HARI BANSH JHA
Sathya Sai Baba is no more now! But, he is still alive in the hearts of his devotees. Hardly anyone on the earth in the modern time could occupy as much space in the hearts of humanity as Sai Baba did. He found in all human beings his own reflection. And, so did his devotees reciprocate. This love between him and the devotees remained unparalled, which was amply demonstrated both during his life and the ‘life’ after his death.
During his funeral at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh of India on April 27, 2011, representatives of all major religions of the world conducted prayers at the funeral site of Prashantinilayam, Puttaparthi. The head of state, government and the common mass of the population from many parts of the world were also present.
Hundreds of thousands of devotees had started thronging at Puttaparthi even before Baba’s death, at the age of 86 on April 24. Most of them were emotional during the funeral ceremony. They felt that someone nearest to them had passed away. Amidst this gloomy scene, and perhaps in all the places on the earth where Baba was worshipped, there was one ray of hope, as well. Most devotees had a feeling that Baba left them temporarily, and he would return again. His new incarnation would be in the form of Perm Sai to be born a year after, in India.
Baba loved all who had an opportunity to visit him – be it poor or the rich, women or men, nationals or foreigners, head of the state or the commoner, children or the old, or so to say people belonging to any faith of the world. Therefore, Satya Sai Centre has been working in 167 countries of the world. As many as 30 million people of the world are Baba’s practicing devotees.
Besides being a spiritual Guru, Baba was also a philanthropist. He performed many social activities for the welfare of humanity. He helped people in his area to solve their drinking water problem. He set up medical colleges for free treatment of the poor. For providing education to the needy children, he established many schools in India and abroad. In the field of higher education, he established Satya Sai University. All the institutions and services provided by Baba were of world class standard. The Satya Sai Trust that is responsible for running such social activities is perhaps the world’s largest trust run on an individual basis, which is worth Indian rupees 40,000 crores.Through Satya Sai Baba’s philanthropic activities, many people benefited directly.
Sathya Sai Baba is also widely known for his miracles. It was at the tender age of 13 that he started demonstrating his supernatural powers. At a young age, he had many followers both in India and abroad. Many of his followers believe that the miracles were possible because he possessed supernatural power of God and, therefore, he was called ‘Bhagwan’ (God in the Hindi language)
Through his magical power, Satya Sai Baba could create Vibhuti. He could keep on pouring Vibhuti from a packet on the idol of God till he did not remove his hand. He could create Vibhuti at the devotees’ places far and wide in various parts of the world. It is largely believed by the followers of Sai Baba that the Vibhuti healed many diseases. Baba’s followers believe that he used his power of miracles as a tool to spiritualize the society. and make the world peaceful almost in the same way as Rama used his bow and arrow, and Krishna used his flute to attract the world.
However, Sathya Sai Baba’s life was not without controversies. Certain sections of the people believed that Baba was more a magician than a Godly person.
The controversies created about Baba, however, did not deter people’s faith in him. In fact, the way he was able to engage himself in spiritual and social service was exemplary. He wanted all those who believed in castes, creeds and religious dogmas to remain away from him, as such feelings divided the society and created negative energy.
It was back during the early 1970s that I had an occasion to go through a book written about Sathya Sai Baba in English. However, I did not have an opportunity to meet him in person. Nor did I have an occasion to become his devotee. Yet, I am one who owes Baba so much for his selfless service for humanity. In fact, he was able to translate the thoughts of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the philosopher, who accorded highest priority to spiritualizing the society. True to Radhakrishnan’s expectations, Baba revolutionized the society through spiritual awakening.
The more a society is spiritualized, the more it becomes non-violent and peaceful. It was out of compassion that Sathya Sai Baba sowed the seed of spiritualism in the society. The negative forces based on violence will be subdued once the positive energy through spiritualism grows. As per the ethos of the Gita “dharm sansthapayanarthaya, shambhami yuge yuge,” Baba appeared in this world as light for the re-establishment of dharma i.e. the positive energy. It is likely that Baba would further help spiritualize the world and he would emerge stronger in future as he lives in the hearts of millions of human force all over the world.
Jha is an economist and writer
Sathya Sai Baba is no more now! But, he is still alive in the hearts of his devotees. Hardly anyone on the earth in the modern time could occupy as much space in the hearts of humanity as Sai Baba did. He found in all human beings his own reflection. And, so did his devotees reciprocate. This love between him and the devotees remained unparalled, which was amply demonstrated both during his life and the ‘life’ after his death.
During his funeral at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh of India on April 27, 2011, representatives of all major religions of the world conducted prayers at the funeral site of Prashantinilayam, Puttaparthi. The head of state, government and the common mass of the population from many parts of the world were also present.
Hundreds of thousands of devotees had started thronging at Puttaparthi even before Baba’s death, at the age of 86 on April 24. Most of them were emotional during the funeral ceremony. They felt that someone nearest to them had passed away. Amidst this gloomy scene, and perhaps in all the places on the earth where Baba was worshipped, there was one ray of hope, as well. Most devotees had a feeling that Baba left them temporarily, and he would return again. His new incarnation would be in the form of Perm Sai to be born a year after, in India.
Baba loved all who had an opportunity to visit him – be it poor or the rich, women or men, nationals or foreigners, head of the state or the commoner, children or the old, or so to say people belonging to any faith of the world. Therefore, Satya Sai Centre has been working in 167 countries of the world. As many as 30 million people of the world are Baba’s practicing devotees.
Besides being a spiritual Guru, Baba was also a philanthropist. He performed many social activities for the welfare of humanity. He helped people in his area to solve their drinking water problem. He set up medical colleges for free treatment of the poor. For providing education to the needy children, he established many schools in India and abroad. In the field of higher education, he established Satya Sai University. All the institutions and services provided by Baba were of world class standard. The Satya Sai Trust that is responsible for running such social activities is perhaps the world’s largest trust run on an individual basis, which is worth Indian rupees 40,000 crores.Through Satya Sai Baba’s philanthropic activities, many people benefited directly.
Sathya Sai Baba is also widely known for his miracles. It was at the tender age of 13 that he started demonstrating his supernatural powers. At a young age, he had many followers both in India and abroad. Many of his followers believe that the miracles were possible because he possessed supernatural power of God and, therefore, he was called ‘Bhagwan’ (God in the Hindi language)
Through his magical power, Satya Sai Baba could create Vibhuti. He could keep on pouring Vibhuti from a packet on the idol of God till he did not remove his hand. He could create Vibhuti at the devotees’ places far and wide in various parts of the world. It is largely believed by the followers of Sai Baba that the Vibhuti healed many diseases. Baba’s followers believe that he used his power of miracles as a tool to spiritualize the society. and make the world peaceful almost in the same way as Rama used his bow and arrow, and Krishna used his flute to attract the world.
However, Sathya Sai Baba’s life was not without controversies. Certain sections of the people believed that Baba was more a magician than a Godly person.
The controversies created about Baba, however, did not deter people’s faith in him. In fact, the way he was able to engage himself in spiritual and social service was exemplary. He wanted all those who believed in castes, creeds and religious dogmas to remain away from him, as such feelings divided the society and created negative energy.
It was back during the early 1970s that I had an occasion to go through a book written about Sathya Sai Baba in English. However, I did not have an opportunity to meet him in person. Nor did I have an occasion to become his devotee. Yet, I am one who owes Baba so much for his selfless service for humanity. In fact, he was able to translate the thoughts of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the philosopher, who accorded highest priority to spiritualizing the society. True to Radhakrishnan’s expectations, Baba revolutionized the society through spiritual awakening.
The more a society is spiritualized, the more it becomes non-violent and peaceful. It was out of compassion that Sathya Sai Baba sowed the seed of spiritualism in the society. The negative forces based on violence will be subdued once the positive energy through spiritualism grows. As per the ethos of the Gita “dharm sansthapayanarthaya, shambhami yuge yuge,” Baba appeared in this world as light for the re-establishment of dharma i.e. the positive energy. It is likely that Baba would further help spiritualize the world and he would emerge stronger in future as he lives in the hearts of millions of human force all over the world.
Jha is an economist and writer
0 comments:
Post a Comment
कृपया कमेन्ट बक्समा कमेन्ट लेख्नुहोस । select profile मा click गर्नुहोस् । name/url छानेर name मा आफ्नो नाम लेख्नुहोस् । url खाली छोडे पनि हुन्छ अथवा facebook को profile को url राख्नुहोस् । अन्तमा submit post गर्नुहोस है । भएन भने फेरि submit post.
तपाईको कमेन्ट sent भए "Your comment will be visible after approval." देखिनेछ ।