Sai Baba Fake Photograph.

Aum Sai Ram.

On the Internet is a widely circulated Sai Baba Fraud Picture that is claimed to be an authentic photograph of Shirdi Sai Baba. The Fake Sai Baba Picture in question is a photograph that was “antiqued” to make it look older than it actually is.

Fake Photographs displayed in Web Media and Social Networks as original Photographs of Shri Sai Baba and Shirdi - Courtesy:Vinny Chitluri

Baba Rarely gave His consent for His photographs to be taken. However a few photographs were indeed taken. Most of these photographs were taken after 1900 and at that time Baba was not young.

The Above photograph was first published in 1930 in a Magazine called “Manoranjan” and Shri.Shripad Keshev Naik had written that this was “Shri Samarth Shirdi Che Sai Baba”.

However this photograph is of SHRI ADVETANAND SARASVATI BAAL BRAMACHARI SWAMI MAHARAJ of Sarvabhauma Datta Sansthan, Vitthal Chaitanya Vishranthi Mutt, Ganagapur, Gulbarga District of Karnataka State.

This Swami took Samadhi in Bhadrapad Ved Panchami in Shake 1830 that is 1908 of the English Calander. This information was provided by a person whose father was a disciple of this Swami and he had the photograph of the Swami from his father. (Reference: Sai Anantha. July 2009, year 4, Ank 14)

It is very disconcerting that major Sai Baba websites carry this picture on their websites claiming it is an authentic picture of Shirdi Sai Baba. It isn’t. For those who love, adore and respect Shirdi Sai Baba, this article is intended to foster devotion.