P O T E N T E V I D E N C E
W H O is Sai Baba?
By R. D. Awle
[Copyright 2001. Dated August 2001]
This material may be downloaded, reproduced and distributed freely, as long as
the source is clearly attributed.]
Testimony of the Modern Day Masters
One of the greatest Saints of this century was a woman named Anandamayi Ma.
(The name translates as `Bliss-permeated Mother.' There's a photo of her,
standing next to Paramahansa Yogananda, in Autobiography of a Yogi.) She was so
pure and filled with God that she was widely considered to be a Divine
Incarnation herself: there seemed to be nothing in her but God and her words
were Truth itself. According to one of her closest Western devotees, over the
years she had often been asked, "Who is this Sathya Sai Baba we keep hearing
about?" But for many years she never gave an answer. In the last year of her
life, however, the question came up again, and this time she gave the following
response: "This body will speak on this question only once; don't ask again.
Sathya Sai Baba is the most powerful incarnation of God ever to come to the
Earth. And there won't be another at His level for another sixty centuries."
That amazing testimony was recently strengthened for me when I went
to one of Anandamayi Ma's ashrams in the Himalayas. When I shared the
preceding quote with a Swami there, he said that Anandamayi Ma had then added,
"It's no wonder you keep hearing about Sai Baba. He is the Avatar of this
Yuga!" (Avatar means Incarnation of God; a Yuga is an era lasting many
thousands of years.)
Other Saints have given similar testimony. Shortly before he left
his physical body behind, Paramahansa Yogananda was approached by one of his
close American disciples, a woman. "Master," she said, "I know you are
planning on leaving your body. You must take me with you! You are my God!"
"Nonsense," replied Yogananda. "God is God; I am your Guru."
"But Master, if you leave without me, I will commit suicide!"
"Enough of that foolishness! God Himself is now incarnate on
Earth, in South India. His name is Sai Baba. When I leave you are going to
live with Him." (His prediction proved correct; after Yogananda's death, that
devotee spent the rest of her life at Sai Baba's ashram.)
Mata Amritanandamayi (also known as Ammachi), Herself considered to
be an incarnation of the Divine Mother, was once asked, "Who is Sai Baba?" She
replied, "Avatar. Perfect from birth."
On the day after Sai Baba's birth (November 23, 1926), Sri
Aurobindo, another great Saint of this century, broke a long period of silence
to announce, "Twenty-fourth November, 1926, was the descent of Krishna into the
physical. A power infallible shall lead the thought, in earthly hearts kindle
the Immortal's Fire, even the multitude shall hear the voice!" It seems obvious
at this point that his announcement of Krishna's physical re-embodiment was
referring to the birth of Sathya Sai Baba.
Mother Krishnabai, the Self-Realized disciple of Swami Ramdas (the
great Saint from Kerala), told her devotees, "Sai Baba is an Avatar, a full
incarnation of Krishna. He is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva together in one form!"
She recommended they spend as much time in His presence as possible.
Swami Satchidananda, the enlightened sage who currently
runs Anandashram in Kerala, was recently asked about the allegations against
Sai Baba. He replied, "Forget about it. He is God!"
Karunamayi (also known as Vijayeshwari Devi, considered by many to
be a living incarnation of the Goddess Sarasvati) recently told one of her
close devotees, "Sai Baba and Amma [meaning herself] are both watching over
you." Apparently she also knows who Baba is!
Yogi Ramsuratkumar made it clear on numerous occasions that Sai
Baba is an incarnation of God. He often asked visitors from Baba's ashram,
"You've left God to see this beggar?" (Of course, that "beggar" was himself
merged in the all-pervading Consciousness; the beauty of his attainment was
matched only by his humility.)
Shiva Balayogi, another of the great Gurus of the last century, was
once asked about Sai Baba. He replied, "Sathya Sai Baba is an Avatar."
Master El Moya and Master Kuthumi, two of the great Ascended Masters
behind the founding of the Theosophical Movement, also declared Sai Baba to be
an Avatar. According to author Howard Murphet, in the book "The Light Will Set
You Free" these Masters have stated, "Avatar Sai Baba is carrying the Divine
consciousness in the world today."
Maitreya, the mysterious Master who has been miraculously appearing
before people in various places around the globe throughout the last two
decades, has said (through his spokesman, Benjamin Creme) that He (Maitreya) is
the planetary Avatar, while Sai Baba is the Universal Avatar.
