ABSTRACT
Sai Baba and his devotional worship have attracted considerable attention in scholarly literature. In most studies, however, Shirdi—the abode of Sai Baba—features as a backdrop or mere setting for numerous miracle stories and pilgrim-experiences. This chapter addresses such oversight by discussing Shirdi's development as a pilgrim-town using geographical perspectives. It aims to go beyond sacred hagiographies of Sai Baba and explain how political economy and patronage relations have contributed to Shirdi's growth. Central to this story is the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (SSST) as an institution that was established for managing the shrine of Sai Baba. Changes in the organizational structure of this institution will be charted, as will its influence on the development of pilgrim infrastructure in Shirdi. The building of visitor facilities triggered unprecedented flows of pilgrims and pilgrim donations began to swell the resources of the SSST, which led to its emergence as the most dominant stakeholder in the governance of the town. The SSST's activities have not only directed and influenced specific socio-spatial patterns of urbanization in Shirdi, they have also indirectly fostered activation of the private sector and consumptive practices characteristic of tourism that now dot the new landscape of Shirdi. The city has also witnessed the building of ashrams and temples by sectarian followers of Sai Baba in ways similar to many traditional Hindu pilgrim-towns. Thus, despite a relatively short history, Shirdi has not only become a pilgrim-town in its own right but also a must-go contemporary religious tourism destination.
