Between Hinduism and Islam: Shirdi Sai Baba Example

Abstract

Shirdi Sai Baba is a geniune example of Indian religion, culture and civilization. Although Sai Baba's birth, religion and caste were unknown, before and after his death, he dragged many members of different religions after him and was accepted by both Muslims and Hindus as a member of their religion. However, he never clarified this issue. He is a faqir saint who exhibits miracles(karamats) in the eyes of Muslims whereas for Hindus he is a guru who strives to guide them and lead them to salvation, even a god who descends to the earth and helps his devotees with his miracles. His teachings are a combination of elements belonging to Hinduism and Islam. The purpose of Sai Baba, who does not make any discrimination based on religion or caste, was to warn mankind with love and righteousness beyond preaching and to enable them to reach God.
Although Sai Baba's Muslim identity has remained in the shadows today, his famous words and preaches reveal his ties to Islam. In fact, it can be said that his Islamic identity was much more evident until about ten years before his death. Rather than a Hindu familiar with Islam, he appears to be a Muslim faqir with Hindu devotees whose familiar with elements of Hinduism. In the last years before his death, although, he allowed himself to be worshiped and used concepts such as karma and samsara more often. In the years following his death, Sai Baba's fame went beyond the borders of India and with the contribution of another famous Indian religious figure Sathya Sai Baba, he became known worldwide. Today, Shirdi is a pilgrimage site for the devotees of Sai Baba, and his tomb and the mosque where he spent his life, also a few of his remains are relics venerated during visits. Various religious rituals dedicated to Sai Baba still continue to be carried out with all their vitality within the framework of the Hindu religious tradition.

Keywords

• Shirdi Sai Baba
• Islam
• Hinduism
• Faqir
• Guru

Hinduizm ve İslam Arasında: Şirdi Sai Baba Örneği

Abstract

Şirdi Sai Baba, Hint din, kültür ve medeniyetinin özgün bir örneğini oluşturur. Sai Baba’nın doğumu, dini menşei ve kastı belli olmamakla beraber o, ölümünden önce ve sonra pek çok din mensubunu peşinden sürüklemiş hem Müslümanlar hem de Hindular tarafından kendi dinlerinin mensubu kabul edilmiştir. O ise bu hususa hiçbir zaman açıklık getirmemiştir. Müslümanların gözünde kerametler sergileyen bir evliya fakîr, Hindular için ise kendilerine rehberlik edip onları kurtuluşa ulaştırmak için uğraşan bir guru hatta yeryüzüne inerek mucizeleriyle adanmışlarının yardımına koşan bir tanrıdır. Onun öğretileri Hinduizm ve İslam’a ait öğelerin bir birleşiminden müteşekkildir. Dine ya da kasta dayalı bir ayrım yapmayan Sai Baba’nın maksadı vaaz vermenin ötesinde sevgi ve doğrulukla insanlığı ikaz etmek ve Tanrı’ya ulaşmalarını sağlamaktır.
Her ne kadar Sai Baba’nın Müslüman kimliği günümüzde arka planda kalmış olsa da meşhur söz ve tavsiyeleri onun İslam’la bağını ortaya koymaktadır. Hatta vefatından yaklaşık on yıl öncesine kadar İslami kimliği çok daha belirgindir denilebilir. O, İslam dinine aşina olan bir Hindu’dan ziyade Hinduizm’e ait öğelere aşina, Hindu adanmışları olan bir Müslüman fakîr görünümündedir. Vefatından önceki son yıllarında ise kendisine tapınılmasına izin vermiş, karma, samsara gibi kavramları daha sık kullanmıştır. Ölümünü takip eden yıllarda Sai Baba’nın ünü Hindistan sınırlarını aşmış, bir diğer meşhur Hintli dini figür olan Sathya Sai Baba’nın da katkısıyla o, dünya çapında tanınmıştır. Günümüzde Şirdi, Sai Baba’nın taraftarları için bir hac yeri, mezarı, hayatını geçirdiği cami ve kendisinden kalan birkaç eşya ziyaretler sırasında hürmet gören kutsal emanetlerdir. Sai Baba’ya adanmış çeşitli dini ritüeller Hindu dini geleneği çerçevesinde halen tüm canlılığıyla sürdürülmeye devam etmektedir.

Keywords

• Şirdi Sai Baba
• İslam
• Hinduizm
• Fakîr
• Guru

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