Place for reading Sai Satcharita- The life and teachings of Sai Baba – similar to Temples, Mosques & Gurudwara where religious scriptures as per one’s own faith and believe can be read in a silent and tranquil environment.
3.   A constantly burning fire – Similar to the Yogis and symbol of light, place for collecting Udi or sacred ash.
4. Arti and Bhajan – Similar to Temple, Mosque or Gurudwara where prayers are done four times a day. A place for Satsang or getting together of like minded people.
5.  Langar or Community Kitchen – Similar to Sufi Khanqah , Gurudwara where food is regularly distributed to the poor and hungry people.
6. Social Work – small dispensary for distributing medicines, treatment of sick , education for children with help of internet and digital products.

Therefore if the communities or societies take up building of similar Sai Baba temples , it would bring about more peace and harmony in a society which is constantly in competition of us versus them syndrome and build a common platform for social cohesion and bonding during times of natural disaster like flood , earthquakes and help evolution.

Possibilities are endless – Om Sai Ram.