 He had reportedly stated to a close follower, Mahalsapati, that he has been born of Deshastha Brahmin parents in the village of Pathri and had been entrusted into the care of a fakir in his infancy.On another occasion, Baba reportedly said that the fakir's wife had left him in the care of a Hindu guru, Venkusa of Selu and that he had stayed with Venkusa for 12 years as his disciple.This dichotomy has given rise to two major theories regarding Baba's background, with the majority of writers supporting the Hindu background over the Islamic, while others combine both theories (that Sai Baba was first brought up by a fakir and then by a guru).