Short Summary, Chapter-4, SAI BABA’S First Advent in Shirdi (Shri Sai Satcharita)..

Whenever righteousness declines and evil raises its head, God and on his behalf saints and saviors emerge at appropriate time. That way Sai Baba also descended on earth. Peace was his ornament. His heart was as pure as mirror. His court (durbar) was attractive. Though he was a realized soul he acted as one seeking realization. His darshan is our effort for self-realization. His directions are our ancient texts (Vedas). Partaking his Udhi and other offerings (Prasad) w ill purify everything. He alone is our Rama, Krishna and Supreme Lord.

Ninety six year old Gowli Bhua, a devotee of Lord of Pandharpur who came to Shirdi annually used to say: “This person (Baba) is the reincarnation of Pandharpur Vithal who shows mercy to the helpless and poor ones.”

Once Baba told  Das Ganu that if one sincerely meditated on the name of God, then Lord Vittal would present himself. (Somehow , it did not occur to Ganu that the Baba who was talking to him was the very Vittal!). Once Baba told to one Bhagvantrao Kshirsagar that the latter’s father was his devotee but Bhagvantrao had starved Vittal and him (i.e. he had stopped worshipping Vittal). Once Das Ganu wanted to go to Prayag and have bath in the holy river Ganges. Baba told him ‘Our Prayag is very much here’ and immediately Ganges water started streaming out steadily from the two toes of Baba.

No one knows about the details of birth etc. of Baba. He was merely seen to live as a handsome young man under the neem tree. Once on the direction of the one on whom Lord Kandoba had descended people dug up at a place. Under the earth People saw devotional ornaments, articles for rituals and burning lamps. Baba told them that it was His Guru’s sacred place and told them to close the pit.

Sathe purchased the place around the neem tree and Sathe Wada was built by him. Baba said that those who burn incense in the evenings of Thursdays and Fridays near the neem tree would get happiness. After some time Dixit constructed a Wada (mansion) which was greatly useful to pilgrims. Later, Shri Buti, a millionaire constructed a stone Wada. It is here now the mortal remains of our Lord Sainath is interned and is known as Samadhi Mandir.