Self-styled / self-declared incarnations of Hindu Gods

From the Bhakti List Archives

• August 12, 2000


Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha:
Sri Venkata Guravaha Namaha :

Respected Bhakti Members,

I am writing this in the larger interest of Hindus.  Kindly excuse me for
using foul / poignant language.

At the outset, I wish to mention that I am no scholar nor I do I know our
great Divya Prabhamdams or slokas.  But I believe in "Truth" - plain truth.

I put forth the few lines which are haunting me since a few years.  These
are about two self-styled / self-declared incarnations of Lord Vishnu or
Lord Siva or Adi Sesha.

1.	He is the present craze of all people all over India.  I do not
know.  Stories are concocted that he is the kaliyuga incarnation of Lord
Vishnu (I have come across his photos, wherein in the background one can
find Lord Vishnu's Dasa Avataram and on the front Shirdi Sai Baba's photo is
displayed.  Also, photos contain Lord Siva's Lingam in the background Shirdi
Sai Baba's photo in the front.   He is also referred to Adi Sesha's
avataram. People  have stooped to such a depraved extent that they believe
more in him than our Lord Sriman Narayanan or Lord Shiva as if our Hindu
Gods are 'impotent'. He may be a good person (I do not know this too), but
let us not equate him with God.    I find his photo in many of the houses.
I do not mind that, but what is causing heartburn to me is that I find his
photo is our own Great Sri Vaishanavas's homes in Pooja Mandiram just
besides our Great Salagramam and Udaivar's photo. As if not enough, one more
'incarnation' appears. He is Puttaparthi Sai Baba, who claims himself as
incarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba.

2.	Verbatimly speaking, the word of  "Sai" means "a prophet of Muslim
religion", so how can a muslim person become "our" Hindu Guru, or Hindu God
(as he is referred to).  Even our Great Acharyas - viz Sri Ramanuja or Adi
Shankaracharya 'never'  themselves proclaimed that they are the Avatara
Purushas. 

3.	To gain popularity, the propogators of this Sai satsang have stooped
to such depraved state that they distribute a pamphlet to all persons to
whom they come in contact.  The pamphlet reads like this : "After reading
this pamphlet you are required to send 500/1000 copies are all your near and
dear.  The result --  you may win a lottery.  On the other hand, if you tear
off this, a big catastrophe may take place in your life".   For a  common
man who comes across this, the fear that may take place may compel him
circulate 500 copies.  Or the avarice of making a quick fortune makes him to
circulate the copies. That's how he submits his 'soul'  to the so-called
ordinary Muslim person.   Kindly excuse me for using this foul language, but
I do not find  suitable words to vent out my anger on this Pseudo
incarnation of Lord Vishnu / Shiva --  I would call this submission of soul
to another person other than to our God (our Hindu God - be it Lord Vishnu
or Lord Shiva) as "Prostitution" - "Prostitution of the Soul".    

	The only picture which always appear on people's mental screens is
of this pseudo god even if they visit Tirupati / Sri Rangam or even if at
all Lord Sriman Narayanan Himself appears.  

		The very purpose of my making this mention here is,  this is
adversely affecting our youth, more precisely our Sri Vaishanavism clan in
particular and  Hindus in general. Because they tend to pray to this psedo
God if at all they face any problem in life instead of praying to our Lord
Ranga or Srinivasa (I repeat, as if our Hindu Gods are 'impotent').

		Idiomatically speaking, "if a lie is told thousand times, it
becomes "Truth" with the passage of time and becomes ingrained deep in our
minds". It will never be possible for us to get ourselves out of this. Its
high time that we take stock of this epidemic like spread. It would be no
wonder, if that day comes, when people may say that Lord Vishnu or Lord
Shiva are themselves the incarnations of this Sai Baba.

I pray Lord Sriman Narayanan to save all of us from falling prey to this
pseudo God.

Thanks

Narayana Narayana
Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Narayanan
(A.S. Raman Iyengar)
Delhi


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