Sathya Sai Baba
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{{en|Sathya Sai Baba , born Sathyanarayana Raju on November 12, 1926 [1][2] with the family name of "Ratnakaram",[3] is a controversial South Indian guru, described by his followers as a godman and miracle worker.[1][4][5] The Sathya Sai Organization reports an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 114 countries worldwide.[6] The number of Sathya Sai Baba adherents is estimated to be somewhere around 6 million, although followers cite anywhere from 50 to 100 million.[7]
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[edit] References
- ↑ a b Edwards, Linda (2001). A Brief Guide to Beliefs: Ideas, Theologies, Mysteries, and Movements, 137, Westminster John Knox Press.
- ↑ Lewis, James R. (Editor) (2002). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions:Second Edition. Prometheus Books.
- ↑ Haraldsson, Erlendur, An investigative inquiry on Sathya Sai Baba (1997 revised and updated edition published by Sai Towers, Prashanti Nilayam, India) ISBN 81-86822-32-1
- ↑ Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Vol. 2 N-Z). New York: Rosen.
Hindu religious figure of the type known as avatar, godman (pg 583) - ↑ Nagel, Alexandra (note: Nagel is a critical former follower) "Een mysterieuze ontmoeting... :Sai Baba en mentalist Wolf Messing" published in Tijdschrift voor Parapsychologie 368, vol. 72 nr 4, December 2005, pp. 14-17
*Haraldsson, Erlendur, Miracles are my visiting cards - An investigative inquiry on Sathya Sai Baba, an Indian mystic with the gift of foresight believed to perform modern miracles (1997 revised and updated edition published by Sai Towers, Prasanthi Nilayam, India) ISBN 81-86822-32-1 page 55: "They carried the family name of Ratnakara and belonged to the Raju caste [..]"
*Menon, Amarnath K.; Ashok Malik (April 12, 2000). A God Accused. India Today. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.:
*Woodhead, Linda; Paul Fletcher. Religion in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformation. Routledge.
*Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Vol. 1). Rosen. Entry: "Godman"
*Hummel, Reinhart; Linda W. Duddy (translator) (1984). Guru, Miracle Worker, Religious Founder: Sathya Sai Baba. Dialog Center. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.: "People's motives for that journey are often serious or incurable diseases, for Sai Baba has an unrivaled reputation as a miracle worker." - ↑ The Sai Organization: Numbers to Sai Centers and Names of Countries
"The inspiration of Sathya Sai Baba's example and message of unselfish love and service has resulted in the establishment of over 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 114 countries throughout the world." - ↑ *Nagel, Alexandra "De Sai Paradox: Tegenstrijdigheden van en rondom Sathya Sai Baba"/"The Sai Paradox contradictions of and surrounding Sathya Sai Baba" from the magazine Religieuze Bewegingen in Nederland, 'Sekten' "/Religious movements in the Netherlands, 'Cults/Sects', 1994, nr. 29. published by the Free University Amsterdam press, (1994) ISBN 90-5383-341-2 reports the following estimates: Beyerstein (1992:3) [skeptic]: 6 million; Riti & Theodore (1993:31): 30 million; Sluizer (1993:19): 70 million; Van Dijk (1993:30) [follower] "between 50 and 100 million."
*Adherents cites Chryssides, George. Exploring New Religions. London, UK: Cassells (1999) (10 million)
*Template:Cite news"The guru Sai Baba has left India only once, yet his devotees across the world are estimated at up to 50 million."
*Edwards, Linda (2001). A Brief Guide to Beliefs: Ideas, Theologies, Mysteries, and Movements. Westminster John Knox Press.
