Sai Baba EXPOSED!

28 August 2006

Sai Baba's Mahaprabhu Boo-Boo

In the famous 'Conversations' book by John S. Hislop, Sai Baba has the following to say about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:


"Chaitanya had Sachananda as a guru at one time. The guru wanted to test the devotion of Chaitanya. He placed a cube of sugar on Chaitanya's tongue and said to him to keep it there until he returned from the river. At the river, Sachananda bathed, washed clothes, did his singing and was away some two hours. On returning, he found Chaitanya with his mouth still open and the cube of sugar vibrating somewhat, but intact on the tongue without any melting. Realising Chaitanya's greatness, and that his control of the senses was so complete, he prostrated and declared that Chaitanya was his guru."

- 'Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba', Jack. S. Hislop, p. 142.

Cute story. For those who don't know, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533) was a great saint, social reformer, and a notable proponent of the Bhakti-Yoga tradition that arose out of North India in medieval times. He is also credited with the inauguration of the 'saṅkīrtana' movement - the public singing and chanting of God's glories - and is also believed to be an incarnation of Krishna by his devotees.

The only problem with the above story is that there is no 'Sachananda' listed as Chaitanya's guru in any of his recognised biographies. On the contrary, Chaitanya was formally initiated into the Vaiṣṇava school by Sri Ishvara Puri, and at a later date he received the order of sannyasa from Sri Keshava Bharati. I should know, since I happen to be a devotee of Chaitanya and an adherent of Gaudiya Vaishnavism - the theological school founded by him.

Given the fact that Hislop's recollection of his conversations with Sai Baba are largely from his own memory, I could allow for the fact that a similar name to 'Sachananda' might exist. Surprise surprise: It doesn't. There is no mention of any 'Sachananda' nor of any similar nomenclature. And while we're on the subject, this story about the sugar cube does not exist in any of the known biographies of Chaitanya either. Another lie of Sai Baba's bites the dust.




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1 Comments:

  • My friend, dont be stupid... If you are a real chaitanya devotee you`re not following his teaching losing time talking shit... And just to remind you, theres is no SACHANANDA, Chaitanya`s gurus is written SATYANANDA.
    Hare Krishna

    By Anonymous Nitay, at 30 March, 2009 21:06  

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