Śri Sathya Sai Baba (1926 –2011) was an Indian guru,
spiritual figure, mystic, philanthropist and educator. He claimed to be the
reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi who was considered a spiritual saint and a
miracle worker, whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and Muslim
beliefs, and who died in 1918
The materializations of vibhuti (holy ash) and other small
objects such as rings, necklaces and watches by Sathya Sai Baba were a source
of both fame and controversy; devotees considered them signs of divinity, while
skeptics viewed them as simple conjuring tricks.
Photos of Sathya Sai Baba are displayed in millions of homes
and on car dashboards. Lockets bearing his photo are worn by many as a symbol
of good fortune and are often kept in wallets for spiritual protection. Sai
Baba had ashrams in 126 countries and also ran a network of hospitals, clinics
and schools that were often free.
