Introduction
Sathya Sai Baba was born on 23 November 1926 and was named Sathya Narayana Raju. He is a famous yet controversial guru in India having numerous followers and groups in countries around the world. He claimed in his teen age that fakir Shirdi actual “Sai Baba” was reincarnated in him. On this basis he renamed himself as Sai Baba. He further claimed to be omnipotent and omniscience in subsequent years. In his influential regions he was known to have manifested holy ash and other little objects like watches and rings which he claimed to materialize from nothing. His followers still believe that those claims had been tested by many people including some non-followers. He was well known for his traditional teachings of Hinduism with strong moral values. He viewed all the religions of world to be aimed at bringing humans closer to God. Even after his death, his followers along with many organizations founded by him are still found as involved in various charity programs.
Sai Baba was born near village Puttaparthi which is in Andhra Pradesh state of India. He started his mission in early 1940s. He claimed that his mission started on 20th October, 1940 when on his way to school he threw away his books. He stated that it was a Monday while actually as per calendar that day was Sunday which brings some suspicion. Sai Baba gained popularity in the regions around his village from the visitors who came to the village and spread his miracles when returning to their hometowns. There were many people who visited Si Baba supposedly after seeing him in their dreams for the first time. Subsequently, various foreigners including high class dignitaries and popular people started visiting him which brought international fame to Sai Baba. By the year 2004, an estimated one million followers were considered to have faith in Sai Baba. In few countries including Netherland, a significant decrease in his followers was observed in subsequent years due to the negative publicity of Sai Baba. Up till now many books have been published on his life and miracles and he was considered till his death as a treasure of India.
Primary teachings
Sai Baba preached many religious and moral teachings which included following few:-
- Love - for everyone
- Service - for others.
- Put a limit on desires
- The world as illusion
- God is in every person, many can’t feel this
- Meditation
- Inclusive admittance of every religion as paths leading to God
- Non-violence, Peace, right conduct, natural living and truth
Practices
Suthya Sai Baba started an Ashram (place for inhabiting poor and orphans etc) through donations from his followers near his native village Puttaparthi. He spent most of his life in the same ashram named Parashanthi Nilayam. He also founded two other ashrams known as Whitefield and Brindavan. He was regarded as a good orator of Hindi, and also spoke passable Tamil. Sai Baba claimed to be avatar of Kali Yuga of Shakti and Lord Shiva. He preached love and unity of religions. Sai Baba asserted that he was a God’s avatar, and reincarnation of the Lord Rama, Sirdi Sai Baba and Sri Krishna. He had many times claimed to be a reincarnation of Rama, Kabir, Krishna, Vishnu and many other popular figures from Indian mythology. He left India in his life for once only to visit Uganda in the year 1968.
Suthya Sai Baba was reported to have performed various forms of miracles including materialization of little objects like jewelry, watches, and holy ash etc. He claimed to have healed his devotees from diseases through spiritual means which included in some case to take the disease from the patient to himself. Some followers reported bilocating ability of Sai Baba. Various local groups around the globe gather around and sing bhajans which are Indian devotional songs and learn about his teachings which motivate them to do various community services which are known as Seva in Hindi. The Bhajans of Saib Baba are sung on most of such gatherings.
Views of Skeptics
Skeptics’ view Sai Baba as highly controversial personality consider claims about him to be unproven and even false. They also consider that his bilocation ability was just imagination of his devotees and that his claims about reincarnations are extremely doubtful. He has not originated any new teaching and in fact he has just copied these from major religions of the world. They further consider that the charity projects of Sai Baba were exaggerated and used as money laundering. The various project of providing drinking water to poor people around many villages by the efforts of Sai Baba failed significantly due to corruption and failure of maintenance. Few ex-devotees which included some Americans accused Sai Baba of being cult leader and using mind control to make people follow him. Some critics even say that school records of Sai Baba show different date of birth than 23rd November, 1926 and he made this date up by himself due to the reason that a famous Hindu philosopher named Sri Aurobindo told his people that on this date the Divine was descended. Many critics also alleged Sai Baba of being involved in having sexual relations and other immoral acts with many of his young devotees which mostly included males however, there was no such evidence in the courts of India which proved these allegations on him.
The government and media
Media has published many articles and extensively reported the controversial stories related to Sai Baba. An article was published in year 2000 with the caption” Divine Downfall” highlighted about the sexual abuses done by Sai Baba. Dr Bhatia was one of the closest friends of Sai Baba narrated about his sexual assault against a young boy. The result of this confession was the quick dismissal of Dr Bhatia from job and ashram. The followers of Sai Baba look up to him as a Holly and sacred personality and do not believe in any immoral controversies associated with him. A critique article was published in an Indian top magazine named “A God accused” in the year 2000. Media has published many articles in favor of his personality and superstitious powers and one such article was published by New York Times and several papers being published in India.
The electronic media of some foreign countries notably Norway and Denmark broadcasted several controversial documentaries and videos illustrating the seduction activities of Sai Baba. The political celebrities used to go to ashram to pay homage and donation. The former PM of India Mr. AtalBehari Vajpayee stated in his letter which was further endorsed by the judges of India Supreme Court that Sai Baba is an innocent and pure soul and the entire allegations against him about sexual harassment are just propaganda. European parliament clearly took a stand to not to enter into any trade agreement with organizations associated with Sai Baba in any way unless the proper investigation is not undertaken against sexual affairs of Sai Baba. BBC telecasted documentaries featuring about two US male citizens being molested and sexually exploited by Sai Baba. Isaac Tigers are the renowned and firm followers of Sai Baba and they are of the view that their love and respect for Baba will always remain same even if the sexual allegation on Baba are someday proved to be true.
Views on Sai Baba
People who were once the followers of Baba believe that sexual allegation is true and look up to his superstitious powers as evil sources of demon. Few of the ex-followers state that all the miraculous manifestation of prayers by Sai Baba was just a deception of sight rather God answers those prayers not the Baba. The permanent believers consider him as an absolute cheater and the call his blind followers as naïve. The book written by Tal Brooke on the false claims of Sai Baba was hated by people at large and banned in India. There are different views about Baba among his current and ex followers but at large most of them are in favor of his spiritual and religious sanctity. They consider all types of assertions against Sai Baba as part of movements by his non-followers with no truth and evidences to support the claims. They even believe that sexual allegations have been made by those who are themselves not virtuous and pious and tried to distract the devotion of people from Baba. They consider the sexual activities of Baba as a favor to the victim to help fight with any possible sexual disorder or deadly disease. Tigrette have unshaken believe that nothing on this earth can create abhorrence for Baba in their hearts.
Illness and Death of Sai Baba
Sai Baba got respiration related health issues and was admitted to hospital on 28th March, 2011 and after about a month during which conditions of his health progressively deteriorated, Sathya Sai Baba passed away on 24th April 2011 at the age of 85 years.
