“I am a grandfather to all people. Whoever calls me heartfully, I am there. I will take care of you wherever you are.” - Shirdi Sai Baba.


Shirdi Sai Baba was an enlightened master/saint and Soul Doctor who lived in Shirdi, India most of his life. His birthdate is unknown and he lived to be what we understand was in his 80's until the year 1918. As of the year 2,000 A.D. Jesus passed the role of head of the divine court of about 2,000 divine souls that guide earth on a higher level, to him. Jesus, Shirdi Sai Baba, and Sri Kaleshwar are soul brothers with the same mission as Soul Yoga.

His messages were simple: Live honestly (in satya) and have faith and patience, were some of the biggest lessons he taught. He also promised his devotees that if they "looked to him, he will look to them" meaning with your love and devotion to him/all beings, he vows to take care of you in return. 

The historic details of Shirdi Baba’s birth are unrecorded. The few facts which are known of Baba’s childhood come from his authorized biography, Shri Sai Satcharitra : The Wonderful Life and Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, and from Swami Kaleshwar.

Sri Kaleshwar shared, ”My master is Shirdi Sai Baba. He was an avadhut from northern India, four or five hours from Bombay. He used to live in Shirdi, a simple village. There were only thirty houses in that small hamlet. He carried unbelievable abilities in him. He was a man of miracles and an amazing powerful healer, but he lived his life with a begging bowl in the street. There’s a strong message in that. Shirdi Sai Baba is the Soul Doctor to make your soul healthy, happy and glorious!"

Shirdi Sai Baba was orphaned as a baby and in his childhood, his adopted parents disowned him. A fakir eventually brought the boy to the saint Venkusa, who became his master. Baba stayed with Venkusa for 12 years. He received more attention from his master than the other disciples because of his pure open heart; the disciples became jealous and attempted to kill him by pummeling him with a brick. As the brick flew towards his head, Baba called out his master’s name and the brick miraculously stopped in mid-air thus Baba’s life was saved. Afterwards, the brick was given to Baba as a gift by Venkusa. It became Baba’s power object, which he used as a pillow and kept with him until the last days of his life as his soul object, one of the five keys all need in spirituality. Venkusa then sent Baba to live in the town of Shirdi.

Baba traveled twice to the tiny village of Shirdi: his first visit lasted only a few months where as a young man he lived under a fig tree at the edge of town prescribing healing herbs; his second trip lasted over 50 years until he consciously left his body in 1918.

Baba would freely quote from the sacred scriptures of both Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. When asked whether he was in fact Muslim, Hindu or Christian, he would reply, “The ways to God are many but God is one. Serve God. Serve each other. Love each other. This is God’s Way.” His life, from the very beginning, was a message to the world about the unity of all beings.

Shirdi Sai Baba was treated as an outcast for 18 years and really suffered in Shirdi. As a divine Soul Doctor disguised as a beggar, he healed people supernaturally yet was treated as a black magician. People did not understand him for almost 18 of the many years he lived in Shirdi. He would beg for food and people often refused to help him. When people would give him often leftover food, he would receive it and feed the dogs and birds first, and then eat whatever was leftover.

Sri Kaleshwar said, “Baba never cared about himself. He never cared.  Even though the people, his students, brought him delicious food, his nature was to take the begging bowl, go in the street, and ask at one or two houses for some food. They would offer Baba whatever they had in the house, one, two, or three day old food with no taste. Then Baba brought the food back under the trees or into his temple. Then invited the dogs and ate from the begging bowl. Simultaneously, the dogs were eating, the birds were eating and he was also eating the same food. The whole village, in the beginning 18 years, thought Baba was a hysteria patient, that he was crazy. Later on, day by day, he was curing incredible diseases. He was giving high, powerful blessings. His miracles were incredible. After seeing this, the villagers recognized that he was the man of power.”  

Baba displayed miraculous and healing powers when needed. It was at this time that a local priest first named him “Sai” meaning “God-man, saint or Lord”. Thereafter, he became known as “Sai Baba” (revered saint) of Shirdi, or Shirdi Sai Baba. Throughout those years, Baba took up residence in an abandoned, dilapidated mosque open to the elements. Much of his time was spent sitting by the fire pit, rain or shine, gazing into the flames, doing his spiritual work: uplifting the souls of all mankind. This simple dwelling became known as the Dwarkamai, which today is visited by millions each year. Baba’s samadhi, his tomb, is located there.

Daily, Shirdi Sai Baba, disguised as a beggar, asked daily for oil for lamps where he stayed in an abandoned temple. One day all of the merchants conspired against him and denied him oil he needed to light his four lamps. After they all refused to help him, Shirdi Sai Baba supernaturally lit water in the four lamps on fire. When the villagers saw this, they came and fell at his feet, apologized, and started to recognize he was not a normal person. Shirdi Sai Baba said the flames represent the four pillars of this creation and that they would burn supernaturally for 1000 years (without oil). These four flame are the four principles of our Soul Yoga community: truth, right action, peace and love.

The four flames have been moved and are protected yet they are still burning supernaturally today in Shirdi. Sri Kaleshwar adds, “After some years, Shirdi Sai Baba took his meditation energy and made four flames in a room underground…He meditated non-stop and built his austerity energy and transferred it into the four flames. Then he sealed that room to keep those lights burning to store his meditation power, all his energy, for millions of people to be able to receive that energy in the future. Even now, in Shirdi where Baba lived, we can see those four flames representing the four pillars of creation: satya (truth), dharma (right action), shanti (peace) and prema (love)" which is the bigger message Shirdi Sai Baba brought to the world; For all to live aligned with these four principles represented by the four flames. You are invited to meditate at this power spot on the Sacred Journeys to India each summer with Juleannji in this lineage of enlightened masters.

Shirdi Sai Baba is the most revered saint in India. In 2019, Shirdi Sai Babas tomb/samadhi became the #1 most visited temple in India.

Shirdi Sai Baba’s temple in the town he lived Shirdi in modern times now feeds 50,000 people a day. Feeding the hungry was and still is a huge part of what Baba taught: always take care of those less fortunate and share what you have. This can also be seen by how he treated wealthy folks who did not share their blessings. As described in The Divine Mystery Fort by Sri Kaleshwar, “If someone greedy came down the street with beautiful clothes, he made them stop and roughly asked for rupees. They couldn’t say yes, they couldn’t say no.  If they said no, definitely within two or three days they were losing many rupees. If they had any little greedy feeling in their heart, he really cooked them.” He loved everyone and worked hard for the evolution of everyone’s souls a true Soul Doctor.

Shirdi Sai Baba taught that God is one. At the time of Baba’s death, Sri Kaleshwar explained there was a huge war between Hindu’s and Muslims.  Some of his last words were, “All human beings are one. Our religion is humanity. Allah Malik! God is one! So, don’t fight. Muslims, Hindus and Christians don’t argue saying my God is greater so I am the big man.”


Shirdi Sai Baba gave 11 Assurances:

1. Whosoever puts their feet on Shirdi soil, their sufferings will come to an end.

2. The wretched and miserable will rise to joy and happiness as soon as they climb the steps of the mosque.

3. I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body.

4. My tomb shall bless and speak to the needs of my devotees.

5. I shall be active and vigorous even from my tomb.

6. My mortal remains will speak from my tomb.

7. I am ever living to help and guide all who come to me, who surrender to me and who seek refuge in me.

8. If you look at me, I look at you.

9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.

10. If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.

11. There shall be no want in the house of my devotee.

Explanation of Arathi:

Before arathi begins, the priest takes small amount of food to be blessed called prasad, from any offered food by participants, and offers it on a leaf or in a bowl to Shirdi Sai Baba. All are invited to bring fruit, snack or sweet that can be given to others as an offering to be shared after arathi along with a small spoonful of daily abishek, holy water. Feeding people, known as Narayan seva is a high form of selfless service that all are invited to do.

The priest then sprinkles some morning abishek water on the food while giving thanks to God for all, and offers the small amount of food along with a flower to Shirdi Sai Baba. Next, the priest lights incense and gracefully waves it to Baba and over the murthi(s) on the stage, invoking the air element with the blessing of the smoke.

Arathi begins with the waving of the flame on a plate in the priest’s right hand, ringing of a bell in the left hand, and singing the arathi song together. The priest then raises the lamp and with their arm extended, gently, slowly, and continuously clockwise waving the flame in front of Shirdi Sai Baba while the participants look directly into the flame the priest is waving. Waving the flame clockwise in front of Baba like this draws his soul’s energy out and into the flame to be given to all who would like to receive it. Shirdi Sai Baba is a sadguru who is the pure embodiment of divine truth, right action, peace and love who teaches faith and patience and the unity of all. Baba represents the embodiment of Divine nature.

Sri Kaleshwar gave the advice that during arathi put your negativity into the flame. The song of arathi expresses God’s greatness through Baba who represents the embodiment of the Divine in all. Shirdi Sai Baba is head of the divine court that leads earth since the year 2,000 A.D. and if you connect with an open heart to him, and cast your burdens on him, he will surely bear it, along with 10 other assurances ^.

It is advised to first give thanks and praise to God before asking for whatever you want. Note that each verse ending with “Om Jagadisha Hare” Sri Kaleshwar said is an opportunity to ask Shirdi Sai Baba for your heart’s desire. Baba said, “I will keep giving you what you want until you want what I want to give you.”

At the end of the first song, we pray that the wonderful blessings we have received be shared with all everywhere and that all beings everywhere be happy with the words, “Loka samasta sukino bhavanthu.” The priest again raises the lamp and slowly turns in place 360 degrees, offering the flame to the world, then waving the flame first to the divine souls who brought us these channels, then to all those in attendance.

Then the priest presents the flame as a blessing either individually to each person depending on the size of the crowd or once to all, to receive the flame as a blessing. To pull more divine light in you, you are invited to first, “draw the flame” to your third-eye by waving your two hands over it with palms towards the flame, then raising them to your eyes, and finally over the top of your head, and/or your heart, if you choose. You can also wave the flame towards any part of “you” that needs healing or strengthening. You can also send the blessings of the flame to anyone with a thought of them. As you wave the flame toward you, inwardly and heartfully ask Shirdi Sai Baba’s soul light to illuminate your soul.

We pay respects to the divine kings and queen who are responsible for us receiving this divine knowledge that has been passed on for thousands of years for the benefit of all. After the arathi lamp is brought around to each person, there is a call-and-response where the priest calls out an invocation to honor Shirdi Sai Baba, Satya Sai Baba, and Sri Kaleshwar; Our group adds Jesus and the Divine Mother, and if you are present, you are requested to respond at the end of each name with a resounding, “Jai!” Meaning victory.

Once everyone has received their individual blessing from the flame, and the invocations are completed, the priest recites a prayer during which we each turn in place clockwise three to five times (pradakshina) and pranam which is a form of respectful bowing to Baba who represents the divine in all. This is a humble presentation of ourselves to “the Divine that exists within us and all around us,” Sri Kaleshwar said. It is symbolic pradakshina (walking in a circle) around the sadguru (highest teacher. One cannot reach their spiritual goal alone and without a sadguru) or the divinity within us, as well as the presentation of all sides of ourselves to the Divine nature, here represented by Baba. After walking in circles (pradakshina), we pranam which is an act of showing our love and bowing to the divine in all. You can kneel down with your forehead on the floor and the top of your head towards Baba or lay down with your arms outstretched with prayer hands pointing towards Baba, called a full pranam.

^ 11 Assurances of Shirdi Sai Baba: 1. Whosoever puts their feet on Shirdi soil, their sufferings will come to an end. 2. The wretched and miserable will rise to joy and happiness as soon as they climb the steps of the mosque. 3. I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body. 4. My tomb shall bless and speak to the needs of my devotees. 5. I shall be active and vigorous even from my tomb. 6. My mortal remains will speak from my tomb. 7. I am ever living to help and guide all who come to me, who surrender to me and who seek refuge in me. 8. If you look at me, I look at you. 9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it. 10. If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once. 11. There shall be no want in the house of my devotee.

Shirdi Sai Baba's Arathi:

Om Jai Jagadisha Hare Swami Shirdi Sai Hare


Bhakta Jana Samrakshaka (2×)


Shirdi Maheshwara Om Jai Jagadisha Hare

Om, victory (Jai) to the Lord of Lords (Jagadhisha), Lord Shirdi Sai, who destroys (Hare) grief, evil and miseries of life and who guards and protects (Samrakshaka) devotees (Bhakta Jana). Victory to the Lord of Lords of Shirdi! (Shirdi Maheshwara).

Shashi Vadana Shrikara


Sarva Prana Pate Swami Sarva Prana Pate


Ashrita Kalpalatika (2×)


Apad Bandhava Om Jai Jagadisha Hare

Your face (Vadana) is graceful (Shrikara) and charming as a full moon (Shashi)! Thou art the Lord (Pate) and life-force (Prana) of all (Sarva) beings; the wish-fulfilling Divine creeper (Kalpalatika) to those who are helpless (Ashritha); and protector and friend (Bandhava) in times of distress and calamities (Apad). Victory to the Lord of Lords!

Mata Pita Guru Devamu


Mariantayu Nive Swami Mariantayu Nive


Nada Brahma Jagannatha (2×)


Nagendrashayana Om Jai Jagadisha Hare

Thou art Mother (Mata), Father (Pita), Noble Teacher (Guru Devamu), Supreme Divinity and everything to us. O Lord of the universe (Jaganatha)! Thou art the primeval sound (Nada Brahma) and you recline on the coiled serpent (Nagendrashayana). Victory to the Lord of Lords!

Omkara Rupa Hare

Shiva Sai Mahadeva Shirdi Sai Mahadeva

Mangala Arathi Anduko (2×)

Mandaragiridhari Om Jai Jagadisha Hare

Thou art the embodiment (Rupa) of the Absolute (Omkara), great Lord (Mahadeva) Shiva and great Lord Shirdi Sai. Please accept (Anduko) this auspicious (Mangala) holy flame (Arathi). Thou art also Vishnu who carried (Dhari) as a tortoise the Mandara-Mountain (Giri) in the milk-ocean. Victory to the Lord of Lords!

Narayana Narayana Om Satya

Narayana Narayana Narayana Om


Narayana Narayana Om Satya

Narayana Narayana Om Satya

Narayana Narayana Om


Om Jai Sadguru Deva (all lines 3x faster each time)

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

All beings reside in you (Narayana). You are divine truth (Satya)! Om, all praise (Jai) to our real divine master (Sadguru Deva)! Om, may there be peace, may there be peace, may there be peace.

Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavanthu (3x)


Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

May (Bhavanthu) all everywhere (Loka Samasta) be happy (Sukhino)! Om, may there be peace, may there be peace, may there be peace.

Call: Aki Landa Koti Brahma Dhanaiya Ka 


Raja Di Raja Yogi Raja Parabrahma


Satchitananda Samat Sat Guru

Sri
 Bhagawan Shirdi Sai Nath Maharaji Ki


Response: Jai!

Call: Aki Landa Koti Brahma Dhanaiya Ka 


Raja Di Raja Yogi Raja Parabrahma 


Satchitananda Samat Sat Guru


Sri Bhagawan Satya Sai Maharaj Ji Ki


Response: Jai!

Call: Aki Landa Koti Brahma Dhanaiya Ka 


Raja Di Raja Yogi Raja Parabrahma


Satchitananda Samat Sat Guru


Sri Bhagawan Sri Sai Kaleshwar Swami Maharaj Ji Ki


Response: Jai!

All worlds, all people (Aki Landa Koti) are one on this earth (Brahma Dhanayaka). You are the king of kings (Raja Di Raja) and the enlightened One (Yogi Parabrahma). Your are Sat-chit-ananda (Existence-awarness-bliss). Divine grandeur (Bhagavan) Shirdi Sai – Satya Sai – Swami Sri Sai Kaleshwar, beloved Greatest king (Maharaji) victory (Jai) to (Ki) You!

The holy ash is walked around and shared with each person joining arathi.

Paramam Pavitram Baba Vibhuthim


Paramam Vichitram Leela Vibhuthim


Paramartha Ishtartha Moksha Pradatam


Baba Vibhuthim Idam Asrayami

Sai Baba Vibhuthim Satatam Smarami


Shirdi Sai Vibhuthim Manasa Smarami

The holy ash (Vibhuthim) from Baba is supreme (Paramam) purity (Pavitram). Its divine game (Leela) is full of supreme (Paramam) varierty and miracles (Vichitram). The spiritual goal of life (Paramartha), the aim (Artha) I am longing for (Ishta), is liberation (Moksha) and vibuthi gives that to me. Oh Baba, this (Idam) holy ash is my (mi) support and protection (Asraya). This vibuthi always (Satatam) makes me remember your divine name (Smarami) and have divinity in my mind (Manasa).

Om Om Om 


Asato Ma Sat Gamaya


Tamaso Ma Jyothir Gamaya


Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya

O Lord, please lead (Gamaya) me (Ma) from untruth (Asato) to Truth (Sat), from darkness (Tamaso) to Light (Jyothir), from death (Mrityor) to Immortality (Amritam)!

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Om, may there be peace, may there be peace, may there be peace!

Om Sahana Vavatu


Sahano Bhunaktu


Sahaviryam Karavavahey


Tejas Vina Vadhita Mastu


Ma Vidhwishavahey

Together (Saha) may we (Na) be protected (Vavatu). Together may we be nourished (Bhunaktu). Together may we work with great energy (Viryam Karavavahey). May our study together (Vina Vadhita Mastu) be brilliant (Tejas) and effective. May there be no bad feelings between us (Ma Vidhwishavahey).

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Om, may there be peace, may there be peace, may there be peace!