Sathya Sai Baba and his organisations 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.[14] Since there are no formal ties of membership, the actual figure may never be known.[13] The Sathya Sai Organisation reports that there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 114 countries worldwide.[15][16] 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."[17] He was a cultural icon in India and drew an audience with presidents and prime ministers from India and beyond who have become his devotees; in 2002, he claimed to have followers in 178 countries.[18][19]
Life
Almost everything known about his life stems from the hagiography that has grown around him, the presentation of narratives that hold special meaning to his devotees and are considered evidence of his divine nature.[13][17][20]
Early life and proclamation
In 1940, Sathya Sai Baba proclaimed himself to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba (pictured).
Sathyanarayana Raju was born to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram[21] in the village of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India.[13][22] His birth, which his mother Eswaramma asserted was by miraculous conception, was also said to be heralded by miracles.[6][13][23] As a child, he was described as "unusually intelligent" and charitable.[13] He was exceptionally talented in drama, music, dance and writing, and was an avid composer of poems and plays.[24] He was said to be capable of materialising objects such as food and sweets out of thin air.[25][26]
On 8 March 1940, while living with his elder brother Seshama Raju in Uravakonda, Sathya was apparently stung by a scorpion.[25][26] He lost consciousness for several hours.[24] Within the next few days there was a noticeable change in Sathya's behavior.[26] There were "symptoms of laughing and weeping, eloquence and silence."[26][27] "He began to sing Sanskrit verses, a language of which he had no prior knowledge."[6] Doctors believed his behavior to be hysteria.[6][26] His parents brought Sathya home to Puttaparthi.[28] Concerned, they took him to many priests, "doctors" and exorcists.[26][27]
On 23 May 1940, Sathya called household members and reputedly materialised prasad and flowers for his family members.[29] His father became furious at seeing this, thinking his son was bewitched. He took a stick and asked him who he was. To this Sathya announced calmly and firmly "I am Sai Baba", a reference to Sai Baba of Shirdi.[6][24] He proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi—a saint who became famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Maharashtra and had died eight years before Sathya was born.[6][28][30]
Later that year, Sathya Sai Baba declared that he had no worldly relationship with anyone[13] and, around this time, devotees began to gather to him.[13] In 1940, he began to travel to Madras and elsewhere in South India and soon had a large regional following.[13]
Later activities and establishments
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.[31][32] The construction of Prashanthi Nilayam, the current ashram, began in 1948 and was completed in 1950.[13][32] In 1957 Sathya Sai Baba went on a North Indian temple tour.[22] In 1954, Sathya Sai Baba established a small free General Hospital in the village of Puttaparthi.[33]
In 1963, Sathya Sai Baba suffered a stroke and four severe heart attacks.[34] It is believed by some that he healed himself of these, and on recovering announced that he would be reborn as Prema Sai Baba in the state of Karnataka.[13] He stated, "I am Siva-Sakthi, born in the gothra (lineage) 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 Mandya district of Karnataka State."[13][35] It has been claimed that Sai Baba would be born again eight years after his death at the age of 96.[36]
Sri Sathya Sai University, Puttaparthi, A.P., India
On 29 June 1968, Sathya Sai Baba made his first and only trip overseas, to Uganda.[34][37] During a discourse in Nairobi, 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."[38] In 1968, he established Dharmakshetra or Sathyam Mandir in Mumbai.[39]
In 1973, he established Shivam Mandir in Hyderabad.[39] On 19 January 1981, in Chennai he inaugurated the Sundaram Mandir.[39] In March 1995 he started the water project to provide drinking water to 1.2 million people in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region in Anantapur.[40] In 2001 Sathya Sai Baba established another free Super Speciality hospital in Bangalore to benefit the poor.[33] In April 1999 he inaugurated the Ananda Nilayam Mandir in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Criticism and controversy
The Vancouver Sun in 2001 reported that Sathya Sai Baba told his adherents not to browse the Internet due to allegations rapidly circulating on various Internet websites and in a few newspapers.[127] In a 2000 public discourse, Sathya Sai Baba said, "These teachings (the Vedas) are highly sacred. Today people are ready to believe all that they see on television and internet but do not repose their faith in the Vedic declarations. Internet is like a waste paper basket. Follow the 'innernet,' not the internet."[128]
In 2004, in the UK and internationally, the BBC aired a documentary titled The Secret Swami, in its series 'The World Uncovered'.[129] One central theme of the BBC documentary was Alaya Rahm's sexual abuse allegations against Sathya Sai Baba.[125] The documentary interviewed him together with Mark Roche, who had devoted 25 years of his life since 1969 to the movement and alleged abuse by him.[125] A spokesman for the BBC told Asian Voice that the documentary had gone to great lengths to be balanced and fair, and that the story was one of a crisis and ultimately a betrayal of faith.[130] Another documentary, Seduced By Sai Baba, carried interviews of abuse allegations. It was produced by Denmark's national television and radio broadcast company, Danmarks Radio (DR).
During an interview with Asian Voice magazine Ashok Bhagani, a trustee of the Sai Organization in the UK, said that the allegations in the Secret Swami documentary were baseless. Bhagani said that devotees never meet Sai Baba alone.[130]
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