No one knows about the parentage or the exact date of birth of Sai Baba. He first came to Shirdi as a young lad of 16 and stayed there for three years. He reappeared in the Nizam state near Aurangbad. He again came to Shirdi with a marriage party when he was 20. On seeing him, Bhagata Mhalsapati near Khandobha temple accosted him "Ya Sai" (Welcome Sai). Henceworth he was known as Sai Baba. Sai Baba bega n to stay in a deserted Masjid (Mosque). When he went to Rahata (3 miles from Shirdi) he brought with him a small plant of marigold, Jai to Jui. After cleaning, he planted and watered them.

A devotee supplied him daily with two earthen pitchers. With these Baba himself used to water the plants. H e drew water from the well and carried the pitchers on his shoulders. In the evening the pitchers were kept at the foot of the Neem tree. As soon as they were placed there, they were broken, as they were made of raw earth and not baked. Next day his devotee supplied two fresh pitchers. This course went on for three years and with Sai Baba's toil and labour, there grew a flower garden (on this site stands the present Samadhi Mandir). There are many saints, who leaving their houses stay in the forest, caves or hermitages and remaining in solitude try to get liberation or salvation for themselves.

They stay away from people living a life of austerity. Sai Baba was not of such a type. He never metnioned any family made n ohome amd had no wife, no progeny, nor any relations near of distant. He took his "bhiksha" ie. Begging for bread from four or five houses. He often sat under the (Neem) tree and taught all the people how to act and behave in this world by being an embodiment of that vitue. He did not believe sermons of mantras. In Sai Baba's own words "I look after my devotees the way a tortoise looks after her young ones, never taking my eyes off them."