" His followers called him Mahasamatman and said he was a god. He preferred to drop the Maha and the atman, however, and called himself Sam.
He never claimed to be a god. But then, he never claimed not to be a god. Circumstances being what they were, neither admission could be of any benefit. Silence, though, could. Therefore, there was mystery about him."
Roger Zelazny "Lord of Light"