Speaking about the fact that the triple incarnation of Sai was predicted five thousand years before our time, Sathya Sai Baba does not explain in which ancient texts this was mentioned. Perhaps there were ancient texts that have not survived, or we are talking about an oral tradition that has come down to us in the form of legends.
In previous chapters, I mentioned that various world religions talk about divine incarnations that should be incarnated on Earth in the future. The Second Coming of Christ (Christianity), Buddha Maitreya (Buddhism), Messiah (Judaism), Imam Mahdi (some branches of Islam), and Kalki (Hinduism). Perhaps, speaking about ancient predictions, Sathya Sai Baba had in mind all these Divine Teachers of humanity.
Between 1944 and 1952, Sathya Sai Baba told several devotees from the South Indian city of Mysore that three Sai Avatars would incarnate on Earth. Then, Sathya Sai Baba was between 18 and 26 years old.
These conversations took place in different places — sometimes in the "old Mandir", which is the very first building built in the village of Puttaparthi as a temporary ashram. Some talks took place in the state of Karnataka in the city of Mysore and its environs.
Sathya Sai Baba said three Avatars will incarnate on the territory of India. The first is Shirdi Sai Baba, the second is Sathya Sai Baba and the third is Prema Sai Baba. Prema Sai Baba will incarnate in the village of Doddamallur.
This village is located near the city of Channapatna in the state of Karnataka. Sathya Sai Baba said that in his current incarnation he will live for 96 years, and then a year later he will be born as Prema Sai Baba. In this incarnation he will live for about 75 years.
The researchers explain that the ancient Vedic principles for calculating age are different from modern ones. According to Vedic principles, 96 years means approximately 84 years, which was the age of Sathya Sai Baba at the time of his passing. Considering the estimated lifespan of Prema Sai Baba, it can be considered that according to Vedic principles, 75 years will be equal to the age of less than 70 years, according to the modern international reckoning of age.
In his three incarnations, Sai realizes all divine goals; as such, the world will then be filled with peace, love and harmony. This will be a truly new stage in the evolution of mankind. Many spiritual teachers and esotericists of different traditions also predict the imminent beginning of a new divine era.
Since modern civilization highly appreciates the scientific method of cognition, Sathya Sai Baba mentioned the difference between the scientific approach and those gigantic possibilities that God has.
Sathya Sai Baba said that scientific knowledge is limited to the five-dimensional sensory world. However, he has perfect spiritual vision. Sathya Sai Baba can see realities that even the greatest scientists do not understand. No modern scientific technology can match God's omniscience. He can know exactly what happened many aeons ago, as well as what will happen in the future.
During his conversations with the first devotees, in the mid-1940s, Sathya Sai Baba said he was beyond space, time, and all limitations. He even stated he can manifest himself in a huge number of bodies at the same time, while these bodies are located in different places in the universe.
Sathya Sai Baba has always been famous for the fact that he could materialize various charms for his devotees such as rings, medallions or rosaries. I have repeatedly seen objects materialized by Sathya Sai Baba. Sometimes they seemed completely ordinary, yet every time I held a unique item in my hand, I felt a special energy. Any ring, rosary or medallion created by him were special mystical objects and genuine amulets in the truest sense of the word.
During his conversations, he explained that if he materialized any objects to his followers, the objects subsequently informed him if the owners were having problems, difficulties, or were subject to dangerous situations, and that in their moment of need, he would send help and blessings to them. Any object materialized by him played this role of direct connection with him.
Sathya Sai Baba proclaimed to his devotees that whatever form and name of God you worship, whatever religious tradition you practice, God accepts your prayer. The tradition of the three Sai Avatars is a single spiritual space of the divine evolution of all mankind. All forms and names belong to God, and you follow the spiritual path closest to your heart.
Sathya Sai Baba spoke about the fact that, in accordance with Vedic ideas, the full cycle of development is divided into four periods, which are called the Yuga in Sanskrit. Periods of four Yugas (four epochs) return again and again. That is how the global cycle of time looks.
The ten Avatars of God incarnate in these four epochs, most often the Vedic tradition calls them incarnations of the god Vishnu. It should be remembered that Vishnu is not the name of any deity, but one of the traditional Vedic names of the supreme Creator God. Different religions call God by different names, even within the framework of Hindu philosophy, there are a lot of names for God.
The last incarnation of God in each cycle is the Kalki Avatar. In our age of Kali yuga, the Kalki Avatar has been divided into three parts: Shirdi Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Baba, and Prema Sai Baba. The Vedic texts do not mention that the Kalki Avatar will split into three incarnations; however, Sathya Sai Baba explained this is exactly what will happen.
Sathya Sai Baba said that such a triple incarnation of God on Earth can only be seen in this era. The triple incarnation of Sai has not been in the past and will not be in the future. That is why we are witnessing this unique event of the triple incarnation of Sai.
God spiritually prepared humanity when he incarnated as Shirdi Sai Baba. God spread spiritual knowledge when he incarnated as Sathya Sai Baba. When God incarnated as Prema Sai Baba, all people will enjoy the fruits of divine self-realization. It is then Sai will bestow happiness and bliss on all mankind.
Of course, it may seem strange to some that Sathya Sai has predicted such a bright outlook when the world is experiencing great political and social difficulties in the 20th and 21st century.
In my opinion, it is possible to note clear positive trends in the spiritual development of a huge number of people. The spiritual development of people is much more active, while the political and social system of human society is still functioning in the old way, and no longer meeting the spiritual and intellectual needs of people.
In 1944, Sathya Sai Baba told the first devotees of his third incarnation as Prema Sai Baba that, “Prema Sai Baba will be born in the small village of Doddamallur, which is located near the city of Channapatna, and this village will subsequently be prosperous, because it is here that God will receive his birth.”
The prediction shows that in the beginning, the village in which Prema Sai is born would be very small and poor, but in time it would become a large and prosperous city.
Sathya Sai Baba took Namagiri Amma and her daughter, Kannamma, to the village of Doddamallur. During this unique journey, Sathya Sai Baba was accompanied by several followers from the city of Mysore.
In this small village there is an ancient temple of the god, Vishnu, who is called Aprameya Swami. In this temple there is a famous altar with a statue of the boy, Krishna, which pilgrims come from all over India to worship.
Sathya Sai Baba said that Prema Sai Baba would be born into a poor family in this village and also indicated the house where he would be born. In the original text of the Sri Sathya Sai Anandadai book, we read about the great mission of the three Sai Avatars and accurate predictions about the place and time of Prema Sai Baba's birth.