Remembering Vinny Maa
Dr. Vinny Chitluri (10th March 1943 to 24th March 2022), fondly known as Vinny Maa was an ardent devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. Due to her extensive research on life and teachings of Sai Baba, she was known as walking encyclopaedia on Sai Baba.
Many photos in this website are result of her direct or indirect work and hence a heartfelt tribute is in order. Vinny Maa was born on 10th March 1943 in Aruvakadu in Tamilnadu. Her parents name is unknown to me. As her mother was seriously unwell, her father, who was an atheist, after exhausting all medical options, took her mother to Sri B V Narasimha Swamiji. Vinny maa who was six years old child then was lucky to accompany them. Sri B V Narasimha Swamiji blessed her mother and made young Vinny maa sit on His lap and blessed her. With Baba and Swamiji’s blessings, her mother fully recovered in due course of time. Needless to say, her father transformed from being an atheist to a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. Sri B V Narasimha Swamiji asked her father to do Sai prachar in North India; soon her father was transferred to Jabalpur (in Madhya Pradesh)! They did Sai pooja and bhajans at home and did Sai prachar. Vinny Maa completed her medical degree at Jabalpur (in Madhya Pradesh) in the year 1963. She finished her post-graduation in Delhi and later went to USA for higher studies and practiced there. She retired from medical profession and returned to India in 1994 and stayed in Shirdi until her samadhi in 2022. Vinny maa did extensive research on Baba’s life and teachings and has authored the following books:- Amrosia in Shirdi – part I and II
- Baba’s Rinanubandh : Leelas during His Sojourn in Shirdi
- Baba’s Vaani : His Sayings and Teachings
- Shirdi Sai Baba: His Divine Manifestations
- Baba’s Divine Manifestations
- Baba’s Anurag : Love for His Devotee
- Baba’s Gurukul – Shirdi
- A Divine Journey with Baba
- Baba’s Divine Symphony
- Babas Rinanubandh Leelas During His Sojourn In Shirdi
She met several Sai devotees and collected their experiences and photos. All this was done in the days without modern amenities and required lot of effort. She organized photo exhibitions and did Sai prachar. She helped requesting devotees by taking them round Shirdi and explaining the significance of different places like Baba’s bhiksha route etc. This she did as a pure service without any fees. She also recorded several videos about Sai devotees and additional information on “Sai Sacharitra” through YouTube channel “Sai Baba’s devotee speaks”. She built the “Sai Korhale Temple” at Shirdi where Baba’s paduka’s are installed. Here, she did extensive service to Baba devotees carrying palkis to Shirdi. She followed Baba’s teaching of Anna daan, Jal daan, and Gou seva.
On the topic of research on Sai baba, she advocated – “research and report without adding our own interpretation“; which is beacon of light for all of us who research on Baba’s life and teachings.Vinny maa has left lasting impact on Sai movement and benefited scores of devotees in knowing Baba. I am sure, in time to come, her work and life will continue to inspire Sai devotees world over.
Om Shanti, Om Sairam.