Sathya Sai Baba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sathya Sai Baba |
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| Birth Date | 23 November 1926 Puttaparthi, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Andhra Pradesh, India) |
| Died on | 24 April 2011 (aged 84) Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Birth name | Ratnakaram Sathyanarayana Raju |
| Philosophy | Love all. Serve all. Help Ever. Hurt Never. |
Sathya Sai Baba (born Ratnakaram Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011) was an Indian spiritual teacher and leader. When he was fourteen years old, he said he was the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, another famous saint. After this, he left his home to help people who followed him.
Many people who believed in Sai Baba said he could do amazing things. They reported that he could make vibhuti (holy ash) appear, along with small items like rings and watches. Some also said he could heal people, bring them back to life, see things far away, or be in two places at once. His followers believed these were signs of his divine power. However, some people thought these acts were clever tricks or had other simple explanations, not supernatural ones.
In 1972, Sathya Sai Baba started the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. This organization was created to help people do good deeds and grow spiritually. Through this Trust, Sai Baba built many free specialty hospitals and general hospitals, clinics, and projects that provided drinking water. He also started a university, auditoriums, ashrams (spiritual centers), and schools. The organization now has branches in over 40 countries, run by the Sri Sathya Sai Global Council.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Childhood
Most of what we know about Sathya Sai Baba's early life comes from stories told by his followers. These stories are very important to them and show his divine nature. Sathyanarayana Raju was born on 23 November 1926. His parents were Meesaraganda Easwaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram. They lived in the village of Puttaparthi in British India. His mother, Easwaramma, said his birth was special and miraculous. He was the fourth of five children in his family.
As a child, Sathya was known for being very smart and kind. He enjoyed helping others. He was also very talented in music, dance, and drama that honored God. Even when he was young, some people claimed he could make things like food and sweets appear out of nowhere.
His Special Announcement
On 8 March 1940, when Sathya was 14, he was living with his older brother in a town called Uravakonda. He was stung by a scorpion. He passed out for several hours. Over the next few days, his behavior changed a lot. He would laugh and cry, talk a lot, or be very quiet. People said he started singing songs in Sanskrit, a language he supposedly didn't know before. Doctors thought he might be experiencing hysteria. His worried parents took him back home to Puttaparthi. They also took him to many priests, doctors, and people who tried to remove evil spirits.
On 23 May 1940, Sathya called his family members. He reportedly made sugar candy (prasad) and flowers appear for them. His father was very upset, thinking his son was under a spell. He picked up a stick and threatened to hit Sathya if he didn't say who he really was. Young Sathya calmly and firmly replied, "I am Sai Baba." He was talking about Sai Baba of Shirdi, a famous saint who had died eight years before Sathya was born. This was the first time he said he was the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. From then on, he became known as 'Sathya Sai Baba'.
Building Spiritual Centers
In 1944, a mandir (a Hindu temple or spiritual center) was built for Sai Baba's followers near Puttaparthi. This building is now called the "old mandir." The construction of Prasanthi Nilayam, which is his main spiritual center today, started in 1948 and was finished in 1950. In 1954, Sai Baba opened a small, free general hospital in Puttaparthi. He became well-known for his special powers and his ability to heal people. In 1957, Sai Baba traveled to temples in North India.
Health and Future Predictions
In 1963, it was said that Sai Baba had a stroke and four serious heart attacks. These events left one side of his body paralyzed. But then, he reportedly healed himself in front of thousands of people who were praying for him at Prashanthi Nilayam.
After he recovered, Sai Baba announced that he would be reborn again as an incarnation named Prema Sai Baba. He said this would happen in the nearby state of Karnataka. He explained that he was a combination of the Hindu gods Shiva and Shakti. He said Shiva was born as Sai Baba of Shirdi, and now Shiva and Shakti were born as him. He also said that Shakti alone would be born as the third Sai (Prema Sai Baba) in the same family line. He predicted he would be reborn eight years after his death at the age of 96. However, he passed away at the age of 84.
On 29 June 1968, Sai Baba took his only trip outside India. He visited Kenya and Uganda.
Later Years and Projects
In 1968, he started Dharmakshetra, also known as the Sathyam Mandir, in Mumbai. In 1973, he opened the Shivam Mandir in Hyderabad. On 19 January 1981, he opened the Sundaram Mandir in Chennai.
In March 1995, Sai Baba began a big project to bring drinking water to 1.2 million people. This was for the dry Rayalaseema region in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. In April 1999, he opened the Ananda Nilayam Mandir in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
In 2001, he opened another free super-specialty hospital in Bangalore. This hospital was built to help people who could not afford medical care.
Old Age and Passing Away
In 2003, Sai Baba broke his hip when a student accidentally fell on him. After this, he often greeted people from a car or a special chair. After 2004, Sai Baba used a wheelchair and appeared in public less often.
On 28 March 2011, Sai Baba was admitted to the Sri Sathya Sai Super Specialty Hospital in Puttaparthi. He had problems with his breathing. After almost a month in the hospital, his health got worse. He passed away on Sunday, 24 April, at 7:40 AM, at the age of 84.
Sai Baba had predicted that he would live until he was 96 and stay healthy. After he died, some followers said he might have meant 96 lunar years, which is how some Hindus count age. Others hoped he would come back to life or be reborn soon.
Funeral and Public Mourning
His body was displayed for two days so people could pay their respects. He was buried with full state honors on 27 April 2011. About 500,000 people attended the burial. Important leaders and famous people were there. These included the Indian Prime Minister at the time, Manmohan Singh, and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Many political leaders sent their condolences (messages of sympathy). These included the Prime Minister of India, the Prime Minister of Nepal, the President of Sri Lanka, and the Dalai Lama. Sachin Tendulkar, whose birthday was on that day, canceled his celebrations. The Government of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh declared days of mourning to honor him.
Sathya Sai Organization
The Sathya Sai Organization was started in the 1960s by Sathya Sai Baba. Its first name was "Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi." It was created to help its members do good deeds as a way to grow spiritually. In 2020, the Sri Satya Sai Central Trust was given a special status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The Sathya Sai Organization says it has about 1,200 centers in 114 countries. It is hard to know exactly how many active followers Sai Baba had. Estimates range from 6 million to nearly 100 million people. In India, many of his followers came from the upper-middle-class and city areas. In 2002, he said he had followers in 178 countries.
Sathya Sai Baba founded many schools, colleges, hospitals, and other charitable groups in India and other countries. The total value of these organizations is estimated to be very large.
After his death, officials from the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust opened his private home. They found and listed many valuable items. These included 98 kg of gold ornaments, 307 kg of silver ornaments, and a large amount of cash. The cash was put into the Sai Trust's bank account. The gold and other items were stored safely. Later, more valuables were found in other rooms and at his Bangalore ashram. These items are believed to have been given as gifts by his followers from all over the world over many years.
Recognition
On 23 November 1999, the Department of Posts in the Government of India released a postage stamp and a postal cover. This was to recognize Sai Baba's work in providing safe drinking water to people in rural areas. Another special stamp was released in November 2013, on what would have been his 88th birthday.
In January 2007, an event was held in Chennai Nehru Stadium. It was organized by the Chennai Citizens' Conclave to thank Sai Baba for a large water project. This project brought water from the River Krishna in Andhra Pradesh to Chennai city. Four chief ministers attended the event.
Ashrams and Mandirs
Prasanthi Nilayam
Puttaparthi, where Sai Baba was born and lived, used to be a small, quiet village in South India. Now, it has grown into a large complex. It includes a university, a special hospital, and two museums. One museum is called the Sanathana Samskruti, or Eternal Heritage Museum, which is sometimes called the Museum of All Religions. The other is the Chaitanya Jyoti, which tells the story of Sai Baba's life and teachings. This museum has won awards for its design. There is also a planetarium, a railway station, a stadium, an airport, and more. Important Indian politicians have visited the ashram in Puttaparthi. It was reported that over a million people attended Sai Baba's 80th birthday celebration.
Sai Baba spent most of his time at his main spiritual center, Prasanthi Nilayam. This name means "Abode of Highest Peace." In the summer, he often went to his other ashram, Brindavan, near Bangalore. Sometimes, he also visited his Sai Sruthi ashram in Kodaikanal.
Beliefs and Practices of Followers
Many people describe Sai Baba's followers as a "movement." Most scholars believe his followers are part of the Hindu faith. However, the Sathya Sai Organization says it is an interfaith movement. They believe their founder brings together the world's religious traditions.
Sai Baba said, "Love All, Serve All. Help Ever, Hurt Never." This quote is very important to his followers. Around the world, his followers meet daily or weekly. They sing devotional songs, pray, meditate, and do community service (called Seva). They also take part in "Education in Human Values" (SSEHV), known as "Bal Vikas" (Blossoming of the Child).
Followers believed it was very special to receive Sai Baba's darshan, which means seeing him. He would meet with people, accept letters, or invite groups or individuals for private talks. Followers considered it a great honor to have an interview. During these talks, they could ask spiritual questions and get advice.
Questions and Discussions
Different Views on His Actions
Over the years, some people questioned Sathya Sai Baba's actions. For example, in 1972, a man named Abraham Kovoor looked into a claim that Sai Baba had created a new watch. He found that the claim was not true.
In 1976, Hosur Narasimhaiah, a scientist and leader at Bangalore University, asked Sai Baba to perform his special acts under controlled conditions. He sent three public letters, but Sai Baba did not respond. Sai Baba said that spiritual matters are different from science. He believed that science studies things we can sense, but spirituality goes beyond that. Narasimhaiah thought that Sai Baba's lack of response meant his acts were not real. This led to a public discussion in Indian newspapers.
An Indian rationalist named Basava Premanand also questioned Sai Baba. He tried to sue him in 1986, saying that Sai Baba's claims of making gold objects appear might be against the law. The case was dismissed.
A TV show in 1995 called Guru Busters suggested that Sai Baba's materializations were faked.
There were also discussions about Sai Baba bringing an American follower, Walter Cowan, back to life in 1971. A journalist, Mick Brown, and a researcher, Erlendur Haraldsson, interviewed the doctors who treated Cowan. The doctors said Cowan was very sick but had not actually died.
Support and Defense
Sathya Sai Baba denied any wrongdoing. In a speech in 2000, he said that those who criticized him were motivated by jealousy. His followers also publicly defended him.
In December 2001, important leaders in India, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said they were "deeply pained" by the "wild, reckless and concocted allegations" against Sathya Sai Baba. They called him "an embodiment of love and selfless service to humanity."
See also
In Spanish: Sathya Sai Baba para niños
