Shirdi Baba-Real facts regarding his birth.

Many devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba are not aware of Baba's birth and childhood days. On 28 September 1990, Sri Sathya Sai Baba has revealed the following astonishing facts about Saibaba: Saibaba was born on 28 Sep' 1835 as a result of blessings and boon granted to his mother by Lord Shiva himself. Manifesting in front of the humble cottage in the guise of a old man, Lord has tested "Devagiri amma", the mother would be of "Sai". It seems that in the Nizam State, there was a village "Pathri" where a dovout couple lived. They were issueless. Hence they were spending their time in remembering God and led their life from the meagre income from a boat. Gangabava, the would be father of Sai, used to ply the boat to transport people across the river. Thus he earned a little money and spent it on running his family. Devagiriamma, the devout wife of Gangabhava was sincerely serving her husband's need and took care of him.

One day there was a storm and hence Gangabhava decided to spend the night in his boat lest it would be swept away in the flood. Hence he took his food and asked Devagiriamma to take care and left the house. She also took her food and started to rest on her bed. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Devagiriamma opened the door thinking that her husband might have returned. To her surprise, there was a old man who pleaded with her to provide him a resting place for the night. Devagiriamma showed him a place in the outer verandha and bolted the doors inside and started resting. Again, there was a knock in the door. She opened the door and found that the old man was asking for food to appease his hunger. She hurried to the kitchen and found some rice and curd. She mixed it and gave it to the old man. Again she retreaded inside and lay on her bed. The third time, there was a knock. This time, the old man has requested her, "My feet are aching, Can you press it for some time?. Unable to face such request, she went to her prayer room and started pleading with Mother Parvati, to rescue her from such a piquant situation. Suddenly she remembered that there may be some maid in the nearby houses, who may respond to offer such service for money. She went to places and unfortunately, none was available. After some time, there was a tap on the door. One servant maid, who told her that 'she was away on some work' it seems that somebody from the house needs her service". Getting relief for the timely help she asked the maid to press the feet of the old man and returned to her room. Surprisingly there was one more knock on the door. Since there was a lady outside, Devagiriamma opened the door. To her utter surprise, there stood Siva and Parvati in their Divine form and blessed her for her sincere devotion. Mother Parvati blessed Devagiriamma, that a son would be born. Again there was one more boon. A daughter would be born and by offering her in marriage, they would get merit. Finally, Lord Shiva spoke and told Devagiriamma, that He himself would take birth as a third son to her. Blessing her thus, they vanished mysteriously.

The husband returned in the morning and hearing the narration from his wife, he ridiculed her. He said, it is your own imagination. How could Lord Shiva and Parvati come to their humble dwelling. Your mind is in confusion. He was not willing to believe her version though she confirmed again and again, the events on the previous night. To prove the blessings, Devagiriamma conceived and delivered a son. After some time, she again become pregnant and this time a daughter was born. Finding the truth about the blessings, Gangabhava became remorse for not believing his innocent wife when she told him the events. He said, "You are really fortunate that the Lord and Parvati came to you and blessed you thrice. I am not so fortunate. Now my only concern is to do penance and to get the coveted Dharsan of the Lord. He was impatient to leave the house early. As blessed by Shiva, Devagiriamma conceived for the third time and nine months have passed. Unable to wait any longer, the husband told Devagiriamma, "I am leaving the house". Being a devout wife, she too followed him but on the way, labor pain has started. They rested below a huge tree and soon Devagiriamma delived the third child. But she made a sari bit torn from her as a bed and placed the child over it and spread green leaves over it. She started following her husband with great detachment. A Muslim Sufi, who was issueless, happened to come near the tree.Hence the Sufi took the baby and handed over to his wife. The muslim lady brought up the child with care. Soon her husband passed away. The boy was four at the time.But his activities have become a concern to the muslim lady. The boy would go to Hindu temple and say, I am Allah! Shiva is Allah!. People got angry and reported the matter to the muslim lady. The boy would visit the mosque and utter such words which would infuriate the muslim devotees. Finding that the boy is uncontrollable, she handed over the boy to One Guru "Venkusa", who accepted the boy in his custody. From the year 1839 to 1851, the boy was under the custody of the saint "Venkusa". As the Guru was very loving to the new boy "Sai", other disciples got jealous of the boy. Then Saibaba left his Guru and was wandering in the west. He came to Shirdi but after sometime left the place. Again he came back to Shirdi alongwith a marriage party of Chandpatil. From then onwards till his death he stayed there continuously (From 1853 to 1918). Sairam, Saisaran.