People carrying the idol of Sai Baba in a Palkhi (Palanquin) in a procession to celebrate the anniversary of a Sai Baba temple in Vakola, a suburb of Mumbai.
Sai Baba of Shirdi (Unknown – October 15, 1918), also known as Shirdi Sai Baba , was an Indian guru, yogi and fakir who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint. There are many stories and eyewitness accounts of miracles he performed. In his life and teachings he tried to reconcile Hinduism and Islam: Sai Baba lived in a mosque which he called Dwarakamayi, practiced Hindu and Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions and was buried in a Hindu temple in Shirdi. One of his well known epigrams says of God: "Sabka Malik Ek Hai" ("One God governs all") which traces its root to the Bhagavad-Gita and Islam in general, and Sufism, in particular. He always uttered "Allah Malik" ("God is Master"). He had no love for perishable things, and was always engrossed in self-realization, which was his sole concern.Sai Baba taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, devotion to God and guru. His teachings combined elements of Hinduism and Islam and tried to achieve communal harmony between these religions.Sai Baba remains a very popular saint and is worshipped by people around the world and idolized in temples all over the country.
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