Sathya Sai Baba firmly claimed in many contexts that the events described in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata incl. Bhagavad Gita, and the Srimad Bhagavatha took place! He insisted that:-

1) he was himself Krishna and was 84 years old at time of Mahabharata war((Summer Showers at Brindavan 1978, page 58)

2) that this war took place in 3138 BC.((Summer Roses on the Blue Mountains 1976. p. 85f)

3) that as Krishna he performed the miracles described, such as multi-location of his body in a simultaneous dance with six thousand cowgirls (gopis)! (Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 26, pps. 27-29)

4) that he was also Lord Rama and did what is told in the Ramayana, defeating demons, flying in mantra-driven 'airplanes', killing Ravana, banishing his wife etc.

Sai Baba strongly affirmed the literal truth of these scriptural 'tales', as is seen in the following conversation:
Dr. J. Hislop: "Sometimes Swami speaks of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata as if they were historical, and sometimes
as if they were to be taken as representative of every individual's inner conflicts, virtues, bad qualities etc. Are these events and people historical fact?"

Sai "Yes they are a record of historical people and incidents... Rama was a real person and an Avathar. And Dasaratha was His father.
Krishna was real and the events of His Avathara were real. Rama's life, over the ages, has been altered and distorted somewhat,
and Swami's story of Rama will be a classic through several Yugas."(Conversations with BSSSB by Dr. John Hislop - P. 129 new ed. P. 155 old ed.)

REPORTED 'MIRACLE MATERIALISATION' TO PROVE HIMSELF TO BE KRISHNA "...Krishna assured man that He would save him from penury and grief and from sin and its terrible consequences, provided he adheres to Him, and adores Him.".. How fortunate you are that you have today the same Krishna, the full Prema-Avatar, moving among you. I shall show to you the very jewel (kausthubha) I was wearing at that time. (Here Baba waved his hand, and in a trice a brilliant flash of light revealed a unique jewel in his palm --- the kausthubha), famed in the Bhagavatha and the Puranas (mythological stories). A large greenish-blue emerald of unexcelled brightness, rectangular in shape and bordered by resplendent diamonds, hung on a gold chain. Then Baba moved among the students, teachers and other, and graciously allowed every one of them to see the sacred jewel from close)." (Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. XIII, p. 253f) It is relevant that no 'flash of brilliant light' has ever been caught on the many films and videos of Sai Baba, not in any connection, though lots of brilliant lights have been used in images constructed to make Sai Baba seem other than he really was. Further, that Sai Baba 'materialised' genuine diamonds has never been proven, while numerous of his alleged diamonds have been assayed by independent professionals and found to be cheap paiste gemstones (such as synthetic sapphires with tinfoil behind them to enhance their brilliance though they cost very little). Would a real Krishna figure need to use fakes`? "Leelas (i.e. miraculous events) are occurring throughout India in tens of millions of homes. Swami keeps his hand down so that publicity about the leelas will not spread. The rulers of the country know, but they keep it quiet. If the facts were to have publicity, millions would converge on Swami." (Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by J. Hislop, p. 36 old ed.,& p. 30 new ed.)

In January 1968, Dr. John Hislop taped interviews he had with Sathya Sai Baba. This ever-uncritical and naively trusting 'seeker of truth', who had gone from guru to guru his whole life, asked SSB:
"Swami, something has happened here. Water is around this box. These saris will get wet. (Swami removed the cover of the box and those of us who were standing there could see that the edges of the saris were wet. The cardboard box with four saris in it was lying on a table at the Dharmakshetra in Bombay. Swami had selected 96 saris for distribution to some lady volunteers, and of the 100 brought for His insepction, four were replaced in the box to be returned later to the merchant. The table was not close to any source of water, and Hislop, several other men, and Swami had been standing there from the time the saris were examined one by one, by Swami.)

Sai: "The saris are weeping because Swami has rejected them. Now, I will take them."

Hislop: Swami! "How could that be? Does Swami say that inanimate onjects have injured feelings and can weep?"

Sai: "Inanimate objects are also capable of feeling joy and grief. When the bridge towards Lanka was built by the monkeys so that Rama could march to Ravana's kingdom where Sita was held captive, one last mountain peak was carried to the bridge site. But it was too late. There was no need for it. At this circumstance the mountain shed tears of anguish, and news of this was quickly taken to Rama. His compassion was great, and he sent word that the mountain should no longer sorrow, that he would surely use it on a future occasion. In the Avathara of Krishna, it was this very mountain peak, the Govadhana Peak, which the youth, Krishna, lifted on his finger to shelter the cowherds of Gokul from Indra's deluge of rain."

Hislop: "Swami! This great drama of Rama and Krishna and the mountain peak has been recapitulated here in Bombay on this day before our very eyes... (etc..)

Sai: "Yes. And it is also the self-same Rama and the self-same Krishna who is here this day."

Do these 'animated saris' tale need any comment? It certainly seems it does, if only because many devotees believe in it, especially misguided Hindu Sai-devotees! Not only does this conflict with other 'teachings' by Sai Baba about the differences between the various avatars and realms of beings, but it makes one think that he was seeing just how far he could push the credulity of a man who held a Western Ph.D, as did Dr. Hislop. Hislop retold the story with relish and naive faith! One would think that such a person must at least have passed the test of 'blind belief' that he set up for a true devotee etc. and qualified for 'liberation'? But no, we are told by Hislop in his last book that Sai Baba told him he must be reborn again, even though he had seen the so-called 'lingodbhava' many times and had worked ceaselessly for his God and Master for decades!
What a dis-grace!