Sai Baba of Shirdi was an Indian holy man who is considered by his followers to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He was born to a merchant and his wife in the town of Shirdi, Maharashtra in 1838. He is considered the "Siddhanta" of the world. His teachings are based on a set of core beliefs that he taught his disciples, called "The Holy Science". In the late 19th century, he gained recognition for his many miracles and spiritual powers. He was also widely known as the "Guru of Gurus" because of his ability to perform miracles. The number of people who visited him and came to know him in person is estimated to be more than 10 million.