The Afterlife of Sai Baba. Karline McLain

Nearly a century after his death, the image of Sai Baba, the serene old man with the white beard from Shirdi village in Maharashtra, India, is instantly recognizable to most South Asians (and many Westerners) as a guru for all faiths—Hindus, Muslims, and others. Tracing his rise from small village guru to global phenomenon, Karline McLain shines a spotlight on an incredibly forceful devotional movement that avoids fundamental politics and emphasizes unity, service, and peace. The Afterlife of Sai Baba is an entertaining—and enlightening—look at one of South Asia’s most popular spiritual gurus.