100 Days to 100 Years – Awakening to the Call of the Avatar
- National Media Coordinator (SONZ)
- Aug 9
- 6 min read
A Timeless Invitation to Transform Our Lives
Centenary Series – Article 6, “Marking 100 Days to the 100th Birthday of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba”
“I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts,
to see that it shines day by day with added lustre”
— Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 8, Ch. 22
100 Days to the Divine Centenary
As we stand just 100 days away from the 100th Birthday of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, a sacred vibration seems to echo across time and continents — not merely to celebrate a divine life, but to ignite the divinity within ourselves. Swami once said: “My birthday is the date when divinity blossoms in your heart”. (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 11, Ch. 35)
In a world swirling with conflict, confusion, and craving, Swami’s radiant life calls us inward. A hundred candles may light a hall, but one flame of divine awareness can illumine generations. The countdown has begun—not just to a date, but to a moment of awakening. This countdown is not to an event, but to an awakening — from forgetfulness to remembrance, from complacency to consecration, from inertia to inspired action.
Bharat – The Sacred Land of Saints, Sacrifice, and Sanātana Dharma
On this sacred day of the Independence of India, falling on 15 August 2025, we bow in reverence to Mother India — Bharat Mata, whose soil has birthed not only kings and warriors, but sages, saints, and Avatars. This is the land where the Vedas were heard, where Rama walked, where Krishna preached, and where Sri Sathya Sai came to awaken mankind once more.
Bharat is not merely a piece of geography. It is a living energy field of dharma, preserved through millennia by the tapas of rishis and the tears of selfless patriots. “This land of Bharat is the motherland for great people who acquired name and fame in different continents. This is the land of valour, sacrifice, and spiritual glory”. (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 34, Ch. 15)
India’s true glory is not in her wealth or power, but in her wisdom, spiritual heritage, and tolerance — qualities that shine through her Upanishads, Bhagavad Gītā, and the lives of her sons and daughters who live in the spirit of Seva, Sadhana, and Sacrifice.
A Divine Freedom Call on Independence Day - Not Just Political, But Spiritual
As we celebrate the Independence Day of India, we must remember that external freedom is only the beginning. Swami reminded us: “True freedom lies in being bound to God and detached from the world”. — (Paraphrased essence; based on Swami’s teachings in “Knowing the Self is Real Freedom” – Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 11)
The highest freedom is not the right to do what we want, but the ability to live how God wants—with love, righteousness, peace, and self-control.
Swami was not a politician, but as a Divine Revolutionary—to teach us that true freedom comes when the ego dissolves, and the heart blossoms with love. His mission is to awaken internal freedom:
Freedom from selfishness
Freedom from hatred
Freedom from fear
Freedom from the illusion that we are separate from God
Let us not just salute the flag — let us raise the flag of love in our hearts and pledge allegiance to the Sanātana Dharma that Swami embodied.
Why This Centenary Matters
This is not an ordinary celebration. It marks a century of:
Spiritual revolution through Love All, Serve All
Miraculous healing—not just of bodies, but of souls
Transformation of individuals, institutions, and entire nations
He declared, “This Sai has come in order to achieve the supreme task of uniting as one family the entire mankind” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 14, Ch. 28) And also reminded us, “My life is My message.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10, Ch. 33) and as instruments of that message, we are called not only to admire His life but to live it forward.
Swami’s mission is not over. It is evolving—through us. The Centenary is not merely a remembrance of His form but a reminder that we are His hands, His voice, His torchbearers. Though His physical body has merged into the eternal, His presence continues through the power of His message. As Swami affirmed: “My life is My message” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10, Ch. 33) . And He reminded us: “The body is like a water bubble. The body is bound to perish… but Truth is eternal” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 34, Ch. 15)
In every heart that loves, every hand that serves, and every soul that walks the path of Dharma, His voice continues to echo the eternal message of Love and Truth.
What Can We Do in the Next 100 Days?
This is a sacred countdown. Let us prepare our hearts like a temple, step by step:
1. Daily Reflection – Read one quote or Leela of Swami and contemplate its meaning.
2. Watch Your Words – Speak with truth, love, and silence.
3. Practice Silent Seva – Perform one selfless act daily.
4. Sadhana Sankalpa – Chant, meditate, or do Namasmarana with devotion.
5. Record Divine Moments – Document your experiences for the centenary archives.
6. Engage the Youth – Involve children and youth in service and Satsang.
7. Join the Wave – Be part of centenary Satsang’s, bhajans, or global seva drives.
“Do not waste even a single day of your life.
Let each day be filled with sacred acts”
(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 9, Ch. 16)
Not Just His Birthday — Your Inner Rebirth
Swami came not to create followers. He didn’t come to be worshipped on a pedestal—He came so we could rise to our own divine potential. He came to awaken the divine flame in each of us. He came to show us that we too are God, and that living as such is our true dharma. This is about our rebirth—into a life of:
Awareness of the Divine within
Responsibility for the world without
Radiance of Sai values in thought, word, and deed
“You are not the body or the mind.
You are God, encased in this mortal form”
(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10, Ch. 32)
These 100 days are our chance to live that truth — not in concept, but in conduct.
A 100-Day Inner Campaign: “From Man to God”
Let us take this as a spiritual 100-day challenge: “Start the day with Love. Fill the day with Love. End the day with Love. That is the way to God.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 13, Ch. 24)
Let us use each day to cultivate:
Love without limits
Faith without fear
Service without self-interest
This is our silent garland of transformation to offer at His Divine Feet on 23 November 2025.
Conclusion: Be the Light, Be the Legacy
Swami’s legacy is not made of bricks, statues, or structures — it is made of hearts transformed. The Centenary is not a closing chapter. It is an opening to eternity — where each of us becomes a living message of Sathya Sai.
“The Avatar does not come to start a new religion,
but to water the roots of all faiths with love.”(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 14, Ch. 23)
Let us respond to this sacred call. Not just by counting down days — but by making each day count. In the next 100 days, let us not count time, but make time count. For we are the instruments. The mission is His. The moment is now.
“My Mission is Love.
My message is Love.
My method is Love”
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Reflection Questions:
What small change can I make starting today to live more like Sai?
How can I serve others silently in the next 100 days?
Am I listening to the inner voice that says: “You are Divine”?
Key Insight:
The countdown to His 100th birthday is not about numbers, but about transformation. Each day is a step closer to becoming what He came to make us—embodiments of Love.
— Ravinder Grover
(He painted with silence, I translated in words)
Sri Sathya Sai Global Council, New Zealand
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