Mhalsapati

Mhalsapati was a goldsmith by birth and the priest of the Khandoba temple in Shirdi. Around 1858, a young fakir arrived in Shirdi with the wedding party of Chand Patil and stepped down from the cart near the temple. Mhalsapati greeted him with the words "Ya Sai", meaning "Come, Sai". The name stayed, and the world came to know him as Sai Baba.

Mhalsapati was one of Baba's first and closest devotees. He was very poor and lived a simple, pure life. For years he slept in the Dwarakamai on alternate nights with Baba and Tatya, keeping his hand on Baba's heart as Baba asked. He accompanied Baba to the Chavadi in the processions.

In 1886 Baba told Mhalsapati that he was going into samadhi for three days, and that his body should be guarded and not buried. Baba's breathing stopped, and officials wanted to bury the body, but Mhalsapati kept it on his lap for 72 hours until Baba returned to life. He lived on in Shirdi as a revered elder and passed away in 1922. His family still keeps the articles Baba gave him.