 There are some indications that he met with many saints and fakirs , and worked as a weaver . He claimed to have been with the army of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 . It is generally accepted that Sai Baba stayed in Shirdi for three years , disappeared for a year , and returned permanently around 1858 , which suggests a birth year of 1838 . 
