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Upon seeking Baba’s permission, he responded warmly and gave his blessings. Together, they created some rough sketches and showed them to Dixit for his opinion and approval. Both of them had the same dream wherein Baba came and said, “Let there be a Wada with a temple so that I can satisfy the desires of all.” The inspiration to build a resting place came to Booty in a dream, and Baba told him to build a rest house and temple.Īfter the dream, Booty immediately woke up and noticed that Shama, who was sleeping next to him, had tears in his eyes. Gopalrao Booty met Sai Baba about ten years before his Mahasamadhi. He planted jasmine and marigold, and for almost three years, he watered the plants and used to distribute the flowers to local temples. Sai Baba used to like growing plants, and he cleared and leveled this land on the same piece of land that was earlier used as a dumping ground. The Samadhi Mandir is built on the same land where Baba used to tend a garden. In 1918, Sai Baba took “Maha Samadhi” and the place where Baba is resting now was initially proposed to be constructed as a Wada, a place where people can rest. While the Fakir was getting down from the cart, Mhlasapati, spontaneously called him “YA SAI” (Welcome Sai), and from then on, others also began addressing him as Sai. When the marriage party came, Bhagat Mhalsapati along with other people who came to witness the marriage saw a young Fakir. This place is now called “Gurusthan.” After that, he is said to have shifted to an abandoned mosque which became his “Dwarkamai.”īaba stayed in Shirdi for almost sixty years and took his Maha-Samadhi in 1918. Sai Baba stayed under the same neem tree for four to five years upon reaching Shirdi the second time. After some time, he returned to Shirdi again with a marriage party. He is believed to have stayed in Shirdi for almost three years and suddenly disappeared. His form and features were said to be so beautiful that a mere look endeared him to all.
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He is believed to have first appeared under a Neem tree in Shirdi as a young boy of sixteen years engrossed in deep meditation. Many inquired about Sai Baba’s parents, origins, and such, but no convincing information was found. He believed in “Shraddha – Saburi”, which meant Faith and Patience for everyone. Saibaba has turned Shirdi into a unique holy place for people of all castes, creeds, and religions. His mission was to give blessings without discrimination, and he believed in “looking at all with an equal eye.” Even today, many devotees visit Shirdi to pay homage to and experience Baba’s presence. His devotees used to call him “Sai”, hence the name “Sai Baba”.
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The mysterious fakir made his first appearance in Shirdi and is believed to continue remaining there forever.
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Shirdi Sai Baba is one of the greatest saints India has ever seen.
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