Baba's Early Days in Shirdi
Shri Sai Baba's early days in Shirdi were not much documented. It was not till towards end of nineteenth century, people started to document His leelas and started writing dairy of their experiences with Him. In the initial days, after moving into the Masjid Dwarkamai, Baba used to go out to seek alms from four or five houses. Not many people knew Him or His name and just considered him a Pagal Fakir and ignored Him. His interaction were limited to few sadhus or fakir, who were living in and around Shirdi. There were few Saints already living in Shirdi namely Devidas, Jankidas, Gangagir, Anandnath. Devidas was a learned scholar and came to Shirdi around 12 year before Baba and lived at Maruti temple. Baba liked to spend time with these Saints and mostly spend his time singing and dancing to Kabir's songs. He liked to spend time with Devidas and discuss various religious topics.
Lamp Lighting with Water Miracle
One incident changed everyone's prespection of Baba and brought the villagers into the fold of Shri Sai Baba. Baba used to light few lamps in Dwarkamai every day and used to seek oil from the few Banias (Shopkeepers) in the village. The Shopkeepers considered it a nuisance but continued to give out the oil as charity to Baba. However, One day they decided to come together and stop giving the oil to Baba. They felt they are losing lot of money by this charity every day. When Baba came on that day to borrow the oil, they refused to give any oil stating that they did not have any oil left in the shop. Baba, who knew everything did not argue or question them, but just left empty handed back to Dwarkamai. The shopkeeper, wanting to see the outcome of their refusal, followed Baba to the masjid. They felt they can have some fun at the expense of Baba.
Baba had very little oil, stuck in the container, which wouldn't have been sufficient for even one lamp in the masjid. He filled the container full of water, which he had in the masjid. He then put some in this water in His month and spit it back into the container after gargling. He then quiety started filling the lamps with that water mixture. He starting lighting the wicks one after the other & the light from these lamp were shining more brightly than usual. The shopkeeper were suprised by the whole incident and for sometime, they looked at the burning lamp stunned. Slowly coming to their sense, they felt guilty for their denial of oil to Baba. At the same time, they were now scared of Baba as they now understood that He was no ordinary man and were worried He could curse them for their lies. They came running and fell on His feet seeking forgiveness. They confessed their sin of telling the lie of not having Oil. Similar to a mother, who would forgive her child mistake the moment the child repents for the mistake, Baba showed motherly love and forgave them immediately. He asked to never tell a lie as lie was something that displeased God. He also explained that Charity was a service to HIM and if one gives then GOD will be bound to return in multi-fold. The shopkeeper promised to never lie and alway be kind to the needy and would also be charitable. The news of the incidents spread across the village and over-night, Baba became famous and everyone started looking at him as a great soul.
Right to worship
Mhalsapati and very few people in the village were devotees of Sri Sai Baba from the start. Mhalsapati liked to spent time with Baba and discuss with him on many things. Soon after the lamp incident, people in the village started considering Baba as a holy Saint or GOD incarnated. Baba tried to stop devotee worshiping HIM, Baba told them the Alimghty or Allah was the one who should be worshiped and He was just a ordinary Fakir, who is just Allah's servent. However, the flow of devotees didn't stop and they continued to worship Baba with flowers, aarti, offering prasad. Looking at their love for Him, he couldn't turn them away and allowed them to show their devotion. This caused some tussle between the Hindu and Muslim Devotees. The Muslims felt that Baba, being a follower of Islam, cannot allow any worship other than Allah, the Almighty and should not accept any one from other religion to come and pray to Him. They also didn't like to see the masjid (though in ruin) turn into a place of hindu worship.
One of the Muslim devotee protested to Baba on seeing that the Hindus were applying Sandalwood paste to the forehead of Baba. He felt that Baba should follow the custom of Islam and not allow this to continue. However, Baba just smiled and said "Jaisa Desh Aiysa Vesh". He also pacified them stating that Baba being a follower of Islam and with Hindu worshipper coming into a Masjid to pray to Him, will be gain for Islam. Though some of muslim were satisfied with Baba's explaination. However, There were some who were not satisfied and were still not happy with the daily puja in the masjid. They went a Kazi for a solution to their problem. Kazi after listening to their problem, suggested that some issues need force to be resolved. Tambuli (who was a wrestler in the village) and few of the other strong muslim members got together and decided to stop the activities and stood guard outside the masjid to stop any Hindu devotee from entering the masjid and performing the poojas. Though Shirdi was a majority Hindu population , only few used to come to Masjid for worshiping Baba. Hence the strongmen felt that if they stopped the few then the entire problem can be resolved. Mhalsapati, who would come to worship Baba daily, was a very meek person. Tambuli went to Mhalsapati, when he came to Masjid to worship Baba, asked him to leave and not try to entry the masjid if he did not want to be hurt. To avoid any conflict, Mhalsapati did not try to enter the masjid and started praying to the wall outside the masjid considering it to be Baba. Baba, who knew everything, came to Mhalsapati and asked for explaination as if he knew nothing. Mhalsapati explain the suitation and informed him about the guards outside the masjid. Baba gave assurance and asked him to come inside the masjid without fear and perform his prayer. Mhalsapati came inside the masjid and prayed to His GOD. Those guarding outside did not say anything in front of Baba. However, Mhalsapati was scared of their retaliation later while he was returning to his house or the next day. Baba assured him that He was always with him and their bond cannot be broken by anyone. Baba took His Satka and struck the ground, causing a loud thunderous sound, which send shivers into the members guarding outside the masjid. They knew that they couldn't fight Baba - who had proved his power, with the lamp incident. They felt any person who could water to oil was not one to be messed with. They quietly left and didn't bother any other devotee from doing their prayers.
Javhar Ali Incident
There was a Fakir, Javhar Ali Maulana, who was a resident of Rahata. He was well-versed in the Islam Scripture and knowledgeable in the way of Islam. He was a smooth talker, who was able to impress anyone with his words and had many followers in Rahata. Due to a disagreement with few people in Rahata, he moved to Shirdi. In Shirdi, he noticed that there were many followers of Shri Sai Baba and there were hindu follower to Baba. He moved into Dwarkamai and questioned Baba on His knowledge of Qur'an and Shariat. Though Baba was all-knowing, He was very humble, had no care for honour or dishonour, replied that he had never learnt any scriptures. Javhar Ali immediately asked Baba to become his disciple. Baba did not object to his new master and agreed to become his new Shisya. Baba did not show any difference in His seva to His earlier Guru Venkusa and His current Guru Javhar Ali. Baba patiently performed his daily tasks like carrying water pots, cooking, cleaning and washing for His Guru. After sometime, both Guru-Shisya moved to Rahata and Guru started teaching Baba on the scriptures.
For two months, the people of Shirdi were patiently waiting for Baba to return from Rahata and they would once again have the pleasure of His love. Mhalsapati, felt very alone and restless with not being able to serve or worship Baba. He spoke to other villagers and they all decided to go themself to Rahata and bring Baba back to Shirdi. Once they reached Rahata, they tried to conviene Baba to return to Shirdi with them. However, Baba, who was playing the role of Shisya needed His Guru's permission to return to Shirdi. After much discussion with Javhar Ali, an arrangement was reached that both Guru-Shisya would return to Shirdi and all their needs will be fulfilled by the villagers. Based on this agreement, the entire group moved back to Shirdi.
Having achieved their first goal of getting Baba back to Shirdi, the villager were happy and let things settle down for some time. Mhalsapati was looking for an oppurtunity to get Baba released from his bondage. Devidas was a resident of Shirdi, who was a very enlighted Guru and many people had great respect for Him. Mhalsapati and the villagers created a suitation where Javhar Ali had to confront his knowledge against Devidas. Javhar Ali was unable to match the knowledge or wisdom of Devidas and was humilated in front of the entire village. He had to accept defeat and left Shirdi on the same day. In this entire incident, Baba never showed any disrespect to His Guru or showed any ego in doing any task and showed everyone the true meaning of Sharada.
Javhar Ali returned to Shirdi one more time after many years. However, when he returned, his delusion of being Baba's Guru was not there and he understood the true greatness of Baba. He fell at the feet of Baba and felt ashamed at the way he had treated Baba. Baba, in turn, treated Javhar with respect and motherly love.