in one lifetime he's gone from being devoted as a saint by his followers to proclaiming himself a god. not only that but the one mohammed said would succeed him and in his next life he's coming back as jesus. the man likes to get around, in a religions sense.
so here is a man that expects to be worshiped. that his devoted followers not pray to 'god' or 'allah' or any other name but his. would you pray to this man? sathya sai baba uses slight-of-hand and parlour tricks, and the blind devotion of his followers to make 'miracles' happen and 'prove' his divinity. and as previously mentioned, endorsed by the mysterious 'ascended masters'.
the sai baba of shirdi was so humble that he never told anyone his real name. he practised, taught and was devoted to both hinduism and islam. in his teachings sai baba emphasised the importance of performing one's duties without attachment to earthly matters and being ever content regardless of the situation. he encouraged charity and sharing with others, and said that the world and all that the human may give is transient and only god and his gifts are eternal. he never made any claims himself regarding his divinity and never wore an orange robe. he wore the typical garb of a sufi fakir - white kafni and cloth cap.
