Millions of followers from all around the world, a huge organisational setup up carrying out service activities motivated and inspired by him in more than 120 countries, millions of dollars worth philanthropy, a village which was once just ram, www.youtube.com, a stones' throw away from stone age transformed to an international spiritual destination, an airport and a railway station attached to this remote village which otherwise would have been a poor and remote area of India, state of the art super specialty hospitals providing free medical care to the poorest of the poor, free but quality educational institutions of the highest reputation and grading - these are some of the striking achievements that world renowned spiritual guru -Sri Sathya Sai Baba achieved during His 85 years of earthly sojourn in the world famous Spiritual destination Prasanthi Nilayam, his abode in south India.
"I am God. And you too are God. The only difference between you and Me is that while I am aware of it, you are completely unaware." This was the answer Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba used to give to people who query him about his identity and divinity. Considered by many as a Divine Incarnate, Sai Baba's accomplishments speak volumes of his unflinching commitment to his vision - to unite humanity through a common bond of Love. Through thousands of public discourses and interactions in private with his devotees, he always emphasised that true and selfless love to fellow human beings is the only panacea for all the illnesses of this grief and strife torn world. Love All Serve All and Help Ever Hurt Never is his clarion call to all his followers to bring about a semblance of peace and steadiness to directionless humanity bereft of unity and love.
The presence of a large number of people from varied backgrounds, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, nationality is a true testament to his universal message of brotherhood - all are one - be alike to everyone. A visit to Prasanthi Nilayam, the spiritual empire and the ashram of Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a must in the travel schedule of every spiritual seeker visiting India. The grandeur and the glory of the most popular spiritual master can only be experienced and cannot be explained and for seeking such an experience, a visit to Prasanthi Nilayam is the only simple method. If money were to be the only resource required to replicate and undertake the noble initiatives of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, then by now there should have been multitudes of wealthy men with similar accomplishments. Sai Baba has proved that pure love towards fellow men and good and noble intentions are the only investments that one need to put in and that money shall never be a constraint for one who sole intentions are nothing but rendering selfless service to the needy. Sri Sathya Sai Baba often says that "My life is my message" and his message has been "Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray". Inspired by Sai Baba's example there have been many such similar initiatives undertaken all around the globe - be it distribution of food to the poor, be it rendering medical care by organising free medical camps across the globe or be it running of free schools - they were all the truly the works of God inspiring the humanity to take to the right path of service to humanity.
While the Indian media in general and local media in particular chose to conveniently ignore and highlight the noble works that Sai Baba has carried out during his life time, Prasanthi Nilayam became a much sought after destination for hordes of broadcast vans of media houses to transmit and cover his final days in hospital by raking up a controversy surrounding his health. His unfortunate and untimely exit and the subsequent bickerings and media reporting of certain allegations against some of his close associates might have taken some gloss off the accomplishments of Spiritual Master, but the legacy and the glory of one of the most revered personalities shall be eternal and always stay enshrined in the hearts of millions of his devotees for whom Sri Sathya Sai Baba has not only been a mere guru but their friend, philosopher, guide, father and mother and much more.
"I am God. And you too are God. The only difference between you and Me is that while I am aware of it, you are completely unaware." This was the answer Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba used to give to people who query him about his identity and divinity. Considered by many as a Divine Incarnate, Sai Baba's accomplishments speak volumes of his unflinching commitment to his vision - to unite humanity through a common bond of Love. Through thousands of public discourses and interactions in private with his devotees, he always emphasised that true and selfless love to fellow human beings is the only panacea for all the illnesses of this grief and strife torn world. Love All Serve All and Help Ever Hurt Never is his clarion call to all his followers to bring about a semblance of peace and steadiness to directionless humanity bereft of unity and love.
The presence of a large number of people from varied backgrounds, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, nationality is a true testament to his universal message of brotherhood - all are one - be alike to everyone. A visit to Prasanthi Nilayam, the spiritual empire and the ashram of Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a must in the travel schedule of every spiritual seeker visiting India. The grandeur and the glory of the most popular spiritual master can only be experienced and cannot be explained and for seeking such an experience, a visit to Prasanthi Nilayam is the only simple method. If money were to be the only resource required to replicate and undertake the noble initiatives of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, then by now there should have been multitudes of wealthy men with similar accomplishments. Sai Baba has proved that pure love towards fellow men and good and noble intentions are the only investments that one need to put in and that money shall never be a constraint for one who sole intentions are nothing but rendering selfless service to the needy. Sri Sathya Sai Baba often says that "My life is my message" and his message has been "Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray". Inspired by Sai Baba's example there have been many such similar initiatives undertaken all around the globe - be it distribution of food to the poor, be it rendering medical care by organising free medical camps across the globe or be it running of free schools - they were all the truly the works of God inspiring the humanity to take to the right path of service to humanity.
While the Indian media in general and local media in particular chose to conveniently ignore and highlight the noble works that Sai Baba has carried out during his life time, Prasanthi Nilayam became a much sought after destination for hordes of broadcast vans of media houses to transmit and cover his final days in hospital by raking up a controversy surrounding his health. His unfortunate and untimely exit and the subsequent bickerings and media reporting of certain allegations against some of his close associates might have taken some gloss off the accomplishments of Spiritual Master, but the legacy and the glory of one of the most revered personalities shall be eternal and always stay enshrined in the hearts of millions of his devotees for whom Sri Sathya Sai Baba has not only been a mere guru but their friend, philosopher, guide, father and mother and much more.