The Scorpman is no more. An obit on Satya Sai Baba.

Let me begin with a few questions that I have been asking myself these past couple of days now.

Is there a single-line or a one-word or a one-concept explanation of Sai Baba?
Is it possible to ask just one question and look for an answer that will explain this man?
Was he simply a self-proclaimed 5’2” avatar of ‘another Hindu holy man called the Sai Baba of Shirdi, a town in western Maharashtra state, who died in 1918?’¹
Was it his ‘distinctive orange robes and his hair that made him one of the most recognisable of India’s spiritual gurus?’²
Do we define him as one who was ‘mired in controversies, with several news reports about allegations of sexual abuse and fake miracles?’³
Could this man have lived a life in fear of being exposed as some of the rationalists are prone to believe?
Did he just aim to build a ‘trust that manages vast properties and religious affairs operating from centres in 114 countries and claiming followers in 178?’⁴
Was he seeking immortal fame as some thought when he was championed by a Vatican priest, Don Mario Mazzoleni, who in 1990 published a book, A Catholic Priest Meets Sai Baba, in which he declared that Christ and Sai Baba were the same manifestation of God on earth?”

The only objective facts that a single line can capture, are: Sathya Sai Baba (Sathyanarayana Raju), spiritual leader, born 23 November 1926; died 24 April 2011.

Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi

Evolution of the Scorpman

However, there is more to this man than any rationalist, protestor, politician, or an investigative journalist can ever understand. Interestingly, let me mention the conversation I had with a 12 year old who had come to me with a strange query:

‘I just read that Sai Baba was stung by a scorpion when he was 14.’
‘Yes, that was in 1940… and you wonder how he was saved?’
‘No.’
‘Then what you want to know is who saved him?’
‘No… I just want to know why we never called him our own Scorpman…’
‘Scorpman?’
‘Yes, Spiderman was born when a spider bit Peter Parker who then saved the world. Why can’t we have our own Scorpman who saved the world?’
‘Well… now don’t go and look for scorpions to sting you…’
‘I know. The next Sai Baba isn’t going to be there until 2028…’

I was rendered speechless by this analysis of a 12 year old. But then he did tell us a lot by calling Sai a Scorpman… and also about the power of the internet. Sai did work to save the world… though by a certain degree of objective criteria, his world was limited mainly to a small region in Andhra Pradesh in India and the saving sprees began only in the mid-nineties.

Mystical transformation

The Guardian of UK sums up his achievements in less than a dozen lines: “Puttaparthi, where his ashram was built in 1950, was gradually transformed into a booming global pilgrimage centre, drawing visitors from across India and around the world.

There is also an institute of higher medical services and Sri Sathya Sai University, providing quality healthcare and education free for deserving students. A 330-bed super-speciality hospital near Bangalore, opened in 1991, is run by his foundation’s central trust. Discover the best hospital beds for sale online at SonderCare’s website. A new Vidya Vahini scheme, launched in November, aims to aid grassroots education. The crowning achievement of the foundation’s charitable work was its funding for the renovation of the Kandaleru-Poondi canal to carry drinking water more than 100 miles to Chennai (formerly Madras) city at a cost of £1bn. This and other projects brought clean water to almost two million people in various drought-prone areas of southern India.”

So yes, all this did make him a Scorpman in the imaginative canopy of a 12 year old… but there was more to Sai than just this.

The ‘mystical transformation’ that a scorpion sting can lead to, is apparent when we are told that after bouts of laughing, weeping, and silence Sathya entered the knowledge and mystic phase. It was only when he started singing verses in Sanskrit, a language that he did not know, that his parents knew that no doctors or exorcists could really do much. A few sources also say that Convinced that his parents summoned a local exorcist who shaved the boy’s head, scored four X’s into his scalp, and poured the juice of garlic and lime into the wounds. This went on from 8 March 1940 to 23 May 1940 when Sathya “called household members and reputedly materialised prasad and flowers for his family members. His father became furious at seeing this, thinking his son was bewitched. He took a stick and asked him who he was. To this Sathya announced calmly and firmly “I am Sai Baba”, a reference to Sai Baba of Shirdi. He proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi — a saint who became famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Maharashtra and had died eight years before Sathya was born.”⁵ It is also mentioned in the ashram literature that when challenged to prove his claim, he is said to have thrown some jasmine flowers on the floor; in falling the flowers arranged themselves to spell out the name “Sai Baba” in Telugu. And thus our own Scorpman came into existence. Sadly, there are no comic books on his adventures because he fought his battles on a different plane.

The Sai formula

One thing that initially bothered me was why Sai Baba went on with his materialising of vibhuti (holy ash), rings, necklaces and watches before getting down to some serious social work. Then when I remembered how our wily politicians hold audiences spellbound, I knew I had the answer. Only scam-infested wily brains of politicians can produce or materialise non-existing facts and figures, mix them up with the masala of a worthy stand-up comedian and compel masses to stand and listen to their casual banter for hours. This is what our Scorpman decided to do, though in a different format. He decided to go the way the rest of his earlier avatars like Jesus or Mohammed went. The ‘magic of the mystic-men’ is quite unlike the mysteries of statesmen… though the aim is the same. Sathya Sai Baba held his audiences spellbound… and continued to do so until his following went international. All this while he also delivered his ‘how to be a better mortal’ lectures for all!

For the uninitiated, he divided his teachings into facets that included Unity of Faiths, Love and Service, Man’s Reality: Inherent Divinity, Human Values, Culture and Tradition, Educare, Role of women, and Practical Spirituality. He put all these complex thoughts into simple words. Words that could be understood and followed by even those who did not have the advantage of formal education. His aim was to bring people and religion together when he said: “There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity. There is only one religion, the religion of Love. There is only one language, the language of the Heart. There is only one God, He is Omnipresent.” He knew in his heart that in spiritual terms, all of mankind belongs to one and the same class, race, and religion. He was convinced that if every person remained ‘unaffected by greed or hate, the world will be a happy and peaceful habitation for man.’

The Guardian of UK also writes that ‘unlike other globetrotting Indian gurus who captured the western imagination in the 1960s, he did not travel abroad, apart from a trip to Uganda and Kenya in 1968.’ It is also known to us all that he never sought political patronage, undue advantages, nor did he ever went on to work for some elusive form of fame like fighting the elections or seeking any other position of power. Despite this there were always those who labelled themselves as rationalists and targeted him because of his media footprint and his known backing from constitutional office-bearers in India. They go on to claim that they know that a former President (R Venkataraman) and even the legendary Chief Election Commissioner (T N Seshan) attested his miracles.⁶

However, despite all opposition to his methods, ‘his gentle demeanour, dishevelled, Afro-style hair and tolerance of other belief systems attracted an estimated 6 million active and 33 million passive followers, including former presidents, generals, Bollywood luminaries and sports stars. His group maintains more than 1,000 ashrams in 126 countries.’⁷ Though he never actively pursued politicians, they’ve always held the baba in high respect. “The passing away of Sri Sathya Sai Baba is an irreparable loss to all,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement. “The nation deeply mourns his passing.” “Sri Satya Sai Baba has given his great self to the service of humanity,” Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said. “He will be remembered for ages to come by all sections of people all over the world.”

The twitter of stings

Scandals like the 2004 BBC television programme ‘Secret Swami’ featured interviews with at least two American male devotees who claimed the guru had exposed himself to them while claiming it was part of a healing ritual. Sai Baba dismissed the sex abuse allegations as false and described them as the “cawing of crows”. To all his followers, he said: “You must be a lotus, unfolding its petals when the sun rises in the sky, unaffected by the slush where it is born or even the water which sustains it!” This should actually silence those who have been tweeting profanities and contorting facts even after his death. Let me quote a few of such tweets here. @behanjee tweets: ‘I do hope the #saibaba is really dead. I hope he doesn’t sit up puking a solid gold dick out of his mouth.’ @NeelaVanam tweets: ‘Its easy to run a charity with 40,000 Crore. You just need a few tricks up the sleeve. #Saibaba’ @kickasswriter Shreyas Shevade tweets: ‘#saibaba #saibyebye guy was a conman.’ @Tara_Isha tweets: ‘So Saibaba’s dead. Has anybody bothered to check his hair? I bet that beast is still alive and growing. And still full of tiny microphones.’

Strange are the ways of the tech-savvy today when a select few of them choose to get rude on a forum that aims to be as immortal as immortality itself… don’t they say that anything that is written on a PC or on the net remains forever and that nothing ever effectively deletes it? Even sinners can go and take a dip in the Ganges to purify themselves…  “Some people out of their mean-mindedness are trying to tarnish the image of Sai Baba. I am not after name and fame. So, I do not lose anything by their false allegations. My glory will go on increasing day by day,” the guru told followers in 2000. He has also remarked aptly that we must all: “Bear all and do nothing; Hear all and say nothing; Give all and take nothing; Serve all and be nothing.”⁸

Good never trends

It comes as no surprise, therefore, to read tweets like these: @teachmetech: ‘Strange I thought It would be #saibaba, but its #sureshkalmadi who is trending worldwide :)’ And, as the Baba would’ve remarked: ‘What is new in the world? Nothing. What is old in the world? Nothing. Everything has always been and will always be.’ Obviously, the trend-setters are the ones who are nearest gaols… for, that is their goal!

Teachings in a nutshell

To get people to understand the real art of living, the Baba had given a set of ten principles. I quote them from a website⁹ on his works. These ten directives were given by Baba in a discourse that He gave on the 21st of November, 1985 in Prasanthi Nilayam:

1. Treat as sacred the land in which you were born. Be patriotic, but do not criticize other nations or put others down, not even in your thoughts.
2. Respect all religions equally.
3. Recognise the brotherhood of man, treat all as brothers and sisters; love all.
4. Keep your house and surroundings clean, for, this will promote hygiene and health.
5. Practice charity but do not encourage beggars by giving them money. Provide food, clothing, shelter and help them in other ways (do not encourage laziness).
6. Never give or take a bribe, never give in to corruption.
7. Curb envy and jealousy, expand your vision and outlook, treat all equally regardless of caste or creed.
8. Be self-reliant. You may be wealthy and having servants to do your bidding, but service to society must be done by yourself.
9. Cultivate love for God and fear for sin.
10. Never go against the law of the land. Follow it diligently both in word and spirit. Be an exemplary citizen.
(Ref: “Sathya Sai Speaks”, Vol. XVIII, Chapter – 23.)

A few more questions

Is being good and doing good a villainy?

Let us take the case of the 2004 BBC documentary “Secret Swami,” in which filmmaker Tanya Datta interviewed two American male followers who said the guru had fondled their genitals, claiming it was part of a healing ritual.

We’re all aware of hoaxes that have plagued humanity for ages. An innocuous play on the radio that spread panic, a film that was perceived as real, the innumerable political falsities spoken with great conviction, religious leaders and orders planting stories for perceived benefits to humanity… at best, they can be labelled a creative effort that needs to be punished if it is proved that they have actually harmed humanity. Such hoaxes are similar to false bomb calls, spliced CDs that aim to detract truth, email hoaxes that aim to trap gullible surfers, and others that fall in this category.

However, one of the mirrors by Aneesh Kapoor that clearly and unambiguously distorts your image can’t be labelled a hoax that is punishable… the difference here being that this artistic hoax is in reality reflecting a different ‘you’ that may actually exist somewhere inside you! Forget it… don’t get into this philosophic debate. Just understand that Sai Baba has done a lot of good and a few disgruntled followers making obscene statements for a filmmaker cannot be taken seriously.

Does freedom of expression mean anyone can write anything based only on unsubstantiated evidence scattered around in the virtual world?

Who is this @ behanjee who has the temerity to tweet: ‘There once was a man from Puttaparthi, He had a mean lathi, not the one made of wood, but the one that screwed many a childhood #saibaba’. Such tweets aren’t witty nor are they inducing laughter… yes, Suhail Seth does send out irreverent tweets but they just add on to some fact that is already evident. Irreverence is an excellent emotion (read my article to know more) but it is to be used with a lot of creative discretion and not like the banter of some of these twits on twitter!

Thus you come across a variety of twits in the virtual plane. Here is another one: @ashishkaushik Ashish Kaushik tweets: ‘#Saibaba was over 20 years of age when india was struggling for independence… why didn’t he do some magic then against the British.. #fail.’

Freedom of expression is a facility that we have in our democracy and we need to learn to respect it and use it carefully.

Should the trust fund management bother us even if no one from the trust has asked for interceptive assistance?

If you read your newspapers you’ll know that this is exactly what is happening. It is, of course, the job of the media to report the facts as they are. Why is Sanal Edamaruku, president of the Indian Rationalist Association in Delhi (and a lot of other people who are actually not connected to any of the activities of the trust) so interested in what happens to Sai Baba trust’s funds, said to be over $9 billion? For their information, a statement released after the guru was hospitalized, says that though no successor has been named to run the trust, “there is or will be no vacuum.”

Last word

Sathya Sai Baba announced in 1963 that he would live until 2020. This isn’t correct. He has also predicted that in 2028 his “third incarnation”, Prema Sai, will be born in the village of Gunaparthy in Karnataka state. “With his [Prema Sai’s] efforts, love, goodwill, brotherhood and peace will abound throughout the world,” Sai Baba declared. “He will receive universal recognition from mankind.” It isn’t the correctness of the time frame that matters. What matters is that we need someone to guide us out of the darkness that seems to be getting denser by the day.

References:

1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hindu_guru_sathya_sai_baba_revered_by_millions_worldwide_dies_at_age_84/2011/04/24/AFZeXdeE_story.html?wprss=rss_world
2. http://www.voy.com/221392/62455.html
3. http://www.tributes.com/show/Sathya-Baba-91314367
4. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/25/sai-baba-obituary
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sathya_Sai_Baba
6. http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Why-Indian-rationalists-will-continue-to-oppose-Sai-Baba-of-Puttaparthi
7. http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-sathya-sai-baba-20110425,0,7545841.story
8. http://mg.co.za/article/2011-04-25-sai-baba-spiritual-guru-to-millions-dies-at-85/
9. http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pages/His_teachings/Practical_Spirituality.htm

© Arvind Passey
27 April 2011