No one knows the exact date of birth of Sai Baba. He first came to Shirdi as a young lad of 16 and stayed there for 3 years, Then he disappeared. He appeared in the Nizam state near Aurangabad. He again came to Shirdi with a marriage party when he was 20. On seeing him, Bhagata Mhalsapati near Khandobha temple accosted him "Ya Sai" (Welcome Sai). Henceworth, he was known as Sai Baba. Sai Baba began to stay in a deserted Masjid (Mosque). When he went to Rahata (3 miles from Shirdi) he bought with him small plants of Marigold, Jai and Jui. After clearing, he planted and watered them, A devotee supplied Him daily with two earthen pitchers. With these Baba himself used to water the plants. He drew water from the well and carried the pitchers on his shoulders. In the evening, the pitchers were kept at the foot of the Neem tree. As soon as they were placed there, they were broken, as they were of raw earth and not backed. Next day his devotee supplied two fresh pitchers. This course went on for 3 years and with His toil and labor, there grew a flower garden (on this site stands the present Samadhi Mandir). There are many saints, who leaving their houses, stay in forest, caves or herminges and remaining in solitude, try to get liberation and salvation for themselves, They stay away from people living a life of austerity. He was not such type. He never mentioned any family, made no home, and no wife, no progeny, nor any relations, near or distant. He took his 'bhiksha' i.e. begging for bread from four our five houses. He often sat under the (Neem) tree, and taught all how to act and behave in this by being an embodiment of what virtue. He did not believe in giving sermons or mantras. In Sai Baba's own words "I look after my devotees the way a tortoise looks after her young ones, never taking my eyes off them".
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