I have come to repair the ancient highway to God; I have not come on behalf of any sect or creed or religion. I have come to light the lamp of love in the hearts of all humanity; says Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba whose 76th birthday is being celebrated today in over 7000 Centres in 165 countries throughout the world.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born on the 23rd November 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradhesh in India. His advent was heralded by mysterious events. The two musical instruments in the home, the tambura (which is a string instrument) and the maddala (a drum) lying on the floor would be heard playing melodiously by some unseen hands in the early hours of the morning. He was placed on some bedclothes on the floor after the baby was born. When the bedclothes on which the baby lay started moving up and down it was observed that there was a cobra underneath the bedclothes. These were some of the signs which gave an indication of what was to come later on.

Even at the early age of three or four young Sathya as he was called showed great compassion to the cripple, infirm, blind and the poor. He would take them home and give them food much against the wishes of his parents. Although Sathya’s family was not vegetarian, young Sathya was a natural vegetarian who showed love and affection to all beings. He avoided places where animals were killed for food. He could not bear any form of ill-treatment of animals, and his concern and love for all beings, earned him at the age of five the name of ‘Brahmajnani’ - one who has acquired wisdom that reveals the inner reality of creation.

At school, Sathya was respected by the staff members for his knowledge and was revered by them. As a young boy Sathya would like to play with his friends. Even at play, he would often manifest divine powers. On the banks of Chithravathi river was a tamarind tree. He would get on top the tree and pluck many varieties of fruits such as oranges, apples, mangoes, pears etc.

A big change was to take place in his life at the age of fourteen. On the 8th March 1940 he was bitten by a scorpion. He fell unconscious and there was change in his behaviour and witchcraft was also resorted but of no avail. On the 23rd May 1940 he declared that he was ‘Sai Baba’ and when challenged, he proved beyond doubt by throwing a handful of flowers on the floor which formed the words ‘Sai Baba’. On the 20th October 1940 he announced ‘ I am no longer your Sathya I am Sai I am going. I don’t belong to you. Illusion has gone. My devotees are calling me. I have my work. I cannot stay any longer.

A new stage in his life was beginning. He wasn’t a boy any more. He was being accepted more and more as an Avatar (incarnation of God) and many people came to worship him. In his childhood, Sathya combined sport and play, miracles and teaching to put forward His message to mankind.

He said ‘I have come to reconstruct the ancient highway to God. My task is the spiritual regeneration of humanity through truth and love. This Sai has come in order to achieve the task of uniting as one family the entire mankind, through the bond of brotherhood, of affirming and illuminating the Atmic Reality of each being in order to reveal the Divine which is the basis on which the Cosmos rests’

He declared;

There is only one religion

The religion of love

There is only language

There language of the heart

There is only one caste

The caste of humanity

There is only one God

He is omnipresent.

‘I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added lusture. I have not come to speak on behalf of any particular Dharma like the Hindu Dharma. I have not come on any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect followers for any doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples and devotees into my fold or any fold. I have to tell you of this universal unitary faith, this Atmic Principle, this Path of Love, this Dharma of Prema, this Duty of Love, this obligation of Love.’

‘Believe that all hearts are motivated by one and only God; that all faiths glorify the one and only God; that all names and all languages and all forms man can conceive denote the one and only God, His adoration is best done by means of LOVE. Cultivate that oneness between men of all creeds, all countries and all continents. That is the MESSAGE OF LOVE, I bring, That is the message I wish you to take to heart.’

He performs numerous miracles. Even leading scientists like ‘Bhaithavatsalam’ one time Head of the Atomic Research in India after intense scrutiny confided that there is no scientific explanation for these miracles. But Bhagavan says that these miracles are not so important. These are just like visiting cards. He says transformation of the individual is all that is important.

He says that following the various methods of worship set out in the various religions are not that important. But, what is important is that the practice of the values of each religion. He has set out five values. Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Right Conduct), Shanthi (Peace), Prema (love) and Ahimsa ( Non Violence). According to Him there is no aetheist. He says ‘God is Love’. There is no one who doesn’t at least love something. When one analyses His teachings, one comes to the conclusion that His teachings are nothing but secular.

He has said that the chaos in the world is due to the present educational system. He says the values are completely forgotten and emphasis is only on money making. He has introduced a system of Education in Human Values which has been included in the curricular in several countries. He feels the values should be taught at the very tender age. According to his method these values can be introduced through any subject. This year He has inaugurated a programme called ‘Educare’. This accepts the position that divinity is present in every individual. The teacher has to bring out the divinity which is inherent in the individual. There is nothing new to be imparted to the child. It is earnestly hoped that educationists in this country will soon adapt these methods for the sake of the Nation. There is no religion in this. It is the same human value which is in every religion.

Presently, every one is talking of Peace and yearning for Peace. He says that the world today is suffering from selfish politics, nihilistic religion and heartless competition which is a disgraceful state of affairs and that man has forgotten his fundamental nature. He is wasting his years in eating and drinking, playing and resting and earning and spending. All the unique qualities he has won in the past through a series of head and heart, is now reduced to ashes.

He says that man who is desperately in need of peace thinks that he can get this from around. Egoism, anger, jealousy and hatred are the causes for all these. Man gives pride of place to material possessions, name and fame, status and recognition which are transitory and ephemeral.

He says that ‘peace is the undisturbed, unmoved, unperturbed state of the inner self despite ups and downs and glooms and gleams in one’s life journey. Peace is the innate nature of man and not an external acquisition.He further says that mind is the seat of desires and it is important to control and guide the mind so that it does not run amock. It has to be trained to be a servant end not a master of man.

He further says that Peace is the unfolding of something which is already there. It is the calm contentment of the right attitude and right action. If you really want to enjoy you must end joy, the petty joys must end. Then the mind will fix itself on the highest joy.

He has given a simple formula for World Peace.

If there is righteousness in the heart

There will be beauty in character;

If there is beauty in character

There will be harmony in the home;

When there is harmony in the home

There will be order in the Nation;

When there is order in the Nation;

There will be Peace in the world.
Ram Balasubramaniyam
Vice Chairman
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Colombo