Sai Devotees: Still Missing The (Legal) Point

Further to the Shirdi court case reportage, recent letters to the editor of the Mumbai Mirror show that respondents are still missing the point when it comes to the understandings of the case.

This is with reference to the article ‘Sigh! Baba’ (January 10, 2006). The re- incarnation issue which has piqued the Shirdi Baba followers should be viewed more objectively.

Let us look at it this way: Satya Sai Baba may or may not be an avatar of Shirdi Sai Baba, but he has spread Shirdi Baba’s message far and wide, when very few people had heard of the saint. Again, at every congregation in every part of the world, where Satya Sai Baba’s devotees assemble, Shirdi Sai Baba’s image is always present and his glory is sung. His concept of universality of all religions is stressed.

What must be appreciated is that Satya Sai Baba has taken up Shirdi Baba's mission from where he had left off. The goal of both the Babas is identical — to alleviate human misery, ignorance and intolerance of faith in religions other than one's own.

As far as the subject of incarnation goes, Hindus themselves are divided on the matter even today. The Shaivites can never see eye to eye with the Vaishnavites. The Dwaita proponents ridicule the followers of Adwaita. Actually, God is one, like the source of a river. The tributaries are many, all of which flow towards the ocean. And, again return as cloud and rain to the source. So, whichever God you worship, the prayers are bound to reach the same source God.

AS Das, Mumbai

The incarnation theory of various gurus has been part of Hindu culture. So, there is no point in breaking our head over this. One should see the long list of devotes of Satya Sai Baba, not only in India but in other countries as well. Through them a lot of good work is being done. One should appreciated the work rather than talk about their doubts about the re-incarnation theory.

V. Gopal, Chembur

What devotees have to understand is that when a legal claim is made, it follows the due process of law and is heard in a court. As such, I seriously doubt that magistrates and judges are particularly interested in whether Sathya Sai really is a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai, nor would they care much about the former's humanitarian works. AS Das argues that such disagreements are philosophical whereas V. Gopal advises us not to "break our heads" and to consider Sathya Sai's good works as having more importance.

How do these arguments relate to the unarguable fact that the Sathya Sai Organisation have been engaging in systematic propaganda for decades via their published material. According to the Andhra Herald, it was none other than Sathya Sai who gave the green light for this, not to mention the fact that he has openly broadcast that he is the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai in his speeches. As far as I have read this promotional material all the evidences given to support Sathya Sai's claim are, legally considering, based on speculation, emotion and sentiment. There is no way that Sathya Sai can legally prove that he is the reincarnation, that even a blind man without a cane knows.

In all of this hoo-ha in defence of Sathya Sai, it appears that a complete lack of sensitivity has been shown to the followers of the Shirdi saint. After having to put up with decades of irritating exaggerations about the Puttaparthi fool, what appears to be the final straw came when a charitable organisation suggested clubbing together the birthday celebrations of both the Sais and published pamphlet describing their reincarnatory connections. Is it any wonder that Shirdi devotees would blow their top at this?

A 'Cease and Desist' order to halt the reincarnation claptrap is perfectly justified, but you wouldn't expect the followers of Sathya Sai to agree and/or comply. They should not complain and squeal about their guru's "good works" when having to face up to decades of belligerent promotion of the connection with impunity, nor do they have the right to discount the Shirdi devotees' efforts as "all rubbish".

The petition brought forward is a legal case and, as such, needs to follow legal reasonings for a proper judicial conclusion to be reached. No amount of caterwauling from the opposite camp can change anything.

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