Sai's initial years recalled here.

Shirdi Avatar is not an isolated one. In fact, Sai Avatar are Three. Lord Shiva manifested as Shirdi Sai as per the boon granted to Devagiri amma. Though she left the baby under the care of mother nature after delivery to follow her Dharma of following her husband, Baba came under the care of one Muslim gentleman who had no issues. He handed over the baby to his Bivi who brought Sai with great affection and care. But the boy Sai was mischivous in his own way. He went to the Hindu temple and start saying Ram is Allah! People got offended by his audacity. He went to the mosque and said, Shiva is Allah!. Both the communities got offended by such pranks of Sai and they started complaining about the boy to the mother who was helpless. She already lost her husbend who predeceased her. Now she was contemplating on how to set right the behaviour of the boy. She heard about one "Venkusa", a preceptor who tend young boys and teach them spirituality. Hence she brought young Sai under the care of Shri Venkusa, who readily accepted the boy under his benign care. It is another episode how he came to Shirdi and finally settled there in the old dilapidated mosque! Saisaran, Sairam.