Saibaba lived very simple and his property is tore kafni, Satka, Begging bowl, and small cloth to sleep.
SaiBaba's Nature and Personality
Shirdi SaiBaba's Nature and Personality
It is on account of Sai Baba that Shirdi grew into importance.
It is interesting to study what sort of a personage Sai Baba was.
Sai Baba conquered this Samsar (worldly existence), which is like a deep sea,
very difficult and hard to cross. Peace or mental calm was his ornament and he
was the repository of wisdom. He was the home of Vaishnava devotees,
most liberal (like Karna) amongst liberals, the quintessence of all essences.
He had no love for perishable things and was always engrossed in self-realization,
which was his sole concern. He felt no pleasure in the mundane things of this
world or of the world beyond. His Antarang (heart) was as clear as a mirror and
his speech always rained nectar. The rich or poor people were the same to Him.
He did not know or care for honor or dishonor.`
Baba was the Lord of all beings. He spoke freely and mixed with all people,
saw the acting and dances of ‘Nautchgirls’ and heard Gazhal songs. Still, he
swerved not an inch from Samadhi (mental equilibrium). The name of Allah was
always on his lips. While the world awoke, he slept; and while the world slept,
he was vigilant. His abdomen (Inside) was as calm as the deep sea.
His Ashram (life-stage) could not be determined, nor his actions could
be definitely determined and though he sat (lived) in one place, he knew
all the transactions of the world. His darbar was imposing. He told daily
hundreds of stories; still he swerved not an inch from his vow of silence.
He always leaned against the wall in the Masjid or walked morning, noon and
evening towards Lendi (Nala) and Chavadi; still he at all times abided in the Self.
Though a Siddha, he acted like a Sadhaka.
He was meek, humble and egoless, and pleased all. Such was Sai Baba,
and as the soil of Shirdi was trodden by Sai Baba’s feet, it attained extraordinary
importance.
By day he always sat under the neem tree, sometimes under the shade of a branch
of a babul tree near the stream at the outskirts of the village.
Many Sanyasis, Sadhakas and all sorts of men aspiring for salvation came to Sai Baba.
He always walked, talked and laughed with them and always uttered with His
tongue ‘Allah Malik’ (God is the sole owner).
He never liked or encouraged discussion or arguments. He was always
calm and controlled, though irritable at times, always preached full
Vedanta and nobody knew till the last the real Baba.
Sai Baba conquered this Samsar (worldly existence), which is like a deep sea, very difficult and hard to cross. Peace or mental calm was his ornament and he was the repository of wisdom. He was the home of Vaishnava devotees, most liberal (like Karna) amongst liberals, the quintessence of all essences. He had no love for perishable things and was always engrossed in self-realization, which was his sole concern. He felt no pleasure in the mundane things of this world or of the world beyond. His Antarang (heart) was as clear as a mirror and his speech always rained nectar. The rich or poor people were the same to Him. He did not know or care for honor or dishonor.`
Baba was the Lord of all beings. He spoke freely and mixed with all people, saw the acting and dances of ‘Nautchgirls’ and heard Gazhal songs. Still, he swerved not an inch from Samadhi (mental equilibrium). The name of Allah was always on his lips. While the world awoke, he slept; and while the world slept, he was vigilant. His abdomen (Inside) was as calm as the deep sea. His Ashram (life-stage) could not be determined, nor his actions could be definitely determined and though he sat (lived) in one place, he knew all the transactions of the world. His darbar was imposing. He told daily hundreds of stories; still he swerved not an inch from his vow of silence. He always leaned against the wall in the Masjid or walked morning, noon and evening towards Lendi (Nala) and Chavadi; still he at all times abided in the Self. Though a Siddha, he acted like a Sadhaka. He was meek, humble and egoless, and pleased all. Such was Sai Baba, and as the soil of Shirdi was trodden by Sai Baba’s feet, it attained extraordinary importance.
By day he always sat under the neem tree, sometimes under the shade of a branch of a babul tree near the stream at the outskirts of the village.
Many Sanyasis, Sadhakas and all sorts of men aspiring for salvation came to Sai Baba. He always walked, talked and laughed with them and always uttered with His tongue ‘Allah Malik’ (God is the sole owner). He never liked or encouraged discussion or arguments. He was always calm and controlled, though irritable at times, always preached full Vedanta and nobody knew till the last the real Baba.
Saibaba Personality
Dress Demeanor and Daily Routine
His demeanor was quiet and sober. However on occasions he used to get ruffled because
of some suggestion of calamity or evil in his devotees life. He did not talk
frequently and was in trance. His eyes penetrating skies. Since his young days,
Sai Baba grew hair on His head, never had His head shaved.
He used to wear a piece of white cloth round His head along with a long
flowing Kafni. The piece of white cloth on the head was twisted like matted
hair and flowed down from the left ear on the back. This was not washed for weeks.
He wore no shoes, no sandals. A piece of sackcloth was his seat for most of the day.
He wore a coupin (waist-cloth-band) and for warding off cold he always sat in front
of a Dhuni (sacred fire) facing South with his left hand resting on the wooden railing.
While sleeping in the Chavadi Baba used to rest his head on a brick.
Sai Baba visited certain houses daily and went from door to door where he
stood as a beggar and called out, "Oh Mai, give me a piece of bread" and
spread out his hand to receive the same. In one hand he carried a Tumrel
(tinpot) and in the other a Zoli or choupadari, i.e., a rectangular
piece of cloth as food collecting bag. Liquid or semi-liquid things such as soup,
vegetables, milk or buttermilk were received in the tinpot, while cooked rice, bread,
and such solid things were taken in the Zoli. Baba's tongue knew no taste as
he had acquired control over it. Whatever things he got in his Zoli and
in the tinpot were mixed together and partaken by Baba to his heart's content.
The food collected was poured into Kolamba - a stone pot and animals
and birds used to cluster around the pot to eat food. Baba never prevented
them from eating.
Baba begged till noon, but his begging was very irregular.
Some days he went a few rounds, on other days up to twelve noon.
In the afternoon, he used to walk at random and go at times to neighboring
villages to the houses of some of his devotees.
Sai Baba visited certain houses daily and went from door to door where he stood as a beggar and called out, "Oh Mai, give me a piece of bread" and spread out his hand to receive the same. In one hand he carried a Tumrel (tinpot) and in the other a Zoli or choupadari, i.e., a rectangular piece of cloth as food collecting bag. Liquid or semi-liquid things such as soup, vegetables, milk or buttermilk were received in the tinpot, while cooked rice, bread, and such solid things were taken in the Zoli. Baba's tongue knew no taste as he had acquired control over it. Whatever things he got in his Zoli and in the tinpot were mixed together and partaken by Baba to his heart's content. The food collected was poured into Kolamba - a stone pot and animals and birds used to cluster around the pot to eat food. Baba never prevented them from eating.
Baba begged till noon, but his begging was very irregular. Some days he went a few rounds, on other days up to twelve noon.
In the afternoon, he used to walk at random and go at times to neighboring villages to the houses of some of his devotees.
Style of Teaching
As for Sai Baba’s style of teaching, he did not deliver lectures and rarely gave
formal teachings. He has never written anything by way of wordy philosophy.
Rather, he taught orally by parable, direct experience and the example of his own life.
He assures all that each could experience. His Devine Love and blessings flew directly
and not through any intermediary. All would experience fulfillment of their worldly
desires and also perfect satisfaction of their craving for self realization
(AATMA BODHA). There is no exception to this experience.
Baba’s way is to cater directly to the needs of each individual and he
did not require His devotees to take up any rituals or conventionally
prescribed practice, nor did he favoured any particular path over another.
Baba generally discouraged people from changing their chosen form of worship
in GOD and never advised total detachment from worldly life and changeover
of preference for a particular deity as GOD. He advised perfect loyalty
in and faith in the power and blessings of the Almighty (ALLAH MALIK)
and patience for the results of action (KARMA). As a result of Baba's grace,
devotees experience self-generated conviction and faith that whatever their
desires and aspirations are, they will never go unnoticed by Baba and they
would not return empty-handed from SAI-COURT (DARBAR).
Baba’s way is to cater directly to the needs of each individual and he did not require His devotees to take up any rituals or conventionally prescribed practice, nor did he favoured any particular path over another. Baba generally discouraged people from changing their chosen form of worship in GOD and never advised total detachment from worldly life and changeover of preference for a particular deity as GOD. He advised perfect loyalty in and faith in the power and blessings of the Almighty (ALLAH MALIK) and patience for the results of action (KARMA). As a result of Baba's grace, devotees experience self-generated conviction and faith that whatever their desires and aspirations are, they will never go unnoticed by Baba and they would not return empty-handed from SAI-COURT (DARBAR).