The atheists in India do not wish to praise him since they aren’t fond of the custom of ‘eulogizing’ somebody after death. The reactions say that they still stick to their opinion about Satya Sai Baba. India is country with diverse religions and scattered thoughts. The religions are further split on the basis of caste and land. The belief doesn’t end with God. It goes beyond that. The pace of the modern life style has adversely affected believes also. We learn from Vedas that God can not be perceived as such despite His omnipresence. He takes different forms to help the suffering, anguished and oppressed human beings, called the Avatars. The sages pray for many years to get salvation. However, the modern life style has changed it a lot. People are running after short-cut methods to get their desire satisfied. When they are unable to find the presence of God they are frustrated and desperate. This hopelessness is the key for God man.
There are sages who never declare themselves as almighty. They live in fame but with a status of an adept counselor or educator. The case of Sai Baba was something different. He wanted to be known as ‘God’ or an incarnation of God rather than a man with a divine desire to serve humanity. In order to prove the element of sacredness in him, he was attempting some contemptible tricks which any magician could unveil. The production of ‘bhasma’ (holy cinders) and apple from thin air gave an impression to the common man that he is capable of saving them. Science has proved these cheap stuffs beyond doubt. It is an astonishing fact that even educated people, film stars and politicians acknowledge these treacherous acts.
Atheists are of the opinion that these self-proclaimed God men have an irrefutable role in turning millions of Indians particularly the youth into lethargic couch-potatoes who do not strive hard to achieve greater heights but seek abridged paths which they believe would be fetched by these God men. The fame of Baba arose in the 60’s when India was taking a vital turn to its path of glory, achievement and education. It is commendable that he has established hospitals, educational institutions and medical centers in the country. The trust named after him has done thousands of good things to the society as well. According to the income tax reports, his trust has a financial pillar worth 40,000 crore bucks. Doesn’t it appear a paradox that a sage who has to be known for renunciation of all worldly pleasures owns immense money in his account?
A sage believes in renunciation. Renunciation of emotions and pleasures and tying knot with prayers is the path an honest saint takes to achieve salvation. He is not interested in money, fame, or even his body. He is devoting his soul to the almighty. Baba has a shaven face with appealing red clothing and crew members to extol him in front of cameras. These are not expected of a saint. The tricks he performs remind of a magician who tries to magnetize the audience in front of him.
Anyway, he is no more. To paraphrase Bhagvat Gita whatever you earn is lost when you die. I can not guess what would happen to the misconception people had about his immortality. Some may still come out with the argument that incarnations die just like the viyoga of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. It is also hilarious to watch channels describing his death as a ‘Samadhi’. To conclude…an era has gone, an era the description of which depends on your faith. It may described as an era in which people could witness the presence of God or his incarnation right in front of them, they could touch, feel and experience or it may be an era which utterly swindled a mass of educated and uneducated Indians which are yet to recover from the digressed thoughts and benighted beliefs.
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