Chronology of the life of Shirdi Sai Baba




CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS (Episodes) CONCERNING SHRI SAI BABA



1835

Sai Baba was born in very early hours of September 27 or 28, 1835 to a poor Hindu couple, Gangabhavadya and Devagiriamma. The newborn infant is left in the woods, abandoned. The infant is immediately discovered and adopted by a childless Muslim fakir and his wife.

1838
Sai Baba lives with the Muslim couple for 4 years. Meanwhile the fakir dies.. The wife is left to tend the child alone. Even as a small child Baba stirs up sentiments between the Hindu and Muslim community by worshiping Allah in Hindu temples, and Hindu gods in the mosque. In fear of increased problems by a sole widow, Baba is handed over for care with a local mendicant and story-teller, Venkusa.

1839-51
Sai Baba spent 12 years with his Guru. The name of his Guru was Gopal Rao Deshmukh (Venkusa, also known as Venkavadhuta) ) of Selu. Some say " Baba practiced penance at the tomb of His Guru in the cellar under the Neem Tree at Shirdi". Arrival of Devidas at Shirdi (Aged 10-11 years) took place in 1846. When he enquired, BABA mentioned the name of his GURU as Venkusa implying VISHNU (Parvardigar).


1851
Sai Baba first appeared at Shirdi and stays in the village for two months. He is noted to reside day and night under a Neem Tree (aged about 16 Years) which he claims is growing over the tomb of his old guru. After two months Baba disappeared to an unknown place.

ca. 1855-1857
Sai Baba travels about from place to place and finally ends up in Dhoopkheda (or Dhoop) in Aurangabad District. There he ends up attending the marriage of Chandu Patel's son in 1858.

1858
Sai Baba returns to Shirdi along with the marriage-party of Chand Patil and remained at Shirdi for ever till His Samadhi. A widowed Deputy Collector and Settlement Officer by name H.V. Sathe (Hari Vinayaka Sathe) comes to Shirdi on the death of his wife. Baba takes great fondness to Sathe. Sathe was the first to set up apartments at Shirdi for temporary visitors. Baba regarded Sathe as his right hand in regard to all matters. Because Baba was keeping Sathe close to him and relying on him for everything, the residents of Shirdi grew jealous towards him.


1865
Saint Manik Prabhu of Homanabad in Bidar District of Karnataka passed away in 1878, Chaitra Vadya 14. H. H. Akkalkot Swami left His mortal coil at Akkalkot in Solapur District of Maharashtra. (First appeared in 1835). It is reported that three of them (Manik Prabhu, Swami Samartha and SAIBABA) met at Humanabad.


1885
Saint Anandnath (aged 95 years) of Yewala Math and a disciple of Akkalkot Swami visited Shirdi and seeing Sai Baba exclaimed, "This is a precious real diamond."


1886, April 16
Mahasamadhi of Shri Ramkrishna Paramahansa of Bengal 1886, Margashirsh 15 Sai Baba got rid of an attack of asthma, by going into samadhi for 72 Hrs.

1887
Manthrapragada Ramalaksmhi Devi, and my father, Venkata Narasimha Rao—who were childless in spite of efforts—visited their Guru, Shirdi Sai Baba, in 1887 and prayed to him for a child. As the fruit of Shirdi Sai Baba's grace, I was born to them on August 8, 1888. Shirdi Sai Baba himself gave me my name, Shringeri Sharada Devi. As I am of fair complexion, he used to lovingly call me Gori.



1889
Abdullah arrived at Shirdi from Nanded (in West Khandesh near Jalgaon and Amalner)


1892 (approx)
Nanasaheb Chandorkar arrived at Shirdi for the first time after being invited by BABA many a time showing his intimate relations with NANA since his many previous births.


1894 (approx)
Das Ganu (Ganesh Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe) accompanied Nanasaheb Chandorkar to Shirdi for the first time


1896
Celebration of 'Urus' ( fair) started at Shirdi owing to the efforts of Gopalrao Gund, a Circle Inspector of Kopargaon


1898
Sai Baba was seen sleeping on a narrow plank suspended with old rags about 7 or 8 feet above ground with lighted lamps placed on the plank.
(Uknown year) About this time, the parents of Shyam came to Shirdi with the two-year old child named Mohan Shyam. A small school for children were adjoining Baba's room. Shyam used to watch Baba at nights through the ventilator. Baba used to sleep on an eighteen-inch wide plank suspended suspended with old rags about 7 or 8 feet above ground with lighted lamps placed on the plank. Shyam was apprehensive that Baba might fall from his lofty but narrow perch during sleep. Shyam prayed to stay near Baba and serve him for his remaining days.

1899-1900
Nanasaheb Chandorkar visited Shirdi with his sister-in-law's husband, Shri Biniwale. Baba scolded Nanasaheb for dissuading Biniwale, a devotee of Shri Dattatmya from visiting Datta Temple on the bank of Godavari River to avoid delay in reaching Shirdi.

1900-1902
Sai Baba like a learned Pandit explained Geeta to Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who believed that BABA was not well versed with Sanskrit language of Pandits (learned people)..

1903
Das Ganu left Govt. service and as per Baba's instructions settled at Nanded and started performing keertans and writing life histories of recent saints

1903
Das Ganu's book 'Sant Kathamrit' was published. (Ch. 57 about Sai Baba's advice to Nanasaheb Chandorkar)

1904, April
Rao Bahadur H. V. Sathe first arrived at Shirdi. (Aged 49 years)

1904-1905
Nanasaheb Chandorkar's pregnant daughter Mainatai at Jamner in Jalgaon District had severe pains of delivery. Sai baba sent Udi and Arati with Ramgir Gosavi from Shirdi and she had a safe delivery. Sai Baba even took the form of tonga's Rajput driver to make Ramgir reach Jamner safe and on time.

1906
Das Ganu's book 'Bhakta-Leelamrit' was published. (Chs.. 31, 32 and 33 about Sai Baba)

1906
Nanasaheb Chandorkar was transferred as Mamlatdar from Nandurbar to Pandharpur. On the way, he stopped at Shird! with his family and started requesting Baba to accompany them to Pandharpur and stay there permanently with them. The devotees then told Nanasaheb about the singing of bhajan just finished in which Baba's mood of going to Pandharpur and staying there for ever was expressed. The text of the song was,'I want to go and stay at Pandharpur .'

1906
Shivamma Thayee's uncle meets Baba for the first time, while Baba is visiting Vellakinaru in Coimbatore. Baba told Shivamma's uncle, 'She is the only girl in the whole lot who will be a highly elevated soul.' Baba then slowly chanted the Gayatri Mantra to Shivamma.

1907
Radhakrishna Mai (Sunderabai Kshirsagar) arrived at Shirdi.(Young good-looking widow aged 25 years). She was blessed by BABA who used to send a part of food collected as (Bhiksha) to her.

1908
Sathe Wada was constructed.

1908 Ekadashi
Kashirarn Shimpi died. (Chaitra Shuddha 11). BABA saved his life in a mysterious way when he was assaulted by Thieves in a jungle.

1908
Pundalikrao of Nanded met Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati. (Tembe Swami) at Rajahmundry on banks of Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh and Swami gave a coconut to be presented to Sai Baba. BABA showed cognizance of Swamiji's gilt and showed his oneness with Swami by describing him as his brother (Bhau)

1908
Shri Tatyasaheb Noolkar, (Aged 45 years) the Sub-judge of Pandharpur first arrived at Shirdi in 1908. Gurupournima festival was prompted by Baba for Dada Kelkar, Tatyasaheb Noolkar, Madhavrao Deshpande and others.

1909
Saibaba threw an ochre garment on Balasaheb Bhate, Mamlatdar of Kopargaon, and an atheist, on his very first visit and Balasaheb lost complete interest in worldly matters. He retired prematurely from service and settled down at Shirdi permanently.

1909
Bapusaheb (Sakharam Hari) Jog on retirement from Govt. service came to stay at Shirdi permanently accompanied by his wife.

1909
Bhimaji Patil of Narayangaon (Pune District) came to Shirdi for getting his chronic tuberculosis at the last stage and was cured by Baba's blessings.

1909, Nov 2
Hari Sitaram alias Kakasaheb Dixit (Aged 45 years), a prominent solicitor and M.L.C. first arrived at Shirdi. Baba used to call him affectionately Langda Kaka and removed fear complex from his mind. Kaka Dixit was known for his obedience to Baba's orders.

1909, Dec 10
Devotees began to offer regular worship to Baba in the Chavadi, where He slept on alternate days


1909, Dec 25

Baba gave darshan in the form of Sri Rama to a doctor, devotee of Sri Rama who came with a Mamlatdar.

1910
Baba's 'Handi' ritual, occasionally cooking food Himself in a big copper pot and distributing it to devotees and poor people without discrimination. This practice continued till this year. After wards owing to Das Ganu's keertans (musical recitals praising Baba), Baba's fame spread far and wide and devotees started flocking together in large numbers offering large quantities of food as 'naivedya' and thus there was no need of 'Handi.

1910
Ramachandra Atmaram alias Babasaheb Tarkhad from Bandra (Bombay) first visited Shirdi.

1910
Rao Bahadur Moreshwar W. Pradhan of Santacruz (Bombay) first visited Shirdi.

1910
Govind Raghunath alias Annasaheb Dabholkar (Aged 51 years), the author of Shri Sai Satcharita (Marathi), had his first darshan of Sai Baba and received significant and prophetic title of 'Hemadpant. Baba gave him his blessings and inspired him to write SAI SATCHARITA - a religious scripture describing BABA's life story and his divine play (leela) as monumental as GURU CHARITRA- the old monumental POTHI - a poetic religious scripture inspiring worship to GURU, NARASINHA SARASWATI.


1910
Balkrishna Vishwanath alias Balasaheb Deo (Dahanu Mamlatdar) first visited Shirdi prompted by Nanasaheb Chandorkar. Deo used to describe him as Baba's child - with a full sense of surrender.

1910,
Bhadrapad Shuddha 5H. H. Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon (Buldhana District of Maharashtra) left His mortal coil. (First appeared in 1878). At that very time at Shirdi, Sai Baba grieved profusely and said, "Hallo! My Gajanan is gone. I must take bath again in reverance to the Great Soul."

1910
Shrimant Gopalrao Mukund alias Bapu saheb Butty of Nagpur, (a rich statesman) started staying permanently at Shirdi.

1910
Harishchandra Pitale's son suffering from epilepsy, was cured by Baba's mere glance at him. Baba gave Pitale three rupees and reminded him of two rupees earlier received by him from Swami Samarth of Akkalkot and thus showed his oneness with all the other SAINTS (Vibhutis)

1910, Ashwin Vady13
Sai Baba pushed his arm into the brightly burning Dhuni to save a blacksmith's child. 'The arm was scorched and burnt. Nanasaheb came from Bombay with Dr. Parmananda but Baba did not allow the doctor to treat him.Bhagoji Shinde's service of massaging the arm with ghee and bandaging it continued till Baba's Samadhi. This episode is in testimony to BABA's cosmic existence- HIS super consciousness.

1910 Dec 5
Hon'ble Mr. Ganesh Shrikrishna alias Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti (Maharashtra) first visited Shirdi. (Refused on 10 Dec. 1910) Mr.Babasaheb Khaprde was an ardent devotee of BABA and his efforts were instrumental in bringing Loka Manya Tilak- (a great national leader -Khapurde's contemparary) to Shirdi for Baba's darshan and blessings in his movement for India's freedom from the British Rule

1910, Dec10
Foundation-stone of Dixit Wada laid with Baba's permission

1910, Christmas
Lala Lakhamichand of Santacruz (Bombay) came to Shirdi. Baba loved him very much and affectionately accepted his petty gifts given with love.

1910
Megha returns to Shirdi and stays till his death. In Baba's company he underwent mysterious experiences which transformed Megha from an athiest to an ardent devotee of Baba and spent his life in the service of Sai -Shiva. He regarded Baba as Shiva-Shankar (Lord Shiva-Shankar -the welfare Doer).

1911
Madrasi Sanyasi Vijayanand, while on a pilgrimage to Manas Sarovar, haulted at Shirdi and breathed his last while reading 'Bhagawat' (a religious script written by Saint Eknath) for 3 days on Baba's advice.

1911, March
Tatyasaheb Nulkar (Aged 48), the Sub-judge of Pandharpur breathed, his last at Shirdi . Baba showed HIS oneness with Tatya Nulkar and described him as a pure soul and expressed HIS grief at Nulkars demise.

After Tatyasaheb Nulkar passed away, Megha took over the regular daily worship of Baba in the Dwarakamai. (He used to stand on one leg while performing the Arati). Tatyasaheb Nulkar relinquished everything and stayed at Shirdi in Baba's company till his demise Baba bestowed him with the unique experiences in self realization. Baba advised him and Mr Shyama Deshpande to perform Guru worship (Pooja).

1911
Ram-Navami Festival was started at Shirdi owing to the efforts of Shri Bhishma and Kaka Mahajani

1911, Ram-Navami
Construction of Dixit Wada was completed and was inhabited with due rites.

1911
Extension and roofing of the open space in front of the Dwarakamai was carried out by Kakasaheb Dixit. Baba got enraged and tried to shake and uproot a pole. Then removing Tatya Patil's pugree, struck a match, set the pugree on fire and threw it in a pit along with one rupee as if an auspicious offering to avert evil. Baba never liked renovation of his dwelling place viz. Dwarkamai (the masjid) and opposed any such effort by the devotees.

1911
Somdav Swami alias Haridwar Swami visited Shirdi.

1911, June 27
Kashinath Govind Upaswii (aged 41 years) first visited Shirdi and returned again on 6 July. Baba ordered him to stay for 4 years in the Khandoba Temple.

1911, Dec
Kashinath Upasani composed the famous 'Shri Sainath Mahimna Stotra (hymn) in Sanskrit. (Now being recited daily during Arati at Shirdi.)

1911, Dec
Bubonic plague raged at Shirdi (Lasted upto March 15 next year) Baba however saved lives of plague inflicted devotees by taking upon himself i.e.. on his body the malody.

1911, Dec
Baba's grinding of wheat in the hand-mill. It was not wheat that was ground but plague or cholera itself was ground to pieces and cast out of village. Seeing this Annasaheb Dabholkar (Hemadpant) was inspired to write 'Shri Sai Satcharita.'

1911, Dec5
Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti arrived at Shirdi again with family and stayed for 3 months. Shri Krishna Bhishma the author of Arati book 'Sagunopasana' accompanied him. Dadasaheb Khaparde wrote diary (daily record of his stay at Shirdi in Baba's company).

1911, Dec 11
Waman Rao Patel (Aged 22 years) (Later Swami Sai Sharanananda) first arrived at Shirdi.

1911, Dec 13
Chandrabhan Shet Marwadi, uncle of Khushalchand of Rahata.. expired.

1911, Dec 16
Dr. Capt. Hate first visited Shirdi (who had just appeared at LCPS examination.) Baba sent him a messege in the dream saying, 'have you forgotten me?'

1911, Dec 19
Sai Baba's great devotee and a great saint of Nath-panth order, Shri Rama Maruti visited Shirdi. (Stayed for 34 days.) '. Ram Maruti offered 'Naivedya' to Baba and Baba very affectionately took a part of it .

1911-12
Sagun Meru Naik arrived at Shirdi at the age of 23 and on Baba's advice settled permanently running a small restaurant for the devotees visiting Shirdi.