Sāī Bābā of Śirḍī
19th–20th century · Śirḍī, Maharashtra · Revered across faiths
Sāī Bābā lived for about sixty years at Śirḍī, a village in Maharashtra, until his passing in 1918. His birth and origins are unknown. He lived in an old mosque that he called Dvārakāmāī, kept a sacred fire (dhunī) burning, and gave its ash (udī) to visitors.
He is revered by both Hindus and Muslims; his teaching stressed faith (śraddhā) and patience (saburī), and the saying “Sabkā mālik ek” — “one God rules all” — is associated with him. Many devotees see him within the Datta tradition and worship him on Thursdays. His life is told in the Śrī Sāī Saccarita by Govind Dabholkar (Hemāḍpant).
Śirḍī · Śraddhā and saburī · Dvārakāmāī · Śrī Sāī Saccarita