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Sathya Sai Baba

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sathya Sai Baba Telugu: సత ా బ బ IPA: [sʌθjə Sri Sathya Sai Baba
sɑːɪ bɑːbɑː] born as Sathyanarayana Raju (23
November 1926[1] – 24 April 2011[2]) was a popular
Indian guru, spiritual figure and educator.[3] He is
described by his devotees as an Avatar, godman,[4]
spiritual teacher and miracle worker.[1][5][6][7][8] 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.[9] Sathya Sai Date of birth 23 November 1926
Baba has claimed to be the reincarnation of the great Place of birth Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India
spiritual guru, Sai Baba of Shirdi, whose teachings were
Birth name Sathyanarayana Raju
an eclectic blend of Hindu and Muslim beliefs.[10]
Date of death 24 April 2011 (aged 84)
Sathya Sai Baba and his organizations support a variety of
free educational institutions, hospitals, and other Place of death Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India
charitable works in India and abroad. The number of Quotation Love All, Serve All
active Sathya Sai Baba adherents was estimated in 1999 Help Ever, Hurt Never
to be around 6 million, although followers' estimations are
far higher.[11] Since there are no formal ties of
membership, the actual figure may never be known.[10] The Sathya Sai
An article related to
Organization reports that there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba
Centers in 114 countries worldwide.[12][13] In India itself, Sai Baba draws Hinduism
followers from predominantly upper-middle-class, urban sections of society
who have the "most wealth, education and exposure to Western ideas."[14]
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.[15][16]

Auṃ • Brahman • Ishvara

Hindu • History of Hinduism
Contents
Deities
1 Biography
1.1 Illness and Death Brahman
Ishvara
2 Beliefs and practices of devotees
3 Ashrams and mandirs Trimurti
Brahma • Vishnu • Shiva
4 Institutions, organizations and projects
5 Miracles and clairvoyance Devis and Devas
Saraswati · Lakshmi · Parvati
6 Criticism and controversy Shakti · Durga · Kali
6.1 Responses to criticism Ganesha · Subrahmanya · Ayyappa
Rama · Krishna
7 References Hanuman
Prajapati · Rudra
8 External links Indra · Agni · Dyaus
Bhumi · Varuna · Vayu

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Biography
Philosophy
For more details on this topic, see Bibliography of Sathya Sai Baba. Concepts

Sathyanarayana Raju was born to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Brahman · Om · Ishvara
Atman · Maya
Ratnakaram[17] in the village of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India.[10][18] Karma · Samsara
Almost everything known about his life stems from the hagiography that has Purusharthas
(Dharma · Artha · Kama · Moksha)
grown around him, the presentation of narratives that hold special meaning
to his devotees and are considered evidence of his divine nature.[10][14][19] School s

His birth, which his mother Eswaramma asserted was by miraculous Asti ka
conception, was also said to be heralded by miracles.[3][10][20] As a child, he Samkhya · Yoga
Nyaya · Vaisheshika
was described as "unusually intelligent" and charitable.[10] He was Purva mimamsa
Uttara mimamsa (Vedanta)
exceptionally talented in drama, music, dance and writing, and was an avid (Dvaita, Advaita,
composer of poems and plays.[21] He was said to be capable of materialising Vishishtadvaita)

objects such as food and sweets out of thin air.[22][23] Nastika

Charvaka

On 8 March 1940, while living with his elder brother Seshama Raju in
Uravakonda, Sathya was apparently stung by a scorpion.[22][23] He lost Scriptures
consciousness for several hours.[21] Within the next few days there was a Vedas
noticeable change in Sathya's behavior.[23] There were "symptoms of
laughing and weeping, eloquence and silence."[23][24] "He began to sing Rigveda • Yajurveda
Samaveda • Atharvaveda
Sanskrit verses, a language of which he had no prior knowledge."[3] Doctors Divisions
Samhita, Brahmana,
believed his behavior to be hysteria.[3][23] His parents brought Sathya home Aranyaka, Upanishad
to Puttaparthi.[25] Concerned, they took him to many priests, "doctors" and
exorcists.[23][24] Upavedas

Ayurveda • Dhanurveda
On 23 May 1940, Sathya called household members and materialized sugar Gandharvaveda • Sthapatyaveda
candy and other items. His father became furious upon seeing this, thinking
his son was bewitched. He took a stick and asked him who he was. To this Vedangas
Sathya announced calmly and firmly "I am Sai Baba," a reference to Sai
Shiksha · Chandas · Vyakarana
Baba of Shirdi.[3][21] He proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Nirukta · Kalpa · Jyotisha
Baba of Shirdi—a saint who became famous in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries in Maharashtra, and who had died eight years before Upanishads

Sathya was born.[3][25][26] Rig vedic

Aitareya
Later that year, Sathya Sai Baba declared that he had no worldly relationship Yajur vedic
Brihadaranyaka · Isha
with anyone,[10] and around this time, devotees began to gather to him.[10] Taittiriya · Katha · Shvetashvatara
In 1940, Sathya Sai Baba began to travel to Madras and elsewhere in South Sama vedic
Chandogya · Kena
India and soon had a large regional following.[10] Atharva vedic
Mundaka · Mandukya · Prashna

In 1944, a mandir (temple) for Sathya Sai Baba's devotees was built near the
Puranas
village. It is now referred to as the old mandir.[27][28] The construction of
Prashanthi Nilayam, the current ashram, began in 1948 and after 2 years, Brahma puranas
was completed in 1950.[10][28] In 1957 Sathya Sai Baba went on a North Brahma · Brahmanda
Brahmavaivarta
Indian temple tour.[18] In 1954, Sathya Sai Baba established a small free Markandeya · Bhavishya
Vaishnava puranas
General Hospital in the village of Puttaparthi.[29] Vishnu · Bhagavata
Naradeya · Garuda · Padma
Shaiva puranas
In 1963, Sathya Sai Baba suffered a stroke and four severe heart attacks.[30] Shiva · Linga
It is believed by some that he healed himself of these, and on recovering

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announced that he would be reborn as Prema

Sai Baba in the state of Karnataka.[10] He Skanda · Agni · Vayu

stated, "I am Siva-Sakthi, born in the gothra

Itihasas
(lineage) of Bharadwaja, according to a boon
won by that sage from Siva and Sakthi. Siva Ramayana · Mahabharata
was born in the gothra of that sage as Sai
Baba of Shirdi; Siva and Sakthi have Other scri ptures

Sri Sathya Sai University, incarnated as Myself in his gothra now;

Bhagavat Gita
Puttaparthi, A.P., India Sakthi alone will incarnate as the third Sai Dharma Shastra · Manusmriti
(Prema Sai Baba) in the same gothra in Artha Shastra · Yoga Vasistha
Sutras · Stotras · Tantras
Mandya district of Karnataka State."[10][31] Yoga Sutra
others
On 29 June 1968, Sathya Sai Baba made his first and only trip overseas, to
Uganda.[30][32] During a discourse in Nairobi, Sathya Sai Baba stated, "I Cl assi fi cation of scri ptures

have come to light the lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day
Śruti · Smriti
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 Timel ine
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 Hindu texts
of this unitary faith, this spiritual principle, this path of Love, this virtue of
Love, this duty of Love, this obligation of Love."[33] In 1968, he established Practices
Dharmakshetra or Sathyam Mandir in Mumbai.[34]
Worship
[34]
In 1973, he established Shivam Mandir in Hyderabad. On 19 January Puja · Japa · Bhajana
[34] Tapa · Dhyana
1981, in Chennai he inaugurated the Sundaram Mandir. In March 1995
Yajna · Homa
he started the water project to provide drinking water to 1.2 million people Tirthadana · Naivedhya
in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region in Anantapur.[35] In 2001 Sathya Temple · Vigraha · Bhakti

Sai Baba established another free Super Speciality hospital in Bangalore to

Samskaras
benefit the poor.[29] In April 1999 he inaugurated the Ananda Nilayam
Mandir in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Garbhadhana · Pumsavana ·
Simantonayana · Jatakarma ·
Namakarana · Nishkramana ·
Since 2005, Sathya Sai Baba has used a wheelchair and his failing health has Annaprashana · Chudakarana ·
forced him to make fewer public appearances. In 2006 he suffered a Karnavedha · Vidyarambha ·
Upanayana · Praishartha ·
fractured hip when a student standing on an iron stool slipped, and both boy Keshanta · Ritushuddhi ·
and stool fell on Sathya Sai Baba. He gives darshan now from a car or his Samavartana · Vivaha · Antyeshti

porte chair.[36][37]
Varnashrama Dharma
Sathya Sai Baba's assertion of divine status is expressed in the first person;
Varna
he states it boldly and repeatedly.[10] "I am beyond the reach of the most Brahmin · Kshatriya
intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those who Vaishya · Shudra
Ashrama
have recognized my love and experienced that love can assert that they have Brahmacharya · Grihastha
glimpsed my reality. Do not attempt to know me through the external Vanaprastha · Sanyasa

eyes."[38] Festivals

He is also known as a singer, having released several CDs of bhajans Navaratri

(devotional songs).[39] Vijayadashami (Dasara)
Deepavali · Shivaratri · Holi
Kumbha Mela · Ratha Yatra ·
Vishu · Bihu · Baisakhi · Puthandu
Illness and Death Ganesh Chaturthi · Onam
Rama Navami · Janmashtami
Raksha Bandhan
Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to the super-specialty hospital at
Prashantigram at Puttaparthi on 28 March 2011 following respiration-related

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problems.[40][41]. After many days of hospitalization where his condition

progressively deteriorated, he passed away on 24 April 2011 at 7.40 am Philosophers
(IST). [42]
Ancient
Gautama · Jaimini · Kanada ·
Kapila · Markandeya · Patañjali ·
Beliefs and practices of devotees Valmiki · Vyasa

Medieval
Main article: Sathya Sai Baba movement Adi Shankara · Basava ·
Dnyaneshwar · Chaitanya ·
For more details on this topic, see Bibliography of Sathya Sai Baba. Gangesha Upadhyaya · Gaudapada ·
Jayanta Bhatta · Kabir ·
Kumarila Bhatta · Madhusudana ·
Sathya Sai Baba has said that his followers do not need to give up their Madhva · Namdeva · Nimbarka ·
original religion,[43] saying "My objective is the establishment of sanatana Prabhakara ·
Raghunatha Siromani · Ramanuja ·
dharma, which believes in one God as propitiated by the founders of all Vedanta Desika · Tukaram ·
religions. So none has to give up his religion or deity."[44] Tulsidas · Vachaspati Mishra ·
Vallabha

Internationally, Sathya Sai Baba devotees gather daily or weekly on Sundays Modern
Aurobindo · Coomaraswamy ·
(and/or Thursdays) for group devotional singing (bhajans),[45] prayer,[46] Dayananda Saraswati · Gandhi ·
Krishnananda · Narayana Guru ·
spiritual meditation, service to the community (Seva),[47] and to participate Prabhupada · Ramakrishna ·
in "Education in Human Values" (SSEHV)[46] known as "Bal Vikas" Ramana Maharshi ·
Radhakrishnan · Sivananda ·
(meaning Blossoming of the Child), that can also be described as Sai Sunday Vivekananda · Yogananda
School.

A primary aspect of Sathya Sai Baba's teachings is the spiritual benefit of Other Topics
darshan for his students. At that time, Sai Baba may interact with people,
Hindu denominations
accept letters, materialize and distribute vibhuti (sacred ash) or call groups Hinduism by country
or individuals for interviews. Devotees consider it a great privilege to have Mythology • Hindu calendar
Hindu law • Hindu iconography
an interview and sometimes a single person, group or family will be invited Hindu nationalism • Hindutva
for a private interview. Hindu pilgrimage sites
Persecution • Criticism
Glossary
There is no published formal doctrine or set of rules for the Sai Baba
movement.[21]

Ashrams and mandirs

Hinduism Portal
Hindu Mythology Portal
Main article: Prasanthi Nilayam

Puttaparthi, where Sathya Sai Baba was born

and still lives, was originally a small remote
South Indian village in Andhra Pradesh. Now
there is an extensive university complex, a
specialty hospital, Chaitanya Jyoti (a world-
religions museum that has won several
international awards for design[48]), a
Planetarium, a railway station, a hill-view
stadium, an administrative building, an airport,
an indoor sports stadium and more.[49] High
Puttaparthi, A.P. ranking Indian politicians, like the former
President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Andhra Pradesh former Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah and Karnataka
Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa have been official guests at the ashram in Puttaparthi.[50][51] On Sathya
Sai Baba's 80th birthday celebration, it was reported that well over a million people attended, including

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13,000 delegates from India and 180 other countries.[52]

Sathya Sai Baba resides much of the time in his main ashram called Prashanthi Nilayam (Abode of Highest
Peace) at Puttaparthi. In the hot summer he leaves for his other ashram, called Brindavan, in Kadugodi,
Whitefield, a town on the outskirts of Bangalore. Occasionally he visits his Sai Shruti ashram in
Kodaikanal.[53]

Sathya Sai Baba established three primary mandirs (spiritual centres) in India. The first mandir, founded in
Mumbai in 1968, is referred to as either "Dharmakshetra" or "Sathyam". The second centre, established in
Hyderabad in 1973, is referred to as "Shivam". The third centre, inaugurated on 19 January 1981 in Chennai,
is referred to as "Sundaram".[34]

Institutions, organizations and projects

Sathya Sai Baba supports a variety of free educational institutions, hospitals, and other charitable works in
over 166 countries.[54] The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (now changed to Sri Sathya Sai
University) in Prashanthi 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).[55][56] Sri Sathya Sai University for which Baba is the Chancellor, has three campuses, one at
Puttaparthi for men,[57] one at Whitefield, Bangalore for men[58] and one at Anantapur for women.[59] His
charity supports an institute for Indian Classical Music called the Sri Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music.
Baba's educational institutions aim to impart Character Education along with Excellence in academics with
emphasis on Human Values and Ethics.[60]

Sathya Sai Baba chairs the Muddenahalli-Sathya Sai Loka Seva School and Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Trust
Educational Institutions in Muddenahalli-Kanivenarayanapura regions. In addition, a Sathya Sai Baba
University and Medical School as well as a world class hospital and research institute are being constructed
on over 200 acres (0.81 km2) to serve the destitute population. Baba has said that the campus will be
modeled after Puttaparthi and will infuse spirituality with academics.[61][62]

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 Prime Minister Narasimha Rao
on 22 November 1991.[29] The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Medical Sciences in Bangalore is a 333 bed hospital meant to benefit
the poor.[63] The hospital was inaugurated on 19 January 2001 by
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.[64][65] The hospital has
provided free medical care to over 250,000 patients.[66]

The Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital was opened in Whitefield, Sri Sathya Sai Super Specialty Hospital,
Bangalore, in 1977 and provides complex surgeries, food and Whitefield (suburb of Bangalore),
medicines free of cost. The hospital has treated over 2 million Karnataka, India
patients.[67]

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.[54] 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.[35][68] The second
drinking water project, completed in 2004, supplies water to Chennai through a rebuilt waterway named
"Sathya Sai Ganga Canal".[69][70] Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi praised the Chennai water

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project and Sai Baba's involvement.[71][72] 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.[35] In January 2007, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust said it would start a drinking
water project in Latur, Maharashtra.[73] In 2008, 2 million people in the state of Orissa, India were affected
by floods. As a relief measure, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, has built 699 houses as a part of their first
phase in 16 villages by March 2009.[74]

Sathya 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, including Australia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Peru.[75][76] 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."[77]

In Canada, the Fraser Institute, an independent Canadian research and educational organization, ranked the
Sathya Sai School of Canada as one of the top 37 elementary schools in Ontario.[78] The Sathya Sai School
scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in the Institute's overall rating for academic performance.[78][79][80]

On 23 November 1999, the Department of Posts, Government of India, released a postage stamp and a
postal cover in recognition of the service rendered by Sathya Sai Baba in addressing the problem of
providing safe drinking water to the rural masses.[81]

On 23 November 2001, the digital radio network Radio Sai Global Harmony was launched through the
World Space Organization, United States. 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.[82]

In January 2007, an event was held in Chennai Nehru stadium organised by the Chennai Citizens Conclave
to thank Sathya Sai Baba 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.[83][84]

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

Miracles and clairvoyance

Devotees say they have observed Sathya Sai Baba manifesting vibuthi (holy ash), and sometimes food and
"small objects" such as rings, necklaces and watches.[85] In some books, magazines, filmed interviews and
articles, Sathya Sai Baba's followers report miracles of various kinds that they attribute to him.[86] The first
ever record of Baba's miracles by a foreigner was made by Howard Murphet in his book, Sai Baba - Man Of
Miracles.[87] Devotees have said that objects have appeared spontaneously in connection with pictures and
altars of Sathya Sai Baba.[88][89] Sathya Sai Baba's devotees believe that he relieves his devotees by

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transferring their pain to himself.[90]

Internationally, devotees report that vibuthi, kumkum, turmeric powder, holy water, Shiva lingams, statues of
deities (brass and gold), sugar candy, fruits, herbs, amrita (a fragrant, nectar-like honey), gems, colored
string, writings in ash and various other substances spontaneously manifest and materialize on the walls,
furniture, pictures and altars of Sathya Sai Baba.[88][89][91][92][93][94]

The retired Icelandic psychology professor Erlendur Haraldsson wrote that he did not get Sathya Sai Baba's
permission to study him under controlled circumstances, but that he investigated the guru's alleged miracles
and manifestations through interviews with devotees and ex-devotees.[95] Some of the reported miracles
included 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.[96]
Haraldsson wrote that the largest allegedly materialized object that he saw was a mangalsutra necklace,
32 inches long, 16 inches long on each side.[97] Haraldsson wrote that some miracles attributed to Sathya Sai
Baba resemble the ones described in the New Testament, but that although healings certainly figure in Sai
Baba's reputation, his impression is that healings do not play as prominent a role in Sathya Sai Baba's
activities as in those of Jesus.[98]

Sathya Sai Baba has explained the phenomenon of manifestation as being an act of divine creation, but
refused to have his materializations investigated under experimental conditions. In a 1974 discourse, he
stated, "The optical sense cannot visualize the truth. It gives only false and fogged information. For example,
there are many who observe my actions and start declaring that my nature is such and such."[38]

In April 1976, Dr. H. Narasimhaiah, a physicist, rationalist and then vice chancellor of Bangalore University,
founded and chaired a committee "to rationally and scientifically investigate miracles and other verifiable
superstitions". Narasimhaiah wrote Sathya Sai Baba three letters that were widely publicized, in which he
publicly challenged Baba to perform his miracles under controlled conditions.[99] Sathya Sai Baba said that
he ignored Narasimhaiah's challenge because he felt his approach was improper.[100] Sathya Sai Baba further
said about the Narasimhaiah committee, "Science must confine its inquiry only to things belonging to the
human senses, while spiritualism transcends the senses. If you want to understand the nature of spiritual
power you can do so only through the path of spirituality and not science. What science has been able to
unravel is merely a fraction of the cosmic phenomena ..."[100] Narasimhaiah's committee was dissolved in
August 1977.

According to Erlendur Haraldsson, the formal challenge from the committee came to a dead end because of
the negative attitude of the committee, and perhaps because of all the fanfare surrounding it. Narasimhaiah
held the fact that Sathya Sai Baba ignored his letters to be one of several indications that his miracles are
fraudulent.[101] As a result of this episode, a public debate raged for several months in Indian
newspapers.[102]

Sathya Sai Baba says of "miracles", "those who profess to have understood me, the scholars, the yogis, the
pundits, the jnanis, all of them are aware only of the least important, the casual external manifestation of an
infinitesimal part of that power, namely, the "miracles"! This has been the case in all ages. People may be
very near (physically) to the Avathar, but they live out their lives unaware of their fortune; they exaggerate
the role of miracles, which are as trivial, when compared to my glory and majesty, as a mosquito is in size
and strength to the elephant upon which it squats. Therefore, when you speak about these 'miracles,' I laugh
within myself out of pity that you allow yourself so easily to lose the precious awareness of my reality."[38]

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Criticism and controversy

In a BBC documentary, Basava Premanand stated that he had been investigating Sathya Sai Baba since 1968
and that, in his opinion, Sai Baba has faked materialisations. He sued Sathya Sai Baba in 1986 for violations
of the Gold Control Act, citing Sathya Sai Baba's purported "materializations" of gold objects. When the
case was dismissed, Premanand unsuccessfully appealed on the ground that claimed spiritual power is not a
defense recognized in law.[103]

In 1998, British journalist Mick Brown stated in his book The Spiritual Tourist that Sathya Sai Baba's claim
of "resurrecting" the American devotee Walter Cowan in 1971 was probably untrue.[104] His opinion was
based on letters from the attending doctors presented in the magazine Indian Skeptic, published by Basava
Premanand, a skeptic and amateur magician.[104][105] Brown also related, in the same book, his experiences
with manifestations of vibuthi from Sathya Sai Baba's pictures in houses in London, which he felt were not
fraudulent or the result of trickery.[88] Brown wrote with regards to Sathya Sai Baba's claims of omniscience,
that "skeptics have produced documentation clearly showing discrepancies between Baba's reading of
historical events and biblical prophecies, and the established accounts."[104]

In December 2000, the magazine India Today published a cover story about Sai Baba with allegations of
fakery made by the magician P. C. Sorcar, Jr..[106]

Salon.com's "Untouchable" article, published on 25 July 2001, reported that Conny Larsson, a Swedish
therapist, had made abuse allegations. After these allegations, the Sai Organization in Sweden along with a
Sai-affiliated school was shut down. The article reported other allegations as well.[107][108] It also stated that
although controversies surround Sai Baba's ventures, even his critics admit that he has helped to ease the
region's suffering. Illustrated Weekly of India stated that no one doubted the numerous philanthropic works
conducted by the Sai organization regardless of the controversial divine status of Sai Baba.[107]

The Vancouver Sun in 2001 reported that Sathya Sai Baba told his adherents not to browse the World Wide
Web due to the allegations rapidly circulating on various Internet websites and in a few newspapers.[109] 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."[110]

In 2004, in the UK and internationally, the BBC aired a documentary titled The Secret Swami, in its series
'The World Uncovered'.[111] One central theme of the BBC documentary was Alaya Rahm's sexual abuse
allegations against Sathya Sai Baba.[108] 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.[108] 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.[112] Another documentary, Seduced By Sai
Baba, carried interviews of abuse allegations. It was produced by Denmark's national television and radio
broadcast company, Denmarks Radio (DR).

Documentaries produced by the BBC and the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, analyzing videos of the
supposed miracles, suggest that they can be explained as sleight of hand.[108][113] In the 1995 TV
documentary Guru Busters,[114] produced by filmmaker Robert Eagle for UK's Channel 4, Sathya Sai Baba
was accused of faking his materializations. A videotape[115] suggested that magician's tricks were involved.
The same videotape was mentioned in the Deccan Chronicle, on 23 November 1992, on a front page
headline "DD Tape Unveils Baba Magic".[116] However, Erlendur Haraldsson, a professor of psychology, in
his book Modern Miracles stated that, on investigating the DD video, researchers did not find evidence of
fake materialisation as claimed by Deccan chronicle. Wiseman took the video to a company which

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investigates corporate fraud. In spite of improving the graininess of the low quality video with enhanced
filters and running it through advanced image processing systems, the DD video did not provide firm
evidence of sleight of hand.[117]

Responses to criticism

Neither Sathya Sai Baba nor any organizations associated with him have been charged or convicted for
sexual abuse or any other crime in a court of law.[118] Alaya Rahm filed a lawsuit against the Sathya Sai
Baba Society in the Superior Court of California on January 6, 2005. On April 7, 2006 Alaya Rahm
withdrew his lawsuit after indications that his challenge lacked merit. The case was dismissed 'with prejudice'
meaning it cannot be filed for the same claims again.[118] The Pioneer also noted that no offers of monetary
settlement were paid to Alaya Rahm.[118]

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 BBC documentary were baseless. Bhagani said that devotees
never meet Sai Baba alone.[112]

Lawrence A. Babb states that "he is certainly more than the mere parlour trick magician many of his critics
claim that he is."[10]

Devotee Bill Aitken (traveller) was quoted by The Week as saying that Sathya Sai Baba's reputation has not
been harmed by the negative stories published about the guru. He said that the more detractors rail against
Sathya Sai Baba, the more new devotees went to see him.[119]

In the article Divine Downfall, published in the Daily Telegraph, Anil Kumar, the ex-principal of the Sathya
Sai Educational Institute said that he believed that the controversy is part of Baba's divine plan and that all
great religious teachers had to face criticism during their lives. Anil Kumar also said that allegations have
been leveled at Sathya Sai Baba since childhood, but with every criticism he becomes more and more
triumphant.[120]

In an official letter made public in December 2001, A.B. Vajpayee (then Prime Minister of India), P.N.
Bhagawati (Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India), Ranganath Misra (Chair Person, National
Human Rights Commissioner of India and Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India), Najma
Heptulla (President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union; UNDP Distinguished Human Development
Ambassador) and Shivraj Patil (Member of Parliament, India; Formerly of the Lok Sabha & Union Minister)
all signed a letter which stated as follows "We are deeply pained and anguished by the wild, reckless and
concocted allegations made by certain vested interests and people against Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
We would normally expect that responsible media would ascertain the true facts before printing such
calumny - especially when the person is revered globally as an embodiment of love and selfless service to
humanity. Since this professional ethic has not been observed by a section of the media, we have elected to
go public with this signed statement."[121]

The Times Of India on 26 December 2000 said that Sathya Sai Baba "lashed out at his detractors in a rare
display of anger" while referring to criticism published in a magazine. The Times quoted him as saying,
"Jesus Christ underwent many hardships, and was put to the cross because of jealousy. Many around him
could not bear the good work he did and the large number of followers he gathered. One of his disciples,
Judas, betrayed him. In those days there was one Judas, but today there are thousands. Just as that Judas was
tempted to betray Jesus, the Judases of today, too, are bought out to lie. Jealousy was the motive behind the
allegations levelled at him".[122]

Sathya Sai Baba publicly responded to the allegations on 25 December 2000: "Some people out of their
mean-mindedness are trying to tarnish the image of Sai Baba. I am not after name and fame. So, I do not lose

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Sathya Sai Baba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
anything by their false allegations. My glory will go on increasing day by day. It will never diminish even a
bit if they were to publicize their false allegations in the whole world in bold letters. Some devotees seem to
be perturbed over these false statements. They are not true devotees at all. Having known the mighty power
of Sai, why should they be afraid of the 'cawing of crows'? One should not get carried away by all that is
written on walls, said in political meetings or the vulgar tales carried by the print media."[123]
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External links
Sathya Sai Baba (http://saibaba.ucoz.ru/)
International Sai Organization (http://www.sathyasai.org/)
Discourses by Sathya Sai Baba (http://www.sathyasai.org/discour/sathyasaispeaks
/sathyasaispeaks.html)
Books and publications by and on Sathya Sai Baba (http://sssbpt.org/)
Official digital radio channel run by Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization (http://radiosai.org/)
Clip from Richard Bock film, "The Endless Stream". Sathya Sai Baba explains the significance of
miracles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYR-qpmsLZU)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sathya_Sai_Baba"

Categories: 1926 births | 2011 deaths | Hindu gurus | Hindu saints | Spiritual teachers | Self-declared messiahs
| Indian religious leaders | People claiming to have psychokinetic abilities | People considered avatars by
their followers | Sathya Sai Baba | Supernatural healing

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