Fw: Topic reply: IS SHIRDI LOSING ITS SUFI TRADITIONS ?

[Guest guest]

Om Sai Ram.

Dear Rohit ji and Sai Bandhus,

Kindly beware of such articles "IS SHIRDI LOSING ITS SUFI TRADITIONS ?". I know Yogindra Sikand personally. A left-oriented intellectual, Sikand has made a career for himself by writing on communal issues in India. He has a very biased view against Hindus, and spares no chance to slight their religion, traditions and places of worship. He has published scores of explicit and implicit anti-Hindu articles and books in recent years. As far as

Baba's Sufi tradition goes, it was neither pro-Muslim nor pro-Hindu. He did not belong to any religion, nor did He decry worshipping Him in Hindu ways. Even in His time, He had more Hindu followers and only a handful of Muslim disciples. There was strong opposition from some Mullahs to worshipping Baba even then, and to building His Samadhi in the wada built by Buti Sahib, though that was Baba’s own wish. The reason behind that opposition is simple: Islam prohibits worshipping anyone or anything except Allah. Worshipping God in human form is not at all acceptable in this religion. So, when people complain about current practices in Shirdi, it is possible that Muslims themselves have lost interest in Sai Baba's heritage. We must not forget that after the post Islamic Revolution in Iran in late 1970s, Islam has attained a fundamentalist hue, and has thus greatly lost its syncretic tradition among most of its followers. It is no wonder then that Islamic militants have included Shirdi temple in their hit-list recently. In Kashmir, which was once the hot-bed of Sufism, all sufi shrines have either been burnt down or have been reduced to mere artifacts where very few people visit. Islam in Baba's time had syncretic character, which was more inclusive of other traditions. Things have drastically changed in this religion in recent decades. However, we still have some followers

among Muslims who hold Shirdi sacred, and worship Baba as God. But, their number is indeed very small as compared to Hindu followers. I’m sure that Shirdi Sansthan would not object if Muslims come forward to celebrate their festivals alongside Hindu festivals. Let us not criticize this Sansthan, and learn to appreciate them for whatever work they are doing. And, please do not criticize the followers who should be given the freedom to worship

any photograph of Baba that appeals to them. There are millions of us who love the original pictures of Baba in tattered clothes, including me.

When we criticize Baba’s followers and His Shirdi, we go against Baba’s teachings. Please be careful not to join the bandwagon of critics of Shirdi, for they are not the followers of Baba. They like to criticize everything and everyone. Let us learn to appreciate the glass half-full, rather than complain about it being half-empty.

Om Sai Ram.

Regards,The DwarkaMai Team.

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[Guest guest]

Om Sai Ram.

Dear Rohit ji and Sai Bandhus,

Kindly beware of such articles "IS SHIRDI LOSING ITS SUFI TRADITIONS ?". I know Yogindra Sikand personally. A left-oriented intellectual, Sikand has made a career for himself by writing on communal issues in India. He has a very biased view against Hindus, and spares no chance to slight their religion, traditions and places of worship. He has published scores of explicit and implicit anti-Hindu articles and books in recent years. As far as

Baba's Sufi tradition goes, it was neither pro-Muslim nor pro-Hindu. He did not belong to any religion, nor did He decry worshipping Him in Hindu ways. Even in His time, He had more Hindu followers and only a handful of Muslim disciples. There was strong opposition from some Mullahs to worshipping Baba even then, and to building His Samadhi in the wada built by Buti Sahib, though that was Baba’s own wish. The reason behind that opposition is simple: Islam prohibits worshipping anyone or anything except Allah. Worshipping God in human form is not at all acceptable in this religion. So, when people complain about current practices in Shirdi, it is possible that Muslims themselves have lost interest in Sai Baba's heritage. We must not forget that after the post Islamic Revolution in Iran in late 1970s, Islam has attained a fundamentalist hue, and has thus greatly lost its syncretic tradition among most of its followers. It is no wonder then that Islamic militants have included Shirdi temple in their hit-list recently. In Kashmir, which was once the hot-bed of Sufism, all sufi shrines have either been burnt down or have been reduced to mere artifacts where very few people visit. Islam in Baba's time had syncretic character, which was more inclusive of other traditions. Things have drastically changed in this religion in recent decades. However, we still have some followers

among Muslims who hold Shirdi sacred, and worship Baba as God. But, their number is indeed very small as compared to Hindu followers. I’m sure that Shirdi Sansthan would not object if Muslims come forward to celebrate their festivals alongside Hindu festivals. Let us not criticize this Sansthan, and learn to appreciate them for whatever work they are doing. And, please do not criticize the followers who should be given the freedom to worship

any photograph of Baba that appeals to them. There are millions of us who love the original pictures of Baba in tattered clothes, including me.

When we criticize Baba’s followers and His Shirdi, we go against Baba’s teachings. Please be careful not to join the bandwagon of critics of Shirdi, for they are not the followers of Baba. They like to criticize everything and everyone. Let us learn to appreciate the glass half-full, rather than complain about it being half-empty.

Om Sai Ram.

Regards,The DwarkaMai Team.

recommends that you upgrade to the new and safer Internet Explorer 8.

[Guest guest]

Jai Sai Ram,

 

Really interesting! I have learnt a lot from this article. Thank you Dwarkamai Team for sharing such invaluable thoughts and motifs related to Shirdi (Baba's place). I am keen to learn more about the ideologies that people of all religions hold in regard to Baba.

 

Sairam,

Saiansh

--- On Sat, 18/7/09, rOhit beHaL <omgurudev33 wrote:

rOhit beHaL <omgurudev33 Fw: Topic reply: IS SHIRDI LOSING ITS SUFI TRADITIONS ?"1" <experienceswithshirdisaibabaSaturday, 18 July, 2009, 7:19 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Om Sai Ram.

 

Dear Rohit ji and Sai Bandhus,

 

Kindly beware of such articles "IS SHIRDI LOSING ITS SUFI TRADITIONS ?".

I know Yogindra Sikand personally. A left-oriented intellectual, Sikand has made a career for himself by writing on communal issues in India. He has a very biased view against Hindus, and spares no chance to slight their religion, traditions and places of worship. He has published scores of explicit and implicit anti-Hindu articles and books in recent years.

 

As far as Baba's Sufi tradition goes, it was neither pro-Muslim nor pro-Hindu. He did not belong to any religion, nor did He decry worshipping Him in Hindu ways. Even in His time, He had more Hindu followers and only a handful of Muslim disciples. There was strong opposition from some Mullahs to worshipping Baba even then, and to building His Samadhi in the wada built by Buti Sahib, though that was Baba’s own wish. The reason behind that opposition is simple: Islam prohibits worshipping anyone or anything except Allah.. Worshipping God in human form is not at all acceptable in this religion. So, when people complain about current practices in Shirdi, it is possible that

Muslims themselves have lost interest in Sai Baba's heritage.

 

We must not forget that after the post Islamic Revolution in Iran in late 1970s, Islam has attained a fundamentalist hue, and has thus greatly lost its syncretic tradition among most of its followers. It is no wonder then that Islamic militants have included Shirdi temple in their hit-list recently. In Kashmir, which was once the hot-bed of Sufism, all sufi shrines have either been burnt down or have been reduced to mere artifacts where very few people visit. Islam in Baba's time had syncretic character, which was more inclusive of other traditions. Things have drastically changed in this religion in recent decades. However, we still have some followers among Muslims

who hold Shirdi sacred, and worship Baba as God. But, their number is indeed very small as compared to Hindu followers. I’m sure that Shirdi Sansthan would not object if Muslims come forward to celebrate their festivals alongside Hindu festivals. Let us not criticize this Sansthan, and learn to appreciate them for whatever work they are doing.

 

And, please do not criticize the followers who should be given the freedom to worship any photograph of Baba that appeals to them. There are millions of us who love the original pictures of Baba in tattered clothes, including me.

 

 

When we criticize Baba’s followers and His Shirdi, we go against Baba’s teachings. Please be careful not to join the bandwagon of critics of Shirdi, for they are not the followers of Baba. They like to criticize everything and everyone. Let us learn to appreciate the glass half-full, rather than complain about it being half-empty.

 

Om Sai Ram.

 

Regards,

The DwarkaMai Team.

 

 

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