The Afterlife of Sai Baba: Competing Visions of a Global Saint (Global South Asia)

Nearly a century after his death, the image of Sai Baba, the serene old man with the white beard from Shirdi village in Maharashtra, India, is instantly recognizable to most South Asians (and many Westerners) as a guru for all faiths―Hindus, Muslims, and others. During his lifetime Sai Baba accepted all followers who came to him, regardless of religious or caste background, and preached a path of spiritual enlightenment and mutual tolerance. These days, tens of thousands of Indians and foreigners make the pilgrimage to Shirdi each year, and Sai Baba temples have sprung up in unlikely places around the world, such as Munich, Seattle, and Austin. Tracing his rise from small village guru to global phenomenon, religious studies scholar Karline McLain uses a wide range of sources to investigate the different ways that Sai Baba has been understood in South Asia and beyond and the reasons behind his skyrocketing popularity among Hindus in particular. Shining a spotlight on an incredibly forceful devotional movement that avoids fundamental politics and emphasizes unity, service, and peace, The Afterlife of Sai Baba is an entertaining―and enlightening―look at one of South Asia's most popular spiritual gurus.

Nearly a century after his death, the image of Sai Baba, the serene old man with the white beard from Shirdi village in Maharashtra, India, is instantly recognizable to most South Asians (and many Westerners) as a guru for all faiths-Hindus, Muslims, and others. Tracing his rise from small village guru to global phenomenon, Karline McLain shines a spotlight on an incredibly forceful devotional movement that avoids fundamental politics and emphasizes unity, service, and peace.The Afterlife of Sai Babais an entertaining-and enlightening-look at one of South Asia's most popular spiritual gurus.

Nearly a century after his death, the image of Sai Baba, the serene old man with the white beard from Shirdi village in Maharashtra, India, is instantly recognizable to most South Asians (and many Westerners) as a guru for all faiths-Hindus, Muslims, and others. During his lifetime Sai Baba accepted all followers who came to him, regardless of religious or caste background, and preached a path of spiritual enlightenment and mutual tolerance. These days, tens of thousands of Indians and foreigners make the pilgrimage to Shirdi each year, and Sai Baba temples have sprung up in unlikely places around the world, such as Munich, Seattle, and Austin.

Tracing his rise from small village guru to global phenomenon, religious studies scholar Karline McLain uses a wide range of sources to investigate the different ways that Sai Baba has been understood in South Asia and beyond and the reasons behind his skyrocketing popularity among Hindus in particular. Shining a spotlight on an incredibly forceful devotional movement that avoids fundamental politics and emphasizes unity, service, and peace,The Afterlife of Sai Babais an entertaining-and enlightening-look at one of South Asia's most popular spiritual gurus Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Note on Translation, Transliteration, and Orthography 12 Introduction 18 Shirdi Is for Everyone 34 Shirdi Is My Pandharpur 69 Shirdi Is the Future of Religion in India 106 Shirdi Is for Unity in Diversity and Adversity 148 Shirdi Is for Humanity 188 Conclusion 230