Sai Baba attained Mahasamadhi in 1918 and Shirdi thereafter generally faded out of public memory. People visiting Shirdi were very few and by 1936, hardly ten people visited on any day. Close devotees of Sai Baba thought that his power was over as in the case of any contemporary saint. Sai Baba’s Samadhi was being worshipped like a Muslim Darga!
Prior to 1940, all over India, hardly anyone knew about Sai Baba or heard of the place ‘Shirdi’. But today we find temples of Sai Baba in nooks and corners of the country. Associations of Sai devotees, Satsangs, Samajs are in plenty. Many have given Baba’s name to their children. Many shops, institutions, industries bear Sai Baba’s name. Shirdi is now on the international map and lakhs of people visit Shirdi to seek Baba’s blessings.
Leave a Reply