The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi

by Antonio Rigopoulos

Overview

A vast and diversified religious movement originating from Sai Baba of Shirdi, is often referred to as "the Sai Baba movement." Through the chronological presentation of Sai Baba's life, light is shed on the various ways in which the important guru figures in this movement came to be linked to the saint of Shirdi.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780791412688
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	03/09/1993
Series:	SUNY series in Religious Studies
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword by Mario Piantelli
Acknowledgments
Guide to Pronunciation
Prologue

Part One: The Life

1. Sai Baba's Background
2. Arrival in Shirdi, Departure, and Final Reentry
3. The Village of Shirdi. Sai Baba's Habits and Daily Life in the Early Years. First Miracles and the Beginning of Worship
4. Sai Baba's Daily Routine. His "Death" and "Resurrection" in 1886
5. Expansion of Sai Baba's Fame (1886-1900)
6. Shirdi Becomes a Modern Pandharpur (1900-1910)
7. 1910 to 1915
8. His Last Three Years

Part Two: The Teachings

9. The Path of Love
10. The Path of Knowledge
11. The Path of Action
12. Modes of Expression in Sai Baba's Teachings
13. Sai Baba's Universalism

Epilogue

Appendix 1: Gods, Goddesses, Demons, and Religious Festivals
Appendix 2: The Hindu Calendar

Glossary
General Bibliography
Selected Bibliography on the Sai Baba Movement
Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book makes available for the first time to readers in North America and much of the English-speaking world an account of one of the most important Indian saints of recent times. It also has the merit of treating its subject in a manner that is scholarly and at the same time respects both the greatness of its subject and the limitations of his accessibility. I found it informative, thought-provoking, and a great joy to read.

"The author combines the best features of traditional and modern scholarly techniques. He exposes and highlights the special character of his subject and makes it available for further consideration from a wide variety of standpoints, and contributes to the current scholarly discussion about the relevance and adequacy of the concepts of 'saint' for cross-cultural studies and for contemporary constructive work in the areas of ethics, religious studies, and post-modern philosophy.

"Sai Baba is exemplary among the great saints of Maharashtra in western India for the ways in which he drew upon and surpassed the categories, concepts, and styles of a variety of conventionally competing religious traditions. Maharashtra is well-known for the integrative spirituality of its foremost figures, and among them Sai Baba of Shirdi is particularly important. The author 'locates' Sai Baba in the contexts of both Islamic and Hindu traditions." — Gene R. Thursby, University of Florida

From the Publisher

A general introduction to the life and teachings of holy man Sai Baba (1836-1918), who is little known in the west, but whose followers number millions in his native India. Traces his birth as a Moslem; his arrival in the small village of Shirdi, where he spent the rest of his life; his daily routine; the growth of his fame; and his final years and death. Among the themes of his teaching discussed are love, knowledge, and action; his style of expression is also described. Paper edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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