ShareThisBy JENNIFER GARZA
Sacramento Bee
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Her Holiness Sai Maa knows a certain image comes to mind when most people think of a guru.
"A 75-year-old man with a long beard, right?" she says, laughing. "That's not me."
Not even close. Sai Maa is a 53-year-old divorced mother of two. She is also a renowned spiritual leader who recently became the first woman granted the title of Jagatguru in the 5,000-year history of the Vaishnav Saint Society, a branch of Hinduism. "Jagatguru" means master of the universe and it is the highest title that can be bestowed.
What is her philosophy?
"It's all about love," Sai Maa says in a phone interview. Chimes can be heard in the background when she talks. "My philosophy is simple, it's not new. It's, be love, serve, forgive, enlighten yourself."
Sai Maa was born on Mauritius, an island off the eastern coast of Africa and the larger island nation of Madagascar. When Sai Maa was 3 or 4 years old, she began seeing "beings of light." She grew up, married and had two children. Years later, she felt compelled to follow her spiritual journey. "It's something I had in me since I was a small child."
Sai Maa has supporters all over the world. One of them is Christine Bouten, senior minister of operations for the Spiritual Life Center in Sacramento, Calif. Bouten met Sai Maa on a retreat a couple of years ago, an experience she describes as profound. After meeting Sai Maa, Bouten left the corporate world to work in ministry full time.
"She dared us to step into our greatness," says Bouten. "To trust ourselves."
Sai Maa is one of a handful of female gurus who have become more visible in recent years. Finding acceptance has not been easy.
"Even though men may worship mother divine through the form of statue or stone, to actually acknowledge the human form of a woman as the divine, well, it takes time," says Sai Maa. "It's been tough."
Sai Maa hopes being awarded the title of Jagatguru will inspire other women to pursue their spiritual callings whatever they may be. She believes women can be effective leaders.
"The patriarch is not going to change the planet; it's time for the matriarch," says Sai Maa. "It's time for women to accept their feminine energy, and when they do, they will be balanced and strong."
(Jennifer Garza can be reached at jgarza(at)sacbee.com)
