Muddenahalli light body Sai Baba is NOT related to Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba - Conclusion drawn from 1st Jan 2009 Swami discourse

Last updated on 20th May 2015

[At the outset, if some MDH belief folks are hurt with this post, I am very sorry about it. However, I have no option but to pursue the truth of MDH belief in the light of (physical form) Bhagavan's discourses, as MDH belief has become a MAJOR threat to the mother Sathya Sai organization that Bhagavan PERSONALLY created and nurtured with so much time, effort, emotion, love ... etc. for the benefit of Sathya Sai devotees, or to be more accurate, for mankind as a whole in the decades & centuries to come.]

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (physical form) said in a discourse on 1st Jan. 2009, the following (rough English translation & Telugu transcript with detailed Telugu transcript, English translation and references given later on in this post):

"Krishna also (after) showing many miracles/divine sport, attracting many people, at the end, gave up the body. So, this Avatar (phenomenon), for some limited amount of time, (engages in the divine activity/sport), then He does not have any connection with anything."

[Telugu transcript: "Krishnadu kudanu aneeka leelanu chuupinchi, aneeka mandini aakarshinchi, kattakattupudiki dehanni vadalyaadu. Ayite, ee Avataramu aneettuvanti matramu eppadiki edo konni unnantha varaku anni (..puga) meghaale, tarvatha edaaniki sambandhamu undadhu."]

In my view/interpretation of the above, as late as 2009 when Bhagavan's physical health was failing and He, in all probability, knew that He will be giving up the body in a few years time (actually He gave up the body less than two and a half years later), Bhagavan told us that after the Avatar gives up the body, the Avatar does not have anything to do with the activities He was engaged in as the Avatar. This may be difficult for us Sai devotees to accept. But that's what He said! It is my experience with Bhagavan that on such deep spiritual/religious matters He simply said the truth, whether people could accept it/digest it or not.

He also said later on in the discourse, the following:
"But God (Bhagavan) is always in your heart. (He) is listening to all your prayers. (He) is giving suitable/appropriate results for them (prayers)."

So, Swami also said that Bhagavan in the formless absolute aspect of God will listen to our prayers and respond to our prayers. So praying to Hridayanivaasi (heart-dwelling) Sai for directions for the running of His mission will, as per Swami's words, get a response from within.

In other words, we Sathya Sai devotees have to now turn to the Sathya Sai within our hearts/formless aspect of God within our hearts, to get "communications" from Swami/God.

The other aspect of this analysis is that clearly Swami's words in Jan. 2009 rule out any possibility of Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba appearing as "light body" or "subtle body" somewhere which can be seen almost exclusively by a "chosen communicator" (and not by others barring very, very few exceptions). I mean, Swami has said that once the Avatar gives up the body - FINISH, OVER. He does not get involved again with those activities. [It is up to others to take the mission forward, taking inspiration from the Sai within and from the memories of interactions and experiences with, and the discourses & teachings of the Avatar.]

Therefore the Muddenahalli "light body" and "subtle body" phenomenon/claim is NOT the Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba that we Sathya Sai devotees were privileged and BLESSED to see and hear and, for some, even touch and interact with. It is some other Sai Baba. Like we have Kurnool Bala Sai Baba for many years now, there is an addition to those ranks with the Muddenahalli light body Sai Baba/subtle body Sai Baba. These Sai Babas have no relation to the Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba.

Of course, both Kurnool Bala Sai Baba and Muddenahalli light body Sai Baba may be doing good work and preaching good things. I have no objection to such aspects of their work at all. I wish devotees of these Sai Babas all the very best in their spiritual journey. But Sathya Sai devotees should know that their teachings & instructions may be common, in part, to Sathya Sai Baba, but they are NOT from the lips/mouth of Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba.

Now here are the details about the 1st Jan. 2009 Swami discourse extracts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Z9YZRC5D0. I thank brother Pardha Saradhi Uppala for this significant contribution. [See note at the bottom for corresponding Radio Sai audio download and related info.]

[Note that I have transcribed the first nearly three minutes of the video in Telugu. However, as my Telugu is not great, there may be some mistakes. Those who are knowledgeable about Telugu who find mistakes in both my Telugu transcription and English translation, may please let me know of the corrections.]

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (physical form) says:
A) From 0:00 to around 1:00,

In Telugu (with a few English words):
Rajuduga puttyaadu. Sri Ramachandraduga puttyaadu. Ramachandraduga (...aadu). Krishuduga puttyaadu. Anni leelanu anni chuupinchaadu. Ramalu anni vidhimulaga kudanu kashtamulu anubhavinchaadu. Krishnadu kudanu aneeka leelanu chuupinchi, aneeka mandini aakarshinchi, kattakattupudiki dehanni vadalyaadu. Ayite, ee Avataramu aneettuvanti matramu eppadiki edo konni unnantha varaku anni (..puga) meghaale, tarvatha edaaniki sambandhamu undadhu.

[Rather literal English translation mainly from my limited understanding of Telugu but also borrowing from Prof. Anilkumar Kamaraju's on-the-spot English translation, at times. The literal translation may help non-Telugu people to better interpret Swami's words.]
(He was) born as a king. (He was) born as Sri Ramachandra (Lord Rama). (He) lived as Ramachandra. (He was) born as Krishna. He showed/displayed/demonstrated all miracles/divine sport. Rama suffered all kinds of difficulties. Krishna also (after) showing many miracles/divine sport, attracting many people, at the end, gave up the body. So, this Avatar (phenomenon), for some limited amount of time, (engages in the divine sport/activity), then He does not have any connection with anything.

[Prof. Anilkumar Kamaraju on-the-spot English translation:]
Born as a king. Born as king Rama. Lived as Ramachandra. Born as Krishna later. And he has shown all everything around. Rama passed through various troubles and problems. Krishna also exhibited the divine sport, he attracted everybody, ultimately he has withdrawn from the body. However, Avatar will be showing the divine sport so long the Avatar is in the physical body which is not possible when He withdraws from the body.

B) [Around 1:00 to around 2:08]
In Telugu (with a few English words):
Bhagavantuda naaku sakshaatga (kanipinchu) ani praarthisthuntaadu. Emi adi icchinaakuda taathkalikinga, minchi minchi nattuga vachhestundi, ante. Tarvaatha pothundi. Kaani Bhagavantudu nirantaramu nee hridyamulo(nunde) unnaadu. Nee sarva prarthanakuda vintunnaadu. Daani tagilina resultsu istunnaadu. Kaabatti nee dehamu poinakudanu aatma unnadi. Aa self kuda eppatiki poodu. Ante ponnattivanti danini manamu prarthinchaali. Changeless That. Aa changeless daanni manam nirantaramu kudanu manam chintinchaali.

[Rather literal English translation ....]
O God (Bhagavan) appear before me directly, (we) pray. Even if some appearance/vision is given/granted temporarily, it is like a flash of lightning, that's all. Then it goes. But God (Bhagavan) is always in your heart. (He) is listening to all your prayers. (He) is giving suitable/appropriate results for them (prayers). So, even if your body goes, the aatma (self/soul) is (remains). That self will never go (anywhere). ... We must pray for that which never goes. Changeless That (Swami's words in English). We should always focus on (think about) the changeless (that).

[Prof. Anilkumar Kamaraju on-the-spot English translation:]
We pray, O God, manifest, give me your formless appearance [Ravi: I think that should be read as We pray, O God, show me your appearance in a form/physical manifestation]. Even the physical manifestation is like a flash, is like lightning, which will pass. God has installed Himself (within) continuously. He listens to all sorts of your prayers. And He will also give you results appropriately. So the body may be lost but the self remains. The self will never vanish. That which is deathless self - we have to pray to that. That self is changeless. Therefore we have to constantly think of that changeless self.

C)[Around 2:08 to around 2:49]
In Telugu:
Eppadukuda Bhagavantuduki ee rupamu ledu. Ade oka oka samayamulo oka rupanni matramu chuupistaadu. Andariki telese nimattimayi aa rupanni matramu pettukuntaadu. Tarvaata aa rupamu kuudanu kanipin(chadu). Kanuka meeru e ... ee matramu aadharamu ... pettuko kudadu.

[Rather literal English translation ...]
Never ever does God (Bhagavan) have a form. However, (He) shows a form at appropriate times. (He) takes on that form so that everybody can know (about Him). Then that form will also not be seen. Therefore you should not pay any attention to these (artificial prints/photos).

[Prof. Anilkumar Kamaraju on-the-spot English translation:]
God is formless. However, at times, He will demonstrate to you a specific form. To make everyone know He takes it upon Himself, that form. Later, even that form also leaves. Don't go by these artificial prints - computer mixing photos - No.
--------end snippet transcripts & translations ---

Note: Radio Sai has the audio of the discourse for download. You may access it using http://www.radiosai.org/program/SearchProgramme.php and searching for 2009 discourses. Note that the entry for it in the result list states that it was first broadcast on 2012-05-08. The filename for the download of the full discourse is DD_2009_01_01_NEW_YEAR.mp3.
A) The audio snippet in the above youtube video from 0:00 to 1:00 is from around 30:15 in the full discourse audio.
B) The next snippet in the youtube video from around 1:00 to 2:08 is from around 33:44 in the full discourse audio.
C) The last snippet in the youtube video from around 2:08 to 2:49 is from around 59:55 in the full discourse audio.