Sathya Sai Baba was a Hindu holy man considered to be a living god by millions of followers around the world. He declared himself to be the reincarnation of a Hindu saint in 1940 and built a loyal following, including politicians and celebrities, despite allegations of sexual abuse. He leaves a trust worth billions.

His gentle demeanour and tolerance of other belief systems attracted an estimated 6 million active and 33 million passive followers, including former presidents, generals, Bollywood luminaries and sports stars. His group maintains more than 1000 ashrams in 126 countries.

Scandal ... Sai Baba overcame abuse allegations. Credit:AP

Sai Baba predicted he would live to his 90s, claiming he could choose the date of his passing. He died at the age of 84. His legacy is not without controversy. There were allegations that he sexually abused young male devotees and, in 1993, six followers were killed in his ashram, four of whom allegedly sought to murder him. The event was never fully explained.

Sai Baba was born Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23, 1926, in Puttaparthi village in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.