Shirdi Sai Baba Life

"Life history of Shirdi Sai Baba was originally written in Telugu by Ammula Sambasiva Rao, and translated into English by Thota Bhaskara Rao. The book delves deep into the details of the life of Shirdi Sai Baba right from his birth till attainment of Samadhi. The author has expounded Sai Tatwa or Sai philosophy in a simple language, interpersed with engrossing anecdotes in the life of Sai devotees.

Sai Baba of Shirdi is a phenomenon. In all of India s history, there has never been another like him. He is no conventional saint, he wrote no critique of any holy work, made no ashram or peetham, yet he had profound insight into both Hindu and Islamic scriptures. He performed miracles but in no manner or means to impress anyone, devotees or otherwise. Sai Baba in every way remains unique. He came in his late twenties to Shirdi, an insignificant Hamlet in Ahmednagar District where he spent fifty years of his remaining life. Shirdi is no longer an obscure village. Today it is a centre of pilgrimage for lakhs of Sai Baba s devotees. This book translated into Hindi is a complete account of his life and mission.Hindi Rs. 95 / Telugu Rs. 125

A vast and diversified religious movement originating from Sai Baba of Shirdi, is often referred to as "the Sai Baba movement." Through the chronological presentation of Sai Baba's life, light is shed on the various ways in which the important guru figures in this movement came to be linked to the saint of Shirdi.

This book tells the life story of the Baba legendary Indian saint Shirdi Sai Baba, through the words of Sri Kaleshwar, one of India's most highly respected spiritual leaders. It shares the deep hidden meaning of this great soul's divine life and actions. Sri Kaleshwar says, "In my meditation visions, I saw the major things Baba did in his life, like a movie. Any person can see a soul's life through the power channels. He was a simple character, enjoying the divine fragrance of his life. It's one of the best divine stories ever written. It's a blockbuster movie." Living as an outcast on the outskirts of Shirdi for eighteen years before spending the rest of his life in a dilapidated temple he named Dwarkamai, Shirdi Sai Baba lived as a simple beggar while performing miraculous healings and taking the pain and suffering of the whole globe. "I am Grandfather to all people," he said, "Whoever calls me heartfully, I am there. I will take care of you wherever you are." Shirdi Baba's life demonstrated the unity of all religions. No one knew which religion he belonged to. He was revered by Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike. He said, "All human beings are one. Our religion is humanity, God is one."

Who was Sai Baba? Where did he come from and what was his message? How and why was he worshipped as a God? Who were his disciples and why were they attracted to him? What do his devotees, numbering millions all over the country, think of his lilas? Have they experienced his compassion, and received succour and relief in their hour of need? These questions are answered in this biography of a living God who charmed and captured the hearts of people from all walks of life, of all religions, rich and poor, the learned and the illiterate. Many books have been written about Sai Baba of Shirdi but this one is different. For the first time a comprehensive and objective account of the life and times of Sai Baba is given in simple and easy to-understand language without omitting any aspect of Baba’s life and his philosophy. The book presents an absorbing story of a man who came to Shirdi as a fakir, was teased by children and frowned upon by sceptical villagers and remained to reign as a spiritual leader, the greatest saint of all times. He became a god who walked on earth. It is a book which every Sai devotee would like to possess as a Bible of Baba’s teachings and a remembrance of the great Master whose idol or portrait adorns the prayer rooms of millions of homes throughtout the country.

This book is based on in-depth research that triangulates information from several primary sources, to provide hitherto unknown facts about Sai Baba, village Shirdi and some of the people who visited it during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It not only adds to the repository of knowledge about this great saint of India and the role that he played in the context of protecting his devotees during India’s struggle for freedom, but additionally provides new insights by raising questions and seeking answers through analysis of rare documents drawn from the National Archives, police records and diaries pertaining to that time as well as reviewing personal documents and literature in different languages. Written in Chicago-style Citation, it contains nine chapters dealing with different aspects of Sai Baba’s life in Shirdi. The book has several rare documents and photographs of Shirdi Sai Baba and his devotees as well as compositions of Shirdi of that time. A glossary is provided at the end of the book for ease of reference. The book will be a valuable asset not just for all those who are devotees of Sai Baba and other Sadgurus, but also for students and academicians who have an interest in India’s culture and history and in the means used by the British to understand and control developments in different parts of the country.

This research monograph is a unique addition to the existing literature on Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, who lived a humble life and taught the basics of spirituality and morality to the devotees through his many miracles, revelations of their past birhts, simple yet penetrating teachings, stories and thrilling parables.