Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

There is only one religion, the religion of Love;
There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity;
There is only one language; the language of the Heart;
There is only one God, He is Omnipresent
-----------Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba------------

Sathya Sai Baba born as Sathyanarayana Raju (23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011) was a popular Indian guru, spiritual figure and educator. He is described by his devotees as an Avatar, godman, spiritual teacher and miracle worker.The apparent materializing of vibuthi (holy ash) and small objects such as rings, necklaces and watches by Sathya Sai Baba has been a source of both fame and controversy – skeptics consider these simple conjuring tricks, while devotees consider them evidence of divinity. Sathya Sai Baba has claimed to be the reincarnation of the great spiritual guru, Sai Baba of Shirdi, whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and Muslim beliefs.

Sathya Sai Baba and his organizations support a variety of free educational institutions, hospitals, and other charitable works in India and abroad. The number of active Sathya Sai Baba adherents was estimated in 1999 to be around 6 million, although followers' estimations are far higher. Since there are no formal ties of membership, the actual figure may never be known. The Sathya Sai Organization reports that there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 114 countries worldwide. In India itself, Sai Baba draws followers from predominantly upper-middle-class, urban sections of society who have the "most wealth, education and exposure to Western ideas."[ A cultural icon in his home country, Sai Baba has attracted presidents and prime ministers from India and beyond who have become his devotees; in 2002, he claimed to have followers in 178 countries.

Born as Ratnakara Venkata Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23, 1926, in Puttaparthi in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, Baba was recognised since early childhood as an extra-ordinarily intelligent boy. Full of love and compassion, the young Sathyanarayana endeared himself to all. The defining characteristic of the boy was his spiritual nature and his efforts to make his young friends turn towards God. He went through a lot of hardships during those years, the physical scars of which remain to this day.

March 1940 marked a turning point. 14-year-old Sathya, as the fable goes, was stung one day by a scorpion. Since that day his behaviour changed. An enigma to all, Sathya’s persona had changed. All sort of medications and therapies were tried on him on the belief that he has come under the effect of some evil spirit, but all efforts came to a naught. Withdrawn and indifferent to worldly matters, he spoke rarely and that too only on spiritual matters. He would burst into non-stop recitation of Vedic hymns he had never learnt, challenge the scholarly philosophical subjects. Days and weeks passed, and Sathya remained "abnormal".

Then it happened. May 23, 1940, Sathya was in a good mood, materialising flowers and sugar candy in plenty, and distributing them to all those who called on him. His father Venkama Raju lost his cool as he suspected that his son was tricking people. Armed with a big stick, he approached Sathya, and asked, "Who are You? Are You God, ghost, or devil?" The big moment had finally arrived. Sathya calmly replied, "I am Sai." Puzzled, Venkama Raju asked: "What are we to do with You?" Sathya replied, "Worship Me." Next question:"When?" Came the answer, "Every Thursday." After that day he used to perform miracles, besides turning more and more towards his spiritually awakened self. Then finally on October 20, 1940, he finally decided to snap all worldly ties and launch the mission he had incarnated for. He declared to his parents, "I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai. I don't belong to you. I have my work. My devotees are calling me. I am going. I can no longer stay here." The Avatar was now for all to see and experience. Such was his magnetism, and such was the faith of the devotees who flocked to him and they had no reservation in accepting him as a divine incarnation.

By 1960s Sathya Sai Baba had emerged prominently on the spiritual scene, not just in Andhra Pradesh but across the country as well. Starting with a trip to Uganda, over the years Baba has travelled across the globe. With “love as the fuel for the spiritual movement”, Sathya Sai’s message has spread far and wide. Today, there are over 100 Sathya Sai Baba centres in 126 countries all over the world. 

 

His mission was further amplified in a letter he wrote to his brother in 1947. “I have a task,” he said, “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. I am attached to a work that I love: To remove the sufferings of the poor and grant them what they lack.”

Sai Baba's ashram, built by his devotees close to the village where he was born, was inaugurated on November 23, 1950. It is called Prasanthi Nilayam (the Abode of Divine Peace). It has been the gathering place of millions of spiritual pilgrims of various faiths from all over the world. Every day, Sai Baba graciously walks among them to guide, comfort, console, and uplift them.The small temple dedicated in 1950 has grown into a spiritual oasis of unprecedented magnitude. The temple and the dharshan area in front of it, which is completely covered by a beautiful roof, together encompass an area that is over 10,000 square yards.

 

During the period 14-23 November 1995, the celebrations of the 70th birthday of Sathya Sai Baba took place in Prasanthi Nilayam. More than one million people, including the President and Prime Minister of India, assembled in Prasanthi Nilayam to pay homage to Sathya Sai Baba during the 70th birthday celebrations.

 

Sathya Sai is well known for displaying his special powers like materialising scared ash, gems, flowers etc from thin air. His miracles have been under scrutiny for long but for the believers they have always been the means by which the Bhagwan displays his presence and answers special prayers.The pearl necklace Once during a tour to Kanyakumari, Baba was at the seashore and with his disciples. He stood facing the waters and said to those beside Him, “See! The ocean is welcoming me, with a garland.”

Despite the controversies that have surrounded Sathya Sai Baba for much of his life, there’s one aspect of his persona that is difficult to dispute even by his staunchest critics.Under his guidance, Puttaparthi, the once sleepy village has transformed into an oasis of prosperity in the region. It now boasts of all important amenities like an airport, railway station, super-speciality hospital, university to name a few.Today, the Sathya Sai Trust runs hundreds of philanthropic institutions, starting form primary schools to institutes of higher learning in medicine and other hi-tech fields.The Trust has also funded several major drinking water projects. One project completed in 1996 supplies water to 1.2 million people in about 750 villages in the drought-prone Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh. The second drinking water project, completed in 2004, supplies water to Chennai through a rebuilt waterway named "Sathya Sai Ganga Canal". 

Sathya Sai Baba -- The Essence Of His Teachings  

At the age of 14, Sathya Sai Baba declared to his parents that he had come to this world with a mission to re-establish the principle of Righteousness, to motivate love for God and service to fellow man. Since then, he has consistently called on all mankind to Love All, Serve All and has repeatedly asserted that the essence of all scriptures is Help Ever, Hurt Never!
Through his speeches and writings, Sathya Sai Baba has offered a veritable ocean of knowledge and guidance on all aspects of spiritual, religious, and value-oriented living. He has often repeated that it is not necessary to drink the whole ocean to know its taste, that it is not necessary to read all scriptures to live a life of joy, peace, and love. It is enough to put into practice one aspect of spiritual teaching.
A few drops of the ocean of Sathya Sai Baba's teachings, an attempt to encapsulate its essence, follows. Sathya Sai Baba urges mankind to:

• Believe in God --for there is only ONE GOD for all mankind, though He may be called by many names.
• Follow sincerely their respective religions and live their daily lives in consonance with the teachings of good behavior and morality.
• Respect all other religions --for no religion advocates the negative and lower qualities of man.
• Perform selfless service to the poor, the sick, and the needy without thought of reward or fame.
• Cultivate in their lives the values of truth, divine love, right conduct, peace, and nonviolence and promote these values among all.
• Be patriotic and respect the laws of the country in which they live.

Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to the super-specialty hospital at Prashantigram at Puttaparthi on 28 March 2011 following respiration-related problems. After many days of hospitalization where his condition progressively deteriorated, he passed away on 24 April 2011 at 7.40 am (IST).

Pictures (from http://sssbpt.org/images/Wallpapers)

 

Sai Vachan 

“Man is born to share and serve, not to grab and grieve.” 

“Be in the world but let not the world be in you.” 

“You need offer only two things: Pure love and self-less service.” 

“God is truth, truth is goodness, goodness is beauty, truth, goodness, beauty, sathyam, shivam, sundaram is yourself. Be yourself.” 

“Truth has no fear; untruth shivers at every shadow.” 

“The term Bhagwan means the one who is capable of lighting the divine effulgence, the illumination of wisdom, the eternal inner light of the soul. Can there be anything greater than earning the Love of such an omniscient, omnipotent Lord? There is nothing on earth or beyond it which is equal to divine love. To make all endeavours to earn that love. Is the whole purpose and meaning of human existence.” 

“A pure thought from a pure heart is better than a mantra.” 

“You ask from me a thousand things of the world, but rarely do you ask for me.”