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ARTICLE : Satya Sai Baba Hindu of the Year-Hinduism Today
>From Hinduism Today, December Edition,
first in our new color magazine format.
copyright 1996 Himalayan Academy
We invite your comments sent to:
letters@hinduism.today.kauai.hi.us
TRIBUTE
Sai: Hindu of Year
Receives 1996 "Hindu Renaissance Award"
With 1,638 centers in 137 countries, Satya Sai Baba guides the largest
Hindu organization in the world today. Most Hindus remain unaware of
the depth and breadth of his extensive worldwide programs spreading
the ancient Vedic teachings. Hinduism Today bestowed its 1996 Hindu
Renaissance Award upon this remarkable 70-year-old saint for his 56
years of service. The award carries a "Hindu of the Year" bronze
plaque and a nominal honorarium of rs51,000.
Since 1990 Hinduism Today has yearly honored one saint who has
impacted the faith and spread its vastness, compassion and profundity.
Dharma's renaissance leaders have been: Swami Paramananda Bharati
('90), Swami Chidananda Saraswati ('91), Swami Chinmayananda ('92),
Mata Amritanandamayi ('93), Swami Satchidananda ('94) and Pramukhswami
Maharaj ('95).
Satya Sai Baba's far-reaching activities encompass children's
education, temple development, support of sadhus and Vedic scholars,
medicine and rural development. His first outreach remains the one for
which he is best known-bhajana-begun in 1940 when he was 14 years old.
Today Sai's followers are regarded as masters of devotional music.
There is minimal organizational clutter in the thousands of local Sai
groups. Followers are of all faiths and propound a staunch
universalism. They collect no money and focus on discipline and purity
of purpose. Devotees come together weekly to sing, returning home
without engaging in socializing, gossip or politics. Bhajanas are sung
in traditional languages, but also in local languages so all can
participate.
Sai's Education in Human Values children's course is taught in schools
in 100 countries. With a strong religious orientation, it expounds
five qualities: truth (satya), righteousness (dharma), peace (shanti),
love (prema) and nonviolence (ahimsa). EHV rejects the rote learning,
so often thought sufficient for education, emphasizing Indian
techniques-silent sitting, quotation, storytelling, song and group
activities.
Sai Baba firmly advocates vegetarianism, stating, "Meat furthers the
demonic qualities in you." Ahead of many in the world, he is very
clear on the relationship between poor diet and poor health, and the
impact of chemical farming methods in reducing the quality of the food
grown. His us$18 million Puttaparthi heart hospital is just the latest
in a vast spectrum of free medical services which include even major
heart and brain surgery. He condemns doctors who profit from illness
and advocates the principles of traditional ayurveda. He has endeared
himself to villagers by offering veterinarian facilities which have
prevented crippling diseases among cattle. His 1995 project brought
safe drinking water to 800 villages through pipes and tube wells.
Followers revere Sai Baba as Avatar, an incarnation of God. In 1976,
he told Blitz magazine, "The present avatar [Sai] has come invested
with the totality of cosmic power to save dharma from anti-dharma."
Regarding his powers, he said in the same interview, "I can cure,
save, even resurrect people, provided they are in a spiritually
receptive mood. Whatever I will, instantly materializes." Indeed,
millions profess to seeing him manifest physical objects. This
inspires intense faith among devotees. Sai submits, "Miracles belong
to the boundless power of God."
Perhaps Sai Baba's least appreciated power lies in his preaching.
Twice each day he lectures articulately in Telegu to ample crowds,
explaining with trenchant insight every aspect of Hinduism. A devotee
said he understood God to be within us all. Baba corrected, "Not
exactly. Think of it this way: you are like a fish swimming in the
divine ocean that is God. God is above you, below you, inside and
out." Omega
>From a Simple Village Life to World Acclaim as Divinity Incarnate
1918: Shirdi Sai Baba, proponent of Hindu-Muslim harmony, dies,
prophesying he will reincarnate in eight years.
1926: Sathyanarayana Raju is born on November 23rd in the remote
village of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India.
1940: Satya Sai Baba tells family, "My devotees are waiting for me."
Leaves home, begins bhajana movement.
1944:Devotees create ashrama near Sai's home. It is Prasanthi Nilayam,
"abode of supreme peace."
1957: Sai's all-India tour attracts widespread attention. Ashrama is
inundated with sadhus, shastris and students.
1965: Begins colleges which are now a major free university. Promotes
all-India Bal Vihar children's program.
1968: First International Sai Conference, implementation of the
Education in Human Values program for schools.
1991: Opens free Sri Satya Sai Baba Institute of Medical Sciences on
150-acre campus. Promotes ayurveda system.
1995: Millions, including the Prime Minister of India, attend 70th
birthday celebrations in Andhra Pradesh.
