Sai Baba sat under the neem tree as if he was rooted to the ground. He was, in a way, because the neem tree stood at the spot which was his gurusthan, or abode of (his) gurus. The neem tree itself was behind the old masjid (mosque).

The simple natives of Shirdi wondered who this young lad was who sat under the tree in deep meditation, foregoing food, even water. It was the curiosity and concern on the part of Bayajabai, wife of Kote Patil the village chief, that made her occasionally enquire after the lad's welfare, and soon she started bringing food for him. Thus grew a bond between Sai and Bayajabai, which took on shades of mother-son belonging.

On one occasion, he stayed in the Maruti temple, behind the Chavadi, in company of a saint Devidas. Later, saint Jankidas also came to Shirdi and the three of them often discussed spiritual matters sitting in the Hanuman or Maruti temple. After this, Baba mostly made the masjid his home. He called it mother (mai) and christened it "Dwarka", after Lord Krishna's kingdom. Dwarkamai thus came to life. According to Sansthan's communication handler, Dilip Kote, Sai Baba, as an incarnation of Shiva, naturally chose a shamshon (burial ground) for his abode. In keeping with the traditions prevalent in the region, Hindus, (as well as Muslims) are also buried, if cremation (as per Hindu custom) is not preferred. Thus, Baba's own "Samadhi" and those of his close associates, lies in the complex.

The Shirdi pilgrimage area is rather compact, spread over an area of less than a square kilometer. After alighting from a bus on the main road itself, or at the bus stand near the main gate, one can proceed to any number of lodges, hotels or pest-houses, including those run by the Shirdi Sai Sansthan, and get a room ranging from fifty rupees to five thousand.

Due to the growing popularity of Sai Baba, the crowds at the Samadhi Mandir are an exercise in management. This, however, is no excuse for over-zealous security guards to treat the pilgrims roughly. What would Shirdi be without pilgrims? wonder many who suffer the security staff. On the whole, the entire staff is rather authoritarian. They must realise that without pilgrims there would be nothing to manage and thus they may have no jobs! Sai Baba provides them with their livelihood. Since September 1, 2004, the Maharashtra government has taken over the management and running of the Shirdi temple complex.

These are the eleven teachings given to all devotees by Sai Baba.

Those who step in Shirdi, their sufferings will end.

Those who climb the steps of Dwarkamai, misery will leave them.

For the benefit of our devotees, we have highlighted 101 miracles taken from Sri Sai Satcharitra as performed by Sai Baba during his time.

1.    Wheat grinding and flour thrown at the village border to keep plague away from them. Pg 3

2.    Baba helped and entrusted Mr Dhabolkar to write this book though he was not a writer. Pg 7

These are some of the extracts taken from Sai Satcharitra.

The life of a Saint is neither logical nor dialectical. It shows us true and great path.

The simple remembrances of my name as "Sai Sai" will do away with sins of speech & hearings.

Throughout the history of India - at least the 4,500 unbroken and documented years since the discovery of the first civilization of the world in 2500 BC., i.e., the Indus Valley Civilisation - India has been called the Poonya Bhoomi, or the Blessed Land. This is so because several rivers crisscrossed it and several rulers made dharma, or righteouness and high moral values, their mantra. It was thus also called the Karma Bhoomi, where each section of society followed the principal of division of labour and the Dharma Bhoomi, where the rule of law and the ruler were the same. In short, India, or Bharatdesha, as it was called in ancient times, was a benevolent place where religion meant leading an orderly life with discipline and morality.

Dwarkamai is a mosque where Baba spent about 60 years of his life. In Baba's early days only upper portion of the mosque was existed and Baba kept the sacred fire (dhuni) all his life and is kept on till to day.

Highly merciful is this Masjid (mosque) Ayi (mother). Once a person climb into her lap, all their troubles are over - Sai Baba.

For all Shirdi Sai Baba devotees, we also now offer Shirdi Live Darshan. Those who cannot visit Shirdi and take part in Baba's aarti's and take HIS darshan, Shirdi Live Darshan is now offered on our website.

Shirdi Live can be seen here from 4am to 11pm Indian Standard Time, everyday. Please note that this Live Darshan stream works best on Windows Media Player, so please make sure you have the latest Windows Media Player installed.

The Shirdi Live Darshan is the copyright of Shirdi Sai Sansthan, and the stream is also provided by them for the benefit of all Baba's devotees.

Shirdi Aarti Timings

4.00am
Kakad Aarti (morning)

12.00pm
Mid-day Aarti

At sunset
Dhoop Aarti

10.30pm
Shej Aarti

Saints are rarely born; they are gifted to mankind, for a larger, deeper purpose.

Sai Baba of Shirdi is one such saint, whose presence has helped many. And continues to help and guide, even after he left his human form. Although his birth and origins are shrouded in mystery and myth, his actions and examples have led many to a path of salvation and succour.

Hemadpant records in the Sri Sai Satcharitra that nobody knew of Sai's parents, birth or birth-place. Many a times enquiries were made and questions asked of Baba and others, but no clear or satisfactory answer ever manifested. By one account, he was said to have been born to a Brahmin couple who gave the child away to a Sufi saint, Roshan Shah, for upbringing. But this is not substantiated. Saints like Namdev and Kabir were in the same league; none knew of their birth since they were found as infants in mother-of-pearl shells. Namdev was found on the bank of Bhimrathi River by Gonayi, and Kabir on the bank of Bhagirathi River. Sai was "found" in Shirdi.