Sathya Sai Baba (pronounced /sæt jæ saɪ bæ bæ/) (Telugu: సత్య సాయిబాబా), (born Sathyanarayana Raju on 23 November 1926 [1][2]) is a South Indian guru, religious figure, and educator. He is described by his devotees as an avatar, godman, spiritual teacher, and miracle worker.[1][3][4][5] He has said that he is the reincarnation of the fakir and saint, Sai Baba of Shirdi,[6] often recounting extensive and detailed accounts of the fakir's life.[6][7][8] He also is a singer, writer and poet.[9][10]
The Sathya Sai Organization reports that there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 114 countries worldwide.[11] The number of active Sathya Sai Baba adherents is estimated to be a minimum of 6 million, although followers cite anywhere from 50 to 100 million.[12]
Contents[hide]
1 Biography
2 Beliefs and practices of devotees
3 Ashrams and mandirs
4 Institutions, organizations and projects
5 Claims of materialization and other miracles
6 Criticism and controversy
7 Responses to criticism
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
//
[edit] Biography
For more details on this topic, see Bibliography of Sathya Sai Baba.
Sathyanarayana Raju was born to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju (with the family name of "Ratnakaram")[13] in the remote village of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India.[14] In recounting his childhood, Sai Baba says "It is natural for any child to cry when it is born. But this child did not cry at all ... to Easwaramma's utter surprise, the baby started smiling. Everyone was mystified to see the newborn babe smiling."[15] "He was given the name Sathyanarayana ("Sathya" is Sanskrit for Truth and "Narayana" is a name for Vishnu)[16] because of his mother's pujas and prayers to that particular name and form of God."[16] "Mother Easwaramma used to perform Sathyanarayana Vratam every full moon day,"[15] says Sai Baba of his "mother's religious vigil."[17]
File:Youngsaibaba.jpg
Young Sathya Sai Baba
Easwaramma described Sathyanarayana as being born of immaculate conception. She relates, "I had dreamt of Sathya Narayana Deva and he cautioned me that I should not be frightened if something happened to me through the Will of God. That morning when I was at the well drawing water, a big ball of blue light came rolling towards me and I fainted and fell. I felt it glided into me".[18] Sathya Sai Baba confirmed this in a 2003 birthday discourse.[15]
Narayana Kasturi, in his biography of Sathya Sai Baba, says during the pregnancy, "the household was awakened at midnight and sometimes early in the morning by the tambura twanging melodiously and rhythmically and the maddela (drum) softly beating, as though they were in expert hands."[19]
"On the 24th November 1926, Sri Aurobindo Ghosh came out of his meditative trance and announced,"[20] "that Krishna ("overmind Godhead"[21]) descended into the physical".[22] "On the day before this announcement, that is, on the 23rd of November, 1926, avatar Sai Baba was born"[23] Many feel "that Sri Aurobindo's announcement heralded the Sathya Sai Avatar".[21][24] Sathya Sai Baba addressed this in a 1999 discourse saying, "On November 24, 1926, Aurobindo broke his prolonged silence only to declare that God had incarnated the previous day. After making this significant statement, he continued with his vow of silence."[25]
"Mother Easwaramma looked after her child with love and care. Days rolled by and the child grew into a boy."[15] Her "son was totally averse to non-vegetarian food. He would not even visit the houses where non-vegetarian food was cooked. He kept away from places where pigs, sheep, cattle, or fowl were killed or tortured, or where fish were trapped or caught."[19] According to Sathya Sai Baba, "The child was brought up in a noble environment."[15]
"At the tender years of three and four, whenever a beggar appeared at the door and raised his cry, Sathya left his play and rushed inside to force his sisters, Venkamma and Parvathamma,[17] to hand out grain or food."[19]"The child became the pet of the entire village of Puttaparthi." says Kasturi.[19] His playmates called him, 'Guru' and he was called Brahmajnani, a "Realized Soul", by the neighbors, as "he comforted friends in distress and never seemed to get cross or tired."[26]A teacher of Sathyanarayna, Sri V.C. Kondappa, recalls his former student. "The boys, gathered around him for the things he 'took' out of his empty bag! When asked about it, he said that a certain 'Angel' obeyed his will and gave him whatever he wanted!"[27] The empty bag often produced "delectable sweets, pencils, pieces of rubber, toys, flowers and fruits."[26]
"His special talents were for drama, music, poetry and acting. He was even writing songs for the village opera at the age of eight."[16] There are numerous stories of plays, poems, dances and songs he wrote as a child.[27] "When he was ten years of age, Sathya formed in Puttaparthi a Pandhari Bhajan Group, or a group of carollers, for the presentation of songs of love and devotion to God."[27] Sathya Sai Baba still recounts some of the prayers to this day.[28]
"Satyanarayana,' says Kasturi, "was a precocious child, learning by himself more than anyone else could teach him and much quicker than most other children."[19]
Sathyam, as Sathya Sai Baba refers to himself during those times, attended the local school in Puttaparthi until third standard. "After advancing to the fourth standard, it became necessary to go to the school in Bukkapatnam since the school in Puttaparthi did not offer studies beyond the third."[28] From the age of eight, Satynanarayana Raju attended the higher elementary school in Bukkapatnam.[16]
Upon the heartfelt request of his grandfather Kondama Raju, Sathyam lived with him for a time, helping with household duties and chores (cooking, cleaning etc.) ...[28] An avid composer of poems, songs and plays, Sathyam also engaged in acting and dancing in school and community events.[28] In class, he said the morning prayers, and it was around this time Sathyam taught the local children and villagers how to read and write.[28]
On 8 March 1940, Sathya was stung by a "big black scorpion."[29] "He fell as though unconscious and became stiff. He did not speak and his breathing became faint."[29] He was given medical attention and by the next morning the doctor said that he "was out of danger."[29]Within the next few days there was a noticeable change in Sathya's behavior.[29] Concerned, his brother "wrote his parents that Sathya was not answering anyone who spoke to him and that it was a Herculean task to make him accept food. He told them Sathya was spending his time mostly in silence, sometimes bursting into song and poetry, sometimes reciting long Sanskrit verses, sometimes expounding the philosophic wisdom of ancient India."[29] Doctors believed it to be hysteria, but "the symptoms of laughing and weeping, eloquence and silence continued."[29]Within the week, they came and brought Sathya home to Puttaparthi.[15] "The parents were disheartened", says Kasturi, "and watched his behavior with increasing fear."[29] They brought him to many priests, 'doctors' and exorcists.[29] "Since the first reaction to an illness in any village is usually to fear that it is the result of some ... spirit's taking hold of the patient",[29] many severe treatments were performed to force the 'spirits' out.[15][29] Sai Baba says, "I submitted Myself to all this torture without demur."[15] During one anguishing visit to one of the 'doctors', says Sai Baba, "Venkamma (his sister) could not bear the sight of this torture. Quietly, she called the cartman and in the darkness of night, she took Me back home to Puttaparthi."[15]
Kasturi describes soon after, Sathya was to be taken to another "clever "doctor"".[29] About half an hour into the journey, "Sathya said emphatically, "I do not want to go anywhere; let us go back." Upon saying this, the bullocks came to a halt and could not be persuaded to budge! The struggle went on for over an hour, Finally their faces were turned home-ward."[29]
"In 1940, at the age of fourteen, he proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi-a saint who became famous in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries." Sai is a Persian word which means "Saint", and Baba is a Hindi term of endearment for father. Since that time, many had come to challenge his claim to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. Arnold Schulman in his book "Baba" said, "there is no record of the number of people who went away unimpressed but dozens of doubters have documented how they were convinced."[30] Family members and neighbors however were not convinced. They approached the young Sathya and said, "If you are Sai Baba, give us some proof." "Give me those jasmine flowers," said young Sathya. After receiving them, he threw them on the floor. The flowers, according to those present, "arranged themselves as the letters Sai Baba in Telugu."[15][29][30]
In October 1940,[31] Sathya accompanied Sehsa and his wife to Hampi. Sathyam was told to look after the couple's luggage while they went to the Siva temple. "(He) sat down there with the luggage while the brother and his wife entered the temple to have the darshan of Virupaksha (Siva). Inside, they did not see the Virupaksha idol but Sathya! Then Seshama Raju said, "Look, Sathya is here! Who is taking care of the luggage?" He came out running and saw Sathya there! He ran back inside and saw Sathya there also."[28] A municipal chairman also witnessed the phenomenon and presented Sathyam with "a collar pin made of gold."[28] With the insistence of his sister-in-law, Sathyam reluctantly accepted the pin. After returning to Kamalapuram, Sathyam was to begin school again. In a May 2000 discourse, Sathya Sai Baba describes what happened then, "He (Sathyam) left the house and went about ten feet when the collar pin fell (and) could not be found ... The collar pin symbolised worldly attachment, and when it was lost, it was also symbolic of the end of the 'Raju phase' and attachments implied by it."[28]
Declaring that he had no worldly relationship with anyone, ("I don't belong to you; Maya (illusion) has gone; My devotees are calling Me; I have My Work."[29]) Sathya Sai Baba "ran to the house of one Anjaneyulu. In front of his house there was a small rock. Sathya Sai Baba went and sat on that stone."[28] Sathya Sai Baba recalls his brother "Seshama Raju came there and forced me to return home. I said I would not."[32] For three days, Sathya Sai Baba stayed with Anjaneyulu; having his food in Anjaneyulu's house, and spending time sitting on the rock.[28]
People asked him, "Who are You? What is Your name?" Sathya Sai Baba replied, "My name is Sai."[28] "At that time, the Commissioner (Anjaneyulu)'s son ran inside, brought a camera and clicked a photo. In the picture, Shirdi Sai could be seen in front of Swami. Thereafter, Anjaneyulu gave Swami the name Sai Baba, and in due course the name remained."[28]On being informed of the events by Seshama, his parents came to Uravakonda. His mother, Eswaramma pleaded with him to return with them but he refused.[29][32] He did, however, eventually agree to return to Puttaparthi.[32]
"Sathyanarayana Raju was hereafter commonly known either as Bala Sai (Boy Sai) or Sathya Sai Baba, an appellation which he himself accepted."[33] Slowly devotees began to gather around Sathya Sai Baba. On Thursday bhajans were sung, and soon it became everyday.[33] From this time, Narayana Kasturi relates, "a shed was put up which was enlarged as the months passed. A tent also was rigged up, and some devotees who came from Bangalore and Anantapur pitched their own tents."[33] "Because Sai Baba insisted on feeding all who came to see him; huge dining halls became necessary."[33] "Subbamma looked after the comforts of the pilgrims for some years until the building now called the "Old Mandir" (or Old Temple) was built."[33]
In 1944, a mandir (temple) for Sathya Sai Baba's devotees was built near the village. It is now referred to as the old mandir.[16][34] The construction of Prashanthi Nilayam, the current ashram, was started in 1948.[34] "Prasanthi Nilayam was inaugurated on the twenty-third of November, 1950, the twenty-fourth birthday of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It took about two years to build."[35] Today, Puttaparthi has undergone enormous change. It has been transformed from a small village to a world pilgrimage center. Sathya Sai Baba's efforts have resulted in a deemed university with three campuses and two "super specialty" hospitals that cater to the needs of the poor free of charge.[36]
Around this time, there were two attempts on Sathya Sai Baba's life. Sathya Sai Baba talks about it in a 2003 discourse. "Those who were opposed to Subbamma on caste grounds decided to get rid of Swami (Sathya Sai Baba) by poison. I was very fond of vadas (Indian delicacy) in those days. So, these people made some vadas and mixed some virulent poison in some of them ... I visited this house and picked up the specific vadas that had been poisoned and ate them[15]" "without hesitation. My body at once turned blue."[37] "Another attempt of this kind was when some of them set fire to my improvised house. The house had a thatched roof. Some miscreants set fire to the house ... Suddenly, there was a cloudburst which poured down just above the house and put out the fire. There was however, not a drop of rain anywhere else."[15] "The roof was fully burnt and only the walls were standing. They peeped over the wall and found Me sleeping peacefully. I was totally unharmed."[37]
In 1960, Sathya Sai Baba said that he would be in this mortal human form for another 59 years.[38] In 1963, Sathya Sai Baba suffered a stroke and four severe heart attacks.[39] On 29 June he suddenly fell unconscious. Upon gaining some coherency, he refused any proposed medical assistance and over the next five days suffered four severe heart attacks. At the end of the five days, his left side was paralyzed, and the sight of his left eye and his speech were also badly affected.[39] He indicated that he had taken on the illness of a devotee who was to have suffered a stroke and the accompanying heart attacks and that the disease for the devotee would have been dire. Two days later, his left side was still paralyzed and his speech was a feeble, scarcely intelligible mumble.[39] Guru Poornima celebrations had started and assisted by several disciples, he practically had to be carried to the dais. After a few minutes, he gestured for some water. He drank some (with assistance) and then sprinkled a few drops onto his paralyzed left hand and leg. With both hands he began to stroke his left leg.[40] "In a second Swamiji's leg, eye, and all his left side became normal,"[39] and for the next hour he delivered a discourse for Guru Poornima. It was during this discourse that he brought to light his future incarnation as Prema Sai Baba.[40] That night he ate his normal meal, and the following days saw him back in his usual vigorous, hearty health.[39]
During the Guru Poornima discourse, Sathya Sai Baba made statements declaring himself a reincarnation of Shiva and Shakti.[41] He also claimed that Sai Baba of Shirdi was an incarnation of Shiva and that his future reincarnation, Prema Sai Baba, would be a reincarnation of Shakti. He publicly repeated the claim that he is the second of three incarnations in 1976.[42] Baba's biography states that Prema Sai Baba will be born in Mysore State.[43]. He said, "I have been keeping back from you all these years one secret about Me; the time has come when I can reveal it to you. This is a sacred day. I am Siva-Sakthi," He declared, "born in the gothra of Bharadwaja, according to a boon won by that sage from Siva and Sakthi. Siva was born in the gothra of that sage as Sai Baba of Shirdi; Siva and Sakthi have incarnated as Myself in his gothra now; Sakthi alone will incarnate as the third Sai (Prema Sai Baba) in the same gothra in Mysore State."
Sathya Sai Baba has made the claim that the three Sai Baba's have come and will come invested with the totality of cosmic power to save dharma (righteousness) from anti-dharma. In a 1976 interview with Blitz Magazine, Sathya Sai Baba was asked by Sri R.K. Karanjia (Senior Editor of Blitz Magazine), why he had incarnated. Sathya Sai Baba responded, "Because that is the only way to incarnate the God within man.; Therefore, in My present Avathar, I have come armed with the fullness of the power of formless God to correct mankind, raise human consciousness and put people back on the right path of truth, righteousness, peace and love to divinity."[44].
On 29 June 1968, Sathya Sai Baba made his first, and only, trip overseas.[39][45] Having his passport prepared six weeks earlier,[46] Sathya Sai Baba "emplaned the Boeing leaving for East Africa from Bombay."[45]Landing in Kenya, the party proceeded by car to Kampala, the capital city of neighbouring Uganda. Though passing the Great Rift Valley and the soda lake of Nakuru, Narayana Kasturi writes, "Baba told us, "I have no need to see places. I am everywhere, always! You may drive around. I have my work, work for which I have come.""[45] "During His stay He addressed gatherings of lions and rotarians, doctors, businessmen, members and workers of service organizations,"[45] as well as governemnt ministers and officials.[45] During a discourse in Nairobi (Kenya, East Africa) Sathya Sai Baba stated, "I have come to light the lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I have not come on behalf of any exclusive religion. I have not come on a mission of publicity for a sect or creed or cause, nor have I come to collect followers for a doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into my fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this unitary faith, this spiritual principle, this path of Love, this virtue of Love, this duty of Love, this obligation of Love."[47]On July 14th, 1968, Sathya Sai Baba departed Kampala via East African Airways for Nairobi. After a small delay, he then returned to Bombay (Mumbai), India.[45]
On August 20th, 1988, Sathya Sai Baba slipped in his bathroom. Of the incident, he says,"On Saturday morning I slipped on a piece of soap in the bathroom and fell on my back. The injury I sustained was a natural consequence of the fall ..."[48] X-rays showed he had fractured his hip bone. Six days later he gave a discourse and addressed the subject.[48]On 4 June 2003,[49] Sathya Sai Baba suffered another fall and broke his hip and femur. In a discourse a month later, he says "You are all aware of the fact that Swami fractured His hip, and it was in three pieces. The ball in the hip was in two pieces. The pain was so excruciating that it cannot be described in words. It was impossible to move this way or that way. It pierced the body as if it were an electric shock. But I was unaffected by it ... I was all smiles when I was being taken to hospital."[50] "He was given anesthetic during the operation but it didn't put Him to sleep; and He was talking to the surgeon all the way through"[51] After the surgery, he was able to walk within a span of three days.[50]
In 2006, a third accident occurred. Sathya Sai Baba relates, "Once it so happened that a student was trying to tie buntings on a door while standing on an iron stool. As he saw Me coming, he felt nervous and fell from the stool. Both the stool and the boy fell on Me and My hip bone was fractured."[52][53] He gives darshan now from a car or his Porte Chair.[54]
Since 2005, Sathya Sai Baba has used a wheelchair, and his failing health has forced him to make fewer public appearances.[55]
Sathya Sai Baba himself says,"I am beyond the reach of the most intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those who have recognized my love and experienced that love can assert that they have glimpsed my reality. Do not attempt to know me through the external eyes."[56]
[edit] Beliefs and practices of devotees
The Sathya Sai Organization reports that there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 114 countries worldwide.[11] The number of active Sathya Sai Baba adherents is estimated to be a minimum of 6 million, although followers cite anywhere from 50 to 100 million.[12]
Contents[hide]
1 Biography
2 Beliefs and practices of devotees
3 Ashrams and mandirs
4 Institutions, organizations and projects
5 Claims of materialization and other miracles
6 Criticism and controversy
7 Responses to criticism
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
//
[edit] Biography
For more details on this topic, see Bibliography of Sathya Sai Baba.
Sathyanarayana Raju was born to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju (with the family name of "Ratnakaram")[13] in the remote village of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India.[14] In recounting his childhood, Sai Baba says "It is natural for any child to cry when it is born. But this child did not cry at all ... to Easwaramma's utter surprise, the baby started smiling. Everyone was mystified to see the newborn babe smiling."[15] "He was given the name Sathyanarayana ("Sathya" is Sanskrit for Truth and "Narayana" is a name for Vishnu)[16] because of his mother's pujas and prayers to that particular name and form of God."[16] "Mother Easwaramma used to perform Sathyanarayana Vratam every full moon day,"[15] says Sai Baba of his "mother's religious vigil."[17]
File:Youngsaibaba.jpg
Young Sathya Sai Baba
Easwaramma described Sathyanarayana as being born of immaculate conception. She relates, "I had dreamt of Sathya Narayana Deva and he cautioned me that I should not be frightened if something happened to me through the Will of God. That morning when I was at the well drawing water, a big ball of blue light came rolling towards me and I fainted and fell. I felt it glided into me".[18] Sathya Sai Baba confirmed this in a 2003 birthday discourse.[15]
Narayana Kasturi, in his biography of Sathya Sai Baba, says during the pregnancy, "the household was awakened at midnight and sometimes early in the morning by the tambura twanging melodiously and rhythmically and the maddela (drum) softly beating, as though they were in expert hands."[19]
"On the 24th November 1926, Sri Aurobindo Ghosh came out of his meditative trance and announced,"[20] "that Krishna ("overmind Godhead"[21]) descended into the physical".[22] "On the day before this announcement, that is, on the 23rd of November, 1926, avatar Sai Baba was born"[23] Many feel "that Sri Aurobindo's announcement heralded the Sathya Sai Avatar".[21][24] Sathya Sai Baba addressed this in a 1999 discourse saying, "On November 24, 1926, Aurobindo broke his prolonged silence only to declare that God had incarnated the previous day. After making this significant statement, he continued with his vow of silence."[25]
"Mother Easwaramma looked after her child with love and care. Days rolled by and the child grew into a boy."[15] Her "son was totally averse to non-vegetarian food. He would not even visit the houses where non-vegetarian food was cooked. He kept away from places where pigs, sheep, cattle, or fowl were killed or tortured, or where fish were trapped or caught."[19] According to Sathya Sai Baba, "The child was brought up in a noble environment."[15]
"At the tender years of three and four, whenever a beggar appeared at the door and raised his cry, Sathya left his play and rushed inside to force his sisters, Venkamma and Parvathamma,[17] to hand out grain or food."[19]"The child became the pet of the entire village of Puttaparthi." says Kasturi.[19] His playmates called him, 'Guru' and he was called Brahmajnani, a "Realized Soul", by the neighbors, as "he comforted friends in distress and never seemed to get cross or tired."[26]A teacher of Sathyanarayna, Sri V.C. Kondappa, recalls his former student. "The boys, gathered around him for the things he 'took' out of his empty bag! When asked about it, he said that a certain 'Angel' obeyed his will and gave him whatever he wanted!"[27] The empty bag often produced "delectable sweets, pencils, pieces of rubber, toys, flowers and fruits."[26]
"His special talents were for drama, music, poetry and acting. He was even writing songs for the village opera at the age of eight."[16] There are numerous stories of plays, poems, dances and songs he wrote as a child.[27] "When he was ten years of age, Sathya formed in Puttaparthi a Pandhari Bhajan Group, or a group of carollers, for the presentation of songs of love and devotion to God."[27] Sathya Sai Baba still recounts some of the prayers to this day.[28]
"Satyanarayana,' says Kasturi, "was a precocious child, learning by himself more than anyone else could teach him and much quicker than most other children."[19]
Sathyam, as Sathya Sai Baba refers to himself during those times, attended the local school in Puttaparthi until third standard. "After advancing to the fourth standard, it became necessary to go to the school in Bukkapatnam since the school in Puttaparthi did not offer studies beyond the third."[28] From the age of eight, Satynanarayana Raju attended the higher elementary school in Bukkapatnam.[16]
Upon the heartfelt request of his grandfather Kondama Raju, Sathyam lived with him for a time, helping with household duties and chores (cooking, cleaning etc.) ...[28] An avid composer of poems, songs and plays, Sathyam also engaged in acting and dancing in school and community events.[28] In class, he said the morning prayers, and it was around this time Sathyam taught the local children and villagers how to read and write.[28]
On 8 March 1940, Sathya was stung by a "big black scorpion."[29] "He fell as though unconscious and became stiff. He did not speak and his breathing became faint."[29] He was given medical attention and by the next morning the doctor said that he "was out of danger."[29]Within the next few days there was a noticeable change in Sathya's behavior.[29] Concerned, his brother "wrote his parents that Sathya was not answering anyone who spoke to him and that it was a Herculean task to make him accept food. He told them Sathya was spending his time mostly in silence, sometimes bursting into song and poetry, sometimes reciting long Sanskrit verses, sometimes expounding the philosophic wisdom of ancient India."[29] Doctors believed it to be hysteria, but "the symptoms of laughing and weeping, eloquence and silence continued."[29]Within the week, they came and brought Sathya home to Puttaparthi.[15] "The parents were disheartened", says Kasturi, "and watched his behavior with increasing fear."[29] They brought him to many priests, 'doctors' and exorcists.[29] "Since the first reaction to an illness in any village is usually to fear that it is the result of some ... spirit's taking hold of the patient",[29] many severe treatments were performed to force the 'spirits' out.[15][29] Sai Baba says, "I submitted Myself to all this torture without demur."[15] During one anguishing visit to one of the 'doctors', says Sai Baba, "Venkamma (his sister) could not bear the sight of this torture. Quietly, she called the cartman and in the darkness of night, she took Me back home to Puttaparthi."[15]
Kasturi describes soon after, Sathya was to be taken to another "clever "doctor"".[29] About half an hour into the journey, "Sathya said emphatically, "I do not want to go anywhere; let us go back." Upon saying this, the bullocks came to a halt and could not be persuaded to budge! The struggle went on for over an hour, Finally their faces were turned home-ward."[29]
"In 1940, at the age of fourteen, he proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi-a saint who became famous in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries." Sai is a Persian word which means "Saint", and Baba is a Hindi term of endearment for father. Since that time, many had come to challenge his claim to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. Arnold Schulman in his book "Baba" said, "there is no record of the number of people who went away unimpressed but dozens of doubters have documented how they were convinced."[30] Family members and neighbors however were not convinced. They approached the young Sathya and said, "If you are Sai Baba, give us some proof." "Give me those jasmine flowers," said young Sathya. After receiving them, he threw them on the floor. The flowers, according to those present, "arranged themselves as the letters Sai Baba in Telugu."[15][29][30]
In October 1940,[31] Sathya accompanied Sehsa and his wife to Hampi. Sathyam was told to look after the couple's luggage while they went to the Siva temple. "(He) sat down there with the luggage while the brother and his wife entered the temple to have the darshan of Virupaksha (Siva). Inside, they did not see the Virupaksha idol but Sathya! Then Seshama Raju said, "Look, Sathya is here! Who is taking care of the luggage?" He came out running and saw Sathya there! He ran back inside and saw Sathya there also."[28] A municipal chairman also witnessed the phenomenon and presented Sathyam with "a collar pin made of gold."[28] With the insistence of his sister-in-law, Sathyam reluctantly accepted the pin. After returning to Kamalapuram, Sathyam was to begin school again. In a May 2000 discourse, Sathya Sai Baba describes what happened then, "He (Sathyam) left the house and went about ten feet when the collar pin fell (and) could not be found ... The collar pin symbolised worldly attachment, and when it was lost, it was also symbolic of the end of the 'Raju phase' and attachments implied by it."[28]
Declaring that he had no worldly relationship with anyone, ("I don't belong to you; Maya (illusion) has gone; My devotees are calling Me; I have My Work."[29]) Sathya Sai Baba "ran to the house of one Anjaneyulu. In front of his house there was a small rock. Sathya Sai Baba went and sat on that stone."[28] Sathya Sai Baba recalls his brother "Seshama Raju came there and forced me to return home. I said I would not."[32] For three days, Sathya Sai Baba stayed with Anjaneyulu; having his food in Anjaneyulu's house, and spending time sitting on the rock.[28]
People asked him, "Who are You? What is Your name?" Sathya Sai Baba replied, "My name is Sai."[28] "At that time, the Commissioner (Anjaneyulu)'s son ran inside, brought a camera and clicked a photo. In the picture, Shirdi Sai could be seen in front of Swami. Thereafter, Anjaneyulu gave Swami the name Sai Baba, and in due course the name remained."[28]On being informed of the events by Seshama, his parents came to Uravakonda. His mother, Eswaramma pleaded with him to return with them but he refused.[29][32] He did, however, eventually agree to return to Puttaparthi.[32]
"Sathyanarayana Raju was hereafter commonly known either as Bala Sai (Boy Sai) or Sathya Sai Baba, an appellation which he himself accepted."[33] Slowly devotees began to gather around Sathya Sai Baba. On Thursday bhajans were sung, and soon it became everyday.[33] From this time, Narayana Kasturi relates, "a shed was put up which was enlarged as the months passed. A tent also was rigged up, and some devotees who came from Bangalore and Anantapur pitched their own tents."[33] "Because Sai Baba insisted on feeding all who came to see him; huge dining halls became necessary."[33] "Subbamma looked after the comforts of the pilgrims for some years until the building now called the "Old Mandir" (or Old Temple) was built."[33]
In 1944, a mandir (temple) for Sathya Sai Baba's devotees was built near the village. It is now referred to as the old mandir.[16][34] The construction of Prashanthi Nilayam, the current ashram, was started in 1948.[34] "Prasanthi Nilayam was inaugurated on the twenty-third of November, 1950, the twenty-fourth birthday of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It took about two years to build."[35] Today, Puttaparthi has undergone enormous change. It has been transformed from a small village to a world pilgrimage center. Sathya Sai Baba's efforts have resulted in a deemed university with three campuses and two "super specialty" hospitals that cater to the needs of the poor free of charge.[36]
Around this time, there were two attempts on Sathya Sai Baba's life. Sathya Sai Baba talks about it in a 2003 discourse. "Those who were opposed to Subbamma on caste grounds decided to get rid of Swami (Sathya Sai Baba) by poison. I was very fond of vadas (Indian delicacy) in those days. So, these people made some vadas and mixed some virulent poison in some of them ... I visited this house and picked up the specific vadas that had been poisoned and ate them[15]" "without hesitation. My body at once turned blue."[37] "Another attempt of this kind was when some of them set fire to my improvised house. The house had a thatched roof. Some miscreants set fire to the house ... Suddenly, there was a cloudburst which poured down just above the house and put out the fire. There was however, not a drop of rain anywhere else."[15] "The roof was fully burnt and only the walls were standing. They peeped over the wall and found Me sleeping peacefully. I was totally unharmed."[37]
In 1960, Sathya Sai Baba said that he would be in this mortal human form for another 59 years.[38] In 1963, Sathya Sai Baba suffered a stroke and four severe heart attacks.[39] On 29 June he suddenly fell unconscious. Upon gaining some coherency, he refused any proposed medical assistance and over the next five days suffered four severe heart attacks. At the end of the five days, his left side was paralyzed, and the sight of his left eye and his speech were also badly affected.[39] He indicated that he had taken on the illness of a devotee who was to have suffered a stroke and the accompanying heart attacks and that the disease for the devotee would have been dire. Two days later, his left side was still paralyzed and his speech was a feeble, scarcely intelligible mumble.[39] Guru Poornima celebrations had started and assisted by several disciples, he practically had to be carried to the dais. After a few minutes, he gestured for some water. He drank some (with assistance) and then sprinkled a few drops onto his paralyzed left hand and leg. With both hands he began to stroke his left leg.[40] "In a second Swamiji's leg, eye, and all his left side became normal,"[39] and for the next hour he delivered a discourse for Guru Poornima. It was during this discourse that he brought to light his future incarnation as Prema Sai Baba.[40] That night he ate his normal meal, and the following days saw him back in his usual vigorous, hearty health.[39]
During the Guru Poornima discourse, Sathya Sai Baba made statements declaring himself a reincarnation of Shiva and Shakti.[41] He also claimed that Sai Baba of Shirdi was an incarnation of Shiva and that his future reincarnation, Prema Sai Baba, would be a reincarnation of Shakti. He publicly repeated the claim that he is the second of three incarnations in 1976.[42] Baba's biography states that Prema Sai Baba will be born in Mysore State.[43]. He said, "I have been keeping back from you all these years one secret about Me; the time has come when I can reveal it to you. This is a sacred day. I am Siva-Sakthi," He declared, "born in the gothra of Bharadwaja, according to a boon won by that sage from Siva and Sakthi. Siva was born in the gothra of that sage as Sai Baba of Shirdi; Siva and Sakthi have incarnated as Myself in his gothra now; Sakthi alone will incarnate as the third Sai (Prema Sai Baba) in the same gothra in Mysore State."
Sathya Sai Baba has made the claim that the three Sai Baba's have come and will come invested with the totality of cosmic power to save dharma (righteousness) from anti-dharma. In a 1976 interview with Blitz Magazine, Sathya Sai Baba was asked by Sri R.K. Karanjia (Senior Editor of Blitz Magazine), why he had incarnated. Sathya Sai Baba responded, "Because that is the only way to incarnate the God within man.; Therefore, in My present Avathar, I have come armed with the fullness of the power of formless God to correct mankind, raise human consciousness and put people back on the right path of truth, righteousness, peace and love to divinity."[44].
On 29 June 1968, Sathya Sai Baba made his first, and only, trip overseas.[39][45] Having his passport prepared six weeks earlier,[46] Sathya Sai Baba "emplaned the Boeing leaving for East Africa from Bombay."[45]Landing in Kenya, the party proceeded by car to Kampala, the capital city of neighbouring Uganda. Though passing the Great Rift Valley and the soda lake of Nakuru, Narayana Kasturi writes, "Baba told us, "I have no need to see places. I am everywhere, always! You may drive around. I have my work, work for which I have come.""[45] "During His stay He addressed gatherings of lions and rotarians, doctors, businessmen, members and workers of service organizations,"[45] as well as governemnt ministers and officials.[45] During a discourse in Nairobi (Kenya, East Africa) Sathya Sai Baba stated, "I have come to light the lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I have not come on behalf of any exclusive religion. I have not come on a mission of publicity for a sect or creed or cause, nor have I come to collect followers for a doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into my fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this unitary faith, this spiritual principle, this path of Love, this virtue of Love, this duty of Love, this obligation of Love."[47]On July 14th, 1968, Sathya Sai Baba departed Kampala via East African Airways for Nairobi. After a small delay, he then returned to Bombay (Mumbai), India.[45]
On August 20th, 1988, Sathya Sai Baba slipped in his bathroom. Of the incident, he says,"On Saturday morning I slipped on a piece of soap in the bathroom and fell on my back. The injury I sustained was a natural consequence of the fall ..."[48] X-rays showed he had fractured his hip bone. Six days later he gave a discourse and addressed the subject.[48]On 4 June 2003,[49] Sathya Sai Baba suffered another fall and broke his hip and femur. In a discourse a month later, he says "You are all aware of the fact that Swami fractured His hip, and it was in three pieces. The ball in the hip was in two pieces. The pain was so excruciating that it cannot be described in words. It was impossible to move this way or that way. It pierced the body as if it were an electric shock. But I was unaffected by it ... I was all smiles when I was being taken to hospital."[50] "He was given anesthetic during the operation but it didn't put Him to sleep; and He was talking to the surgeon all the way through"[51] After the surgery, he was able to walk within a span of three days.[50]
In 2006, a third accident occurred. Sathya Sai Baba relates, "Once it so happened that a student was trying to tie buntings on a door while standing on an iron stool. As he saw Me coming, he felt nervous and fell from the stool. Both the stool and the boy fell on Me and My hip bone was fractured."[52][53] He gives darshan now from a car or his Porte Chair.[54]
Since 2005, Sathya Sai Baba has used a wheelchair, and his failing health has forced him to make fewer public appearances.[55]
Sathya Sai Baba himself says,"I am beyond the reach of the most intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those who have recognized my love and experienced that love can assert that they have glimpsed my reality. Do not attempt to know me through the external eyes."[56]
[edit] Beliefs and practices of devotees
