Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Telugu: సత్య సాయిబాబా), born as Sathyanarayana Raju (23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011), was an Indian guru, spiritual figure, philanthropist, and educator. He claimed to be – and his followers believed him to be – the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a spiritual saint and miracle worker who died in 1918 and whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and Muslim beliefs. The materializations of vibhuti (holy ash) and other small objects such as rings, necklaces and watches by Sathya Sai Baba were a source of both fame and controversy; devotees considered them signs of divinity, while skeptics viewed them as simple conjuring tricks. By the later half of twentieth century, Sai Baba enjoyed tremendous popularity around the world with widespread faith, fame, criticism and controversies transforming him into a cultural icon– his photographs adorn millions of homes and dashboards of cars and lockets bearing his photo are worn by many as a symbol of good luck.
~
~http://www.saibaba.ws/
