Sathya Sai Baba's death: Will Devotees Want A Successor?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 14:36

With Sathya Saibaba's death, will there be a successor for Him?, considered an Avatar or an incarnation of God by His devotees? Well it is intriguing to know who would be the successor of this God man of India, flocked by both commoners and celebrities. A successor for Sathya Saibaba is a widely deliberated issue among the masses, but may not be to his staunch followers, who idolise Him as the manifestation of God.

The Indian soil has always been enriched by the advent of spiritual giants from time immemorial. The Hindu tradition always saw a spiritual lineage of Seers who headed a particular mutt. The Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt and the Shringeri Mutt, to cite as the most popular ones. However India also saw the emergence of Saints and Godmen like Ramana Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Osho, Shirdi Saibaba etc, who could not be limited to a particular religion; who carried the essence or the kernal of the fruit of religion to the hearts of multitudes from different backgrounds, religion, caste, creed and nationality.

An ashram or an organisation that developed around the above mentioned saints, still serve as vibrant spiritual centres, efficiently managed by heads who embraced and emerged, following the teachings of such Gurus. Yet if one may ask, if they had successors, it is a firm 'no,' for these spiritual giants were acknowledged by their followers as God Himself who had assumed a human form. These Saints do not have successors, however their teachings are carried forth to the masses. It is but an undeniable fact that the teachings of such saints have been and are being acknowledged by the new generation as well.

Ardent followers acknowledge the presence of their Masters in their teachings that lives on.
Considered by His devotees, as the avatar of today- Sathya Saibaba, it is but a huge question, if His devotees can ever even visualize a successor. Further more the death of Sathya Saibaba is considered as only the death of His body by His devotees.

Again Sathya Saibaba in his own words, if it can be recalled, had stated that he is the second of the triple incarnations, first being Shirdi Sai and will further reincarnate as Prem Sai, once He sheds this body. Hence the question of devotees wanting a successor for Sathya Saibaba with the death of his body????