It is believed that as a child of 6, he left Shirdi to return at the age of 16. No body knew authentically the story of his parents his place of birth during his life time. No authenticated record of the Saint’s beginnings are available. Legend has it that He manifested Himself as a young lad of 16 years under a neem tree in Shirdi. The wonder struck villagers rushed to see a young lad practicing hard penance. It is believed that God Khandoba revealed the penance of this young lad who disappeared as enigmatically as He manifested. It is indefinite, whether He was Hindu or Muslim. Today, it is irrelevant. While He celebrated Hindu festivals like Sri Rama Navami, He also participated in the “Sandal Procession: of the Muslims. There were Namaz readings at His masjid and there were also the Gokulashtami celebrations. He was perhaps, a manifestation of the secular nature of God. He was a physical form of culmination of various religions in Him. He was a living example of the ultimate religious philosophy that it is immaterial as to what road you take to reach the goal. There are no specified offerings to Sai Baba at Shirdi. Anything can be offered as prasad. One need not follow any prescribed ritualistic pattern. You can unbathed. You can have a full meal and then visit Shrine. All that Sai expects is Shradha and Saburi. Devotion and Patience.
The life of the saint is in itself wrapped in enigma. It is believed that He lived about 80 years. His earthly sojourn culminated on 15th October 1918. For 60 years, Shirdi was an eyewitness to his divine philosophy, His teeming miracles. He lived like a muslim Faqir in an old deserted mosque, DWARKAMAI. He appeared simple, traditional moody but emphatic. He was a combined picture of now furious, now humane, now furious, now abusive, and now compassionate. His Divine Drama of six decades is a glorious chapter of Indian Philosophy.
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