AT last, the'indefinite' strike in State Bank of India is over. The staff of the country's 'largest bank' have finally decided to get back to work after holding the entire country for ransom. They relaxed at their respective homes while the poor customers were at their wit's end.
Of course, they have the right to strike work. But why can't they have a day's token strike? Why an indefinite strike? Did the unions ever realise that the Indian middle class which depend on their month's salaries will be left in the lurch? I wonder even salaries from the companies were credited to their accounts because of the strike. The poor customers would have to wait for a few days more for that to happen and then withdraw their money.
It has become a habit to go on indefinite strikes and indefinite fasts. It's nothing short of blackmail. The unions that resort to such strike and people like Medha Patkar deserve to be thrown in jail. What they are doing is nothing short than non-violent terrorism. (See my posting 'Is non-violence violence?')
But the Governments - State or Central - too must share the blame. The Governments just don't listen if you submit petitions or write letters to editor in newspapers or talk to the representative they have elected (if they can find him). There HAS to be some violence. Block roads; throw stones; burn a few (Government) buses; block roads (again) by taking huge processions in peak hour through main thoroughfares. And like Medha Patkar and the unions, resort to indefinite strikes and fasts.
Just look what happened: After realising that Medha Patkar won't budge, three Union Ministers rushed to the SSP-affected areas. And and another Union Minister Chidambaram himself intervened and gave the SBI staff what they wanted.
Now you know what to do when you want something. Go on an indefinite fast or strike. You can have your way without being branded a terrorist, though you are one - a non-violent terrorist.
And who said SBI is gearing up to face the competition? PSU staff will be PSU staff. Nothing can change them. And the proof is - Not Surprisingly SBI.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Is non-violence violence?
Are Mahatma Gandhi (and Medha Patkar) violent?
This question may sound preposterous, but according to Osho, Gandhi's non-violence, was in fact, acts of violence. This is what he says:
"Gandhi thinks fasting is a kind of right means to a right end. And like his last fast he resorts to fast unto death every now and then. If a threat to kill another person is wrong , how can the threat to kill oneself be right? If it is wrong for me to make you accept what I say by pointing gun at you, how can it be right if I make you accept the same thing by pointing gun at myself? It would be a greater wrong on my part if I ask you to accept my views with the threat if you don't , Iam going to kill myself.
"If I threaten to kill you, you have an option, a moral opportunity to die and refuse to yield to my pressure. But if i threaten to kill myself , I make you very helpless, because you may not like to take the responsibility of my death on yourself.
"Gandhi once undertook such a fast unto death to put pressure on Ambedkar. Ambedkar had to finally yield to Gandhi's pressures, but said later Gandhi would be wrong to think he had changed his heart and still believed he was right and Gandhi was wrong, but in order not take the moral repsonsibility of the consquence he had to yield.
"It makes no difference whether i threaten to kill you or to kill myself to make you accept my view. In either case I am using pressure and violence. In fact, when I threaten to kill you, I give you a choice to die with dignity, to tell me you would rather die than yield to my view which is wrong. But when I threaten you with my own death, then I deprive you of the option to die with dignity. I put you in real dilemma . Either you have to yield and accept you are wrong or you take the responsibility of my death onto you. You are going to suffer guilt in every way and there is no choice."
"Violence to an extent is necessary if one has to live. Even which we term as an instrument of non-violence could be violence. If I put a knife on your chest and ask you to obey me, it is violence. And if I sit and starve at your doorstep, threatening to die if you do not do what I say? Is this not violence? The former goes out from me to you, the latter is going towards myself. The latter is self-violence. A forcible pressure, mental cruelty, it is!"
This question may sound preposterous, but according to Osho, Gandhi's non-violence, was in fact, acts of violence. This is what he says:
"Gandhi thinks fasting is a kind of right means to a right end. And like his last fast he resorts to fast unto death every now and then. If a threat to kill another person is wrong , how can the threat to kill oneself be right? If it is wrong for me to make you accept what I say by pointing gun at you, how can it be right if I make you accept the same thing by pointing gun at myself? It would be a greater wrong on my part if I ask you to accept my views with the threat if you don't , Iam going to kill myself.
"If I threaten to kill you, you have an option, a moral opportunity to die and refuse to yield to my pressure. But if i threaten to kill myself , I make you very helpless, because you may not like to take the responsibility of my death on yourself.
"Gandhi once undertook such a fast unto death to put pressure on Ambedkar. Ambedkar had to finally yield to Gandhi's pressures, but said later Gandhi would be wrong to think he had changed his heart and still believed he was right and Gandhi was wrong, but in order not take the moral repsonsibility of the consquence he had to yield.
"It makes no difference whether i threaten to kill you or to kill myself to make you accept my view. In either case I am using pressure and violence. In fact, when I threaten to kill you, I give you a choice to die with dignity, to tell me you would rather die than yield to my view which is wrong. But when I threaten you with my own death, then I deprive you of the option to die with dignity. I put you in real dilemma . Either you have to yield and accept you are wrong or you take the responsibility of my death onto you. You are going to suffer guilt in every way and there is no choice."
"Violence to an extent is necessary if one has to live. Even which we term as an instrument of non-violence could be violence. If I put a knife on your chest and ask you to obey me, it is violence. And if I sit and starve at your doorstep, threatening to die if you do not do what I say? Is this not violence? The former goes out from me to you, the latter is going towards myself. The latter is self-violence. A forcible pressure, mental cruelty, it is!"
Friday, February 24, 2006
Business Line redesigned
The Hindu Business Line (this is where I work) has been redesigned by Dr Mario Garcia of Garcia Media. The financial newspaper of The Hindu Group is the fastest growing financial daily in India.
1. Click here for the PDF of the front page of the issue dated February 24, 2006.
2. Ramya Kannan's report in The Hindu of the lauch function.
3. Another report in The Hindu.
4. A report about the new-look Business Line.
1. Click here for the PDF of the front page of the issue dated February 24, 2006.
2. Ramya Kannan's report in The Hindu of the lauch function.
3. Another report in The Hindu.
4. A report about the new-look Business Line.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Sai copycats
The success of Satya Sai Baba has spawned several copycat sai babas; they even dress and sport an afro like SSB. Here are some of them. Thanks to Sanjay Dadlani for giving permission to use the photos and text from his blog.
Swami Sai Premananda
Post deleted due to objections.
Swami Ananda Baba
Real Name: Ricardo Javier Ocampo (aka 'Swami Ananda Baba' aka 'Maestro Amor')
"Some we called Teacher Love, by the loving transformation that each one experiments when listening and putting in practice its message of life. "Some we called Teacher Love, by the loving transformation that each one experiments when listening and putting in practice its mes
sage of life. Its education includes and synthesizes all the spiritual currents, inspiring to all that that listens, to the investigation and deepening of the knowledge, taking each word and action to the experience of 'here and now'."
Bio: The Masterful Love, was born in the Rioja the 28 of June of 1974, and from very early age demonstrated to a deep knowledge of the espiritualidad and Sacred Texts.
Also already since then it had an incredible variety of gifts, that showed a very special being.Been at the moment in Catamarca, it shares his lessons with a collaborator group with whom it develops to manifold activities on watch and social action in different communities from Argentina and the outside."
Websites:Maestro Amor
Photo Gallery: Google CacheSee Swami Ananda Baba replicate the 'Vibhuti Abhishekham' miracle!
Swami Vishwananda
"Swami Vishwananda is a spiritual teacher and yogi from Mauritius. He is dedicated to the spiritual upliftment of people of all religions and cultures in order to bring them to Self-realisation, which is to realise the Divine within. He is here to inspire and to awaken the divinity within, and to assure us that mortal consciousness can no longer restrict us, if we instill in our hearts and minds the Truth, and know that we are of God.He spreads and radiates warmth and love throughout the world and has opened the hearts of many people.
Bio: Shri Swami Vishwananda was born in 1978 in a Hindu family, on the Island of Mauritius. At that time, he was given the name 'Visham'. From an early age he showed a keen interest in Spirituality. At the age of 15, He went into/experienced the state of Samadhi. From that day forth he has dedicated himself to the spiritual upliftment and transformation of mankind by guiding people to focus on love and forgiveness, through Patience and Unity to reveal and experience our Divine Reality.
Websites:
Vishwananda.org
Vishwananda.Us
Read about the Hiranyagarbha (Golden) Lingam: One - Two: "Swami Vishwananda kept the Lingam only for three days. On Monday, 7th November he dematerialised it and 'brought it back where it came from'."
Swami Nagananda
Bio: "It has been born in (to) in (to) 1951 Sri Nagananda Swamy Bukkapatnam. People (people) saw signs from early childhood local <>, which (who) showed, that he (it) was exceptional spiritual nature. People (people) were witness how (as) cobras, when he (it) slept. He (it) was known from spending of many hour in solitary meditation also well <>. From its (his) this time of power of curing, mortal bites of snakes particularly, they have caused object materializacji, that known has become beyond region well <>. Meditation, service other, equality (identity) there is most important aspects of lives - and sciences Sri Nagananda."
- courtesy of poltran.com
Ashram: "Shanti Mandiram" - Usually stand in in (to) nearly village stay which (who) find (be placed) Swami Nagananda aszramie Shanti Mandiram Andhra Prasesh Putaparti where owns countrywoman aszram Sathya Sai. It is very tiny Aszram and it consists from temple (i.e. places, where public meetings proceed and spiritual practices), private headquarters of champions, for pilgrims habitable buildings and very tiny, but for it beautiful (fine) park. Meditative room (shop) is placed in the area also Aszramu. There is main aszramem Naganandy Aszram Shanti Mandiram but champion owns in whole india 40 centers near and in europe 50 and USA."
- Courtesy of poltran.com
Swami Gopal Krishna Baba
"Now there is a cry in everyone’s heart. Let there be peace! Peace in the world and peace in ourselves so that all beings can be happy. But how do we create this World peace? Should we do it on our own or should we do it together? Swami Gopala Krishna teaches us that there must be a balance. When we work only for our own peace spending hours in meditation, we create selfishness, but when we work only for the outside world we will create egoism too ... So let us work together and make this dream of World peace come true. Let us learn to give and forgive and make this world a better place for all to live in."
Bio: Gopal Krishna was born to Sri. Venkatramanaiah and Smt. Yamunamma, in the auspicious Hindu month of Kartik, on 6th November 1951. He was very different from the other children and showed a great interest in spirituality.
Websites:
SaiGopal.Org
GopalBaba.Org
Photo Galleries: One - Two
Bangalore Ashram:
Sri Sai Mandiram
No.1265, 8th ‘B’cross, 1st ‘E’main,
2nd Phase, Girinagar, Bangalore-560 085
Email 1: info@gopalbaba.org
Email 2: gopalbaba@gopalbaba.org
Netherlands Ashram:
Sri Sai Mandiram
Contact: Bas van Velzen, Kannaiah
Noordeinde 40
1658 CB Lambertschaag
Email: Sri.Sai.Mandiram@hccnet.nl
Sekharji
Real Name: Chandrasekhar Balasubramanian
Bio: "On the eve of Vara Maha Lakshmi Vratham in the month of Shravan, Susila completed the pooja and the labor for the next Mission manifested. Just after midnight, My Mother gave birth to Chandrasekhar Balasubramanian (Sekharji). It was August 14, 1959. In 1960, the Family moved to the United States of America."
Message: "There are Saints, Sages, and Avatars who manifest in embodiment with a Specific Purpose at various points in Time filliping the advancement of civilization. In this age, the fundamental nature of Humanity is diminished by the apparent success of extolling the negative qualities of humankind. Peace, truth, right conduct, compassion, service, and Self Awareness has given way to the torrid accumulation of power and wealth by any means. Success is no longer measured by skill, talent, knowledge, humility, and effort; but by comfort, possessions, arrogance, social status, and profession.
"The Time has come for the Universal Awakening to begin. Each and every individual must awaken to the understanding that every thought, word, and action contributes to the evolution of humankind, the restoration of the basic nature of Humanity, and the divination towards the Realization of 'the Self'."
Token Boast: "I eat one meal per day and have been doing so for decades. I consider anything solid as food. Of course, there have been occasions when it was necessary to snack during the day. But, these are rare occurrences. Additionally, I have a complete fast every thursday. I have been known to fast for countless days, even weeks.."
Websites:
Sekharji.Org - defunct (see old versions)
T.N. Bala - Website of Sekharji's father (Memorial page for mother)
Photo Galleries: One - Two - Three - **Four**
Swami Roberto
Bio: "Swami Roberto is the founder of Universal Soul. Ever since he was just a child, he has invited those who suffer to turn to prayer, and many testify that, thanks to his spiritual help, they
have overcome great problems of life. Roberto teaches people to rediscover God in their own consciousness, with the certainty that Love, Charity and Brotherhood are universal spiritual foundations which belong to the whole of humanity, beyond any religious creed, since God is Father and Mother to all people."
Websites:
Wikipedia
Universal Soul
Photo Gallery:Universal Soul (old page)Universal Soul (current page)
Residence:
"Our main Ashram is in ITALY, in the town of Leynì, deep in the country of the Piedmont region a few kilometres North of Turin. The address is Via Enrico Mattei no. 58, Leinì (Turin), ITALY."
Swami Premananda
"At the beginning of the 20th century, a great saint, Swami Paramaguru of Sri Lanka, foretold Swami Premananda's birth and spiritual power to Swamiji's grandmother. He was born on 17th November 1951 in Matale, Sri Lanka and the elderly saint's predictions steadily came true."
Bio: "From time to time great souls are born into this world with amazing qualities. They come with a purpose to remove the suffering of the people and to lead them to the truth. Swami Premananda is one of these very special ones. Swami is a Hindu religious title meaning that he has mastered himself. Prema means pure, divine love. Ananda means the highest joy known to man. Swami Premananda lives up to his wonderful name."
Websites:
WikipediaSriPremananda.Org
Premananda Youth
Premananda.Net (Dutch)
Photo Gallery: One - Two
Hinduism Today: "The popular Swami Premananda, known as the 'Sai Baba of Sri Lanka,' has closed his three ashrams and orphanage in Sri Lanka and opened a new 150-acre sanctuary named "Poobalakrishna Ashram" near Trichinopoly in Tamil Nadu, South India.
"The traditional Sri Lanka Hindu community, who are mostly Saivites, are not particularly impressed with the Swami's 'miracles' (which many consider sleight-of-hand), nor with his crowd-pleasing catering to the masses."
Times of India, April 05, 2005 - "The Supreme Court on Tuesday confirmed life imprisonment for two consecutive terms against a spiritual guru who raped 13 girls and murdered an inmate in his Tamil Nadu ashram in 1994. The Madras High Court had imposed the sentence on Swami Premananda of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu."
Rape Case:Rick Ross - Share International - Guruphiliac - ExBaba - Einterface
Rape Defence:Justice For Premananda
Update:
Times of India, June 03, 2005 - "Former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani has struck out at some members of the nation’s apex judiciary, upbraiding them for 'intellectual inadequacy', shortly after the supreme court upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of controversial godman Swami Premananda for murder and rape in April this year ... Premananda had been accused of a murder and the rape of 13 girls in his ashram near Trichur in Tamil Nadu more than a decade ago. He was arrested, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, and lost his final appeal in the supreme court in April 2005."
Sri Bala Sai Baba
Bala Sai Baba was born to Shri Kannanur Ramanadha Sastry and Smt. Jaya Lakshmamma, hail from a rich family of Brahmin Community of his town. Being a skilled Ayurvedic Doctor Dr. Ramanadha Sastry specialized himself in the curing of snakebites and healed many patients. Smt. Jaya Lakshmamma was a ideal wife with pious qualities to suit the principles of Shri Kannanur Ramanadha Sastry.
Bio - English - "Sri Balasai Baba is admired in India as Avatar. Among them one understands the embodiment of the Goettlichen in human shape. Every time hate, force and destruction take over hand, God in people shape (like Jesus Christ) appears, in order humans, who are will to show the correct way. As Avatar Sri Balasai Baba of the world wants to serve and be for all sincerely searching friend, teacher and sound one. Sri Balasai Baba was born on 14 January 1960 in the southIndian Kurnool. Its birth was predicted by the large Indian holy Sri Ramana Maharshi."
Websites:
Wikipedia
SriBalaSaiBaba.Org
Sri BalaSaiBaba.Us
SriBalaSaiBaba.De - English
Sri BalaSaiBaba.Com - English
CNN Hoaxbusters - "A geisha-pale Indian with a Botox permasmile.""Bala Sai Baba has stolen from Sai Baba not just his name ... but also his look. He too wears orange robes and an absurd Afro.
"Dialog Center - "Disillusioned by the scandals, many disciples have been turning away from Satya Sai Baba and to the 35 year-old Palghat (Kerala) born Bala Sai Baba. Bala Sai claims to be the real Sai avatar. He has set up an ashram in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. He dresses like Satya Sai Baba, performs the same kind of 'miracles’ and has been successful in attracting a large number of devotees. He too has western disciples."
Photo galleries: One - Two - Three
Ashram in Kurnool:
Sri Bala Sai Nilayam
Kurnool 518001
A.P. India
Tel: 0091-8518-221332, fax: 0091-8518-220647
Ashram in Hyderabad:
Sri Bala Sai Nilayam
Domalaguda No. 1-2-593-8
Gagan Mahal Colony
Hyderabad 500029,
A.P. India
Tel: 0091-40-55 82 36 10, fax: 0091-40-27 61 62 80
SSB on the copycats
Swami Sai Premananda
Post deleted due to objections.
Swami Ananda Baba
Real Name: Ricardo Javier Ocampo (aka 'Swami Ananda Baba' aka 'Maestro Amor')
"Some we called Teacher Love, by the loving transformation that each one experiments when listening and putting in practice its message of life. "Some we called Teacher Love, by the loving transformation that each one experiments when listening and putting in practice its mes
sage of life. Its education includes and synthesizes all the spiritual currents, inspiring to all that that listens, to the investigation and deepening of the knowledge, taking each word and action to the experience of 'here and now'."Bio: The Masterful Love, was born in the Rioja the 28 of June of 1974, and from very early age demonstrated to a deep knowledge of the espiritualidad and Sacred Texts.
Also already since then it had an incredible variety of gifts, that showed a very special being.Been at the moment in Catamarca, it shares his lessons with a collaborator group with whom it develops to manifold activities on watch and social action in different communities from Argentina and the outside."
Websites:Maestro Amor
Photo Gallery: Google CacheSee Swami Ananda Baba replicate the 'Vibhuti Abhishekham' miracle!
Swami Vishwananda
"Swami Vishwananda is a spiritual teacher and yogi from Mauritius. He is dedicated to the spiritual upliftment of people of all religions and cultures in order to bring them to Self-realisation, which is to realise the Divine within. He is here to inspire and to awaken the divinity within, and to assure us that mortal consciousness can no longer restrict us, if we instill in our hearts and minds the Truth, and know that we are of God.He spreads and radiates warmth and love throughout the world and has opened the hearts of many people.
Bio: Shri Swami Vishwananda was born in 1978 in a Hindu family, on the Island of Mauritius. At that time, he was given the name 'Visham'. From an early age he showed a keen interest in Spirituality. At the age of 15, He went into/experienced the state of Samadhi. From that day forth he has dedicated himself to the spiritual upliftment and transformation of mankind by guiding people to focus on love and forgiveness, through Patience and Unity to reveal and experience our Divine Reality.
Websites:
Vishwananda.org
Vishwananda.Us
Read about the Hiranyagarbha (Golden) Lingam: One - Two: "Swami Vishwananda kept the Lingam only for three days. On Monday, 7th November he dematerialised it and 'brought it back where it came from'."
Swami Nagananda
Bio: "It has been born in (to) in (to) 1951 Sri Nagananda Swamy Bukkapatnam. People (people) saw signs from early childhood local <>, which (who) showed, that he (it) was exceptional spiritual nature. People (people) were witness how (as) cobras, when he (it) slept. He (it) was known from spending of many hour in solitary meditation also well <>. From its (his) this time of power of curing, mortal bites of snakes particularly, they have caused object materializacji, that known has become beyond region well <>. Meditation, service other, equality (identity) there is most important aspects of lives - and sciences Sri Nagananda."
- courtesy of poltran.com
Ashram: "Shanti Mandiram" - Usually stand in in (to) nearly village stay which (who) find (be placed) Swami Nagananda aszramie Shanti Mandiram Andhra Prasesh Putaparti where owns countrywoman aszram Sathya Sai. It is very tiny Aszram and it consists from temple (i.e. places, where public meetings proceed and spiritual practices), private headquarters of champions, for pilgrims habitable buildings and very tiny, but for it beautiful (fine) park. Meditative room (shop) is placed in the area also Aszramu. There is main aszramem Naganandy Aszram Shanti Mandiram but champion owns in whole india 40 centers near and in europe 50 and USA."
- Courtesy of poltran.com
Swami Gopal Krishna Baba
"Now there is a cry in everyone’s heart. Let there be peace! Peace in the world and peace in ourselves so that all beings can be happy. But how do we create this World peace? Should we do it on our own or should we do it together? Swami Gopala Krishna teaches us that there must be a balance. When we work only for our own peace spending hours in meditation, we create selfishness, but when we work only for the outside world we will create egoism too ... So let us work together and make this dream of World peace come true. Let us learn to give and forgive and make this world a better place for all to live in."
Bio: Gopal Krishna was born to Sri. Venkatramanaiah and Smt. Yamunamma, in the auspicious Hindu month of Kartik, on 6th November 1951. He was very different from the other children and showed a great interest in spirituality.
Websites:
SaiGopal.Org
GopalBaba.Org
Photo Galleries: One - Two
Bangalore Ashram:
Sri Sai Mandiram
No.1265, 8th ‘B’cross, 1st ‘E’main,
2nd Phase, Girinagar, Bangalore-560 085
Email 1: info@gopalbaba.org
Email 2: gopalbaba@gopalbaba.org
Netherlands Ashram:
Sri Sai Mandiram
Contact: Bas van Velzen, Kannaiah
Noordeinde 40
1658 CB Lambertschaag
Email: Sri.Sai.Mandiram@hccnet.nl
Sekharji
Real Name: Chandrasekhar Balasubramanian
Bio: "On the eve of Vara Maha Lakshmi Vratham in the month of Shravan, Susila completed the pooja and the labor for the next Mission manifested. Just after midnight, My Mother gave birth to Chandrasekhar Balasubramanian (Sekharji). It was August 14, 1959. In 1960, the Family moved to the United States of America."
Message: "There are Saints, Sages, and Avatars who manifest in embodiment with a Specific Purpose at various points in Time filliping the advancement of civilization. In this age, the fundamental nature of Humanity is diminished by the apparent success of extolling the negative qualities of humankind. Peace, truth, right conduct, compassion, service, and Self Awareness has given way to the torrid accumulation of power and wealth by any means. Success is no longer measured by skill, talent, knowledge, humility, and effort; but by comfort, possessions, arrogance, social status, and profession.
"The Time has come for the Universal Awakening to begin. Each and every individual must awaken to the understanding that every thought, word, and action contributes to the evolution of humankind, the restoration of the basic nature of Humanity, and the divination towards the Realization of 'the Self'."
Token Boast: "I eat one meal per day and have been doing so for decades. I consider anything solid as food. Of course, there have been occasions when it was necessary to snack during the day. But, these are rare occurrences. Additionally, I have a complete fast every thursday. I have been known to fast for countless days, even weeks.."
Websites:
Sekharji.Org - defunct (see old versions)
T.N. Bala - Website of Sekharji's father (Memorial page for mother)
Photo Galleries: One - Two - Three - **Four**
Swami Roberto
Bio: "Swami Roberto is the founder of Universal Soul. Ever since he was just a child, he has invited those who suffer to turn to prayer, and many testify that, thanks to his spiritual help, they
have overcome great problems of life. Roberto teaches people to rediscover God in their own consciousness, with the certainty that Love, Charity and Brotherhood are universal spiritual foundations which belong to the whole of humanity, beyond any religious creed, since God is Father and Mother to all people."Websites:
Wikipedia
Universal Soul
Photo Gallery:Universal Soul (old page)Universal Soul (current page)
Residence:
"Our main Ashram is in ITALY, in the town of Leynì, deep in the country of the Piedmont region a few kilometres North of Turin. The address is Via Enrico Mattei no. 58, Leinì (Turin), ITALY."
Swami Premananda
"At the beginning of the 20th century, a great saint, Swami Paramaguru of Sri Lanka, foretold Swami Premananda's birth and spiritual power to Swamiji's grandmother. He was born on 17th November 1951 in Matale, Sri Lanka and the elderly saint's predictions steadily came true."
Bio: "From time to time great souls are born into this world with amazing qualities. They come with a purpose to remove the suffering of the people and to lead them to the truth. Swami Premananda is one of these very special ones. Swami is a Hindu religious title meaning that he has mastered himself. Prema means pure, divine love. Ananda means the highest joy known to man. Swami Premananda lives up to his wonderful name."
Websites:
WikipediaSriPremananda.Org
Premananda Youth
Premananda.Net (Dutch)
Photo Gallery: One - Two
Hinduism Today: "The popular Swami Premananda, known as the 'Sai Baba of Sri Lanka,' has closed his three ashrams and orphanage in Sri Lanka and opened a new 150-acre sanctuary named "Poobalakrishna Ashram" near Trichinopoly in Tamil Nadu, South India.
"The traditional Sri Lanka Hindu community, who are mostly Saivites, are not particularly impressed with the Swami's 'miracles' (which many consider sleight-of-hand), nor with his crowd-pleasing catering to the masses."
Times of India, April 05, 2005 - "The Supreme Court on Tuesday confirmed life imprisonment for two consecutive terms against a spiritual guru who raped 13 girls and murdered an inmate in his Tamil Nadu ashram in 1994. The Madras High Court had imposed the sentence on Swami Premananda of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu."
Rape Case:Rick Ross - Share International - Guruphiliac - ExBaba - Einterface
Rape Defence:Justice For Premananda
Update:
Times of India, June 03, 2005 - "Former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani has struck out at some members of the nation’s apex judiciary, upbraiding them for 'intellectual inadequacy', shortly after the supreme court upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of controversial godman Swami Premananda for murder and rape in April this year ... Premananda had been accused of a murder and the rape of 13 girls in his ashram near Trichur in Tamil Nadu more than a decade ago. He was arrested, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, and lost his final appeal in the supreme court in April 2005."
Sri Bala Sai Baba
Bala Sai Baba was born to Shri Kannanur Ramanadha Sastry and Smt. Jaya Lakshmamma, hail from a rich family of Brahmin Community of his town. Being a skilled Ayurvedic Doctor Dr. Ramanadha Sastry specialized himself in the curing of snakebites and healed many patients. Smt. Jaya Lakshmamma was a ideal wife with pious qualities to suit the principles of Shri Kannanur Ramanadha Sastry.
Bio - English - "Sri Balasai Baba is admired in India as Avatar. Among them one understands the embodiment of the Goettlichen in human shape. Every time hate, force and destruction take over hand, God in people shape (like Jesus Christ) appears, in order humans, who are will to show the correct way. As Avatar Sri Balasai Baba of the world wants to serve and be for all sincerely searching friend, teacher and sound one. Sri Balasai Baba was born on 14 January 1960 in the southIndian Kurnool. Its birth was predicted by the large Indian holy Sri Ramana Maharshi."
Websites:
Wikipedia
SriBalaSaiBaba.Org
Sri BalaSaiBaba.Us
SriBalaSaiBaba.De - English
Sri BalaSaiBaba.Com - English
CNN Hoaxbusters - "A geisha-pale Indian with a Botox permasmile.""Bala Sai Baba has stolen from Sai Baba not just his name ... but also his look. He too wears orange robes and an absurd Afro.
"Dialog Center - "Disillusioned by the scandals, many disciples have been turning away from Satya Sai Baba and to the 35 year-old Palghat (Kerala) born Bala Sai Baba. Bala Sai claims to be the real Sai avatar. He has set up an ashram in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. He dresses like Satya Sai Baba, performs the same kind of 'miracles’ and has been successful in attracting a large number of devotees. He too has western disciples."
Photo galleries: One - Two - Three
Ashram in Kurnool:
Sri Bala Sai Nilayam
Kurnool 518001
A.P. India
Tel: 0091-8518-221332, fax: 0091-8518-220647
Ashram in Hyderabad:
Sri Bala Sai Nilayam
Domalaguda No. 1-2-593-8
Gagan Mahal Colony
Hyderabad 500029,
A.P. India
Tel: 0091-40-55 82 36 10, fax: 0091-40-27 61 62 80
SSB on the copycats
Sathya Sai Speaks:
"In this Kali Yuga also such imitations are cropping up just as Paundraka shaped himself into a Vasudeva [Krishna]. We have today even Sathya Sai Babas. They get the same type of robe stitched, they strain themselves to cultivate the crown of hair, they study photographs and hold their hands up very nearly like I do and make themselves ridiculous by frantic attempts to imitate Me. They forget that 'imitation is only human; but, Creation is Divine.'
"Those who attempt to become Sathya Sai Babas by this ludicrous process of imitation only destroy whatever faith some people have placed in the Divine. They are poisonous pests which injure the peace and harmony of society. They collect around themselves insects of like nature. For only birds of the same feather can flock together. These 'pretenders' fall into ruin themselves and bring ruin on the society where they operate, as the proverbial horde of monkeys that ruin themselves and bring ruin on the forest which they inhabit."
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Sathya Sai Babas have been cropping up all over the place. Just as he predicted, they have indeed taken to growing their hair, copying his gestures, and have even made several visits to the tailor. Looks like Sai Baba can do nothing about that except scream, shout, stamp his little lotus feet, and then sulk about everyone wanting a piece of his pie.
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