The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Sri Sathya Sai Baba--revered as a living God by millions, including prominent Indian politicians--is dead. The Andhra Pradesh government has declared a four-day state of mourning. Security in Puttaparthi has been heightened in anticipation of VIP visitors and an influx of passionate devotees:
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan expressing deep shock over the demise of prominent religious leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Sunday said that he was a living god and the strength of people in and around the world.
"Baba was a living God for all of us. He was the strength of people in and around the world," said Chavan, an ardent follower of the Baba.
Among the miracles with which he is credited:
... levitation (both indoors and outdoors), bilocation, physical disappearances, changing granite into sugar candy, changing water into another drink, changing water into gasoline, producing objects on demand, changing the color of his gown while wearing it, multiplying food, healing acute and chronic diseases, appearing in visions and dreams, making different fruits appear on any tree hanging from actual stems, controlling the weather, physically transforming into various deities and physically emitting brilliant light.
As tends to be the case with those who claim to be God incarnate, there was a good deal of controversy surrounding the Baba:
The saffron-robed Sathya Sai Baba had a huge following with ashrams in more than 126 countries. He was said to perform miracles — conjuring rings and watches and "vibhuti," a sacred ash that his followers applied on their foreheads — from his overgrown and unkempt Afro-style hair. ...
The guru and his ashram have always denied all reports of any wrongdoing and he was never charged or convicted of any crime.
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Jun '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
He was supposed to live until 2022, according to statements he made years ago.
He was the most interesting guru in the world. Almost under the radar screen for most of the world, this man had more disciples than any guru in history - by far. Millions called him their guru. I have heard story after story about him -- from people who knew him well to people who are woken up in the middle of the night with a waking dream of him in their bedroom, never having heard of him.
He was most famous for making things appear from the air. I know a man who has a ring that he saw materialized in Sai Baba's palm.
The sex stories seem to follow most great male personalities. I just don't know in this case but possible....
Just for interest, one thing that confuses people is that there are 2 Sai Babas. The first one, Sai Baba of Shirdi, died in 1918. Shirdi Sai Baba is still famous throughout all of India. Sathya Sai Baba was born in 1926 and in the 1940s declared himself the reincarnation of the previous Sai Baba. He was always controversial for this.
Dec '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
He had an odd job description for a living God.
What happened to the more traditional divine control over fecundity, calamities, peace, prosperity, and happiness?
If in need of a new timepiece or jewelry, would you turn to a living God?
Sep '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Sharks had a week dedicated to him. People hung on his every word- even the prepositions. His mother had a tattoo that read, "Son". He could speak French- in Russian.
He didn't always drink beer, but when he did, he preferred Dos Equis.
(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Here's a great obituary that does more justice to the strangeness of this life.
Jul '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
I can make coins materialize from under a sofa cushion.
Dec '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
I think he missed the memo. Living gods are not supposed to die on Easter, but on the Friday before.
Sep '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
So he was known for "physically emitting brilliant light?" Wish I'd known. I'd have taken him along on my last backpacking trip.
Wait--he also was known for "changing water into gasoline" and he died? Well, darn it. Just when he could be really useful, too.
Oct '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Outstanding powers you have, You have just been appointed to the highest office in this land... Go forth and cure all things...
Feb '11
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
I don't see why everyone but "Larry Koler" is treating Claire's post so sarcastically. Peter Robinson can put up posts professing belief in the Resurresction and command respect.
From a Christian perspective, Sai Baba fits with Matthew 24:5: "For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many."
From a secular perspective, a miracle's a miracle no matter who is said to have performed it. And at first glance, it seems to me that Sai Baba's miracles are much better documented than those of Jesus (that's not intended as an attack on either one of them).
Mar '11
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
I used to have a Guru, much less famous that Sathya Sai Baba, but the story was pretty much the same.
This was back in the 80's, when Reagan was President and I was totally oblivious to Politics (I only became interested after 9/11).
I think because of my immersion in Eastern Spirituality I have a better understanding of, um, how can I put this?, Islam. In particular, the Shiite apocalyptic beliefs.
To most in the West, this is simply crazy talk, but to those in the East it is deeply ingrained. Much of what we see unfolding in the Middle East is based on this, rather than Twitter and Facebook (though I agree there is also a strong secular element).
So, we shall see what happens - BTW, The UK Telegraph write the best obituaries, thanks for the link, Claire.
Apr '11
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
I'll respect him when he comes back from the dead.
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
I was a bit surprised by that, too. I thought it was an interesting coincidence that he died on Easter Sunday. I was expecting a robust theological debate. Perhaps Ricochet members are generally very polite and respectful of religion, and most declined to comment at all for fear of offending Christians who accept claims that are in some ways similar, or non-Christians who don't accept those claims.
Apr '11
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Measure for Measure: I don't see why everyone but "Larry Koler" is treating Claire's post so sarcastically. Peter Robinson can put up posts professing belief in the Resurresction and command respect.
From a Christian perspective, Sai Baba fits with Matthew 24:5: "For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many."
From a secular perspective, a miracle's a miracle no matter who is said to have performed it. And at first glance, it seems to me that Sai Baba's miracles are much better documented than those of Jesus (that's not intended as an attack on either one of them). · Apr 24 at 7:28pm
Measure for Measure....I know you were not attacking but.Jesus' miracles where meant to confirm his deity not to establish His credibility or to prove anything to the secularists.
I'm curious as to what value you place on the quality of documentation regarding Sai Baba's miracles. Perhaps that was just in response to the sarcasm.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Jun '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ...
Perhaps Ricochet members are generally very polite and respectful of religion, and most declined to comment at all for fear of offending Christians who accept claims that are in some ways similar, or non-Christians who don't accept those claims.
I think that the more orthodox Christians who read this post just decided to not weigh in because they have no other teachings than the ones about false messiahs and so they just roll their eyes and move on.
But, this story is one that few can get a purchase on. India is such a complex landscape of religious sects. India has great tolerance for new teachers and new religious ideas.
I doubt that many here knew about this guru before and really just dismiss him as a legitimate religious subject because on the surface he just seems too much the charlatan or maybe even Satanic.
India has its share of demons, no doubt. But, it must be pointed out that there is considerable demonic influence in the west, too. Really, the Christian mystic traditions point out that the devil only deals with the hard cases; the world and the flesh take care of the rest.
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
The concept of a "secularist" seems an anachronism when we talk of the era of Jesus, doesn't it? It's important to distinguish "secular" from "faithless."
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
To your knowledge, are any of his religious ideas new? Is there an innovation beyond standard Hindu syncretism?
Apr '11
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
The concept of a "secularist" seems an anachronism when we talk of the era of Jesus, doesn't it? It's important to distinguish "secular" from "faithless." · Apr 24 at 11:28pm
Your so right Claire, I should have distinguished between secular today and faithless at the time of Christ.
Jun '10
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
To your knowledge, are any of his religious ideas new? Is there an innovation beyond standard Hindu syncretism? · Apr 24 at 11:34pm
No, I don't think so -- regarding his philosophy or religious teachings. There is a difference between a regular guru and what is called a Sat-Guru. Sat means Truth or Essence and the Sat-Guru is the highest state of guru. The Sat-Guru only appears when a disciple is near enlightenment .
Sathya Sai Baba was considered a Sat-Guru by many of his disciples. He was an example of this type. In Hindu-Christian syncretism, Jesus is considered this type, also. This type of guru is similar to a Bodhi-Sathva in Buddhism and is only on the earth for the benefit of mankind, having no Karma of his (or her) own. (The sexual stuff is therefore very disturbing to his devotees and others.)
What was really odd about Sathya Sai Baba was the number of miracles he performed. It is simply a plain matter of fact that no one in history has ever done so many. Almost every disciple of his that I have met has an astounding story or two.
Feb '11
Re: The Strange Life and Death of Sai Baba
SD Spicer
Measure for Measure....I know you were not attacking but.Jesus' miracles where meant to confirm his deity not to establish His credibility or to prove anything to the secularists.
I'm curious as to what value you place on the quality of documentation regarding Sai Baba's miracles. Perhaps that was just in response to the sarcasm.
Thanks for your thoughts. · Apr 24 at 11:09pm
It looks like I missed the discussion just as it got going! I simply meant to say that miracles are designed to do more than address the situation at hand. As Pascal might say, they help give us almost enough reason to hazard faith, but do not necessarily make an airtight argument (especially when you're reading of them 2nd hand). Miracles sound like fairy tales but look like cold, hard evidence. Therefore, even a secular perspective should not inhibit one from seriously considering them.