Sathya Saibaba

[Guest guest]

Sathya Saibaba was born in Puttaparthi, Andra Pradesh to Peddavenkappa and

Easwaramma Raju in a poor family. He was christened Satyanarayana by His

parents. His very birth showed significant events portraying Him as an Avatar.

It is said that His mother had dreamt of Lord Sathyanarayana and saw a a blue

light rolling into making her faint. It is also said that musical instruments

miraculously played on their own in His house.

 

As a child of eight years, Sathya Sai had the powers to compose bhajans

spontaneously and was highly talented in fine arts like drama, music, dance and

poetry. He joined the High School at Uravakonda. On 8th March 1940, a strange

behaviour took over him like that of being stung by a scorpion.

 

Following this event He often became totally unconscious of the happenings,

refused food and started reciting slokas and elaborated on Hindu scriptures. In

March 1940, He claimed Himself to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Saibaba and

adopted the name 'Sai Baba'. Sathya Saibaba then quit school and at the age of

fourteen on October 20, 1940, started teaching bhajans to people who flocked to

Him. Following this, a Mandir was built for His devotees which is now called the

'Old Mandir' and later the now existing Prashanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi came

into being.

 

Miracles

 

Sathya Saibaba is widely known for the numerous miracles that he worked out. He

materialized small idols, vibudhi (sacred ash), kumkum, turmeric, fruits, Lingam

etc in person as well in the homes of His devotees. He also displayed sudden

miraculous disappearance, appearing in dreams and visions, miraculous healing

etc. Miracles are reportedly happening even to this day.

 

Teachings

 

Sathya Sai Baba's basic teachings advocates Truth, Right conduct, Non-violence,

Love and Peace. His teachings are open to people following different religions

with not needing to give up their faith. Further His teachings are Advaitic in

nature about the same essence being the substratum of all that is created. His

teachings also emphasizes and glorifies the role of women, especially 'mothers'.

 

Sathya Saibaba resides in the Prashanti Nilayam . He spends the summer in

Brindavan, in Whitefield, Bangalore and occasionally in 'Sai Shruti' in

Kodaikanal.

 

The three primary Mandirs in India are established in Mumbai, Hyderabad and

Chennai and referred to as Dharmakshetra or Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram

respectively.

 

The daily activities in Sathya Sai ashram include the chanting of 'Om' and

Suprabhatham (morning prayer) followed by chanting of the Vedas, singing

devotional songs, bhajans and Darshan. During Darshan Baba walks through the

people collecting letters, materializing Vibudhi and sometimes calls certain

people for interviews. His interviews are said to reap spiritual benefits.

 

The Incomparable Service

 

The service rendered by Baba is remarkable and incomparable. Sathya Sai Baba

charitable organizations take the form of educational institutions, hospitals

and service projects that are spread over 10,000 centers in 166 countries around

the world. His compassion towards the poor and the down trodden finds

ex-pression in the Sathya Sai hospitals that offer free of cost treatment to

patients.

 

The drinking water project completed in 1996 provides water to the drought prone

region of Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh, quenching the thirst of 1.2 million people

in 730-800 villages . Sathya Sai Ganga Canal completed in 2004 provides water

supply to Chennai. More drinking water projects are still in queue to be

completed.

 

Future Incarnation

 

Baba has claimed that once He sheds His body, He would later reincarnate as

Prema Sai. Prema Sai is expected to be born in Mysore. The crowd flocking to

Prashanthi Nilayam are living testimonials of Baba's mercy and glory.

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan