FOLLOW THE MASTER
AUM SRI SAI RAM
My salutations at the Lotus feet of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba shed His mortal frame on 24 April 2011.
There are numerous accounts by devotees who experienced the magic of being present at the spot where His mortal remains have been interred. Some have reported a sudden surge of energy the moment their foreheads touched the cool marble surrounding the repository in which the divine material body lies. Others have spoken of healing of sicknesses, of positive changes in their life’s journeys and so on.
This sacred spot has become the epicentre of divine energy that pervades the entire universe. Swami Himself had chosen that sacred spot for the interment of His physical remains. Br Rameswar Prusty recalls that during the construction of the Sai Kulwanth Hall, Swami pointed to a spot on the dais in front of where the Ganesha statue use to be (now Swami’s photo is there) and said that there will come a time when His physical remains will lie there. The late Prof. Sri Anil Kumar also recalls Swami speaking of this after the construction of the Hall was completed. We at Sri Sathya Sai Global Council are so fortunate that this sacred site continues to be our headquarters.
Which begs the question: Has there been any shift in the potency, the omnipresence, the omniscience of the Lord post 24 April 2011? HAS GOD DIED? Lord Krishna gave up His mortal frame more than 5 000years ago. Does this mean that He does not exist anymore? The Lord Jesus was crucified more than 2000 years ago. Does this mean that His divine essence is no longer available? Do Buddhists pray to a Lord that WAS or a Lord that IS?
Can God ever exit from the Earth?
By the very nature of His omnipresence, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba cannot go to any place nor come from any place because He is present everywhere at all times. He continues to reveal Himself to thousands of devotees and non-devotees in a myriad ways. Thousands of kilometres away from Prasanthi Nilayam, devotees continue to report the appearance of divine manifestations of vibuthi, Amrith, etc in their homes. Some have reported even seeing His physical presence.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said that He has come to light the lamp of love in our hearts, to see that it grows day by day with added lustre. He gave us the assurance that this task will be achieved. He had to take on the human body because we prayed for it. In order to infinitise man God had to make Himself finite. Do we not continue to see the potencies of the Poorna Avatar at work daily? The potencies of :
1. GRACE: Do we not continue to receive His GRACE as merits of our good deeds?
2. SPECIAL GRACE: Do devotees not get SPECIAL GRACE whether the recipient merits it or not?
3. POWER TO CREATE A NEW ORDER IN SOCIETY
4. Do we not continue to observe His POWER TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN what is inherently good?
5. Do we not see His POWER TO DESTROY that which is evil?
6. THE POTENCY OF THE POWER TO ASSUME A FORM: Does He not continue to ASSUME A FORM whenever it is recalled mentally or in a photograph, and by grace sometimes physically as well?
7. THE POTENCY OF NAMASMARANA: Has there been any loss in the potency of CHANTING HIS NAME OR OF SINGING HIS GLORY?
As Sai devotees it is important for all of us to move into the era of THE FORM WITHOUT A FORM. The 11 th World Conference which took place at Prasanthi Nilayam in November 2025 was a reminder of the need for this shift. Coming out of the Conference we’ve realised that the Pathway to World Peace lies in
CELEBRATING THE ETERNAL, LIVING THE UNIVERSAL, DISSOLVING THE INDIVIDUAL
This Aradhana Mahotsavam, let us celebrate His continued presence, let us resolve to practice His teachings, to love, to serve. Let us observe this sacred day with gratitude and reverence. Whilst we derive much joy from obeisance to the form, let us not forget that He asked us NOT TO BE ATTACHED TO THAT FORM.
My fervent prayer to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba this Aradhana Mahotsavam is for the restoration of peace and brotherhood on a global scale. Let us not speak of Him in the past tense because He IS. Let us all at SSSGCSA live up to the expectations He Has of us. Let us take seriously the advice He has given us:
FOLLOW THE MASTER. FACE THE DEVIL. FIGHT TO THE END. FINISH THE GAME
Jai Sai Ram
Br Reuben Naidoo | National Council President(SSSGC-SA)
