Sai Baba did not remain in Shirdi long, however, and began traveling from place to place in Maharashtra, begging along the way. Finally, he wandered among the hills surrounding the ancient Ellora Caves at Aurangabad, where he entered a small cave atop a hill in Khuldabad. At the bottom of this hill is the tomb of the Sufi Perfect Master Zarzari Zar Baksh. This Qutub's tomb has been a favorite spot of Mohammedan pilgrims in the area for over 700 years. According to Meher Baba, Zarzari Zar Baksh was the Master of Sai Baba in a previous lifetime. It is said that Sai had done something that so pleased Zarzari Zar Baksh that he had given Sai Realization, though Sai was not destined to realize God in that incarnation.

Sai was inwardly drawn to be near this spot and entered a cave overlooking the tomb. He stayed in this cave for several years in the state of majzoobiyat, not even leaving for food or water. Meher Baba explained further that Zarzari Zar Baksh was responsible for the eventual Realization of Sai, which occurred during the four to five years that the youth stayed in the cave — although Zarzari Zar Baksh had dropped his body several centuries before.

During these years the strong, healthy physique of the young fakir turned into a virtual skeleton, but this skeleton had infinite Light within. The emaciated fakir lost his gross consciousness and became a God-realized majzoob, fully conscious of himself as God but completely oblivious of his own body and the world around him.

"Yet," Age observed, "it was necessary for Sai to leave that cave. He needed to regain his gross awareness to be able to fulfill his destiny — to bring the Ancient One into form."

When Sai finally left the cave after four long years, he was inwardly drawn by the power of another Perfect Master. He wandered south to meet the Swami of Akkalkot, and by this Hindu Sadguru's grace, Sai regained normal human consciousness.  In this village of Akkalkot, the fakir became a living Perfect Master — and his divine work on earth began. He was only 20 years old.

Sai Baba

In 1858, Sai returned to Shirdi and stayed there, making this humble village his permanent headquarters. At first he kept aloof from the villagers, spending his nights under a neem tree in all seasons. His bodily needs were minimal; he begged for whatever food or tobacco he wanted.