Who Is Sathya Sai Baba?

"Who is Mr.Swami?"

An interesting thing happened some years ago. As I was furiously plodding away at the keyboard, reliving my beautiful memories with Swami, I got a gentle prod. The prod came in as a message from Mr.Happy. He wrote in all sincerity and love - “Thank you for writing this. It was interesting and I can certainly appreciate your devotion for the Man in Orange. He does seem to command power.This was a great blog. I am not sure who Mr. Swami is - that is why I wanted to read more because I keep seeing his photo around lately …”

I was very touched with his interest. And I stopped typing, pausing to think. “I keep writing about the object of my love, adoration and worship. I bring Him completely into my conversations with my readers. But I do the error of not introducing Him! Many do not require an introduction and still many do need one. I must write about who Mr.Swami ( Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba) is.” And thus this venture. It is really so easy to say who He is - God. And yet so difficult, for the term “God” has different meanings for different people.

Before I begin, let me tell the readers that due to a wealth of information that can be provided, I stick to a skeleton framework providing links wherever necessary. You can, of your own volition choose to dive to the depths you want! Happy diving and splashing! Now, let me begin.

Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju as the eighth child in a poor family in the village of Puttaparthi, Andhra pradesh, India on the 23rd of November 1926. (He shed the mortal coil on the 24th of April, 2011.) His early life was one that was filled with miracles and experiences galore.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba at His Brindavan residence ( Bangalore) in the 1960s

The two voices waiting to talk aloud...

In the 86 years on earth, what He has achieved is monumental to say the least, Divine to say the Truth. And as I start to write about Him, I witness two voices within me. Both want to be heard. And I shall give them both an opportunity. The first voice is that of the head and the second is that of the heart.

Over to the head now.

Swami believes in the unity of all religions. He says that He has come not to start a new religion but to make a Hindu a better Hindu, a Muslim a better Muslim, a Christian a better Christian and so on. He says that there is only one caste, the caste of humanity; only one religion, the religion of Love; only one language, the language of the heart and only one God though God responds to whatever name you call or form you ascribe.

He says that the summation of all the scriptures is contained in the phrases, “Love All, Serve All” and “Help ever, Hurt never”. And so, He exhorts one and all to serve for service to man is service to God. In accordance with these, He has pioneered some breathtaking service projects.

1) Starting small with a free general hospital, Swami has started two general hospitals and two super speciality hospitals which are absolutely free. The super specialty hospitals in Puttaparthi and Bangalore provide tertiary care to one and all - absolutely free of cost! And the response, especially from the poorest sections that earn less than a dollar a day has been one of unimaginable gratitude.


This has inspired medical service activities in over 120 countries of the world and healthcare is being provided to millions around the world. Some of the most amazing service has been carried out in the poor African continent! It has brought light to the dark continent!

But as I said, this is only a drop in the ocean. There is magnificent service going on in all countries. I have personally witnessed some, like this mind-blowing and heart-touching one in Trinidad and Tobago.

A view of the edifice of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences in Bengaluru. 

A view of the edifice of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences in Puttaparthi 

2) Swami has always defined education as something that brings out from within what is latent in a person. He says that education is not simply stuffing things external into a person! To achieve this, Swami has built schools and a university. And again, from the nursery to post graduation, the education is offered wholly free of cost! Mind boggling isn’t it? But Swami says, “When one has the pure intention to do good, there will be no shortage of men, materials, resources, money and good wishes. This is not miracle of God, but the miracle of Love. After all, Love is god and God is Love!”

The various temples of Education that He has started have inspired many others to do the same in His name and with His principles. A primary and higher secondary school also have begun at Puttaparthi. But that is not all!

The philosophy has inspired schools and educational institutions the world over like in Fiji
and Canada.

There are many more and I feel a sample should suffice.

The Puttaparthi Campus of the Sri Sathya Institute of Higher Learning

3) India is a huge country with many places lacking access to good drinking water. Swami built massive water projects to provide safe drinking water to over 700 villages in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, spending about 300 crores Indian rupees to millions of people in Medak & Mahboobnagar, to millions in the E and W Godavari districts and drinking water to the entire city of Chennai in India for which all the citizens and politicians came forward to express gratitude to Swami.

The pipelines being laid. ( More than 2000 kms of pipes were laid)

Water flowing out of the Kandaleru reservoir towards the city of Chennai.

The grateful villagers - beneficiaries of the massive Sathya Sai Drinking Water project

4) Service to the villages in making them self sustaining and happy has been another major effort from Swami. As in the other projects, starting small, He has achieved tremendous results. Among the hundreds of success stories, a sample would suffice to understand this.

That is quite a lot of talk from the head. I request the head to stop here and allow the heart too a fair share of talk time. So dear heart, start speaking now...

Talking of Sathya Sai Baba as a great humanitarian is like calling Lord Krishna a cowherd, Lord Jesus a Shepherd, the Buddha a prince and Prophet Muhammad a trader! Of course, He is a humanitarian, but He is much more.

He has taught me the greatest lesson of my life - the purpose of human life! I went to Swami seeking God. And then I heard him say, “Yes, I am God and so are you. The only difference between you and I is that while I am aware of this fact, you are not. “

I saw Him perform miracles - heal cancer, tuberculosis and blindness with a mere glance or a touch; create objects from thin air and heard about how He brought the dead back to life. But as I pondered on all these, I heard Him say that His greatest miracle was Love and that if one imbibed pure selfless love, anyone can do these so called miracles. And he said that truly everyone is nothing but love. Whenever He speaks, He addresses all as the embodiments of Love!

I stayed with Him and saw Him daily. It's more than 2 decades now and I cross my heart and say that He is my best friend who has showered on me the love of a mother, father and teacher, all rolled into one. He taught me that the individual is a part of society. Society is a part of nature and nature is the part of God! So if one claims to love God then one must love one’s fellow beings, serve the society and preserve nature. Reading what Swami has said about Himself tells us a lot about who He is.

Whenever I felt alone and lost, He came to me, not only physically but even metaphysically too! I have seen so many coincidences in my life and I know that a coincidence is also a miracle; just that God chose to remain anonymous! He found for me the love of my life and He has made me love life to the fullest. He taught me that Joy and Bliss is the nature of every soul and so we must be happy always. He made me realize that whatever is happening to me is for my good alone and therefore there is never the need for me to be sad. He has filled my life with love and taught me that everything I encounter in life is nothing but a reaction, reflection and resound of me. He has taught me to love me and therefore the whole world along with that! He is my world, nay my Universe. He embodies the most powerful force ever - that of Love - and so He is the most powerful. If you call that God, yes, He is my God!

How much ever I write on what He means to me, I shall never be satisfied for how can paltry words ever substitute an experience? But yet, like the salt doll that went to measure the depths of the ocean, I try to describe who He is with the hope that like that salt doll, I too shall dissolve in Him.

Millions are the ones who have experienced Him. And a few eminent people described Him variously. That should be an inspiring read in itself!

An Unforgettable Ramadan with Sri Sathya Sai Baba

There are times in life when ‘nothing seems to happen’. The days seem so ‘daily’ and monotonous. The same things repeat themselves over and over again and one is unable to tell one day from the other - they are all the same! So little happens at such times that, if one were to write about it, a few lines will suffice - a page at best maybe. However, there are also times in life when so much seems to happen in so less time! A single day seems to carry the memories and insights of a lifetime. No two things happening at such a time seem to be the same and everything happening is so important. I am sure that everyone would have been through these two types of times. I am no exception.

The former I do not remember much - obviously! The latter, I remember several days with my best-friend and master, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. With the start of the holy month of Ramadan (or Ramzan) on the 9th of July this year, in 2013, I remembered one such fully-filled and fulfilled day during the Ramadan of 2006. That year, the last day of Ramzan was October 23rd. We, the students of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, decided to put up a programme in the divine presence of Bhagawan, commemorating the completion of Ramzan. There were also some students who had rigorously maintained the fast during the month and they wished to offer their efforts to Swami via this programme. After meticulous planning and rigorous practice, all of us put on our costumes and assembled in the bhajan hall of the Sai Kulwant hall. It was our hope that Swami would bless the programme and grant us the privileged opportunity of presenting it in His presence. But the Lord had different plans and, as always, it turned out for the better.

(Disclaimer - The happenings recorded here are to the best of my memory as recorded in my diary. They might not have happened in the exact order of narration here but rest assured that everything mentioned here did happen.)

An unexpected ‘inner’view on Islam

Swami (as Baba is affectionately called) used to grant darshan in the Porte car those days. Completing His darshan round, Swami alighted in the portico. He walked straight into the bhajan hall. Seeing us all wearing the traditional Muslim caps, He smiled. Then He walked in and sat on the chair. That was totally unexpected. We were thinking that He would bless us and ask us to put up the programme outside. Instead, He sat amidst us! We were simply delighted!

He looked at me and asked,

“What is the meaning of Ramzan?”

Having prepared for almost 2 weeks on precisely the same topic, I began to reel out everything I knew about it in my mind. My tongue, however, was not fast enough to catch up with the mind. It only said,

“It is a month long fast...”

“Not a month-long fast”, Swami corrected, “It lasts only from sunrise to sunset after which they eat very well.” He smiled and continued, “During the fast, not even saliva is swallowed.”

Soon after that came a lovely insight. Swami spoke about Upavasam or fasting. He said, “Upa means ‘close’ and vasam means ‘residing’. So, true Upavasam is when one resides close to the principles of one’s faith and religion.”

That was quite an insight about ‘fasting’. Swami continued. He looked at me and and asked me why I was in a Muslim costume. My heart answered and the words dropped from my mouth,

“Swami, I want to be near you. If that means I have to wear a Muslim costume, I shall wear that. If a Christian dress has to worn, I shall wear that.”

I should have stopped there. However, trying to be over smart, I added,

“Swami, I have no distinctions between religions. I follow you Swami. I have nothing like Hindu, Muslim, Christian etc.”

Swami immediately responded,

“I never said in that way (as to why a Hindu is wearing a Muslim costume). All are one. But be true to the dress you wear. Follow at least one religiously.”

The next question was about the Muslim cap or topee. Swami asked a little boy, Sathya (from Iran),

“What is the meaning of the cap? Tell me.”

The boy, who was in the 7th grade had no idea. Swami then threw the question open to everyone present - why should one wear the cap? Here were a bunch of students wanting to put up an ‘educative’ programme on Ramzan and nobody had the slightest clue about a regular Islam practice. But how can we be blamed. Even today, when I try Googling as to why the cap is worn, there is no satisfactory answer. The ‘best’ answer I came across was that Prophet Mohammed wore it while praying and so it is worn even today.  Swami then revealed the beautiful answer.

“It is done for the same reason why the Hindus shave the hair off their heads at places like Tirupati. Hair represents Tamas (sloth/lethargy). In fact tamas is represented by the color black. To progress spiritually, one has to give up tamas via rajas (passion, intensity, action and energy) and then move to sattva before going beyond the gunas (attributes) to become one with the divine. Therefore, to remind one that giving up tamas or sloth is the first step in spirituality, the hair is either shaved off or covered with a skull cap.”

A special insight on why Muslims wear the skull cap during prayers - a true Sathya Sai special.

Tips at sense-control

Speaking about the significance of Ramzan, Swami dilated on the concept of ‘fasting’. Truly, it meant sense-control. And He said that sense-control meant keeping a restraint on all the 5 perceptions - Shabda, Sparsha, Rasa, Roopa, Gandha - sound, touch, taste, sight and smell. He went on to say that the senses must be controlled by harnessing the power of the Atma (spirit) and use the Buddhi (intellect) to control the mind. This must be done because the mind is the cause for either bondage or liberation - Mana Eva Manushyanaam Karanam Bandha Mokshayoho.

At this point, I raised my hand. I had a doubt that had been bothering me for years now. It was about a weakness of mine. Swami looked into my eyes and said,

“Your mind is a monkey mind.”

I just nodded in agreement. He continued,

“Not ordinary monkey - Pichchi monkey - mad monkey.”

Again, I just nodded in agreement. Swami smiled. Encouraged, I asked,

“Swami, you say that one should control desires. But at times, the desires come with such force and hit me. What to do at such times?”

Swami nodded, “Yes. Desires do come and hit strongly at times. At such times, stand firm.”

I wasn’t satisfied. I probed further, “Swami, what to do.... suppression?”

“No no! Not suppression but separation. ( Desires are not ‘you’. They can be easily kept away.) Desires come from far. You submit to them when they are far itself! However, what you must do is, even if they come close and hit you as you say, stand firm. Tell yourself that these desires are ‘not me’ and that they are ‘separate from me’. I assure you that though the desires may hit you twice or thrice, when you stand firm like that, they become powerless. But nowadays, people submit at the first hit itself!”

Swami continued on the topic of sense control. He asked,

“What do you do when you see a snake? Do you allow it to come near you?” He looked deep into my eyes at this point.

I nodded to say no.

(At this point, I recollect that Swami has said habits should be given up like one lets go of poisonous snakes. However, when habits turn into addictions, it is a slightly different process and Swami has beautifully explained how one should let go of addictions.)

Swami now made a connection with desires and poison.

“A snake has poison in the head. A scorpion has poison in the tail. But man today, with the sights he sees, sounds he hears, things he speaks, has poison in the eyes, ears, tongue, nose and skin! Remember that desires poison everything.”

Sitting at His Lotus feet, it was a golden opportunity for me to learn s much.

Ram in Ramzan

Swami further elaborated how people used to be ideal and stick to virtues. He gave examples from the Ramayana. (I was struck about how He spoke about Rama during Ramzan. Isn’t it interesting that there is ‘Ram’ in Ramzan and ‘Ali’ in Diwali?) Swami said that when King Dasharatha had no progeny from Kausalya, for the sake of a child to rule the kingdom, he had to marry again. At that time, he sought permission from his wife Kausalya and only after obtaining the same did he seek Sumitra’s hand. Sumitra’s father too ensured the proper permissions had been sought. Again he had no progeny and a third marriage had to be entered. Again, Dasharatha sought permission from both his wives before marrying Kaikeyi.

Swami continued to give a few more instances from the Ramayana. All of us assembled were simply mesmerized by His spontaneity and wisdom. Little did we know that the session was about to blossom into something more personal, wonderful and poignant.

continued in the second part: A shower of wisdom from Sri Sathya Sai during Ramzan.

For all readers:

(If you enjoyed this and wish to subscribe to this blog, please go to the right hand side and choose the last 'box' which says subscribe. Another blog which I maintain with more than 200 articles on it is at http://aravindb1982.hubpages.com. If you wish to be added to my mailing list, please email me via this page with the subject "ADD ME TO MAILING LIST".

Also, use the Tweet and FB buttons below here liberally to share with your friends and family!

Thank you)

Talent-Search : The experience of a student who achieved talent by loving God

That is what we generally think! Swami gave a new definition altogether!

It was a very special evening. The students and staff of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions had gathered at the lotus feet of their Master, God and guide, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the Trayee Brindavan premises. They were grateful to be enjoying this privilege of being a part of a Trayee Session. Swami, as Baba is reverentially and lovingly called, was seated on the jhoola (indoor swing) and all the students were seated at His feet. A talk was in progress.

The speaker was Sri Sanjay Sahni and he was talking about how one should make use of one’s skills and talents for God. In the process, he made a very interesting revelation. He said,

“On one occasion, a speaker said in Swami’s presence that talent is a gift of God. Swami immediately corrected him saying that talent was not merely a ‘gift’ of God. Talent is God!”

Even as Sri Sahni made the statement, Swami, seated on the jhoola, smiled and nodded.

In Mathematics, one of the basic rules that we learn is called the symmetric property of equality. This is represented by a simple statement -

If a=b, then b=a.

It is so simple that one often wonders whether there is any need for it to be stated. There is a reason why this basic Mathematical principle was evoked. When it is said that ‘Talent is God’, it automatically means that ‘God is talent’. And that has been the discovery in life for Aravind Sai! From here on, we shall journey along with him, down memory lane and rediscover what he discovered...

Burning aspiration in the heart

Aravind Sai began his narrative by stating, “Brother, people may consider me as talented today. But let me make it clear, I was nothing. If at all there is anything which I can say that I have, it is love for Swami. That is what I hold most dear in my heart. Swami has conferred everything upon me. All credit to Him.”

Even as I heard that, I remembered the mathematical principle. So, even if one is ‘not talented’, one’s love for God is sufficient to create talent! I was all the more eager to hear his story. It turned out to be a very unique and insightful one indeed.

Aravind Sai joined the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning for his undergraduate studies for the academic year 2004. When he joined, he had one burning aspiration in his heart - to sing for Swami in His presence. That is what drove him to do most of the things that he did. And so, all the boys having their bath or in their morning ablutions were treated to free public singing as Aravind Sai took bath. The corridors in the hostel which he walked constantly resonated with bhajans which he sang. Everyone in his class knew that he was on his way to become a singer just like his elder brother, Sai Krishna, had. But there was one thing that they did not know -

Aravind Sai did not have the ability to sing on pitch! He could surely reel out a bhajan, but introduce a harmonium and a specific pitch, he was not sure of singing on key. While most singers get this ability by instinct, it was all a mystery for Aravind Sai. Thus, his burning aspirations could never materialize into something concrete for he lacked the ‘basic ability’ any singer should possess.

It is no surprise that he failed the auditions to get into the coveted Mandir Bhajan Group.

God steps in

Months passed this way and Aravind Sai continued singing in the corridors and bathrooms. It was not that he was ‘determined’ and ‘practicing’. It was just his passion being expressed. One day, he got a break. His classmate, Prabhakar, blessed with a sweet voice and an excellent music sense, came to him with a proposal,

“There is a Burrakatha  (click on that to learn what Burrakatha is) teacher who has come to train students. The warden says that Swami likes Burrakatha and has encouraged it a lot in the past. Three students are needed for this traditional art form. I am enrolling. Why don’t you also come along? If it works out well, we can sing and dance in Swami’s presence.”

The last statement were music to Aravind Sai ears.

“But, I may not be able to sing...”

All of a sudden, Aravind Sai thought that he better keep quiet about his ‘key-catching’ inability.

“What?” Prabhakar asked, “you won't be able to sing? Why?”

“...because I have just woken up”, he said with a smile, “let me get ready and then let us go and enroll.”

That was how Prabhakar got selected as the main singer for the Burrakatha while Aravind Sai got the role of the Hasyaka (a co-performer who cracks jokes throughout the performance). A third student, Raghuram, became the lead narrator. While the main singer and Hasyaka were expected to be good singers, the narrator just had be good at speaking.

The team practiced day and night for 2 months after which the teacher informed the warden that the team was ready to perform in front of Swami.

Mission Impossible?

Aravind Sai had made up in sincerity and effort what he lacked in talent and ability. Nobody even noticed that he was unable to sing exactly on key. He overcame that disability by simply memorizing the scale along with the tunes to be sung!

The three students decked up in the costume and, with their hearts beating hard, waited in the mandir for Swami’s arrival during darshan (sighting of the Master/Divine one). Swami arrived; everyone had darshan. But that was about it! Though He saw the three lads dressed in costumes, He did not show even the slightest interest in them. After the Aarthi was taken, Swami left and the boys returned to the hostel, crestfallen.

“Success does not lie in not falling but bouncing every time you fall down.”

Deriving inspiration from that quote, the lads prepared for another show. But when Swami did not pay attention or make any inquiries for 5 such occasions, they got completely disheartened. They went to the warden and said,

“Sir, maybe we are not good enough. Or maybe, we are not good boys. That is why we are not getting this opportunity to sing and perform in front of Swami. You should look out for replacements.”

The warden who was well-versed with Swami’s methods, said,

“Don’t give up! Every effort you put in has been noted by Swami I am sure. Continue your efforts. Redouble them if necessary.”

The next two months saw the boys do just that. Aravind Sai began to put those efforts in everything he did - studies, sports and even ‘mundane’ activities like eating, sleeping, bathing - doing them perfectly as an offering to his Swami. Such was the joy in just putting effort, that Aravind Sai began to get an excited anticipation that something nice was about to happen.

The shower of blessings

And it did happen! On the 4th of November, 2004, Swami Himself asked for the Burrakatha boys and blessed the trio to perform on stage. The performance was based on Swami’s life and teachings. The continuous efforts of the boys over the last few months showed and it turned out to be a performance brilliant beyond anybody’s expectations. Everyone was thrilled and overjoyed, the boys included.

As Aravind Sai narrated this, I remembered a powerful message that Swami had given to a bhajan composer and singer,

“When you want to sing a bhajan, the first 25 times you do it, all your attention will be on the notes and beats. Practicing it 25 times frees you from that. The next 25 times you practice, you can sing confidently but you have to work on developing the bhava or feeling. At the end of 75 times of practice, your singing will be effortless and, as you sing, you will see your beloved Lord in your mind’s eye. After another 25 times of practice, when you sing, not only you but everyone in the audience will also be able to see the Lord in the mind’s eye.”

That sums up everything about the importance of practice for a bhajan singer right? One must practice a bhajan for at least a 100 times before singing it in public. Do we do that?

As the trio completed their performance, Swami called them and spoke to them. He granted padanamaskar (chance to touch the feet in reverence) and a group picture with Him. Then, He told them to change into ‘normal’ clothes and come back for the bhajans. As they left, Swami too moved into the interview room. On His way, He told a few people,

“See! How beautifully they are able to summarize my teachings in just a few minutes! That is the ability of my boys!”

Aravind Sai is seen to Swami's immediate right. This was a photograph chance that Baba gave the three
Burrakatha artistes and their support music team. 

The beginning of a journey

Even as Aravind Sai was about to change into his whites, a call came for the trio.

“Swami is calling you three to the interview room.”

They rushed. Swami was waiting for them with a broad smile. He gave them white safari pieces and told them that He was very happy. It was such a joyful session lasting almost half an hour. During that session, Aravind Sai made bold to ask,

“Swami, can I sing for you.”

“That is what you did right?”

“Swami, I want to sing bhajans for you...”

“Are you not singing now?”

“No Swami...”

“Then, sing a bhajan today. Go, change and quickly come to the front in the bhajan hall. I will definitely listen to your bhajan today.”

An excited Aravind Sai was in the bhajan hall moments later, excitedly planning out his bhajan-singing debut in front of Swami. A few minutes later Swami arrived. During the bhajans, Swami indicated to him to sing.

While Aravind Sai had definitely practiced a lot for the Burrakatha, the same cannot be said about bhajans. And so, as was his problem, he wasn’t able to catch the key. He just started off a bhajan on some key. The expert harmonium player quickly made the necessary changes to ensure that Aravind’s singing was on key. Swami just smiled and blessed the boy.

But deep inside, Aravind Sai realized how hopelessly equipped he was to be Swami’s bhajan singer. He walked courageously to the teacher-in-charge of the bhajan group and told him,

“Sir! I will never sing in front of Swami like this. Let me practice.”

“Swami allowed you to sing yesterday. That is why you sang. He has given us guidelines about bhajan singers. I will never allow you to sing again, unless Swami specifically asks again”, was the reply.

For the reader, this might seem like the end of Aravind Sai. But Aravind Sai knew that this was just the beginning - the beginning of his long journey into becoming Swami’s bhajan singer.

Watch out! Lots more to come....

continued in another post entitled: Wherever my devotee sings my name, I install myself there.