When asked about his past, he often gave elusive responses. The name "Sai" was given to him when he arrived at Shirdi, a town now in the west Indian state of Maharashtra. The word "Sai" refers to a religious mendicant but can also mean "God". In several Indian and Middle Eastern languages the term "Baba" is an honorific signifying grandfather, father, old man or sir. Thus Sai Baba denotes holy father, saintly father or (venerable) poor old man.