Jump to ratings and reviews

Shirdi Sai Baba: An Inspiring Life

'He appeared in Shirdi, he served the people and he conquered their hearts.'

Sometime in the mid-nineteenth century, a sixteen-year-old boy arrived in Shirdi, a small village in Maharashtra. Greeted as 'Sai' by the local priest, Mhalsapati, he began to be addressed by that name therea­er, and proceeded to touch and transform the lives of millions of his devotees. Shirdi Sai An Inspiring Life captures the life of the great saint in the most comprehensive manner till date. An authoritative scholar on the subject, who has devoted his life to spreading Shirdi Sai Baba's teachings throughout the world, Dr Chandra Bhanu Satpathy has delved into rare archives and intelligence reports from the British Raj, and has interviewed hundreds of devotees, including direct descendants of Baba's closest disciples, to provide an objective, factual and comprehensive view of Sai Baba's life. Here is a book that paints a beautiful portrait of an inspiring biography.

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2024

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
7 (77%)
4 stars
1 (11%)
3 stars
1 (11%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for Akash Datta.
85 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2024
For all living beings, there are many ways to reach the divine, such a way belongs to Shirdi. But these ways are full of troubles like desire, greed etc. To avoid such obstacles, we need the help of a guide, the guide is Guru. Such a Sadguru is Shirdi’s Sai Baba, who came to Shirdi, cured people, taught lessons of life and conquered people’s heart and now lives in millions of hearts. This book tells his story.
This book truly takes us to old Shirdi and personally introduces Shirdi Sai Baba. Many unknown new things about him are disclosed in this book. After reading this book, a desire of meeting Sai Baba personally arises and the curiosity to know more about him grows. In 2017, Sai Baba appeared in my dream and told me to visit Shirdi. After that, I have grown curiosity about him. Shirdi Sai helped me in many adverse situations of my life. I am truly indebted by him. This book gave me many detailed information about him. I want to visit Shirdi when it will be possible.
I have read Sri Sai Satcharita but after reading this book, I came to know that there are many other sources to know about Sai Baba. The author did very deep research to present this book. Generations will thank him for this book. This book takes us to a beautiful spiritual journey.
Many people, without fully knowing true facts, call Sai Baba “Chand Miya”, “Jihadi”, “Mlechcha” etc after reading and hearing social media rumors. The Bageshwar Dham Baba is a prime example of this. This book completely debunks these misunderstandings. When Sai Baba was introduced a Hindu who converted to Muslim fold by Bade Baba, a hardliner Muslim saint, Sai Baba got angry and abused him. Many people says that as Sai Baba said “Allah Malik”, he was a Mohammedan. But he also said that to reach Hari, there are two ways, faith and patience (Shraddha and Saburi). In Shirdi Sai’s spirituality, not only people from different caste, creeds but also animals, birds and every living beings merges into one entity. Many people claims that Sai was a beef eater but author proved that Sai Baba also taught about cow protection.
Author tried to connect Sai Baba with Sufism as his appearance was like a Sufi saint. It is true that many Sufi saints were Islamic hardliner but Shirdi Sai Baba never shown any sign of it. He always connected people of different faiths in his unique way. He endorsed everyone to read their respective religious scriptures.
This book also represents Sai Baba in a churning point of Indian History. Many important political figures like Lokmanya Tilak came to visit him that made Sai Baba’s entry into British Intelligence’s reports. But they found that Sai Baba just helped people spiritually.
Author introduced many persons like Baijabai Kote Patil, Tatya Kote Patil, Mhalsapati, Shama, Sathe and many more who accompanied Sai. Sai also revealed that they were interconnected by previous births. At the end of the book, author gives details of how after Baba’s Mahasamadhi, the Sai Sansthan Trust was formed. If you are a spiritual person, you should read this. If you have faith in Sai Baba, then this book is a must read for you. So, I am ending this review here. Say, “Om Sai Ram”.
Profile Image for Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ).
2,456 reviews94 followers
December 8, 2024
Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, also known as C.B. Satpathy, is a prominent scholar, spiritual thinker, author, and humanitarian, born in 1948 in Cuttack, Odisha, India. He comes from a family of academicians and has had a distinguished career, serving the Government of India from 1972 until his retirement in 2008. His life took a transformative turn in 1989 when he visited the shrine of Shirdi Sai Baba, which inspired him to dedicate himself to spreading the teachings of Sai Baba and Indian philosophy worldwide.

In “Shirdi Sai Baba: An Inspiring Life” by Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of Shirdi Sai Baba’s life and teachings, providing deep insights into his spiritual legacy and profound impact on millions. The book presents an inspiring biography that highlights Baba’s journey and principles, delves into his teachings on love, compassion, and faith, and is written in an accessible style suitable for both new and long-time followers. Acclaimed for its resonance with readers, the book encourages reflection on one’s spiritual path while honoring the legacy of one of India’s most revered saints.

Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy’s portrayal of Shirdi Sai Baba is unique due to his deep personal connection with Sai Baba, which began in 1989 and led him to dedicate his life to spreading Baba’s teachings globally. This personal experience informs his writings, making them resonate with authenticity and heartfelt devotion. He integrates Sai Baba’s teachings with broader Indian philosophical concepts, presenting a comprehensive view of spirituality that transcends mere biographical accounts. His works often explore the simplicity, compassion, and humility embodied by Sai Baba, encouraging readers to apply these principles in their own lives.

Beyond spirituality, Dr. Satpathy actively promotes humanitarian values and community development, establishing numerous centers dedicated to philanthropy and cultural promotion. This aspect of his work highlights the relevance of Sai Baba’s teachings in contemporary society. Many who engage with Dr. Satpathy’s work report profound personal transformations, as he connects with individuals from diverse backgrounds and inspires them to pursue their spiritual paths. His unique blend of personal devotion, holistic philosophy, humanitarian focus, and inspirational outreach sets his portrayal of Shirdi Sai Baba apart from more conventional representations.

Profile Image for Prince Raj.
553 reviews24 followers
December 4, 2024
ABOUT THE BOOK

Sai baba of shirdi has been known and remembered by many followers of his, he is the person whom everyone adore.

Whenever I have been in dwarkamai it's energy is rejuvenating, and there you can feel the presence of power and place is serene and peaceful.

The book contains photographs and also illustrates them and tells how it was taken.

Sai baba was the man whom everyone adored and loved, he also have been worshipped by his followers as a divine energy when he was alive and still the worship of Sai baba is going on in the bada made by his followers.

This book document shirdhi Sai's life in a structure and chronological manner to the extent possible, it also depicts who he made aware people about the differences between them, he never disrespected any religious person and religious mindsets, he taught and told everyone to read their sacred scriptures.

The author in the book have been taken this story from Many places and bundled into this book which I believe is inspiring and gives the details of life event of Sai baba from the moment he came in Shirdi and when he left the mortal world.

This book tries to fill the gaps in the perception of devotees by providing a logical and palatable of thoughts, it also talks and given credit to the people who were close to shirdhi sai and the people who came to get something from Sai baba, whoever came to him, he gave them what they want and he even knew their mind thoughts.

Their are many miracles done by Sai baba in shirdhi and gave solace to the people who were in need and whenever they remembered them.

It is said about Julius Caesar, `he came,he saw, he concurred'. Similarly, it can be said about shirdhi sai Baba,`he appeared in Shirdhi, he served the people, he conquered their hearts'.
66 reviews16 followers
Read
September 15, 2024
Considered one of the divine gurus of India, this book beautifully encapsulates the life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba during his time in Shirdi. From his arrival in Shirdi to the moment he took Samadhi, the book offers a wealth of life lessons through various stories and incidents. The depiction of old Shirdi is vivid, transporting readers to the heart of its spiritual and everyday life. Sai Baba's unique approach to spirituality attracted not only people from different castes and backgrounds but also animals and birds, creating an atmosphere of universal love and connection.

What I found particularly fascinating was how the author linked Sai Baba's presence to the political landscape of India at the time. Many individuals who sought his guidance later played significant roles in Indian politics, highlighting his far-reaching influence. As a devotee, I was excited to begin this book, but by the end, I felt truly blessed. The author has given us a remarkable window into Sai Baba’s life, offering beautiful insights that continue to heal and inspire countless people, even today.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews