Can Godmen's divinity claims be justified?
By Kukil Bora, SiliconIndia   |   Saturday, 23 April 2011, 12:21 IST
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Can Godmen's divinity claims be justified?
Bangalore: When Sathya Sai Baba plucks 'vibuthi' (holy ash), small objects such as rings, necklaces and watches from thin air and offers to scores of Indian and international devotees, they believe them as evidence of divinity, while sceptics consider them as simple conjuring tricks. The Indian Rationalist Association denounces the purportedly supernatural feats of godmen as 'well-packaged gimmickry'. Well, the debate goes on. While non-believers present scientific reasons against these spiritual gurus; their followers turn all the reasons down, making them divine figures based on another set of reasons sprung from their faith. The word divinity is not that easy to define or even understand. These so called Godmen claim divinity or any sort of spiritual attainments through their demonstrations of magic tricks, and this is something which should be questioned. But if their actions do posses any traces of divinity in them, it must be with regards to the voluminous acts of charity that many of these Godmen have done to the society. Sathya Sai Baba and his organizations support a variety of free educational institutions, hospitals, and other charitable works in India and abroad. The Sathya Sai Organization reports that there are an estimated 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba Centers in 114 countries worldwide. In India itself, Sai Baba draws followers from predominantly upper-middle-class, urban sections of society who have the "most wealth, education and exposure to Western ideas." A cultural icon in his home country, Sai Baba has attracted presidents and prime ministers from India and beyond who have become his devotees. The founder of the Art of Living Foundation Ravi Shankar usually known as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is another spiritual leader who has initiated a number of humanitarian projects. He also established in 1997 a Geneva-based charity, the International Association for Human Values, an NGO that engages in relief work and rural development and aims to foster shared global values. Sudhamani Idamannel, also known as Mata Am?tanandamaya Devi is another Hindu spiritual leader, who is revered as a saint by her followers. She is widely respected for her humanitarian activities. Amritanandamayi's world-wide charitable mission comprises a program to build 100,000 homes for the homeless, three orphanages, relief-and-rehabilitation in the face of disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, free medical care, pensions for widows and disabled people and care homes for the elderly amongst others. Leaving the allegations aside for the time being, the charitable organizations run by Sathya Sai, Ravi Shankar or Mata Am?tanandamaya may be doing a lot of good work. That would entitle them to be called a good man, or woman doing noble work. It would not entitle them to call themselves divine. Unfortunately, there is an endless hallowed list of self proclaimed godmen like the Nityanandas and Chandraswamis, who have been indulged in various notorious acts ranging from money laundering to sex rackets. But even after that jelly knees for these Godmen are keep on increasing. We should open our eyes and judge them by what they have done for the well being of humanity, not by how many miracles they have showed.

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