Centenary Series – Article 1, “He came as Love, lived in Love, and left us with Love”
A hundred years ago, on 23rd November 1926, in the quiet hamlet of Puttaparthi, the Infinite cradled itself in the form of a child. The Timeless wrapped in Time, the Divine walked among us—not to found a new religion, but to rekindle the divinity within every heart.
That radiant child, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, our beloved Swami, did not come to preach from podiums but to reach hearts across all lands, languages, and faiths. Who could have imagined that this soft-footed boy, with a halo of curls and a smile that dissolved doubt, would one day hold the hearts of millions across continents?
As the world celebrates the centenary of His Divine Advent, we are not merely called to remember His life—we are invited to let His love flow through ours. Swami was not just a spiritual teacher. He was Love Incarnate, the living synthesis of all scriptures, the silent revealer of eternal truths. Through His words, His works, and His wondrous silence, He taught the world to live with purpose, to serve with compassion, and to love without boundaries.
Love Without Conditions
Swami’s life was not just a path of love—it was a river that flowed endlessly, touching every shore without asking who stood there. He loved like the sun—shining equally on the thorn and the rose. He loved the sinner and the saint alike. He once said: “I do not see your faults. I only see your love.” (Divine Discourse, 5 Mar 2000), He reminded us that real Love is not an emotional attachment but the Divine principle that resides in all beings. His love crossed borders, religions, languages, and ideologies.
Unity of All Faiths
One of Swami’s greatest contributions to the modern world was His emphasis on the unity of religions. The Sarva Dharma Stupa in Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi, India, rises like a sacred flame, lit by the lamps of all faiths—each wick unique, yet burning in one universal Light. He declared: “There is only one religion, the religion of Love. There is only one God, and He is omnipresent.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10, Ch. 9) Swami didn’t aim to convert anyone—He aimed to transform hearts.
Service as Spiritual Practice
With the divine axiom “Love All, Serve All”, Swami transformed the landscape of global service. From free super-specialty hospitals to clean water projects and village upliftment. In a world of suffering, He built temples of healing. In those sacred spaces, He became both the lamp and the healer. Every act of service, He taught, is a silent hymn; every helping hand, a prayer in motion. “Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10, Ch. 14) He did not just ask us to serve the poor—He reminded us that in serving them, we are serving God Himself.
Living Human Values
Swami re-anchored the world to five eternal values—Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Right Conduct), Shanti (Peace), Prema (Love), and Ahimsa (Non-Violence). These are not ideals to admire, but virtues to practice. In homes, schools, workplaces, and governments, He urged the world to return to these roots.
Faith and Inner Transformation
To the spiritual aspirant, Swami offered more than rituals—He offered the path of self-inquiry, devotion, and surrender. He said: “Start the day with love, fill the day with love, end the day with love—this is the way to God.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 13, Ch. 14) He reminded humanity that the Divine is not distant, but resides within. His repeated assurance: “I am in you, with you, above you, around you, guiding and guarding you.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 24, Ch. 6) continues to comfort millions.
Legacy of the Avatar
Though the form dissolved into the formless on 24 April 2011, His fragrance lingers in our lives like the scent of jasmine after it has blown away. His silence speaks louder than thunder; His absence echoes with presence. His devotees across the globe continue to feel Swami’s presence—in dreams, inner guidance, miraculous interventions, and the silent whisper of the conscience. He once said: “Even after this body is no more, My voice will reach you, My guidance will protect you.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 15, Ch. 31). His mission has never ended—it lives through each of us.
“He came as wind, unseen yet felt,
He stayed as light, within us dwelt.
Now every soul that serves with love,
Becomes His echo, from above.”
What the World Learnt?
In a time of global conflict, material obsession, and spiritual confusion, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba taught the world:
- To live with Love and for love.
- To see all beings as expressions of the same Divine light.
- That service to man is service to God.
- That spirituality is practical, not theoretical.
- That God lives in every heart—including yours.
As we step into the second century of His Divine Mission, let us remember: The best celebration of His 100th year is not in rituals or monuments, but in living His message every single day. In this 100th year, don’t light a lamp outside—light one within. Don’t just garland His photo—garland His words with your actions. That is the garland He loves most.
“Let us become the hands through which His compassion flows,
The heart through which His love beats,
And the voice through which His truth is sung.”
With love and reverence at His Lotus Feet
Ravinder Grover
(Only an instrument in His hands; all glory is His alone)
Sri Sathya Sai Global Council New Zealand
