Sunday, May 8, 2011

R.I.P, Sai Baba


When I met Satya Sai Baba with bunch of my hubbies while pursuing my undergraduate studies in Bengaluru (previously the “garden city” was also called Bangalore), I felt a sense of immense love, compassion and peace at his second ashram. Sai Baba I saw was simply dressed in red robe, very calm and peaceful. He stepped very slowly towards his followers and blessed them with gifts and/or ‘vibhuti’.

His sudden demise has bought shock waves across Indian sub-continents. From politicians to sportsmen, all are paying their last homage to Sai Baba. Indian cricketing legend so-called, “god of cricket”, Sachin Tendulkar cancelled his birthday celebration because of his sudden death. Before his death, all the followers and well-wishers of Baba were praying that he would recover to good health. Tendulkar wrote on his official twitter account that “I m praying for Shri Sathya Sai Baba's quick recovery. Hope everyone will join me in praying for his return to good health.”

Death is inevitable and when a time comes, everybody must simply leave. The bitter truth is that nobody (or any scientific advancement can control death) can stop anyone from dying. After the death of Satya Sai Baba, condolences poured in, everybody from Bollywood to Kollywood, from politicians to journalist, and from Indian PM to Nepalese PM has shown their condolences to the great spiritual guru.

Satya Sai Baba contribution to society is one-too-many. He has established, “Satya Sai Trust” where he has build hospitals and universities. Hundreds and thousands of people study and are treated freely daily.However, every bright side also has some darker side. Satya Sai baba was once also attributed for fake miracles that he performed with his followers. In my opinion, whatever tricks and miracles he performed, was less towards scientific values and more towards spiritual values. Thus, he denied all the accusations that were made against him.

I think Satya Sai Baba was a true man and a great character. He not only contributed a great deal towards the society but also he showed spiritual art of living. However, because of his excellent contribution to the society, some of his followers also named him, “God”. Nevertheless, a man can and never will be, “God”. Some of his prophecies never became true. He said that he will die in his mid nineties but he has to go early. Now, many of his followers are hoping that he would reincarnate in another form in Mysore with the name of “Prem baba”.

Previously, people used to have long and religious life. Nowadays, people have short and technical life. How many years do you expect baba to live? Just mere fourteen years less than a century, Satya Sai Baba has to depart on Easter Sunday. According to Hindu scriptures dying on Sundays and Tuesdays are regarded well simply because a person reincarnates in the form of another human being.  I am aware of the bitter fact but let us hope he comes-back in same humane form again.

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