Ekkirala Bharadwaja

Ekkirala Bharadwaja was born at Bapatla and was a post-graduate in English literature. He left the Indian Administrative Service after having a profound spiritual experience at the Samadhi Mandir of Sai Baba of Shirdi, thereafter becoming a lecturer of English literature because that gave him opportunity to spread his master's teachings.[1]

Bharadwaja researched the lives and teachings of several saints, travelling extensively and personally contacting many of them. He insisted on the necessity of a Sadguru to direct devotees in their spiritual path. The culmination of all this is a series of books on Sai Baba and many other saints. He believed Sai Baba to be the matchless saint, a blend of all religions and the answer to all the questions of the present day and spirituality.[1]

Sri Bharadwaja attaine mahasamadhi on 12 April 1989 at Ongole. His samadhi is in Ongole Sai baba temple.

Bharadwaja founded the Shirdi Sai Cultural Mission at Vidyanagar and the Sai Baba Mission in Ongole. He also founded a Telugu-language fortnightly publication, Sai Baba, that is now produced monthly and continues to spread his messages. The publication inspired the construction of several Sai Baba temples.[1] His thoughts are now promoted by the Sri Master Universal Sai Trust & Acharya Bharadwaja Peace Foundation in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.[2]

• http://saibharadwaja.org/