In Shirdi village, at the age of sixteen, Sri Sai Baba appeared under a neem tree for His devotees. By that time, He was an enlightened soul and no one knew His parentage and lineage.
On one occassion, possessed by the spirit of the deity, Khandoba, two men who were asked by the people gathered there to announce who the great soul underneath the neem tree was. They were commanded to dig with a crow bar under the tree. On so digging up, they found bricks and on removal of which a big stone-like door was sighted. When it was pushed aside, a stair-way led to an underground structure, where on the cemented floor, four wick lamps, beautiful rosaries and a cloth for placing them were seen. God Khandoba announced that the boy did penance there for twelve years. Thereupon, the humble villagers questioned the boy about it and He replied that it was His Guru's abode, a very holy place and, therefore, as in the past, it would be better to close and keep it safe. People did as he said so. The boy, who left Shirdi returned as Sai Baba, hallowed Shirdi for sixty years by His presence and healed, helped and enlightened whoever met Him by His miracles and message of love and service. Baba assured that whoever performs Guru Pooja on Thursday at the abode of His Guru will be blessed of self-liberation.