Sathya Sai Baba movement

The Sathya Sai Baba movement is inspired by South Indian Hindu guru Sathya Sai Baba who taught the unity of all religions.[1][2] Some of his followers have faith in his claim to be a purna Avatar (full divine incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti,[3] who is believed to have been predicted in the Bhagavad Gita.[4] This means that some of his followers see him as a God.[5] Devotees engage in singing devotional songs called "bhajans" and selfless service (seva).[6][7] Its official organization is the Sathya Sai Organization. However the Sathya Sai Baba movement extends beyond the organization.[8] An important aspect of the faith of adherents is the miracles attributed to Sathya Sai Baba.[9] The number of adherents is estimated between 6 and 100 million.[10][11][12]

Official life story of Sathya Sai Baba and history of the movement
Main article: Sathya Sai Baba

The official biography of Sathya Sai Baba was written by Narayana Kasturi.[13] Additional sources for the official life story are Sathya Sai Baba's discourses.[14][15]

Sathya Sai Baba was born on 23 November 1926. His birth name was Sathyanarayana Raju.[16] Sathya (as Sai Baba referred to himself in those days) "was known to be very lively,"[16] and composed many plays, poems and songs for school and friends.[15] He also taught the local children and villagers how to read and write.[15] "He was called by the neighbors Brahmajnani, a "Realized Soul.""[1] In sixth standard, Sathya left Puttaparthi to live with his elder brother, Seshama and his wife in Kamalapuram.[15] About a year later, "holidays came and Seshama Raju took Sathya to Hampi."[15] A municipal chairman witnessed Sathya being both inside a Siva temple and outside (looking after his brothers luggage) simultaneously. Afterwards, he presented the boy with "a collar pin made of gold."[15] During a discourse in 2000, Sathya Sai Baba related the events that transpired a few days after, "He (Sathya) 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 symbolic of the end of the ‘Raju phase’ and attachments implied by it. Declaring that He had no worldly relationship with anyone, he ran to the house of one Anjaneyulu... In front of his house there was a small rock. Swami (Sathya Sai Baba) went and sat on that stone."[15]

Narayana Kasturi's biography states Sathya Sai Baba performed many miracles (healings, levitation, materialization of fruit, sweets, pencils, pictures etc. and clairvoyance).[1] At approximately age 14, Sathya Sai Baba made a claim that he was the reincarnation of the fakir, Sai Baba of Shirdi. To validate his claim it is alleged that jasmine flowers were dropped onto the ground and that they miraculously arranged themselves into the words "Sai Baba" in Telugu.[17] At that time, he began his spiritual mission.

The first volume of Sathya Sai Speaks [18] covers discourses given during the years 1953 to 1960. In this volume can be read the many early claims of divinity made by Sathya Sai Baba, including those of omnipotence and omniscience.

During the month of June 1963, Sathya Sai Baba suffered a stroke and 4 heart attacks.[3][19] His left side was paralysed, and the sight in his left eye and speech were badly affected.[19] After sprinkling water on his left hand and leg, he made a full recovery and delivered a Guru Poornima discourse.[19] During the discourse he said, "Shiva said that they (Shiva and Shakti) would take human form and be born in the Bharadwaja lineage, thrice: Shiva alone as Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva and Shakthi together at Puttaparthi as Sathya Sai Baba, and Shakthi alone as Prema Sai, later."[3]

In a 1976 interview he repeated his claim to be a full divine Avatar, saying "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."[20]

Between 1988 and 2006, Sathya Sai Baba suffered three accidents,[21][22] the second of which left him with a fractured hip and a broken femur.[23] He later moved among devotees in his car or Porte Chair.[24]

It is claimed that he performed a number of miracles including: 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. Sathya Sai Baba gained followers in India from the 1930s.[25] Outside of India, he became popular from the 1960s and 1970s.[25] During the period from 1970 to 1983, the number of Sathya Sai Baba centres in the United Kingdom grew from 2 to 51.[26]

Beliefs and practices of devotees

Sathya Sai Baba gave discourses on religious topics to devotees in his native language Telugu.[27] Twice daily, some devotees engage in worship of Sathya Sai Baba by conducting rituals such as aarti and singing devotional songs in front of his picture.[27] Sathya Sai Baba has said that his followers do not need to give up their original religion,[28] saying "My objective is the establishment of Sanathana Dharma, which believes in one God as propitiated by the founders of all religions. So none has to give up his religion or deity[20] ... I have come not to disturb or destroy any Faith, but to confirm each in his own Faith, so that the Christian becomes a better Christian, the Muslim a better Muslim and a Hindu a better Hindu."[29] According to "Ocean of Love", a book published by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, "there is no new path that He is preaching, no new order that He has created. There is no new religion that He has come to add or a particular philosophy that He recommends ... His mission is unique and simple. His mission is that of love and compassion."[30]

On 24 November 1926, Sri Aurobindo Ghosh came out of his trance and announced that Krishna ("overmind Godhead"[31]) "descended into the physical".[32] On the day before this announcement, 23 November 1926, was the birth date of Sathya Sai Baba [33] Many felt that Sri Aurobindo's announcement heralded the Sathya Sai Avatar.[31]

Sathya Sai Baba devotees gather on Thursdays in the US and on weekends in other regions of the world for group devotional singing (bhajans),[34] prayer,[35] spiritual meditation, service to the community (Seva),[36] and to participate in "Education in Human Values" (SSEHV), also known as Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) and (in India) Balvikas.[35] (Sai Sunday School) The Australian Sai organization states, "we come together as spiritual seekers to sing our devotion to God, singing to many different names and forms that God is worshipped by."[37] Sathya Sai baba himself says of bhajans, "I do not need songs glorifying God which like gramophone records, reproduce songs and strings of Gods names without any feeling or yearning while singing. Hours of shouting do not count, a moment of concentrated prayer from the heart is enough."[38][39]

Seva (selfless service) activities, being "at the heart of Sathya Sai Baba's teachings,"[35] strives to take an active role to serve the needs of the community.[40] Center Seva activities and projects include

  • Arranging food bank drives and donations[41]
  • Visiting nursing homes[40][42]
  • Greening (tree planting and park cleanup)[40][43]
  • Medical camps[44]
  • Donating blood[40] (giving liquid love[45])
  • Serving food to the homeless[46]
  • Collecting old and used spectacle frames for distribution to disadvantaged people in various parts of the world[43]

Other Sai Center activities include study of the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba and the sacred literature of all religions,[36] Sai Spiritual Education (SSE),[47] dynamic value parenting programs,[36] and study circles (taking a point and each person discussing what it means to them).[48]

Through center activities, the hope is to achieve the practical spirituality of incorporating the universal human values in all aspects of life and during every conscious moment.[35]

Sathya Sai Baba advocates reverence, adoration and gratitude to the Mother (and parents) as being God, and the first (and foremost) teacher and guru.[49][50][51] Sai Baba often cites well known figures (Abraham Lincoln,[52] Gandhi,[53] Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar[49]) who have attained their good character, humility and morality due to listening to the advice of their mother. Sai Baba has said, "There is nothing greater than mother's love. Mother's words are always sweet."[51] Additionally, Sai Baba has repeatedly stated "Rama, Krishna, Shivaji and Gandhi became what they were because of their mothers. Same way, I am Sathya Sai today because of Easwaramma (his mother)!"

Sathya Sai Baba has written several articles on religious topics, later collected by the trust in the form of books, titled "Vahinis" (vehicles).[54] There are fifteen vahinis, comprising sixteen books (the Ramakatha Rasavahini having two parts).[54][55][56] Sathya Sai Baba's discourses are presented in the Sathya Sai Speaks series.[14]

Sathya Sai Baba recommends meditation (dhyan) for acquiring one-pointed attention on the Lord.[57] Having written a vahini on the subject of meditation (dhyan),[58] Baba suggests four techniques: repetition of one's own favourite 'name of God'[59] (Rama, Sai, Allah, Aum etc. ...),[60][61][62] visualizing the form of God (i.e. Guru, Buddha, Jesus, Sai Baba, etc. ...),[60] sitting in silence,[63] and jyoti (Flame/Light meditation).[60]

The Sai organization promotes and advocates five human values: Sathya (truth), Dharma (Sanskrit word translated as "right conduct"), Ahimsa (non-violence), Prema (love for God and all his creatures)[64] and Shanti (peace).

Other teachings are:

  • Non-dualism or Adwaitam which implies Oneness of existence.[65]
  • "Love all, Serve all", Love for all creatures and objects.[60]
  • Putting a ceiling on one's desires.[60][66]
  • "Help ever, Hurt never"
  • Celibacy after the age of fifty.[60]
  • Vegetarianism,[64] moderate and sattvik diet (pure with regard to ingredients, utensils, manner of preparation, and mental attitude).[60]
  • Abstinence from drinking alcohol,[60] smoking cigarettes,[60] and drug use.[67]
  • Importance of bhakti (devotion) to God.
  • Developing "prashanti" (translates to "Highest Peace") and eschewing vices of character.[60]
  • Japa (ritual chanting of Baba's name), thinking of God always,[68] and other sadhana (spiritual exercise) to foster devotion.
  • Highly committed devotees use the phrase "Sai Ram" as a salutation.[60]
  • Conducting pooja or aarti (a form of ritual worship) twice daily in front of Baba photos.
  • "Yagnas" (or ritual worship, involving ritual offerings of fruits, vegetables and ghee to a pyre) are frequently conducted at the ashram.[69]
  • The propagation of peace around the world and avoidance of conflict. Non-violence towards all sentient life and avoidance of elective abortion.[70]
  • Man seeks the Truth; he seeks to know the reality because his very nature is derived from God who is Truth. He seeks Love, to give it and share it, for his nature is God and God is Love.[71]

Practices in the ashrams and the person of Sathya Sai Baba

The popularity and the donations by followers enabled Sathya Sai Baba and his organizations to build an ever-increasing ashram called Prashanthi Nilayam near the once poor and isolated village of Puttaparthi.

Entrance to Puttaparthi, with the old symbol of the Sathya Sai Organization above it

An important practice in his ashram in Puttaparthi was the darshan (spiritual sight) that Sathya Sai Baba gave.[72] During darshan Sathya Sai Baba walked among his followers. He may have listened to a few chosen persons, accepted letters, or materialized and distributed vibhuti (sacred ash). He said that his darshan has spiritual benefits for those who attended it. Usually people waited hours to get a good place for darshan. Sathya Sai Baba sometimes invited people for a group interview with him in a room in the ashram 's mandir (Hindu temple). Followers considered it a great privilege to get such an interview. Sometimes a person from this group was invited for a private interview.

Sathya Sai Baba's manifestations of vibuthi emphasized his claim to be a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba who used to take ash, called udhi, from an ever-burning fire, called a dhuni.[73][74] Vibuthi is an ancient Hindu symbol, among others associated with Shiva.[75]

Sathya Sai Baba resided much of the time in his main ashram Prashanthi Nilayam ("Abode of Highest Peace") at Puttaparthi. During the hot summer the guru left for his other ashram called Brindavan in Whitefield, India (sometimes called Kadugodi), a town on the outskirts of Bangalore. He has left India only once for a visit to Eastern Africa in 1968.

He was a prolific orator in his native language of Telugu,[76] and also spoke Tamil. He claimed to be the Kali Yuga purna Avatar (full divine incarnation of this era) of Lord Shiva and Shakti. He said that he is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent and could create matter from mere thought.[77][78] He also stressed he was free from desires, and that this was the state that one should aim to attain, consistent with the Vedic teachings. He played down his claims about being an incarnation of God by saying that everybody is God but that only he realizes and experiences this fully. In correspondence with his perceived divinity, followers often capitalize references to him in their writings ("He", "Him", etc.).

Sathya Sai Baba prophesied that he would reincarnate again in the 21st century as Prema Sai Baba to finish the spiritual transformation of the world, starting with India, where his previous and current incarnations have begun.[79] Sathya Sai Baba has stated that his three incarnations will help to usher in the Golden Age of mankind that will come soon.[80]

He said he would die at the age of 96. After he died, some devotees suggested that he might have been referring to that many lunar years, rather than solar years,[81] and using the Indian way of accounting for age, which counts the year to come as part of the person's life.[82]

Sathya Sai Baba has said that he performs miracles to attract people and then to transform them spiritually, telling his followers not to focus on his miracles. He could be seen in person to perform these miracles in the form of materializations of small objects, for example jewelry such as bracelets, rings, watches and especially vibhuti (holy ash).[83] He said in a 1976 interview that these trinkets have symbolic value, and offer the owners protection by reminding them of his protecting powers when in danger.[84] Occasionally, at Maha Shivaratri, he publicly produced lingams that came out of his mouth that devotees claim materialize in his body.[85] He said that he can heal the diseases of his devotees by either his spiritual power or by taking on the disease himself. There is anecdotal evidence that supports this claim.[86]

Babb wrote in a 1983 article that "the miraculous are absolutely central to this religious movement" and that the plausibility of these miracles "seems to pull people into convictions ostensibly at odds with what their own subculture deems to be common sense and considered judgment". He wrote in that article that his observations are based on his contact with the local following of Sathya Sai Baba in Delhi that according to Babb included a sophisticated and cosmopolitan elite. Babb further wrote in that article that the energy of Sathya Sai Baba’s "magic" can have "life-transforming effects on devotees."[87]

Sathya Sai Baba has said that all of his acts have meaning and significance. So many followers interpret the acts and sayings of the guru as teachings, sometimes even as personal teachings. Some followers, especially in the ashram, attribute coincidences to Baba’s will and try to find a sometimes hidden meaning in them. Babb wrote in a 1986 book that some devotees tend attribute every event to Sathya Sai Baba's will and tend to see the world as an enchanted garden.[88] He says that when a person dreams about him then this is because of his will and this is a form of his communication with people. Followers report dreams that contain messages from the guru to them. Some people became devotees after having such a dream.[89][90][91]

Teachings

The Sathya Sai Baba movement advocates the unity of all religions.[92] Sathya Sai Baba says that all religions lead to God and that followers should continue to follow their original religions. He says that those who follow his teachings will find themselves exampling their own original faith more fully, i.e. that will make Christians become better Christians and Hindus better Hindus, et cetera. The five basic human values that he advocates are: Truth (Satya), Right Conduct (Dharma), Peace (Shanti), Love for God and all creatures (Prema), and Non-violence (Ahimsa).

He teaches a rather traditional but eclectic form of Hinduism that come from many sects and movements including advaita, occasionally drawing from other religions like Buddhism, Sikhism, and Christianity. He says that he has come to restore faith in, and the practice of, the Vedas. He says that a very important way a person can emancipate oneself is through self-less service to one's fellow man (seva).

Sathya Sai Baba has repeatedly stressed the importance of sadhana (Hindu spiritual exercises) for example by meditation.[93] He asserts that sadhana is important for achieving moksha or kaivalyam (liberation from ignorance and from the endless re-births due to karmic consequences). Sathya Sai Baba teaches the importance of Bhakti yoga (Hindu devotion to God).

He preaches a strict morality with regards to sensual desires (including food, sex, meat, alcohol). Some of his exhortations are to put a ceiling on desires. By this, he seems to mean that followers should not waste time and money. He teaches that the world is just maya , that only God is real and that the seeming diversity of all life is another illusion. All life is one, he says. The meaning of life is to experience this oneness with God and other living beings.

Followers attribute many miracles to him which they witness in his presence and in their own countries, like spontaneous vibhuti manifestations on the pictures of the guru in their homes, and bilocation, the appearance of Sai Baba in their own presence while he is also in another place. They also report that he has materialized out-of-season fruit several times. He says he performs these miracles to attract people and then to transform them spiritually.

Sathya Sai Baba said that he does not speak through other people in a discourse in 1962.[94] In spite of this, the British author Lucas Ralli claimed that he received messages from Sathya Sai Baba and wrote in his books that his claim was endorsed by Sathya Sai Baba in an interview. His books with messages from Sathya Sai Baba are sold by the Sathya Sai Book Center of America.[95]

The anthropologist Lawrence Babb wrote that he considered the teachings of secondary importance in the cult when compared to the emphasis on the miraculous. Babb further wrote about the Sai doctrine that "[...] there is little relatively to dwell upon, or at least nothing very distinctive. His philosophical views are simplistic, eclectic, and essentially unoriginal." [9] The anthropologist Alexandra Kent notes that this lack of originality is in correspondence with Sathya Sai Baba's claim to revive old truths.[96]

The main objective of the Sathya Sai Organization, as Sathya Sai Baba himself says, "is to help you recognize the divinity inherent in you. So, your duty is to emphasize the One, to experience the One in all you do or speak. Do not give importance to differences of religion, sect, status, or color. Have the feeling of one-ness permeate all your acts. Only those who do so have a place in this Organization; the rest can withdraw."[34][34]

Activities in local Sathya Sai Baba groups

Globally, local Sathya Sai Baba groups assemble to sing bhajans (devotional songs). Baba says that concentration on the name of God with the help of bhajans will easily lead to concentration on God and to higher devotion. Bhajans are sung at nearly every meeting. Bhajans are simple verses.[97] One line is sung by a lead singer and is then repeated by the rest of the group.[97] In those bhajans the name of traditional Hindu deities have sometimes been replaced by the names of Sathya Sai Baba.[98][99][100] In addition they study Sathya Sai Baba's teachings and the holy books of the various world religions. They also perform community service, which they call seva. The greeting Sai Ram is used by followers.[101]

Organizations
Sathya Sai Organization
Official logo
Formation1953
HeadquartersIndia
Chairman
Michael Goldstein
Websitesathyasai.org
Main article: Sathya Sai Organization

There are both independently founded Sai Study Groups worldwide, and also local Sai Samithis (Sathya Sai Baba groups) are part of a hierarchical structure called the Sathya Sai Organization. As of 2007, the chairman of the organization is the American Michael Goldstein. The logo of the Sathya Sai organization is a stylized lotus flower with the text of the five human values written in each petal. These are Love, Truth, Peace, Righteousness and Non-violence. This text version has replaced the old logo with the symbols of the main 5 or 6 world religions in the petals.

The charter of the Sai Organization says that every member should undertake sadhana (spiritual discipline) as an integral part of daily life and abide by the following nine-points code of conduct.[102]

1. Daily meditation and prayer.
2. Devotional singing/prayer with family members once per week.
3. Participation in the educational programmes conducted by the Organization for children.
4. Attendance at least once per month at group devotional programmes conducted by the Organization.
5. Participation in community service and other programmes of the Organization.
6. Regular study of Sai literature.
7. Putting into practice the principles of "ceiling on desires", utilising any savings thereby generated for the service of mankind.
8. Speaking softly and lovingly with everyone with whom one comes into contact.
9. Avoiding talking ill of others, especially in their absence.

Sathya Sai Baba is the figurehead to a number of free educational institutions, charitable organizations and service projects that are spread over 10,000 centers in 166 countries around the world.[103]

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in Prashanti Nilayam is the only college in India to have received an "A++" rating by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission).[104][105] Besides this institute, there is also an Institute of Music and an Institute of Higher Learning in Anantapur, which is a women's college.[106]

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences in Puttaparthi (also known as the Super Specialty Hospital) is a 220-bed facility providing advanced surgical and medical care free of cost to the public. It is situated 6 kilometers from the guru's ashram and was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao on 22 November 1991 and was designed by the Prince of Wales's architectural adviser, Keith Critchlow[107] The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences in Bangalore is a 333-bed facility with advanced operation theatres, ICUs and CCUs meant to benefit the poor.[108] The hospital was inaugurated on 19 January 2001 by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.[109] Other eminent participants were Abdul Kalam, Michael Nobel (distant relative of Alfred Nobel), and Anji Reddy.[110] The hospital has served 250,000 patients, free of cost, from January 2001 to April 2004.[111]

The Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital was opened in Whitefield, Bangalore, in 1977 by Sathya Sai Baba to provide free care to poor local villagers. Since that time, the general hospital has grown to a 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) building that provides complex surgeries, food and medicines free of cost. The hospital has, since its inception, treated over 2 million cases.[112]

The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust runs several general hospitals, two super specialty hospitals, dispensaries, eye hospitals and mobile dispensaries and conducts medical camps in rural and slum areas in India.[103] It was in the year 2000-2001 the largest recipient of foreign donations.[113] The Trust has also funded several major drinking water projects. The first drinking water project, completed in 1996, supplies water to 1.2 million people in 730-800 villages in the drought-prone Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh.[114][115] The second drinking water project, completed in 2004, supplies water to Chennai (formerly known as Madras) through a rebuilt waterway named "Sathya Sai Ganga Canal".[116][117] The Chennai water drinking project was praised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi. Karunanidhi said that although he is an atheist, he differentiated between good spiritual leaders like Sathya Sai Baba and fake godmen.[118] The third drinking water project, expected to be completed in April 2006, would supply water from the Godavari River to half a million people living in five hundred villages in East and West Godavari Districts.[119] Other completed water projects include the Medak District Project benefiting 450,000 people in 179 villages and the Mahbubnagar District Project benefitting 350,000 people in 141 villages. In January 2007, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust revealed that it would undertake another drinking water project in Latur, Maharashtra.[115]

His Educare (formerly called Education in Human Values) program seeks to found schools in all countries with the explicit goal to educate children in the five human values and spirituality.

The Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust is the official publisher of the Sathya Sai Organization. It publishes the international monthly magazine called Sanathana Sarathi in English and Telugu. According to their website, they shelve over a thousand books and provide Sai-related literature in 40 languages. The book trust also supplies CDs, DVDs and audio tapes. In various nations, similar publication trusts are maintained in their own native language.

On 23 November 2001, the digital radio network "Radio Sai Global Harmony" was launched through the World Space Organization, USA. Dr. Michael Nobel (distant relative of Alfred Nobel, and one of the patrons for the radio network) said that the radio network would spread Sathya Sai Baba's message of global harmony and peace.[120]

Celebrations and commemorations

The most important celebrations and commemorations are

Conversion and mission

John D. Kelly, as of 2006 a professor of anthropology at the University of Chicago wrote in an article about Hindu mission in Fiji that the Sai Baba movement was missionary.[123] In contrast, Dr. Kim Knott who worked as of 1997 at the department of theology and religious studies of the University of Leeds untagged in a table the "Sathya Sai Baba Fellowship" as missionary.[124] Sathya Sai Baba has discouraged publicity and proselytism for him in a public discourse (23 November 1968).[125]

Characterizations and classifications
Main article: Sathya Sai Baba movement

Scholarly sources generally describe the Sathya Sai Baba movement as that of Hindu.[126][127][128] Sai Baba's followers considered him to be the avatar of Shiva and Kalki,[129] while he himself claimed to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdhi.[9] Charles S. J. White, of The American University at Washington D.C., said, "Apart from his name, there is no discernible Muslim influence in the Sathya Sai Baba cult." He said that Sai Baba's style is mostly similar to Medieval Hindu practice called nathpanthis.[130] Lawrence A. Babb, of the Amherst College in Massachusetts, also labelled Sai Baba movement as a cult, which is "deeply and authentically Hindu." He states that the devotees "rarely dwell on matters of doctrine, which is not surprising, for in fact there is relatively little to dwell upon, or at least nothing very distinctive. His philosophical views are simplistic, eclectic, and essentially unorigin... The most striking feature of this cult, however, is the extremely strong emphasis given to the miraculous."<ref="babb83" /> Babb sees as its highly individualized focus on miracles instead of a focus on a world view.[131] Deborah A. Swallow, of the University of Cambridge, also agreed to the cult description. She compared Sathya Sai Baba with his (alleged) predecessor Sai Baba of Shirdi, who was associated with both Hindu and Islam. She concluded that Sathya Sai Baba's connection to Islam was vague, and that his "ritual and theology, then, unlike Sai Baba [of Shirdi]'s, is distinctly Hindu in form and content." The wide range of devotees including Muslims, Sikhs, Parsees, Jews and Christians is "the composite symbol of his cult."[132] According to Alexandra Kent, at the Gothenburg University in Sweden, Sai Baba movement "differs from the other movements in its concerted efforts to transcend ethnic and religious divisions" in order to promote universal religion. But at its core it teaches "the eternal Hindu truth." She called it the "Hindu Revitalization movement." [133] This is essential for Indian people living in different countries to maintain their inherently Hindu culture.[134][135]

Knott tagged in a table the "Sathya Sai Baba Fellowship" as devotional, charismatic authority, reformist, and including non-Asian membership. Untagged were revivalist, missionary, and caste-related.[124]

Kelly wrote that the Sathya Sai Organizations reject the label Hindu although they were clearly Hindu mission. According to Kelly, they saw its founder as the "living synthesis of the world's religious traditions" and prefers to be classified as an interfaith movement. He noted that "They instruct their children to fill out methodically the prayer, school, and chore daily schedules that rival the ones devised by Benjamin Franklin, the ones that so impressed Max Webber."[136] Kelly further wrote when comparing ISKCON with the Sai Baba mission (he does not write which Sai Baba mission he means) that the Sai Baba efforts in Fiji are ambiguous where ISKCON is dogmatic and structured, proliferating where ISKCON is planned and controlled, self-contradictory where ISKCON is clear, gentle where ISKCON is stern, and to put it most broadly, open where ISKCON is closed. Kelly further stated that the Sai organization in Fiji does not ask its members to undergo initiation or to commit themselves to obey particular leaders.[137]

Former followers Nagel asserts that the atmosphere surrounding Sathya Sai Baba is clearly Hindu, in spite of Sathya Sai Baba's claim to foster and unite a number of different religions and that he dropped all Muslim elements that Shirdi Sai Baba practiced.[138]

Educational institutions, charitable organizations, hospitals and service projects

Sathya Sai Baba supports free schools and other charitable works in 166 countries.[103] The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in Prashanti Nilayam is the only college in India to have received an "A++" rating by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission).[104][105] His charity supports the Institute of Music and the Institute of Higher Learning in Anantapur, which is a women's college.[106]

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences in Puttaparthi is a 220-bed facility that provides free surgical and medical care and was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao on 22 November 1991.[139] The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences in Bangalore is a 333-bed hospital meant to benefit the poor.[108] The hospital was inaugurated on 19 January 2001 by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.[140][141] The hospital has provided free medical care to over 250,000 patients.[111]

The Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital was opened in Whitefield, Bangalore, in 1977 and provides complex surgeries, food and medicines free of cost. The hospital has treated over 2 million patients.[112]

The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust runs several general hospitals, two specialty hospitals, eye hospitals and mobile dispensaries and conducts medical camps in rural and slum areas in India.[103] 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.[114][115] The second drinking water project, completed in 2004, supplies water to Chennai through a rebuilt waterway named "Sathya Sai Ganga Canal".[116][117] Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi praised the Chennai water project and Sai Baba's involvement.[118][142] Other completed water projects include the Medak District Project benefiting 450,000 people in 179 villages and the Mahbubnagar District Project benefitting 350,000 people in 141 villages.[115] In January 2007, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust said it would start a drinking water project in Latur, Maharashtra.[143]

Sai Baba's Educare program seeks to found schools throughout the world with the goal of educating children in the five human values. According to the Sai Educare site, schools have been founded in 33 countries.[144] The Times of Zambia states, "The positive influence of Sathya Sai is unprecedented in the annals of education in Zambia. Sai Baba’s education ideals as embodied in his human values-based approach in education are an eye opener to educationists in Zambia."[145]

On 23 November 2001, the digital radio network "Radio Sai Global Harmony" was launched through the World Space Organization, USA. Dr. Michael Oleinikof Nobel (distant relative to Alfred Nobel and one of the patrons for the radio network) said that the radio network would spread Sathya Sai Baba's message of global harmony and peace.[120]

In January 2007 the Baba was given a big felicitation in Chennai Nehru stadium organised by the Chennai Citizens Conclave for thanking him for the 200 crore water project which brought water from the River Krishna in Andhra Pradesh to Chennai city. Four chief ministers attended the function. The notable news about this event was that Sai Baba was sharing the same dais with Karunanidhi (Chief Minister of Chennai) who is a very well known hardcore atheist against Hindu gurus / godman and that Karunanidhi was felicitating Sai Baba. This was covered in all newspapers.[146][147]

Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital, Puttaparthi, A.P., India

Demographics

According to the Sathya Sai Organization, there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 130 countries worldwide.[148] The number of adherents is estimated between 6 million and 100 million, predominantly people of Indian ethnic origin.[149][150][151] Simon Weightmann who worked as of 1997 at the department for the study of religions at the University of London wrote that Sathya Sai Baba is one of the most popular gurus, both in India and in the Hindu diaspora and that as a consequence of his inclusivist stance he has a large following among the urban middle class.[152] Professor Harold Coward who worked as of 1997 as a professor for the centre of religious studies at the University of Victoria wrote that Sathya Sai Baba, together with several other modern Indian gurus, has attracted more occidental than South Asian Canadians.[153] A significant fraction of the movement in Malaysia is of Chinese extraction, though the majority there is of British East Indian Hindu origin.[154]

In 2000 there were widespread defections in the West due to publications about sexual abuse by Sathya Sai Baba.[155][156]

Notes
  1. Kasturi, Narayana, "Sathyam Sivam Sundaram" Volume I, Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust, ISBN 81-7208-127-8, Available online
  2. Nagel, Alexandra (note: Nagel is a critical former follower) Een mysterieuze ontmoeting... :Sai Baba en mentalist Wolf Messing published in Tijdschrift voor Parapsychologie 368, vol. 72 nr 4, December 2005, pp. 14-17 (Dutch language)
  3. Shiva Shakthi
  4. Bowen, David (1988) The Sathya Sai Baba Community in Bradford: Its origins and development, religious beliefs and practices. Leeds: University Press. Page 212
  5. Sai Baba turns 82, is still going strong - India News - IBNLive
  6. Kent, page 47
  7. Milner, Murray Jr. Hindu Eschatology and the Indian Caste System: An Example of Structural Reversal .The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 52, No. 2 (May, 1993), pp. 298–319 As Babb notes, "The emphasis on social service provides an opportunity for devotees to do good in the world, but Sathya Sai Baba's profound conservatism on fundamentals like caste and gender ensures that doing good is unlikely to challenge his devotees' more basic sense of propriety and order" (1986:200-1).
  8. Kent, page 68
    "The Sai Baba movement in Malaysia falls into two main camps. It has been formalized into a very active Sai Baba organization, renowned among devotees all over the world, but outside the organization are devotees who worship Sai Baba but remain independent of the organization and its ideology."
  9. Babb, Lawrence A. (1983). "Sathya Sai Baba's Magic". Anthropological Quarterly. 56 (3): 116–124. doi:10.2307/3317305. JSTOR 3317305.
  10. adherents.comAdherents citing Chryssides, George. Exploring New Religions. London, UK: Cassells (1999). (retrieved 2 March 2007)
    "[Original source of British figure: email from Kishor Kumar of the UK Sai organization] "I have selected the best available [statistics], providing a range where adjudication is impossible... Sai Baba: Britain: 4,000 active devotees linked to a Sai Centre (1999); World 10,000,000 ""
  11. Brown, Mick,Divine Downfall, The Daily Telegraph, 28 October 2000, Available online
    "The guru Sai Baba has left India only once, yet his devotees across the world are estimated at up to 50 million."
  12. 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 Amsterdam press, (1994) ISBN 90-5383-341-2
    English translation: "[the skeptic] Beyerstein (1992:3) estimates the number to be 6 million; Riti & Theodore (1993:31) estimates 30 million, Sluizer (1993:19) writes 70 million, and [the follower] Van Dijk (1993:30) writes "between 50 and 100 million". "
    Dutch original "Beyerstein (1992:3) schat het aantal op 6 miljoen; Riti & Theodore (1993:31) op 30 miljoen, Sluizer (1993:19) heeft het over 70 miljoen en Van Dijk (1993:30) over "tussen de 50 en 100 miljoen.""
  13. Sathyam Shivam Sundaram - The Life of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
  14. Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publication Trust
  15. http://www.sssbpt.info/summershowers/ss2000/ss2000-14.pdf
  16. "Sri Sathya Sai Baba: A living Legend". Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  17. Schulman, Arnold (1971). Baba. Viking Press. pp. 122–124. ISBN 0-670-14343-X.
  18. Sathya Sai Speaks volume 01
  19. Murphet, Howard (1971). Sai Baba: Man of Miracles (portions available online). Weiser Books. ISBN 9780877283355. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  20. Sathya Sai Baba - Interview with journalist - September 1976
  21. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume21/sss21-23.pdf
  22. Divine Discourse By Sai Baba - Sai Baba Of India
  23. 5 July 2003, Doctors' Day Discourse
  24. Sai Global Harmony - Prasanthi Bulletin
  25. Kent, 71
  26. Bowen, 51
  27. Babb, Lawrence A. (2000) [1986]. Redemptive Encounters: Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press Inc. pp. 198–199. ISBN 1-57766-153-2. LCCN 85028897. OCLC 45491795.
  28. "Suicide, sex and the guru", Dominic Kennedy, The Times (UK), 27 August 2001
  29. Sai Australia - Official Website of the Sathya Sai Organisation of Australia and Papua New Guinea
  30. Michelle Goldberg (25 July 2005). "Untoucable?". Salon.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009.
  31. Article of the week - Evidences for Baba's Avatarhood
  32. Purani: 26 November 1926 - Siddhi-Day
  33. Where the Road Ends: From Self Through Sai to Self, Howard Murphet, Leela Press (July 1994) ISBN 0-9629835-3-5 ISBN 978-0-9629835-3-5
  34. Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organization in Canada - Home Page
  35. http://us.sathyasai.org/resources/06oct15CenterGuidelines12.pdf
  36. The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Toronto - York
  37. Welcome to Newcomers Archived 12 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  38. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume04/sss04-35.pdf
  39. Sathya Sai Baba's Declarations on Himself
  40. The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Toronto - York
  41. Charlotte Sai Center
  42. Richmond Sai Center
  43. http://www.saiaustralia.org.au/download/act-september-08.pdf%5B%5D
  44. WebCite query result
  45. Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre - Calgary - Alberta - Canada
  46. The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Toronto - York
  47. http://sairegion10.org/guidelines/center-guidelines.pdf%5B%5D
  48. untitled
  49. Easwaramma Day 2004 Discourse, 6 May 2004
  50. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume16/sss16-11.pdf
  51. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume32/sss32p2-13.pdf
  52. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume33/sss33-21.pdf
  53. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume38/sss38-11.pdf
  54. Vahini.org: The Vahinis - The 'Streams of Supreme Love' of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
  55. SSSCT - Sri Sathya Sai Baba - His Writings
  56. See also Bibliography of Sathya Sai Baba.
  57. http://www.sssbpt.info/vahinis/dhyana/dhyana02.pdf
  58. http://www.sssbpt.info/vahinis/dhyana/dhyanafront.pdf
  59. http://www.sssbpt.info/vahinis/dhyana/dhyana01.pdf
  60. Babb, Lawrence A. (2000) [1986]. Redemptive Encounters: Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press Inc. ISBN 1-57766-153-2. LCCN 85028897. OCLC 45491795.
  61. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume31/sss31-09.pdf
  62. http://www.sssbpt.info/summershowers/ss1979/ss1979-23.pdf
  63. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume05/sss05-41.pdf
  64. The Baker Pocket Guide to New Religions, by Nigel Scotland, 2006, ISBN 0-8010-6620-4
  65. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume20/sss20-22.pdf
  66. Summer course, 26 May 2002
  67. Sathya Sai Baba - Food for Healthy Body and Mind
  68. 12 Jan 2004 Discourse
  69. Festivals and Plays of Sathya Sai Baba Archived 23 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  70. A Compendium of the Teachings of Sathya Sai Baba
  71. Thought For the Day, 5 December 2009
  72. Kent, 45
  73. Bowen, 194
  74. Nagel, Alexandra De Sai Paradox: Tegenstrijdigheden van en rondom Sathya Sai Baba from the series Religieuze Bewegingen in Nederland, 'Sekten', 1994, nr. 29. published by the Free University of Amsterdam press ISBN 90-5383-341-2.
    English translation:"Day and night he kept an ever-burning fire in a mosque, a so called dhuni. The ash from the dhuni served as sacrament (followers used it to make stripes on their forehead or swallowed it), sometimes it functioned as a medicine."
    Dutch original: "Dag en nacht hield hij in de moskee een vuur brandend, een zgn. dhuni. Het as uit de dhuni diende als sacrament (volgelingen trokken er strepen mee op hun voorhoofd of slikten het in), soms werkte het als geneesmiddel."
  75. Bowen, 193, 194
  76. Babb, 1986 pages 171
    "Sathya Sai Baba was, among other things, a teacher. He taught how to achieve kaivalyam i.e.salvation. He was a frequent giver of discourses, now compiled in several volumes. He usually spoke in Telugu, and before a Hindi-speaking audience an interpreter was required. One of his most characteristic rhetorical devices is his ad hoc etymology. For example, he has stated that Hindu means `one who is nonviolent' by the combination of hinsa (violence) and dur (distant)."
  77. Interview given by Sathya Sai Baba to R. K. Karanjia of Blitz News Magazine in September 1976 Available online
  78. Hummel, Reinhart Guru, Miracle Worker, Religious Founder: Sathya Sai Baba article in Update IX 3, September 1985, originally published in German in Materialdienst der EZW, 47 Jahrgang, 1 February 1984
    "The answer to that question has been answered by Sai Baba himself: »I am the omnipresent, almighty, and omniscient.«"
  79. Taylor, pages 130-131
    "In 1963 he announced that he was the second incarnation in a series of three. The first had occurred in the human form of the Shirdi Sai Baba who was the incarnation of Shiva. The second, himself, was the incarnation of Shiva-Shakti; and the third would be the incarnation of Shakti as someone called Prema Sai to be born in Mysore State eight years after his own death."
  80. Steel, pages 206-207
  81. Mohammed Shafeeq. Post. Durban: 27 Apr 2011. pg. 4
  82. 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 1925. 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."
  83. Kent, page ??
  84. Interview given by Sathya Sai Baba to R.K. Karanjia of Blitz News Magazine in September 1976
  85. Bowen, 188
  86. Hummel, Reinhart (1 February 1984). "Guru, Miracle Worker, Religious Founder: Sathya Sai Baba". Translated by Linda W. Duddy. Stuttgart: Materialdienst der Evangelische Zentralstelle fũr Weltanschauungsfragen. Retrieved 3 March 2007. People's motives for that journey are often serious or incurable diseases, for Sai Baba has an unrivaled reputation as a miracle worker. [..]Miraculous cures with help from the ashes, or from Baba himself as the surgeon, and even the resurrecting of the dead are attributed to him. Even if the hoped-for wonder healing fails to occur, many turn back (albeit upset and bewildered) and ask themselves[..]
    Many astounding reports of cures are, in their authenticity, hard to shake.
  87. Babb, Lawrence A. Sathya Sai Baba's Magic in Anthropological Quarterly, Vol. 56, No. 3 (Jul., 1983), pp. 116-124
  88. Babb 1986, pages 198-199
    "[..]for Sathya Sai Baba's followers everything that occurs does so by his ordainment. They speak of this constantly, even in connection with what may seem to be the most trivial events; nothing happens that he does not will....Their world is something like an enchanted garden. This is a point on which it is difficult to be ethnographically precise, but it is real enough. It emerges mainly in the tone ... An informant reported an altercation with someone while staying at Baba's ashram; immediately upon leaving the room his eye lighted on a sign with some slogan about the evils of anger. Another informant reports longing for a guava, having seen a few unimpressive specimens for sale while on a motor trip. When her car halted, a man suddenly appeared by its side with two plump and juicy ones, which he sold her for eight annas. This, of course, was Baba himself. Another informant tells of how she was frightened by the dark clouds surrounding an aircraft in which she was descending for a landing at Nagpur. But then, just as the thought of Baba flashed through her mind, the plane passed through a momentary shaft of sunlight."
  89. Babb, Lawrence. Sathya Sai Baba's Magic in Anthropological Quarterly, 1983
    "It is believed, indeed, that he appears in dreams only when he wills it; thus, every dream of him is a kind of miraculous communication."
  90. Babb, Lawrence Redemptive Encounters page 179
    "frequently appears in devotee's dreams, and because he is believed to appear in dreams only when he wills it, every dream of him is a kind of miraculous communication"
  91. Kasturi, Narayana Sathyam Shivam Sundaram: The Life of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Volume III available online
    "Appearing to devotees in dreams, Baba has taught them new Bhajan songs, sitting in front of them as music teachers do, with instructions to sing them during the Dasara festival at Puttaparthi. Later, when they arrived at Puttaparthi they were prompted by him to sing them! A devotee was once so involved in civil suits at court that he was nearly bankrupt. Appearing to him while he was asleep Baba told him plainly, "Properties, my dear fellow, are not proper ties!" Baba as an educator and as the incarnation that has come in order to educate, is engaged in that task, all over the world at all times."
  92. Postgraduate student Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds; Exon, Bob (1995). "Self-accounting for Conversion by Western Devotees of Modern Hindu Religious Movements". DISKUS WebEdition The on-disk journal of international Religious Studies Editor ISSN 0967-8948 Vol. 3 No. 2. pp. 74–82. Archived from the original on 18 June 2006. Retrieved 3 March 2007. Throughout the ample material printed and distributed by the movement there is for example frequent reference to the notion of the `unity of all faiths'.
  93. Steel, 125-128
  94. Sathya Sai Baba on 4 March 1962 Spend your Days with Shiva (also copied in the book by Samuel Sandweis Sai Baba The Holy Man ... and the Psychiatrist chapter 17)
    "There are again some others who are swept off their feet by hysterical demonstrations by certain weak-minded individuals, which are described as My speaking through them or acting through them! Take it from Me, I am not given to such absurdities! I do not use others as My media; I have no need to. I do not swing from side to side and prattle! Why, even those who torture their bodies and suffer the pains of asceticism for years, until anthills overwhelm them and they become as stiff as tree-stumps, find it difficult to realise the Lord. How then can these idlers, who eat their fill and wander about as slaves of their senses, earn that status so cheap? Their gestures, words and actions are hollow and vain; those who burn incense before them and revere them are turning away from Me and running after falsehood."
  95. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 March 1997. Retrieved 31 July 2005.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) website of the American book center retrieved March 2006
    "Sai Messages for You and Me, Vol. 1, by Lucas Ralli."
  96. Kent (2005), page 57
  97. Kent, 48
  98. Patel, Niranjan, Madhu Patel, Claire S. Scott, Ajay N. Patel Sai Bhajana Mala, International Edition, Published by M. Patel and N. Patel, Whitefield, copyrighted by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, 1993. page 91,92,112, 115, 166, 242, 384
    page 91 "Antarayami Sai Rama"
    "Oh Lord Sai Rama !"
  99. Bhajan: Guru Deva Jaya Deva www.sathya.org.uk retrieved 24 February 2007
    "Jnana Pradayaka Jagadguru Deva/Sharanam Sharanam Sai Deva Deva/Sharanam Sharanam Sadguru Deva"
  100. Bhajan: Guru Deva Jaya Deva Sai Deva Dayaa Maya www.sathya.org.uk retrieved 24 February 2007
    "Sai Shankara Dayaa Karo (2)... (Guru Deva)"
  101. Kent, 44
  102. "Nine-point code of conduct". www.sathyasai.org/. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
  103. Times Of India, "Sathya Sai Baba Trust to set up second superspecialty hospital at Bangalore", 29 May 2000
  104. The Hindu: City colleges cheer NAAC rating, 8 June 2006, Available online.
  105. Draft Report of the Peer Team on Institutional Accreditation of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed University) Vidyagiri, Prashanthi Nilayam – 515 134 (A.P) Visit Dates: 2 – 4 December 2002 Available online: DOC File.
  106. Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus, from an Official Sathya Sai site, Available online Archived 27 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  107. The Hindu: Healing with Love and Compassion, 23 November 2005, Available online Archived 1 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  108. Deccan Harald: "Where service comes first " by Aruna Chandaraju, 17 January 2006 Available online Archived 9 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  109. The Hindu: Vajpayee hits out at high cost of medicare by A. Jayaram, 20 January 2001 Available online
  110. Times Of India, "Sai hospital to host health meet on Saturday", 14 January 2002 Available online
  111. The Times Of India: Super-Specialty hospital touches 2.5 lakh cases by Manu Rao, Available online
  112. "Sai Baba hospital: A refuge to millions", 1 May 2001, Available online
  113. Sathya Sai Trust gets most foreign donations in rediff 16 August 2003 available online retrieved 12 February 2007
    " the Andhra Pradesh-based Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust is the largest recipient of foreign contributions."
  114. The Week: Showers of Grace by Hiramalini Seshadri, 26 May 2002 Available online.
  115. The Hindu: Water projects: CM all praise for Satya Sai Trust by Our Staff Reporter, 13 February 2004, Available online
  116. The Hindu: Chennai benefits from Sai Baba's initiative by Our Special Correspondent, 1 December 2004, Available online
  117. The Hindu: Project Water by Hiramalini Seshadri, 25 June 2003, Available online
  118. IBN: Karunanidhi shares dais with Sai Baba, 21 January 2007, Available online
  119. The Hindu, Water, the Elixir of life, November 2005 Available online Archived 19 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  120. The Hindu, "Saibaba Gospel Goes On Air", 24 November 2001, Available online
  121. Bowen, pages 187-190
  122. Bowen, pages 210-231
  123. Kelly, page ??
  124. Knott, page 766
  125. http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume08/sss08-45.pdf
  126. Alexandra Kent Divinity and diversity: a Hindu revitalization movement in Malaysia, NIAS, 2005
  127. Handoo, Jawaharlal in Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 48, No. 2 (1989), pp. 326–32 reviewing Lawrence A. Babb's book Redemptive Encounters. Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition page 1
  128. 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) ISBN 90-5383-341-2
    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)"
  129. Chryssides, George D. (2012). Historical dictionary of new religious movements. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780810861947.
  130. White, Charles S. J. (1972). "The Sai Baba Movement: Approaches to the Study of India Saints". The Journal of Asian Studies. 31 (4): 863–878. doi:10.2307/2052105. JSTOR 2052105.
  131. Handoo, Jawaharlal in Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 48, No. 2 (1989), pp. 326-32 reviewing Lawrence A. Babb's book Redemptive Encounters. Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition page 1
  132. Swallow, D. A. (2008). "Ashes and Powers: Myth, Rite and Miracle in an Indian God-Man's Cult". Modern Asian Studies. 16 (1): 123–158. doi:10.1017/S0026749X0000072X. JSTOR 312277.
  133. Kent, A. (1999). "Unity in Diversity: Portraying the Visions of the Sathya Sai Baba Movement of Malaysia". Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 13 (2): 29–51. JSTOR 40800435.
  134. Kukreja, S. (2005). "Imaginning "Indianness": Sathya Sai and identity in Malaysia". International Review of Modern Sociology. 31 (1): 107–126. JSTOR 41421203.
  135. Sahoo, A.K. (2017). "Reconstructing Religious and Cultural Identity of Indians in the Diaspora: The Role of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Movement". Sociological Bulletin. 62 (1): 23–39. doi:10.1177/0038022920130102.
  136. Kelly, J.D. (1995). "Bhakti and Postcolonial Politics: Hindu Missions to Fiji". In van der Veer, P. (ed.). Nation and Migration: The Politics of Space in the South Asian Diaspora. Philadelphia (US): University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 43–72. ISBN 978-0-8122-1537-3.
  137. Kelly, page 45
  138. 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) ISBN 90-5383-341-2
    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)"
  139. The Hindu: Healing with Love and Compassion, 23 November 2005, Available online Archived 1 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  140. The Hindu: Vajpayee hits out at high cost of medicare by A. Jayaram, 20 January 2001 Available online
  141. Times Of India, "Sai hospital to host health meet on Saturday", 14 January 2002 Available online
  142. Chennai Online: MK hails Sai Baba's service to mankind, 21 January 2007, Available online
  143. The Hindu: Saibaba Trust to undertake drinking water project in Latur, 17 January 2007,Available online
  144. Sai Educare Website, authorized by the Sathya Sai Organization, Available online.
  145. Times of Zambia
  146. Felicitation for Water Project, Indian Express:Available Online
  147. India eNews - Politicians draw inspiration from Sai Baba
  148. Sathya Sai Org: Numbers to Sai Centers and Names of Countries
  149. Adherents retrieved 12 February 2007 citing Chryssides, George. Exploring New Religions. London, UK: Cassells (1999).
    "[Original source of British figure: email from Kishor Kumar of the UK Sai organization] "I have selected the best available [statistics], providing a range where adjudication is impossible... Sai Baba: Britain: 4,000 active devotees linked to a Sai Centre (1999); World 10,000,000 ""
  150. Brown, Mick, Divine Downfall, The Daily Telegraph, 28 October 2000, Available online
    "The guru Sai Baba has left India only once, yet his devotees across the world are estimated at up to 50 million."
  151. 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 Amsterdam press, (1994) ISBN 90-5383-341-2
    English translation: "[the skeptic] Beyerstein (1992:3) estimates the number to be 6 million; Riti & Theodore (1993:31) estimates 30 million, Sluizer (1993:19) writes 70 million, and [the follower] Van Dijk (1993:30) writes "between 50 and 100 million." "
    Dutch original "Beyerstein (1992:3) schat het aantal op 6 miljoen; Riti & Theodore (1993:31) op 30 miljoen, Sluizer (1993:19) heeft het over 70 miljoen en Van Dijk (1993:30) over "tussen de 50 en 100 miljoen.""
  152. Weightmann, Simon Hinduism in the Handbook of Living Religions edited by John R. Hinnels (1997), second edition, ISBN 0-14-051480-5
  153. Coward, Harold South Asian Religions in Canada in the Handbook of Living Religions edited by John R. Hinnels (1997), second edition, ISBN 0-14-051480-5
  154. Kent, pages 148, 166
    page 148 "In the northwest of Malaysia the centres are said to draw almost exclusively Chinese devotees." page 166 "The movement does appear to have been successful in attracting, though not necessarily uniting, considerable numbers of Indians and Chinese in Malaysia."
  155. Velde, Koert van der De Ondergang van een goeroe/The downfall of a guru Sai Babain the Dutch newspaper Trouw 6 September 2000
  156. Divine Downfall By Brown, Mick, From The Daily Telegraph Saturday Magazine, 27 October 2000, "There has been a rash of defections from Sai Baba groups throughout the West. In Sweden the central group has closed down, and so too has a school based on the Human Education Values programme devised by educationalists at the Puttaparthi college."
gollark: My website *should* support it, but I don't really do extensive testing.
gollark: I wonder how much stuff actually supports IPv6.
gollark: That's fair.
gollark: With IPv6 existing memorizing random IP addresses is increasingly impractical, and computers can mostly memorize better anyway.
gollark: I mean, 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8 and 9.9.9.9 seem pretty reliable.

References
  • Babb, Lawrence A. Sathya Sai Baba's Magic in Anthropological Quarterly, Vol. 56, No. 3 (Jul., 1983), pp. 116–124
  • Babb, Lawrence, A., Redemptive Encounters, (University of California Press, 1986)
  • Bowen, David The Sathya Sai Baba Community in Bradford: Its origins and development, religious beliefs and practices. Leeds: University Press. (1988)
  • Chandaraju, Aruna "Where service comes first " in the Deccan Herald 17 January 2006 Available online
  • Coward, Harold South Asian Religions in Canada in the Handbook of Living Religions edited by John R. Hinnels (1997), second edition, ISBN 0-14-051480-5
  • Draft Report of the Peer Team on Institutional Accreditation of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed University) Vidyagiri, Prashanthi Nilayam – 515 134 (A.P) Visit Dates: 2 – 4 December 2002 Available online: DOC File
  • Exon, Bob (1995). Self-accounting for Conversion by Western Devotees of Modern Hindu Religious Movements. 74-82. DISKUS WebEdition The on-disk journal of international Religious Studies Editor ISSN 0967-8948 Vol. 3 No. 2. available online
  • Handoo, Jawaharlal in Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 48, No. 2 (1989), pp. 326–32 reviewing Lawrence A. Babb's book Redemptive Encounters. Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition first page
  • The Hindu, "Saibaba Gospel Goes On Air", 24 November 2001, Available online
  • The Hindu Saibaba Trust to undertake drinking water project in Latur, 17 January 2007, Available online
  • The Hindu Chennai benefits from Sai Baba's initiative by Our Special Correspondent, 1 December 2004, Available online
  • The Hindu, Water, the Elixir of life, November 2005 Available online.
  • The Hindu Healing with Love and Compassion, 23 November 2005, Available online
  • The Hindu Water projects: CM all praise for Satya Sai Trust by Our Staff Reporter, 13 February 2004, Available online
  • The Hindu City colleges cheer NAAC rating, 8 June 2006, Available online
  • Hummel, Reinhart, German article published in Materialdienst der EZW, 47 Jahrgang, 1 February 1984, Translation by Linda W. Duddy and is reprinted by their permission, Available online on the website of the Dialog Center, a Christian Anti-Cult Site
  • Jayaram, A. Vajpayee hits out at high cost of medicare in The Hindu 20 January 2001 Available online
  • Karanjia, R.K. Interview with Sathya Sai Baba as published in the Blitz News Magazine in September 1976
  • Kasturi, Narayana Sathyam Shivam Sundaram: The Life of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Volume III available online
  • Kelly, John D. Dr. Bhakti and Postcolonial Politics: Hindu Missions to Fiji in Nation and Migration in The Politics of Space in the South Asian Diaspora Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press 1995, edited by Peter van der Veer ISBN 0-8122-3259-3'
  • Kasturi, Narayana, "Sathyam Sivam Sundaram" Volume I, Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust, ISBN 81-7208-127-8, Available online
  • Kasturi, Narayana Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Part I available online in Microsoft Word format
  • Kennedy, Dominic The Times (England), 27 August 2001 "Suicide, sex and the guru" Available online
  • Kent, Alexandra Divinity and Diversity: a Hindu revitalization movement in Malaysia, Copenhagen Nias Press, first published in 2005, ISBN 87-91114-40-3
  • Knott, Kim Dr. South Asian Religions in Britain in the Handbook of Living Religions edited by John R. Hinnels (1997), second edition, ISBN 0-14-051480-5
  • Milner, Murray Jr. Hindu Eschatology and the Indian Caste System: An Example of Structural Reversal in The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 52, No. 2 (May, 1993), pp. 298–319
  • 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' ", nr. 29. published by the Free University Amsterdam press, (1994) ISBN 90-5383-341-2
  • Nagel, Alexandra (note: Nagel is a critical former follower) Een mysterieuze ontmoeting... :Sai Baba en mentalist Wolf Messing published in Tijdschrift voor Parapsychologie 368, vol. 72 nr 4, December 2005, pp. 14–17 (Dutch language)
  • Padmanaban, R. Love is My Form
  • rediff.com Sathya Sai Trust gets most foreign donations in rediff 16 August 2003 available online retrieved 12 February 2007
  • Patel, Niranjan, Madhu Patel, Claire S. Scott, Ajay N. Patel; Sai Bhajana Mala; International Edition, Published by M. Patel and N. Patel; Whitefield, Bangalore; copyrighted by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, 1993.
  • Ralli, Lucas Sai Messages for You and Me, Vol. 1
  • Rao, Manu Super-Specialty hospital touches 2.5 lakh cases Available online in the Times of India
  • Sathya Sai Baba on 4 March 1962 Spend your Days with Shiva (also copied in the book by Samuel Sandweis Sai Baba The Holy Man ... and the Psychiatrist)
  • https://archive.is/19970327184726/http://www.sathyasai.org/inform/tustin.htm website of the American book center retrieved March 2006
  • Sathya Sai Org: Numbers to Sai Centers and Names of Countries
  • Sathya Sai Baba/Sathya Sai Organisation (6 July 1963) http://www.sathyasai.org/discour/1963/d630706.htm
  • Seshadri, Hiramalini in The Hindu: Project Water, 25 June 2003, Available online
  • Seshadri, Hiramalini in The Week Showers of Grace, 26 May 2002 Available online
  • Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus, from an Official Sathya Sai site, Available online
  • Steel, Brian The Satya Sai Baba Compendium: A Guide to the First Seventy Years (1997) published by Samuel Weiser, Inc. York Beach Maine. ISBN 0-87728-884-4
  • Taylor, Donald. "Charismatic authority in the Sathya Sai Baba movement" in Richard Burghart (ed.), "Hinduism in Great Britain: The perpetuation of religion in an alien cultural milieu", (1987) London/New York: Tavistock Publications, ISBN 978-0-422-60910-4
  • Times of India, "Sai hospital to host health meet on Saturday", 14 January 2002 Available online
  • Times of India "Sai Baba hospital: A refuge to millions", 1 May 2001, Available online
  • Times of India, "Sathya Sai Baba Trust to set up second superspecialty hospital at Bangalore", 29 May 2000
  • Velde, Koert van der De ondergang van een goeroe, Sai Baba/The downfall of a guru, Sai Baba in the Dutch newspaper Trouw 6 September 2000
  • Weightmann, Simon Hinduism in the Handbook of Living Religions edited by John R. Hinnels (1997), second edition, ISBN 0-14-051480-5

Bibliography
  • Brown, Mick The Spiritual Tourist (1998) ISBN 1-58234-034-X Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Goldthwait, John "Purifying the Heart" (2002) ISBN 81-7208-339-4
  • Guillemin, Madeleine "Who is in the Driving Seat?" (2000) ISBN 0-9583617-0-3
  • Hislop, John My Baba and I ISBN 81-7208-050-6
  • Kasturi, Narayana Sathyam Sivam Sundaran Part I, II, III & IV available online in Microsoft Word format
  • Klass, Morton Singing with Sai Baba: The Politics of Revitalization in Trinidad, (1991), Boulder WestView Press
  • Krystal, Phyllis "The Ultimate Experience" ISBN 81-7208-038-7
  • Murphet, Howard Man of Miracles (1971) 0333-91770-7
  • Sandweiss, Samuel H. The holy man ..... and the psychiatrist (1975) ISBN 0-9600958-1-0
  • Padmanaban, R. Love is My Form Sai Towers (October 2000)
  • Sharma, Arvind New Religious Movements in India in New Religious Movements and Rapid Social Change edited by James A. Beckford ISBN 0-8039-8591-6, pages 228-231, 233
  • Sandweiss, Samuel H "Spirit and the Mind" (1985) ISBN 81-7208-056-5
  • Thomas, Joy "Life is a Game – Play it" ISBN 81-7208-175-8
  • Haraldsson, Erlendur PhD Miracles are my visiting cards - An investigative inquiry on Sathya Sai Baba, an Indian mystic with the gift of foresight believed to perform modern miracles (1997 revised and updated edition) ISBN 81-86822-32-1
  • Sandweiss, Samuel H. The holy man ..... and the psychiatrist (1975)
  • Sathya Sai Baba Many online books
  • Sathya Sai Baba Gita vahini, online book
  • Sathya Sai Baba Rama Katha Rasavahini, translated into English by Narayana Kasturi available online
  • Sathya Sai Baba Sathya Sai Speaks, Volumes I-. Many of these public discourses have been published on the internet Adobe acrobat PDF files
  • Schulman, Arnold Baba (1971) Viking Press, New York, (Out of print but available in some public libraries)

Official Sathya Sai websites
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