The birth and parentage of Sai Baba of Shirdi is a mystery. In Shri Sai SatCharitra we read that, those who asked the question about Sai Baba's birth, parents or Guru, about His earlier life before coming to Shirdi. Sai Baba's glance would silent the questioner. So there are no records of Sai Baba himself answering such questions. Anyhow if you are interested to read about Shirdi Sai Baba's earlier life before coming to Shirdi. This part of the book Lord Meher, will make a good reading. Sai Baba's earlier life in Shirdi is available on this blog.
Also in Shri Sai SatCharitra is mention of Shirdi Sai Baba's arrival in Shirdi with Chand Patil, in a marriage procession. The story of the meeting of Sai Baba and Chand Patil is very interesting.
Chand Patil, the headman of village Dhupkheda of Nizam's State, travelled regularly on his horseback to Aurangabad district for business and other related matters. Once on such a trip, while he was resting in a jungle on the way, his horse was lost. Chand Patil, was deeply concerned with the loss of his favorite horse.
Frantically he looked for the horse, here and there, but in vain. Gloomy, he was walking around in search of his horse when he was called by Fakir, sitting under a huge Margosa tree. The Fakir had scarf worn on His head and a Kafni (a robe) on His body. He had short thick stick with him (called Satka), a Chilum (clay pipe used for smoking). He was preparing the Chilum for smoke. He called Chand Patil and asked him to sit and rest. Stressed under the loss of his horse, Chand Patil replied that he was searching for his lost horse.
The Fakir told him not to worry and look for the same on the banks on a nearby water stream. Chand Patil did the same, and was relieved from the stress and felt much happy on finding his lost horse. This Fakir had some different divine qualities. As Patil sat near Him, he noticed that the Fakir was preparing for smoking Chilum. Two vital elements were missing for the same. One was the fire with which the Chilum has to be lighted. The other was water, with which a cloth is moistened and wrapped on the smoking end of Chilum.
To the amazement of Patil, Sai Baba hit the Satka on the earth and fire appeared. He hit the Satka at a nearby point and water started flowing from there. The fakir lighted the tobacco with the fire and moistened the cloth. He puffed few smoke from the same and offered it to Patil.
This amazed Patil. He was already feeling some divine qualities in this Fakir and witnessed one of these Miracles of Sai Baba. He urged the Fakir to visit his home. The Fakir agreed. He went Dhupkheda with Patil, spent few days there. The brother of Chandbhai's wife was to be married to a girl from village in Shirdi. A procession for the same left for Shirdi with the bride.
Sai Baba accompanied them. The procession reached Shirdi. From a bullock cart under a tree near Khandoba Temple, stepped out the Fakir.
Read : How this Fakir was named Sai Baba.
Below is the video from a movie made on Shirdi Sai Baba with this story in Hindi language.
Below is the video from a movie made on Shirdi Sai Baba with this story in Hindi language.
Even today Samdhi of Chand Patil is preserved in the village Dhupkheda near Aurangabad district.
Some pictures below