Gurupoornima Message Part 01/03

[Guest guest]

Ever since the phenomenon of Shri Shirdi Sai extensively caught public attention

in India and outside, there has been a relentless stream of speculation as well

as concerted effort on the question of His parentage i.e. whether he was born a

Hindu or a Muslim. The net result of such research by different researchers has

turned out to be either speculative or controversial since it is based more on

circumstantial evidence as opposed to primary data. However, my efforts are

channelised into finding out who and what Baba is rather than what was His

parentage or where he was born.

 

There can be no denial in any quarter that Shri Shirdi Sai Baba is a divine

personality of the highest order who demonstrated magnificent qualities of

selfless service to all, who came in contact with Him, without least

consideration of His self. He was not constrained by the limitations of any

organized religion or path as is amply evidenced by His acceptance of disciples

from all religions, cultures, castes and paths etc. There was no question of

economic and social differentiation in His scheme of things. Besides

non-possession and non-attachment, he was divinely magnanimous and empathetic

towards the poorest of the poor among His devotees, as well as animals and

birds. He also possessed wonderful powers of miracles, which he often used to

help His disciples in distress even at distant places.

 

Given this universal theme of His approach, one can safely conclude that Shri

Sai demonstrated the highest qualities of Hinduism, notwithstanding whether He

was born of Hindu or Muslim parentage.

 

When one speaks of Hinduism at first one has to understand as to what Hinduism

stands for in its essence. Some of historians comment that the word ˜Hindu " was

originally ˜Indu " coming out of ˜Indus " valley civilization but some foreigners

called it Hindu like ˜Hindukush " mountain. Hinduism in its quintessence is more

a way of life than merely being a Hindu path of worship of deities. It

prescribes numerous paths to its people and leaves them free to choose any one.

It prescribes a number of divine forms (Devatas or Devis) to be worshipped and

also the worship of the formless (Brahman the ultimate God). Hinduism does not

insist on the conversion of others to its fold and failing which their

extinction. It has never believed in religious expansionism with the help of

sword. This highest level of tolerance has led to the absorption of many

conquering or colonizing races following different paths into its all embracing

fold. Sufism, which truly believes in the unity of souls and tolerance among

people following different paths, therefore, found a strong base in India the

soil of Hindus.