"I have come to light the lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I have not come on behalf of any exclusive religion. I have not come on a mission of publicity for a sect or creed or cause, nor have I come to collect followers for a doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into my fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this unitary faith, this spiritual principle, this path of Love, this virtue of Love, this duty of Love, this obligation of Love." (Sai Baba, 4 July 1968, International Sai Organization)
"India is a land of gods and goddesses, babas and sages and holy and not-so-holy men and women. Among them, Sathya Sai Baba stands tall despite his diminutive size. [...]. Known among devotees as Bhagawan, he is worshipped as an avatar; an incarnation of the Sai Baba of Shirdi. Others like to think he is Krishna incarnate." (Manu Dev, Love Unlimited, The Times of India)
"Until the last, he was a man who inspired passionately conflicting emotions (as I discovered when I made a BBC investigative documentary about him in 2004 called Secret Swami). To his devotees, Sai Baba was an avatar, an incarnation of God in human form, who appeared on Earth to preach his inspirational message in one of India's poorest corners. To his critics, he was a fraudster dogged for years by controversial allegations of sexual abuse yet protected from prosecution by virtue of his powerful political sway. Whatever he was, there was no doubt that over time he rose in prominence to become India's premier god-man." (Tanya Datta, Obituary: Indian Guru Sai Baba, BBC News).
Front page: Andhrabhoomi, published in Hyderabad, India.
