Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba (born Ratnakaram Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 1926Template:Spaced ndash24 April 2011<ref name="BBC obit">Template:Cite news</ref>) was an Indian godman, guru and philanthropist.<ref name="babb83">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="das15">Template:Cite journal</ref> At the age of 14, he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba<ref name="RichardWeiss">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="kent" /> and left his home saying "my devotees are calling me, I have my work".<ref name="sailovepeace">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Singleton, Mark| Goldberg, Ellen">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="BabbLawrence">Template:Cite book</ref>

Sathya Sai Baba's followers have attributed to him a range of miraculous abilities, including the materialisation of Vibhuti (holy ash) and other small objects such as rings, necklaces, and watches. He was also believed to have performed spontaneous healings, resurrections, and exhibited clairvoyant abilities. Additionally, claims were made regarding his ability to be in multiple places simultaneously (bilocation), as well as his omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.<ref name="time.com">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="CNNSingh">Template:Cite news</ref>

Sathya Sai Baba's devotees include members of all religions. In 1972, Sathya Sai Baba founded the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Through this organization, Sathya Sai Baba established a network of free, general,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and superspeciality hospitals,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> medical clinics,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> drinking water projects,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> educational institutions,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> ashrams, and auditoriums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=funeral>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=deccanheraldlegacy>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="toigovernments">Template:Cite news</ref>

Sathya Sai Baba faced numerous accusations over the years which include sleight of hand, sexual abuse, money laundering, fraud, and murder. However, he was never charged with any offence,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> and his devotees strongly reject these accusations, considering them propaganda against their guru.<ref name="quack">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Palmer116">Palmer, Norris W. "Baba's World". In: Template:Cite book</ref>

By virtue of his sizeable influence, many feel Sai Baba provides an example of "the phenomenon referred to as mahagurus; that is, gurus with a global reach."<ref name="mahaguru">Template:Cite web</ref> Citing the number of Sai Centres (over 2000 in 137 countries),<ref name="bbtsai">Template:Cite news</ref> the scope of service and charitable works (free hospitals, drinking water projects), social sphere and influence of devotees (royalty, celebrities, high ranking politicians along with a total number of devotees estimated to be from 6 to 100 million worldwide) as well as being seen as a global "movement extending in some very surprising ways."<ref name="mahaguru"/>

Biography

Early life

Sathyanarayana Raju was born on 23 November 1926 to Namagiriamma (Easwaramma) and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram, to a Telugu-speaking Bhatraju family,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a community of religious musicians and balladeers,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> in the village of Puttaparthi in Madras Presidency of British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India).<ref name="BabbLawrence" /><ref>Haraldsson, Erlendur, Miracles are my visiting cards – An investigative inquiry on Sathya Sai Baba, (1997 revised and updated edition published by Sai Towers, Prasanthi Nilayam, India), p. 55, Template:ISBN</ref><ref name="Eade">Template:Cite book</ref> His birth was purported by his mother Easwaramma to be of a miraculous conception.<ref name="RichardWeiss"/><ref name="BabbLawrence"/> He was the fourth among the five children of his parents.

Sathya Sai Baba's siblings included elder brother Ratnakaram Seshama Raju (1911–1985), elder sisters Venkamma (1918–1993) and Parvathamma (1920–1998), and younger brother Janakiramaiah (1931–2003).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As a child, Sathya was described as "unusually intelligent" and charitable, though not necessarily academically inclined, as his interests were of a more spiritual nature.<ref name="BabbLawrence"/><ref name=Palmer99 /> He was uncommonly talented in devotional music, dance and drama.<ref name=Palmer99 /><ref name="kent">Template:Cite book</ref> From a young age, he has been purported to have been capable of materializing objects such as food and sweets out of thin air.<ref name="AlexandraKent">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Proclamation

File:Sri Sathya Sai at 14.jpg

Sathya Sai Baba at the age of 14, soon after proclaiming he was the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba

Almost everything known about Sathya Sai Baba's early life stems from the hagiography that grew around him; these were narratives that hold special meaning<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to his devotees and are considered by them to be evidence of his divine nature.<ref name="BabbLawrence"/><ref name="UrbanHugh74" /><ref name="Palmer99">Template:Cite book</ref>

According to these sources, on 8 March 1940, while living with his elder brother Seshama Raju in Uravakonda (a small town near Puttaparthi) 14-year-old Sathya was stung by a scorpion.<ref name="sailovepeace"/><ref name="AlexandraKent"/> He lost consciousness for several hours<ref name="kent"/> and in the next few days underwent a noticeable change in behavior. There were "symptoms of laughing and weeping, eloquence and silence." It is claimed that then "he began to sing Sanskrit verses, a language of which it is alleged he had no prior knowledge."<ref name="RichardWeiss"/> Doctors concluded his behavior to be hysteria.<ref name="RichardWeiss"/> Concerned, his parents brought Sathya back home to Puttaparthi and took him to many priests, doctors and exorcists. One of the exorcists at Kadiri, a town near Puttaparthi, went to the extent of torturing him with the aim of curing him. Having shaved Raju’s head, he cut three crosses on his skull, then poured acid into the wounds. At this point, his parents called a stop to it.<ref name="sailovepeace"/>

On 23 May 1940, Sathya called household members and reportedly materialized sugar candy (prasad) and flowers for them. His father became furious at seeing this, thinking his son was bewitched. He took a stick and threatened to beat him if Sathya did not reveal who he really was, the young Sathya responded calmly and firmly "I am Sai Baba", a reference to Sai Baba of Shirdi.<ref name="RichardWeiss"/><ref name="kent"/> This was the first time he proclaimed himself to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of ShirdiTemplate:Snda saint who became famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Maharashtra and had died eight years before Sathya was born.<ref name="RichardWeiss"/> It was then he came to be known as 'Sathya Sai Baba'.

Several months later Sai Baba, on 20 October 1940, told his parents that he had "come to this world with a mission to re-establish the principle of Righteousness (Dharma), to motivate love for God and service to fellow man."<ref name="saimission">Template:Cite news</ref> Further elaborating in a letter (dated 25 May 1947) to his older brother Seshma, he stated "I have a task to foster all mankind and ensure for all of them lives full of bliss. I have a vow to lead all who stray away from the straight path, again into goodness and save them... to remove the sufferings of the poor and grant them what they lack."<ref name="saimission"/> Personally stating, "I do not belong to any place. I am not attached to any name. I have no ‘mine’ or ‘thine’."<ref name="bbtsai"/>

First mandir and development of Puttaparthi

File:PrashantiNilayam1.jpg

Puttaparthi, A.P.

In 1944, a mandir for Sai Baba's devotees was built near the village of Puttaparthi. It is now referred to as the "old mandir".<ref name="bowen">Template:Cite book</ref> The construction of Prasanthi Nilayam, the current ashram, began in 1948 and was completed in 1950.<ref name="BabbLawrence"/><ref name="bowen"/> In 1954, Sai Baba established a small free general hospital in the village of Puttaparthi.<ref name="TheHinduNewspaper">Template:Cite news</ref> He won fame for his reputed mystical powers and ability to heal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1957, Sai Baba went on a tour of North India, visiting temples in Delhi, Srinagar, Kashmir and Rishikesh.<ref name="Eade"/>

Stroke, prediction of reincarnation and sole foreign tour

In 1963, it was asserted that Sai Baba suffered a stroke and four severe heart attacks, which left him paralysed on one side. These events culminated in an event where he apparently healed himself in front of the thousands of people gathered in Prashanthi Nilayam who were then praying for his recovery.<ref name="BabbLawrence"/>

On recovering, Sai Baba stated, "I am Shiva-Sakthi, born in the gotra (lineage) of Bharadwaja, according to a boon won by that sage from Siva and Sakthi. Siva was born in the gotra of that sage as Sai Baba of Shirdi; Shiva and Sakthi have incarnated as Myself in his gotra now; Sakthi alone will incarnate as the third Sai (Prema Sai Baba) in the same gotra in Mandya district of Karnataka State."<ref name="BabbLawrence"/> He stated he would be born again eight years after his death at the age of 96, but died at the age of 84.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 29 June 1968 Sai Baba began his only overseas trip to Kenya and Uganda, returning to India on 15 July 1968.

Later years

In 1968, he established Dharmakshetra or the Sathyam Mandir in Mumbai. In 1973, he established the Shivam Mandir in Hyderabad.

He inaugurated the Sundaram, a new ashram and temple in Chennai on 19 January 1981.

On 6 June 1993 there was an assassination attempt on Sai Baba's life. While reports vary, the official narrative is that four men (devotees) entered Sai Baba's residence under the premise of wanting to give him a telegram. When their path was obstructed, they stabbed two of the Baba's assistants to death, injuring two others.<ref name="saiescape">Template:Cite news</ref> Hearing the commotion Sai Baba sounded the alarm and police were dispatched to his residence. Upon arriving, the police report stated the four youths had locked themselves in Sai Baba's living room and the officers tried to break the door down. "The four were shot when they opened the door and attacked the police."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Sai Baba remained unharmed during the incident,<ref name="saiescape"/> and later in a discourse cleared things up saying there was no bid on his life.<ref name="saidna"/> Many aspects of the event remain unsolved and ambiguous.<ref name="saidna">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="saimystery">Template:Cite news</ref>

Another concern for Sai Baba's immediate safety arose on 17 January 2002 when an unknown man (later identified as Somasundaram) entered the Whitefield Ashram with an air pistol. He was apprehended by volunteers and handed over to police without incident.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 1995, Sai Baba started a project to provide drinking water to 1.2 million people in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 1999 he inaugurated the Ananda Nilayam Mandir in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

In 2001 he established another free super-speciality hospital in Bangalore to benefit the poor.<ref name="karnataka1"/>

Old age, illness and death

In 2003, Sai Baba suffered a fractured hip when a student standing on an iron stool slipped, and the boy and stool both fell on him. After the incident, he gave darshana from a car or his porte chair.<ref name="ibnlive.in.com82-2">Template:Cite web</ref> After 2004, Sai Baba used a wheelchair and slowly began to make fewer public appearances.

On 28 March 2011, Sai Baba was admitted to the Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi after he complained of having giddiness and a slowing heartbeat.<ref name="nieaftersai"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Initially, his condition improved, and on 4 April, it was reported all his vital parameters were near normal.<ref name="tisaibe">Template:Cite news</ref> However, over the course of the following weeks, multiple organ failures set in, and his condition progressively deteriorated. He died on Sunday, 24 April, at 7:40 IST, aged 84.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sai Baba had predicted that he would die at age 96 and would remain healthy until then.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After he died, some devotees suggested that he was referring to lunar years, as counted by Telugu-speaking Hindus, rather than solar years<ref>Mohammed Shafeeq. However it was soon clearly shown that the lunar reckoning does not work. Post. Durban: 27 April 2011. pg. 4</ref> and using the Indian way of accounting for age, which counts the year to come as part of a person's life.<ref>Sri Philip M. Prasad, Malayalam Daily. Kerala, India: 25 April 2011. "What Baba has foretold was indeed correct. According to the Roman calendar he has completed 85 years. But one can note that generally in all of Baba's discourses Baba had been referring to the star (lunar) basis in calculations. In Indian astrology there are 27 stars in a month starting with Aswathy and ending with Revathy. Accordingly a year of 12 months is composed of 324 days. Sai Baba was born on 23 November 1926. From that day till his death day, 24 April 2011 there were a total of 33,899 days. If this is divided with 324, we get 95 years and 54 days. Accordingly, under the star basis of calculation he was in his 96th year having completed 54 days when he left his physical body."</ref> Other devotees have spoken of his anticipated resurrection, reincarnation, or awakening.<ref>The Hindustan Times, New Delhi: 25 April 2011.</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Funeral and mourning

Sathya Sai Baba's body lay in state for two days and was buried with full state honors on 27 April 2011.<ref name="news9">News 9, 24 April 2011, 16:00 IST</ref> An estimated 500,000 people attended the burial. Political leaders and prominent figures attending included then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi (who later became Prime Minister of India), cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Union Ministers S. M. Krishna and Ambika Soni.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Political leaders who offered their condolences included the then Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh,<ref name="news9"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> then Nepali Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, whose birthday was that day, cancelled his birthday celebrations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Hindu newspaper reported that "Sai Baba's phenomenal mass appeal lay in his unswerving commitment to communal harmony, his encouragement of charitable activity and public-spiritedness, and his own example in building educational and health care institutions that focused on meeting basic needs on a large scale."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

File:Sri Sathya Sai Baba Mahasamadhi at Sai Kulwant Hall.jpg

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Mahasamadhi at Prasanthi Nilayam

Many spiritual figures expressed their sentiments at Sai Baba's death. Mata Amritanandamayi said, "Sri Sathya Sai Baba was the one who opened the path of love and compassion to millions of his devotees. Sathya Sai Baba’s life was his message."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, wrote that "Baba will continue to live in the hearts of millions of devotees ... his message of 'Satya Dharma Shanti Prema' which has transcended all barriers of caste and religion."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Dalai Lama expressed shock over the death of Sathya Sai Baba.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a message he said, "I am saddened by the passing away of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the respected spiritual leader. I would like to convey my condolences and prayers to all the followers, devotees and admirers of the late spiritual leader."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Government of Karnataka declared 25 and 26 April as days of mourning. The state government of Andhra Pradesh (where Prasanthi Nilayam is located) announced a four-day state mourning period and decided to honor Sai Baba with a state funeral.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="news9"/>

Anomalies and possible unnatural death

From the time Sai Baba was admitted to hospital on 28 March, questions and allegations arose about his care and subsequently the role of his personal aide, Satyajit Salian. Police sources said, "Satyajit did not feed Sai Baba proper food and gave him lot of sedative drugs, resulting in the deterioration of the latter’s health, leading up to Sai Baba's death."<ref name="saiaide">Template:Cite news</ref> Doctors from the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, who treated Sai Baba, neither confirmed nor denied that sedative drugs were given to him prior to his admission to the hospital following respiratory problems. Later assessment from doctors noted lack of food had led to muscular weakness.<ref name="saivent">Template:Cite news</ref> Citing death threats and possible harm to his well-being from within the ashram community (after one of two trust members were allowed to sign cheques from a multi-billion dollar account), as well as from outside, a senior police officer said that Sathyajit was provided police protection.<ref name="saiaide"/><ref name="scaregiver">Template:Cite news</ref>

On 10 April, direct relatives expressed wonder as to why they were kept in the dark and knew nothing about Sai Baba's state of health. "It is almost two months since Baba stopped taking food [but] we were not told about it."<ref name="nieaftersai"/> Family members said they were livid about the secrecy around Sai Baba's health and medical treatments and as to why the trust was not allowing anyone direct contact with him except for Sathyajit, his personal attendant.<ref name="secrecyhealth">Template:Cite news</ref> They only saw him from a distance in the ICU on April 2 after raising a furore.<ref name="secrecyhealth"/> It was on 28 March, when Sai Baba complained of giddiness and slowing of the heartbeat that he was taken to hospital.<ref name="nieaftersai">Template:Cite news</ref>

On 21 April, the Deccan Herald reported an allegation stating that Sathya Sai Baba had died 20 days prior and that his death was not being announced in order to receive money from Indian and foreign devotees.<ref name="saibe96">Template:Cite news</ref>

On 28 April 2011, four days after the death of Sai Baba, The Times of India printed a story questioning the time of his death. A business making freezer boxes said that the one in which Sai Baba was kept was ordered on 4 April, partial payment was also made at that time. The freezer box arrived in Puttaparthi on 5 April. Sai Baba was admitted to hospital on 28 March but his condition had officially worsened on 15 April. "The order was placed by Rajendranath Reddy of Bangalore [and] according to sources, the powerful Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust had a role in ordering the freezer box."<ref name="saianomoly">Template:Cite news</ref> According to Lakshmi, the owner of Kumar and Co International (freezer box company), her colleague Ganesh called Rajendranath to confirm the purchase for Sai Baba. "He confirmed the same and told Ganesh not to discuss the matter with anyone."<ref name="saianomoly"/>

Within two months of Sai Baba's death, his niece Chetana Raju alleged that she was facing death threats from some trust members.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2015, Ganapathy Raju, Sathya Sai Baba's first cousin, alleged that Sai Baba was murdered. He believes Satya Sai died on 29 March and not as officially declared on 24 April, saying that "Baba was a victim of a well-planned conspiracy and pre-planned hi tech murder" (adding) that the trust members had ordered a glass coffin and two truckloads of flowers even when Baba was unwell."<ref name="cousingana">Template:Cite news</ref> Ganapathy also alleged that trust members were behind silencing the real date of Sai Baba's death in order to buy time to "usurp the huge wealth of the trust fund", asserting that properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars have "changed hands".<ref name="cousingana"/> Dr Aiyar, Sai Baba's personal physician, was heavily criticized for not maintaining any medical records of Sai Baba.<ref name="drerr">Template:Cite news</ref>

Ganapathy Raju's main ideas of interest laid with the medical treatment and drugs given to Sai Baba, primarily by Satyajit Salian.<ref name="cousingana"/><ref name="saiaide"/> Shyam Sunder, who had been involved with Prasanthi Nilayam since 1968, also raised concerns about harassment and exploitation from Satyajit as numerous allegations by devotees and workers in Prasanthi Nilayam arose saying that Satyajit would intimidate and physically abuse them.<ref name="concerns"/> Like Ganapathy, Sunder also alleged that "Satyajit and his associates had been administering sleeping pills to Sai Baba for over six years. Though Sai Baba resisted the pills after his return from Brindavan at Whitefield, Bangalore, in 2006, he was forced to take them ... and within a few months, Baba became sluggish and weak."<ref name="concerns">Template:Cite news</ref> Satyajit also controlled if and when the doctors could see Sai Baba,<ref name="concerns"/> and within two days of Sai Baba's passing, The Times of India reported that Satyajit (who was a paid employee of the ashram and "had no say whatsoever in the trust affairs or activities,")<ref name="pradeshnews">Template:Cite news</ref> was given authority to sign checks from the multi billion dollar trust account.<ref name="saiaide"/><ref name="scaregiver"/>

Beliefs and practices of devotees

Sai Baba was known for the quotes, in reference to his universal message, "Love All, Serve All" and "Help Ever, Hurt Never."<ref name="87bhajan">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Leslie-Chaden2004">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Architectural digest">Template:Cite book</ref> In Prashanti Nilayam, his devotees believed in seeking the spiritual benefit of Sai Baba's darshan, scheduled for morning and afternoon each day, as a form of devotion. Sai Baba would interact with people, accept letters or call groups and individuals for interviews.<ref name="sailand">Template:Cite news</ref> Devotees considered it a great privilege to have an interview and sometimes a single person, group or family was invited for a private interview so they could ask for answers to spiritual questions or for general guidance.<ref name="kent"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Internationally, his devotees gather daily, or weekly on Sundays or Thursdays or both, for satsangs, spiritual discourses and devotional songs,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> prayer,<ref name="saius">Guidelines for American Sathya ZSai Baba Centers. The Sathya Sai Baba Central Council of the United States of America (2006)</ref> spiritual meditation, service to the community (Seva),<ref name="saito">Template:Cite web</ref> and to participate in "Education in Human Values" (SSEHV)<ref name="saius"/> known as "Bal Vikas" (Blossoming of the Child).

Devotees still receive Sai Baba's Divya Darshan at his Mahasamadhi shrine, a white marble edifice decorated with flowers, in Sai Kulwant Hall (Prasanthi Nilayam), where he was laid to rest.<ref name="mahasai">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="sairest">Template:Cite news</ref>

Sai Baba was a lacto-vegetarian for spiritual as well as moral reasons and his followers have adopted the diet.<ref name="Leslie-Chaden">Leslie-Chaden, Charlene. (2004). A Compendium of the Teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sai Towers Publishing. pp. 633-636. Template:ISBN</ref><ref>Schweickert, Tina K. (2005). Tread Softly: Sathya Sai Baba's Teachings on Nature and the Environment. pp. 92-93. Template:ISBN</ref> He stated that "meat eating fosters animal qualities in man making him descend to the demonic level; it is a heart-rending sight to see cows being slaughtered to serve as food for man."<ref name="Leslie-Chaden"/> Sai Baba and many devotees have heavily criticized factory farming as unethical.<ref name="Leslie-Chaden"/>

Ashrams and mandirs

Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Highest Peace)

File:Chaitanya Jyothi Museum, Prashanthi Nilayam, India.jpg

Chaitanya Jyoti Museum devoted to the life and teachings of Sathya Sai Baba

Puttaparthi, where Sai Baba was born and lived, was originally a small, remote South Indian village in Andhra Pradesh. It was here that Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Highest Peace) was established.<ref name="radiosaipra">Prasanthi Nilayam: The Abode of Highest Peace</ref> After 2 years of construction it was inaugurated on 23 November 1950, Sai Baba's 25th birthday.<ref name="vahiniprashanti"/> It succeeded the "old mandir" which was created in 1944.<ref name="vahiniprashanti">Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Part I: 7. Prasanthi Nilayam</ref><ref>Bowen, David (1988). The Sathya Sai Baba Community in Bradford: Its origins and development, religious beliefs and practices. Leeds: University Press. Template:ISBN.</ref><ref name="murphetmiracle">Template:Cite book</ref> Prasanthi Nilayam is painted blue, yellow, and pink "communicating the message of the harmony of spirit, intellect, and heart respectively; for blue stands for spirit, yellow for intellect, and pink for heart (love). The rich harmony of the three does result in Santi (peace) and Prasanti (supreme peace); and that really is the message of the Prasanthi Mandir."<ref name="sathyasaihistory">History of the Mandir</ref> In 1954 a free general hospital was constructed in Puttaparthi and soon after a medical hospital was constructed in 1957 inside the ashram.

Poornachandra Auditorium was built in 1973. Seating around 15,000 people in its enclosed 60 x 40-metre area, it is where cultural programmers (plays/dance/music), conferences and yagnas during Dasara take place. Sathya Sai Baba's living quarters were upstairs above the stage area.<ref name="sssplaces">Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publication Trust</ref>

Sai Kulwant Hall was inaugurated by Sathya Sai Baba on July 9, 1995. The hall can accommodate up to 20,000 people and it was here that Sai Baba gave darshan everyday from that time forward.<ref name="touristinfo">Sightseeing. Template:Webarchive. tourisminap.com.</ref> Sai Kulwant Hall is where Sai Baba was laid to rest. A white marble edifice stands as his Mahasamadhi shrine and devotees still have his Divya darshan here daily.<ref name="sairest"/>

The ashram itself houses a shopping center, book stores, library and reading room, multiple accommodations such as dormitories and rooms, banking/ATM facilities, media and Radio Sai facilities, a bakery, emergency medical services and three food courts – North and South Indian as well as Western canteens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Hill in Prashanthi Nilayam with statues of Hanuman, Krishna, Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva, Buddha, Christ, Zarathustra.jpg

Hill View Stadium in Prashanthi Nilayam with statues of Hanuman, Krishna, Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva, Buddha, Christ, Zarathustra

In the encompassing area around Puttaparthi there is an extensive university complex, a specialty hospital, and two museums: the Sanathana Samskruti or Eternal Heritage Museum, sometimes called the Museum of All Religions, and the Chaitanya Jyoti, devoted exclusively to the life and teachings of Sai Baba; the latter has won several international awards for its architectural design.<ref name="TheStar2005-04-02">Template:Cite web</ref> There is also a planetarium, a railway station, a hill-view stadium, an administrative building, an airport, an indoor sports stadium and more.<ref>Places to see at Puttaparthi. Available online</ref> High-ranking Indian politicians such as the former president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Andhra Pradesh former chief minister Konijeti Rosaiah and Karnataka chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa have been official guests at the ashram in Puttaparthi.<ref>The Hindu, "A 5-point recipe for happiness" 24 November 2006 Available online</ref><ref>The Hindu, "Warm welcome to PM at Puttaparthi",12 February 2004 Template:Usurped</ref>

Brindavan Ashram

Established on 25 June 1960, the Brindavan Ashram is located in Kadugodi, a village close to Whitefield and 24 kms from the city centre of Bangalore, Karnataka.<ref name="karnataka1">Template:Cite web</ref> It occupies around 50 acres of land and was known as the summer home of Sai Baba as he would spend about three months here every year.<ref name="karnataka1"/> Notable features are Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall, where darshan and bhajans were held, Trayee Brindavan, Sai Baba's personal residence and the Brindavan Campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. In its adjacent areas are the Sri Sathya Sai General and Super Specialty Hospital (Whitefield), Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Sai Central Trust and an old age home, Sri Sathya Sai Vriddhashram.<ref name="karnataka1"/><ref name="sathyaorg9">Template:Cite web</ref> All services at the hospitals are still free.

Sai Shruti Ashram

Located in Kodaikanal, atop the Palani Hills in south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sai Shruti ashram was often visited by Sai Baba for a few days in the months of April and May. It holds no accommodations or extra curricular facilities.<ref name="shruti">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sai Baba resided much of the time in his main ashram, Prasanthi Nilayam, at Puttaparthi. In the summer he often left for Brindavan, in Kadugodi, Whitefield, a town on the outskirts of Bangalore. Occasionally he visited his Sai Sruthi ashram in Kodaikanal.<ref>The ashrams of Sathya Sai Baba. Referenced from the official Sathya Sai Organization website, Available online</ref>

Recognition

File:Sri Sathya Sai Project 1999 stamp of India.jpg

A 1999 stamp devoted to the Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project

On 23 November 1999, the Department of Posts, Government of India, released a postage stamp and a postal cover in recognition of the service rendered by Sai Baba in addressing the problem of providing safe drinking water to the rural masses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another commemorative stamp was released on the occasion of what would have been his 88th birthday during November 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In January 2007, an event was held in Chennai Nehru Stadium organized by the Chennai Citizens' Conclave to thank Sai Baba for the 2 billion water project which brought water from the River Krishna in Andhra Pradesh to Chennai city. Four chief ministers attended the function. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sathya Sai International Organization

File:Sathya Sai Baba 2013 stamp of India.jpg

Sathya Sai Baba on a 2013 stamp of India

The Sri Sathya Sai International Organization was founded in the 1960s by Sathya Sai Baba.<ref name="srisaiorg">Template:Cite web</ref> Initially called the "Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi",<ref name="saiindia">Template:Cite web</ref> it was established "to enable its members to undertake service activities as a means to spiritual advancement."<ref name="srisaiorg" /> In 2020, Sri Satya Sai Central Trust was granted Special Consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Sathya Sai International Organization reports that there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centres in 114 countries.<ref name="TheStarOnline84">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SathyaSaiNumbers">Template:Cite web</ref> However, the number of active Sai Baba followers is hard to determine.<ref name="BabbLawrence" /> Estimates vary from 6 million<ref>Template:Usurped cites Chryssides, George. Exploring New Religions. London, UK: Cassells (1999) (10 million)
*Brown, Mick (2000-10-28). "Divine Downfall". The Daily Telegraph. [1]. Retrieved 2007-03-12
*Edwards, Linda (2001). A Brief Guide to Beliefs: Ideas, Theologies, Mysteries, and Movements. Westminster John Knox Press. Template:ISBN.</ref> up to nearly 100 million.<ref>The Economist, "Sai Baba", 14 May 2011, p. 110.</ref> In India itself, Sai Baba drew followers predominantly from the upper-middle-class, the urban sections of society who have the "most wealth, education and exposure to Western ideas."<ref name="UrbanHugh74">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2002, he said he had followers in 178 countries.<ref name="nyt1dec2002">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Palmer97-98">Palmer, Norris W. "Baba's World". In: Template:Cite book</ref>

Sathya Sai Baba founded a large number of schools and colleges, hospitals, and other charitable institutions in India and abroad, the net financial capital of which is usually estimated at Template:INR 400 billion (US$9 billion).<ref> Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="it">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="dh">Template:Cite news</ref> However, estimates as high as Template:INR 1.4 trillion (about US$31.5bn) have also been made.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sri Sathya Sai Baba's 100th Birthday Celebrations have been commemorated by a specially designed logo created by the SSSIO. It is a humble and sincere effort to capture the uniqueness of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in this logo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Time line of developments, schools, projects and charities

In 1950 Prasanthi Nilayam, his Puttaparthi ashram completed construction and with in 4 years, a general hospital in Puttaparthi was established (1954). Over a decade later in 1968 the first education project, a college for girls was set up in Anantapur. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, a charitable trust that undertakes social welfare projects and acts as an umbrella for many seva projects was begun in 1972. In 1976 another general hospital in Whitefield, outside of Bangalore was completed followed by a boys' college in Puttaparthi in 1978. The inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai University (Puttaparthi campus), happened on 22 November 1981.

In 1991, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences was completed.

The Anantapur drinking water project launched in 1995 would be the first of many water projects taken up by Sai Baba, others included the Medak & Mahabubnagar drinking water projects (2001), the Chennai water project in 2002 and the East & West Godavari water projects completed in 2007. A decade later, another Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences began operations in Bangalore along with the Sri Sathya Sai Super Specialty Hospital in Whitefield, offering free medical services. In 2009 the construction of Sri Sathya Sai University campus began.<ref name="saijourney">Template:Cite news</ref>

Years after Sai Baba's passing, Vivek Kumar wrote, "the things that he executed were out of his love towards humanity. He provided free education, healthcare and water to people who never even dreamt of getting it."<ref name="youdidntknow">Template:Cite news</ref>

Classification of organization

Sources often describe Sai Baba's following as a "movement".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="clarke2006">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sathya Sai Baba claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, whose followers considered him to be an avatar of Shiva.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> While Sai Baba of Shirdi was known to combine Islamic and Hindu teachings, Charles S. J. White, of The American University at Washington D.C., observed in 1972 that with Sathya Sai Baba, "there is no discernible Muslim influence."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Stephanie Tallings, in The Harvard international Review, noted Sai Baba's following is drawn from people of all religions, ethnicities, and social classes.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In contrast, Sai Baba's following is also regarded by many scholars to be of a Hindu persuasion.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Alexandra Kent Divinity and diversity: a Hindu revitalization movement in Malaysia, NIAS, 2005</ref><ref>Handoo, Jawaharlal in Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 48, No. 2 (1989), pp. 326–332 reviewing Lawrence A. Babb's book Redemptive Encounters. Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition page 1</ref><ref>Nagel, Alexandra (note: Nagel is a critical former follower) "De Sai Paradox: Tegenstrijdigheden van en rondom Sathya Sai Baba"/"The Sai Paradox contradictions of and surrounding Sathya Sai Baba" from the magazine "Religieuze Bewegingen in Nederland, 'Sekten' "/"Religious movements in the Netherlands, 'Cults/Sects' ", 1994, nr. 29. published by the Free University of Amsterdam press, (1994) Template:ISBN
Dutch original: "Ofschoon Sai Baba gezegd heeft mensen van allerlei religieuze gezindten te helpen terug te gaan naar oude waarden en normen, en ofschoon zijn logo de symbolen van de andere grote godsdiensten bevat, is de sfeer rondom Sai Baba duidelijk hindoeïstisch gekleurd. Alle moslim-elementen bijv. waarvan verondersteld zou kunnen worden dat hij die zou hebben meegenomen uit zijn leven als Sai Baba van Shirdi, heeft hij laten vallen. Het enig echt herkenbare wat hij van Shirdi Baba nog heeft, is het veelvuldig gebruik van as, – wat hij dan niet uit een dhuni haalt zoals Shirdi Baba deed, maar materialiseert (of tevoorschijn goochelt)"</ref>

Lawrence A. Babb, of the Amherst College in Massachusetts, labelled Sai Baba movement as a cult in the 1980s, calling it "deeply and authentically Hindu..." and noted, "The most striking feature of this cult, however, is the extremely strong emphasis given to the miraculous."<ref name="babb83" /> However, a scholarly review says Babb misapplies the word "cult", responding, "the so-called 'cult' of Satya Sai Baba seems to possess all such characteristics which are, according to the author, central to a religious movement."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Deborah A. Swallow, of the University of Cambridge, referred to it as a cult and said that the "ritual and theology, then, unlike Sai Baba [of Shirdi]'s, is distinctly Hindu in form and content."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> However John D. Kelly, a professor of anthropology at the University of Chicago, wrote about Hindu missions in Fiji that the Sathya Sai Organization (which is part of the movement) rejected the label Hindu. According to Kelly, they see their founder as the "living synthesis of the world's religious traditions" and prefer to be classified as an interfaith movement. He observed that the Sai Baba mission is a Hindu mission that is as active as Christian or Muslim missions.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In a 2001 scholarly book, Tulasi Srinivas notes, "The Sathya Sai global civil religious movement incorporates Hindu and Muslim practices, Buddhist, Christian, and Zoroastrian influences, and "New Age"-style rituals and beliefs.' And in the appendix of the book (p. 349) lists 10 scholarly authors/researchers in both Europe and America who all refer to it as a New Religious Movement (NRM).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

While scholars often refer to it as either a "New Religious Movement" (NRM)<ref name="clarke2006" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> or as a cult,<ref name=das15/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> it has been noted by Eugene Gallagher, a noted professor of religious studies, that in more modern times "'New Religious Movement', is the classification preferred by most academics, who see 'cult' as a pejorative term.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

A secret report from the Central Intelligence Agency from the 1990s stated a "worldwide mass religious movement"<ref name="saioncia"/> was emerging around Sathya Sai Baba, who many devotees viewed as a full incarnation of God.<ref name="saioncia">Template:Cite web</ref> On a local scale, the report states that the extensive appeal of Sai Baba's doctrine "of a harmonious, multi-religious and multi-ethnic India has the potential to counterbalance the appeal of Hindu chauvinists and ethnic separatists"<ref name="saicia">Template:Cite news</ref> Globally, the report concluded that the Sai Baba movement is likely to “become another worldwide religion”, via its current wealth and assets, social contributions and activity in the political domain, thus allowing expansion even after Sai Baba's death.<ref name="saicia"/><ref name="saioncia"/> Adding scope to the movement, the report addresses the claim that Sai Baba is the Kalki Avatar (the tenth Avatar of Vishnu) who is to "create a new world of peace and justice", which the CIA operative compares to the return of Jesus Christ.<ref name="saicia"/><ref name="saioncia"/>

Criticism

Accusations

Accusations against Sathya Sai Baba by his critics over the years have included sleight of hand, sexual abuse, money laundering, fraud in the performance of service projects, and murder.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/><ref name=Palmer116/>

In 1972, Abraham Kovoor made the first public criticism of Sathya Sai Baba<ref name="srisathyasaibabaandthepress">Ruhela S.P., Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the Press, pp. 1–5, 1997 Template:ISBN</ref> when he looked into a claim publicly narrated by one devotee<ref name="srisathyasaibabaandthepress" /> that Sai Baba had created a new model of a Seiko watch, and found the claim to be untrue.<ref name="sathyasaibabasgrace">Ruhela S.P., How to Receive Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Grace, pp. 277, 2006 Template:ISBN</ref><ref name=OutlookSingh>Template:Cite web</ref>

In April 1976, Hossur Narasimhaiah, a physicist, rationalist and then vice-chancellor of Bangalore University, founded and chaired a committee "to rationally and scientifically investigate miracles and other verifiable superstitions". Narasimhaiah wrote Sai Baba three widely publicised letters challenging him to perform his miracles under controlled conditions. The letters were ignored.<ref name="haraldsson204">Haraldson, op. cit, pp 204–205</ref> Sathya Sai Baba said that he ignored Narasimhaiah's challenge because he felt that a scientific approach to spiritual issues was improper, adding that "Science must confine its inquiry only to things belonging to the human senses, while spiritualism transcends the senses. If you want to understand the nature of spiritual power you can do so only through the path of spirituality and not science. What science has been able to unravel is merely a fraction of the cosmic phenomena..."<ref name="blitz">Interview given by Sai Baba to R. K. Karanjia of Blitz news magazine in September 1976 Available online</ref> Narasimhaiah's committee was dissolved in August 1977. Narasimhaiah held the fact that Sai Baba ignored his letters to be an indication that his miracles were fraudulent.<ref>Haraldsson, pp 209</ref> As a result of this episode, a public debate raged for several months in Indian newspapers.<ref>Haraldsson, op. cit., pp. 206</ref>

Indian rationalist Basava Premanand, who began campaigning against Sathya Sai Baba in 1976, unsuccessfully attempted to sue him in 1986 for violations of the Gold Control Act, citing Sai Baba was "producing gold necklaces out of thin air without the permission of a Gold Control Administrator".<ref name=bbca1/> When the case was dismissed, Premanand unsuccessfully appealed on the grounds that claimed spiritual power is not a defence recognised in law.<ref name=bbca1>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the early 1990s, the Central Intelligence Agency created a secret report that stated the Sai Baba movement is “likely to eventually become another worldwide religion”.<ref name="saicia"/><ref name="saioncia"/> The CIA operative who wrote the report concluded it by stating, “there is always the possibility, too, that the movement will collapse if Sai Baba is convincingly demonstrated to be a fraud.”<ref name="saicia"/><ref name="saioncia"/>

A 1995 TV documentary Guru Busters, produced by filmmaker Robert Eagle for the UK's Channel 4, accused Sai Baba of faking his materializations.<ref>Template:Cite web Doordarshan clip</ref> The clip from the film was mentioned in the Deccan Chronicle, on 23 November 1992, in a front-page headline "DD Tape Unveils Baba Magic".<ref>Haraldsson, op. cit., pp. 295–301</ref>

Claims of Sai Baba resurrecting American devotee Walter Cowan in 1971 have been discussed by British journalist Mick Brown in his book The Spiritual Tourist from 1998,<ref name="spiritualtourist">Mick Brown, The Spiritual Tourist, 1998, Bloomsbury Publishing, Template:ISBN "In the House of God", pp. 73–74</ref><ref>Hislop, John S. My Baba and I 1985 published by Birth Day Publishing Company, San Diego, California Template:ISBN, "The Resurrection of Walter Cowan", pages 28–31</ref> and subsequently by Erlendur Haraldsson, who interviewed doctors attending Cowan at the hospital; these physicians reported that Cowan had been dangerously ill but had not died.<ref name="lane2014">Template:Cite book</ref>

Brown also related his experiences with alleged manifestations of vibhuti (sacred ash) from Sai Baba's pictures in houses in London, which he felt were not fraudulent or the result of trickery.<ref name="touristmiracle">Brown Mick, The Spiritual Tourist, "The Miracle in North London", pp. 29–30, 1998 Template:ISBN</ref> With regards to Sai Baba's claims of omniscience, Brown wrote, "sceptics have produced documentation clearly showing discrepancies between Baba's reading of historical events and biblical prophecies, and the established accounts."<ref name="spiritualtourist"/>

The Vancouver Sun in 2001 reported that Sai Baba told his adherents not to sign on to the internet,<ref name="VS">Template:Cite web</ref> while encouraging them, rather, to surf the "inner net".<ref name="itallege">Template:Cite news</ref>

Allegations of abuse

In January 2002, a documentary produced by Denmark's national television and radio broadcast company, Danmarks Radio (DR), called Seduced By Sai Baba, analyzed videos of public manifestations of Sai Baba and suggested that they could be explained as sleight of hand.<ref name="seduced">Template:Cite video</ref> The documentary also presented interviews with Alaya Rahm, former devotee of Sathya Sai Baba, where he alleged abuse by Sathya Sai Baba.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/> As a result, in 2002 the parliament of the United Kingdom discussed the danger to male children of British families intending to visit the ashram of Sathya Sai Baba in case of individual audiences with the guru.<ref>[2] UK Parliament official web site</ref>

In 2004, the BBC produced a documentary titled The Secret Swami as part of its series "The World Uncovered".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> One central theme of the BBC documentary was again Alaya Rahm's sexual abuse allegations against Sathya Sai Baba.<ref name=bbcd>Template:Cite video</ref> This documentary interviewed him together with Mark Roche, who had spent 25 years of his life since 1969 in the movement and alleged abuse by Sai Baba.<ref name=bbcd/> The show also featured allegations from Sai Baba critic Basava Premanand. Premanand stated in the documentary that, in his opinion, Sai Baba faked his materializations.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/>

Posthumous Trust issues

After Sai Baba's death, questions about the manner in which the finances of the organization were going to be managed led to speculations of impropriety, with reports stating that suitcases containing cash and/or gold had been removed from his personal lodgings.<ref name="dh" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 17 June 2011, officials from the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust opened his private residence in the presence of government, bank and tax department officials.<ref>Deccan Herald, Tuesday 17 June. 2011, "Huge amount of gold, silver, cash found in Sai Baba's Chamber" http://www.deccanherald.com/content/169535/huge-amount-gold-silver-cash.html.</ref> In the private residence, which had been sealed since his death, they inventoried 98 kg of gold ornaments, approximate value Rs 21 crores (US$4.7m), 307 kg of silver ornaments, approximate value Rs 16 million (US$0.36m), and Rs 116 million (US$2.6m) in cash. The cash was deposited into the Sai Trust's account at the State Bank of India with payment of government taxes (thus transferring them from religious gifts to Trust assets.) The gold and other items were inventoried, assessed, and placed in secure storage. In July, district authorities inventoried an additional Rs 7.7 million (US$0.17m) in valuables in another 4 rooms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The total value of these items is believed to exceed 7.8 million US dollars.<ref name="hindustan times">Template:Cite news</ref> Also inventoried at Yajurmandir were thousands of pure silk sarees, dhotis, shirts, 500 pairs of shoes, dozens of bottles of perfume and hairspray, watches, a large number of silver and gold "mangala sutrams", and precious stones such as diamonds. There were also 750 saffron and white robes of the type Sai Baba wore.<ref name="500 pairs">Template:Cite news and this graphic</ref> In July 2011, a similar opening of his Bangalore-area ashram tallied 6 kg of gold coins and jewelry, 245 kg of silver articles and Rs 8 million in cash. These items and goods are believed to have been donated over the years by Sai Baba's devotees from all over the world as religious gifts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2012 Satyaji (Sai Baba's former personal attendant) came forward with a noterised signed, yet unknown, document from Sai Baba, dated from 1967 entailing Sai Baba had "no personal right on the multi-crore spiritual empire built by him". In the letter Sai Baba stated, "Whatever is given to me is under my management, supervision and control as a trustee to be used for public charitable purposes. This declaration I am making so that nobody can claim, under or through me, in the family properties if any."<ref name="saidocu">Template:Cite news</ref> Reports stated that for some time Sai Baba's nephew, R.J. Ratnakar Raju was trying to gain control over the trust, whose assets and properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars, led to a conflict between him and the other trust members. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust however, never makes the intake or expenditure details of funds into the trust public. "Nobody really knows who the members are in the trust and whether if; or any, changes are made at any point of time."<ref name="saidocu"/>

Responses

Sathya Sai Baba rejected any allegations of misconduct and was never charged with any offense.<ref name=funeral/><ref name=":0" /> During a speech in December 2000, he used the analogy of Jesus Christ and Judas Iscariot, saying, "in those days there was one Judas, but today there are thousands."<ref name="sai2000"/> Addressing the allegations, he said that out of jealousy, hate and fear, many devotees were being bought to speak against him, having been offered money to say nasty things.<ref name="sai2000">Template:Cite news</ref>

His followers have also defended him publicly and attested to what they believed to be his character. These include Bill Aitken,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Anil Kumar, former principal of the Sathya Sai Educational Institute.<ref name="divine">Brown, Mick (28 October 2000). "Divine Downfall". The Daily Telegraph.</ref>

In an open letter in December 2001, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee,<ref name=Palmer97-98 /> Chief Justices P. N. Bhagwati and Ranganath Misra, and Members of Parliament and Najma Heptulla said that they were "deeply pained and anguished by the wild, reckless and concocted allegations" against Sathya Sai Baba, and called him "an embodiment of love and selfless service to humanity".<ref name="letterpmindia">Letter from A. B. Vajpayee (the then Prime Minister of India)</ref>

In a 2015 article, writer Paul William Roberts said Sai Baba "definitely emanated love and could perform extraordinary actions defying explanation. No matter what is said about him, I can only speak for myself, and I have never had any reason to doubt that he is what he said he is.”<ref name="pwrmg">Template:Cite news</ref>

Publications and documentaries

Sathya Sai Baba authored 15 books, known as "Vahinis" (river or stream), originally written in Telugu and translated into English by Prof. Narayana Kasturi.<ref>[3] Vahinis</ref> His public discourses were collected and published into book form known as the "Sathya Sai Speaks" series. There are 42 volumes in total, beginning in 1953 and ending in 2010.<ref>[4] Sathya Sai Speaks</ref> During the summer months (from 1972 until 2002), Sai Baba gave discourses to his students at the Brindavan university campus in Whitefield. These were collected to create a 15 volume series known as the "Summer Showers" series.<ref>[5] Summer Showers</ref>

There is a large known collection of Bhajans (spiritual songs) written and sung by Sai Baba as well as countless numbers of books about him written by devotees and critics.

Sathya Sai Baba has also been featured in various documentaries and films.

• 1973 Advent of the Avatar by Richard Bock
• 1974 The Endless Stream by Richard Bock who continued to make several documentaries about Sathya Sai Baba spanning from the 1970s until the 1990s.
• 1975 The Man of Miracles: Sathya Sai Baba Narrated and hosted by Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame.<ref>[6] The Man of Miracles: Sathya Sai Baba</ref>
• 1975 A Glimpse into the Divine Mission
• 1990 Who Is Sai Baba? by Victor J. Tognola from Switzerland.<ref>[7] Who Is Sai Baba?</ref>

Popular culture

In a 1995 X-Files episode, "The Calusari" (season 2, episode 21), during a conversation about vibhuti (sacred ash) Sai Baba's name is cited and mentioned. A fictitious character, Dr. Burk elaborates, "In 1979, I witnessed a guru named Sai Baba create an entire feast out of thin air."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Further reading

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External links

• International Sai Organization
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