The Hagiographer and the Avatar: The Life and Works of Narayan Kasturi

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Examines the key role of a hagiographer within a charismatic religious movement. In this biographical study, Antonio Rigopoulos explores the fundamental role of a hagiographer within a charismatic religious movement: in this case, the postsectarian, cosmopolitan community of the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba. The guru's hagiographer, Narayan Kasturi, was already a distinguished litterateur by the time he first met Sathya Sai Baba in 1948. The two lived together at the guru's hermitage more or less continuously from 1954 up until Kasturi's death, in 1987. Despite Kasturi's influential hagiography, Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, little scholarly attention has been paid to the hagiographer himself and his importance to the movement. In detailing Kasturi's relationship to Sathya Sai Baba, Rigopoulos emphasizes that the hagiographer's work was not subordinate to the guru's definition of himself. Rather, his discourses with the holy man had a reciprocal and reinforcing influence, resulting in the construction of a unified canon. Furthermore, Kasturi's ability to perform a variety of functions as a hagiographer successfully mediated the relationship between the guru and his followers. Drawing on years of research on the movement as well as interviews with Kasturi himself, this book deepens our understanding of this important pan-Indian figure and his charismatic religious movement. Antonio Rigopoulos is Professor of Sanskrit Language and Literature at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy. His previous books include The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Dattātreya: The Immortal Guru, Yogin, and Avatāra: A Study of the Transformative and Inclusive Character of a Multi-faceted Hindu Deity, both published by SUNY Press. Contents List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Narayan Kasturi’s Hagiographical Enterprise 1 Narayan Kasturi’s First Life: Investigating the Hagiographer’s Roots Early Years and Education Secretary of the Ramakrishna Ashram and University Professor: His Service Activities Literary Achievements in Kannada: His Fame as a Humorist From Despair to Fulfillment, from Ramakrishna to Sathya Sai Baba 2 Narayan Kasturi’s Magnum Opus: Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Parts 1 & 2 The Hagiographer’s Task Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Part 1: An Overview A Critical Evaluation of Part 1 Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Part 2: An Overview A Critical Evaluation of Part 2 3 Narayan Kasturi’s Magnum Opus: Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Parts 3 & 4 Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Part 3: An Overview A Critical Evaluation of Part 3 Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Part 4: An Overview A Critical Evaluation of Part 4 Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’s Subsequent Volumes by B. N. Narasimha Murthy 4 The Hagiographer’s Multiple Roles within the Sathya Sai Baba Movement Kasturi as Editor and Translator into English of the Guru’s Discourses Kasturi as Editor of Sanathana Sarathi and Translator into English of Sathya Sai Baba’s Writings Kasturi as the Guru’s Personal Secretary: The Chiseled Child’s Intimacy with Him Kasturi as Public Speaker Kasturi’s Other Books on the Guru and His Autobiography Loving God 5 A Conversation with Professor Kasturi The Interview: Friday, November 8, 1985 Observations on Some Key Issues On Shirdi Sai Baba’s Place of Birth, Early Years, and Guru Shirdi Sai Baba and Kabīr On Sathya Sai Baba as the Reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba The Miracle of the Dattātreya Photo: Characteristics of Dattātreya that Agree with Sathya Sai Baba’s Persona On Dattātreya and Kabīr as Associated Figures On Sathya Sai Baba’s “Materialization” of Gems and Rings Contemporaries of Shirdi Sai Baba Revered as Avatāras of Dattātreya Meher Baba R. K. Karanjia’s Interview with Sathya Sai Baba 6 Understanding Sathya Sai Baba in the Light of Dattātreya Dattātreya: An Overview Shirdi Sai Baba as Dattātreya Sathya Sai Baba as Dattātreya The Title of Kasturi’s Magnum Opus and Its Trinitarian Import Sathyam Sivam Sundaram and the Triad of karman, bhakti, and jñāna: The Triune Sai Baba as the trimūrti 7 Narayan Kasturi’s Last Years The Death of Kasturi’s Son The Death of Kasturi’s Wife The Worsening of Kasturi’s Conditions: His Declaration, “I am Atma” Kasturi’s Last Days; His Death on August 14, 1987 The Fountain of Death Makes the Water of Life Play Kasturi’s Funeral Rites and kapālamokṣa Unto Sai a Witness 8 Epilogue: Narayan Kasturi’s Legacy Lives On Universalism The Experience of darśan: Old and New Media Education and Service to Society Notes General Bibliography Works by Narayan Kasturi Works on Narayan Kasturi Index