In the late nineteenth century, a mendicant fakir based in Shirdi, Maharashtra, gained renown among Mumbai’s merchants as an incarnation of God through his miracles. People affectionately called him Sai Baba from Shirdi. After his death, a young boy from South India claimed to be his reincarnation and was known as "Sathya Sai Baba". He started a spiritual movement that attracted both believers and sceptics from all over the world who wanted to meet him in person. Both Sai Babas were considered embodiments of God during their lifetimes and have been widely represented and worshipped through various visual mediums such as photographs, sculptures, digital arts, and videos. However, even since their lifetimes, not all devotees and critics have acknowledged these manifestations of God on earth as authentic.
In this paper presentation, we will explore the devotion and visual representations of these two Godmen. Our discussion will centre on the ways in which devotees form a profound connection with these saints through images of various kinds, including photographic, artistic, and mental visualizations. From this perspective, we will analyze the spiritual experiences that arise from encountering the gaze of Sai Baba. By exploring these divine visions, we can better understand this minority religion that has spread beyond India via digital channels.
During this presentation, I will share the results of my audiovisual fieldwork conducted in India, which focused on the devoted followers of both Sai Babas. The purpose is to explain how participants evaluated the various parameters used to assess and perform trust and bond to the two characters. Furthermore, we will examine the impact of technology on creating, spreading, and intensifying the saint's life story. This examination will be done through various devotional and documentary images that depict the saint in both his divine and human aspects.
