![]() ![]() HINDUISM TODAY’S editors have long been aware of Shirdi Sai Baba’s popularity, and last year personally encountered the movement at the Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Cultural Center in Sacramento, California. There is no worldwide or even India-wide organization of devotees driving any of this-it is all at the inspiration of local devotees. Shrines for the saint have been installed for worship both in Vaishnavite and Saivite temples in India and elsewhere. He has hundreds more temples not only in India but in the UK, Malaysia, Germany, France and the US. Today those who worship him number in the millions, and the Shirdi temple’s income is second only to Tirupati. During his lifetime, he gained a local following among Hindus and Muslims. The villagers called him Sai Baba, but the holy man was of unknown origin and even religion-he dressed like a Sufi, but his teachings were more Hindu than anything else. ![]() He returned again in 1858 and remained in Shirdi for the rest of his life. He took up residence under a neem tree, meditated almost continuously and remained for three years before leaving as unexpectedly as he arrived. According to the traditional account of his life, Shri Sai Satcharitra, he was an ascetic. In 1855 a young boy thought to be 16 years old arrived in the town of Shirdi. The great Maharastrian saint whose austere, miracle-filled life changed all who came in contact with him is attracting an ever-growing devoted following today Photo taken about 1915, three years before his death The Rise of Shirdi Sai Baba SHIRDI TEMPLE The marble image of Shirdi Sai Baba (1838-1918) is enshrined just behind the crypt holding his earthly remains (under the garland) Hinduism Today - Jul/Aug/Sep 2016 Modern Saints: Shirdi Sai Baba’s Popularity Continues To Grow Inside And Outside India ![]()
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