Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi was an Indian guru, maha yogi and fakir who is regarded as a saint. He has a mass of followers across the globe. His date of birth is unknown. He died on October 15, 1918.

His believers and followers believe him as a deity. Several of his devotees believe that he was an incarnation of Lord Shiva, while others believe that he was an incarnation of Dattatreya (one of the 24 incarnations of Lord Vishnu). He was also regarded as a "satguru" and an incarnation of Kabir.

The name 'Sai Baba' is a combination of Persian and Indian origin - "Sai" is the Persian term for 'holy one' or 'saint', "Baba" refers to 'father'. Baba's parentage, birth details and life before the age of sixteen are obscure, which has led to a variety of speculations and theories attempting to explai Baba's origin. In his lifetime, he tried to reconcile Hinduism and Islam.

During his lifetime, Baba lived in a mosque - popularly called "Dwarkamai" and after death was burried in a temple, originally built to install Lord Kishna's idol, by a famous rich man and devotee of Baba, known as Shri Buti Saheb of Bombay (now Mumbai). 

 Baba always preached to follow God and do good to others. His principle was unmatched. He believed in the doctrine of one god and always said "Sabka Malik Ek" (Everybody's god is one). One of his well known epigrams says of God: "Allah Malik" (God is the Master).

Throughout his lifetime, Baba taught to love, forgive, help others, doing charity, rule contentment, mantain inner peace, and spare maximum time in the devotion of God. 

Presently, Baba's devotees belong from several parts of the world. Devotees can learn more about his life and teachings by reading "Shri Sai Satcharitra", written by Hemadpant (a devotee of Baba).