What Researchers Say On Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

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.

Contributed articles on the life and teachings of Sri Sai Baba, 1836-1918, mystic saint of India.

This is a research-based book on the divine life, teachings, spirit messages, and contributions of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba (18381918), the renowned Sufi saint of India. It highlights his importance as the 'Jagat Guru (Universal Master) whose teachings and messages elevate all people spiritually and morally and unite them. His main teachings are Allah (God) is one who is the sole master of all; the same 'atma'(soul) is in every creature; everyone is linked to others according to ones past actions and Rinanubandh (bond of give and take), and so one must be kind, compassionate, and helpful to all those who come in this life. He is now the supreme ascended master. He appears before people who earnestly remember him, in their dreams or in any other person's form to guide, inspire, save, and help them to solve their problems instantly. His Dwarka Mai masjid (mosque) and samadhi Mandir temple in Shirdi are well-known to billons of people of all regligions and cultures and are visited by thousands of people daily and by even more than hundred thousand pilgrims from all lovers of the world to seek his grace. This book was written by the devotee author as desired by the spirit of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba communicated to Sri Lakshman Swami, founder, Adi Sankarachrya and Dattratreya Adhyatmic Bhakti Mandli, Bangalore in 1992 and was blessed by Shivamma Thyayee of Roopen Agraha, Bangalore, who was then the only surviving 102-year-old contemporary devotee of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and by Sri Shivnesh Swami of Shirdi. It has been one of the most popular books on Sri Shirdi Sai Baba since then. This revised and updated new edition provides valuable information on prominent Shirdi Sai temples, organizations, journals, and websites in the world. It will enlighten and spiritually uplift the readers belonging to all religions, cultures, and nations.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba (1838–1918) was the first Sai Avatar (incarnation) in the Sai Trinity. His name and fame have been spreading like wildfire throughout the world. He is venerated and worshipped by billions of inhabitants on this planet. His life as a Sufi fakir, simple yet penetrating teachings, countless astounding miracles, blessings to everyone who simply chant His name, "Sai" and His great impact as the unique Jagat Guru (Universal Master) are duly acknowledged by billions of people from all races, religions, cultures and nations. Many Shirdi Sai Baba temples have been built not only in India, but also in many foreign countries like the UK, USA, Russia, Africa, Mauritius and eastern countries. Almost fifty-eight websites and twelve journals propagate His name. Still, most Sai devotees in the world do not know many crucial facts about Him. The book contains valuable information about prominent Shirdi Sai organizations, web sites, temples and books.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba (18381918), the first one in the trinity of Sai Baba Avatars (incarnations), was the incarnation of Lord Shiva. He led the life of an ideal Sufi saintbegging for alms; helping all, teaching the basics of morality and spirituality in his typical rural, rustic, simple, and lively manner, telling true stories of many births of his devotees and other creatures, and by his very brief and heart-penetrating comments and pieces of advice. He taught all to believe in God, who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, and the One Malik (Master) of all and who is present in every creature. Gods grace can be achieved by anyone by earnestly remembering Him; by being moral, kind, and loving to all creatures, and by doing ones duties honestly and sincerely. Sai Baba always gave genuine assurances to those who called upon him for his miraculous grace and helped the distressed ones instantly. It is a well-known fact that Sri Shirdi Sai Babas grace is being experienced by countless people throughout the world, but only a few of such incidents are published in Sai journals and on the Internet. This book is a collection of invaluable articles on Sri Shirdi Sai Babas legendary grace and thrilling record of over two hundred testimonies of post-Samadhi period (after 1918 till now) beneficiaries of his grace. His temples are in India, USA, UK, Canada, China, South Africa, Mauritius, and many countries. Thousands of pilgrims visit daily his Dwarka Mai Masjid and Samadhi Mandir in Shirdi (India) and Sai temples in their countries daily to obtain his gracious help. All those who are eager to receive Sri Shirdi Babas divine grace for getting instant solution of and relief in their problems and seek proper guidance shall find this book a boon.

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.