Sathya Sai baba: laid to Rest

Godman Sathya Sai Baba, whose message of universal love and brotherhood attracted millions of followers across the globe, was on Wednesday interred at the very spot from where he used to meet and address his disciples for years.

The mortal remains of the 85-year-old spiritual leader, whose clout spread far and wide among both the commoners and the high mighty, were buried after the last rites were performed by his nephew RJ Ratnakar in accordance with vedic customs following full police honours.

Watched by a galaxy of political personalities including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka chief ministers N Kiran Kumar Reddy and BS Yeddyurappa, governors ESL Narasimhan and Shivraj V Patil, BJP leaders LK Advani, M Venkiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya, former AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and hundreds of his followers, Sai Baba's body was buried amidst chanting of "Sai" mantras.

Once the last rites were performed by vedic pandits, red curtains were drawn around 9:45 am and the process started for laying the body in a pit created at the spot in Sai Kulwant where the spiritual leader used to make his preachings for his followers for a number of years. It lasted about 25 minutes.

The spot where he was buried is now expected to become an eternal memorial for Sai Baba, who at the age of 14 announced himself as a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba. He made his mark initially with miracles but later founded institutions of excellence in education and medical facilities besides undertaking development work and philanthropy.

Sai Baba died on Sunday morning after fighting illness for nearly a month caused by multi-organ failure.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, political leaders from various parties, chief ministers and personalities from various fields including cricket and films had visited Puttaparthi in the last two days to pay their homage.

An estimated five lakh people from various parts of the country and abroad had filed past the body to have a final glimpse of their spiritual guru.

The curtains were removed after 40 minutes for the people to have a glimpse of the 'samadhi' where the body was laid to rest in line with the practice adopted for Hindu spirital leaders. Normally, Hindus cremate their bodies.

Governor Narasimhan, chief minister Reddy, Advani, Chandra Babu Naidu and other leaders went to the samadhi had a word with Ratnakar and sprinkled sacred ash at the spot.

Earlier, a little before 9 am, the glass casket in which Sai Baba's body was lying in state from Sunday night was removed and the body was wrapped in national tri colour for a brief while.

Men of the Andhra Pradesh Armed Police sounded the last post and fired 21 shots in the air as a mark of respect.

Then the tri colour was removed and verses from Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Sikh, Judaism and Buddhist scriptures were read out by leaders from these sects. Later, they joined in sprinkling the sacred ash at the samadhi spot as 'mangal aarti' was performed.

With Sai Baba's body draped in his favourite saffron robe, the last rites were performed by Ratnakar, who wept inconsolably, while priests recited vedic chants.

Ratnakar is a member of the powerful Sathya Sai Central Trust, estimated to be possession of wealth to the tune of Rs.40,000 crore, and is believed to be a contender in the race to head the trust.

Water from sacred rivers from all over the country were sprinkled on Sai Baba's body along with cow urine. Cow, honey, ghee and silk were given as gifts to priests.

After the ceremony was over, people gathered at the hall rushed to have a look at the samadhi, which was open for public viewing after 11.45 am.

Sathya Sai baba: Master of Faith

Sathya Sai Baba was the unquestionable master of their faith, a belief that no controversy or rational disquisition could shake. While rationalists were obsessed with his miracles, his followers saw beyond them and adopted him as the guiding light of their life.Born on Nov 23, 1926 to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram in a family of humble means, Sai Baba rose to command the devotion of millions of common devotees. As happens with men of the spirit, he following included prime ministers, presidents, statemen, generals, business captains. The protocol of potentates falling at his feet was often questioned, but such is faith.From his childhood, Baba was keenly involved in divine pursuits. In 1936, At 10, he started organising a group of children to sing hymns, at which he was very good. His spiritual inclination and contemplative nature set him apart from the other children. Sai lore has it that the boy with a soulful voice was transformed into a veritable spiritual guru as the result of a scorpion sting. The boy lost consciousness for several hours and woke up reciting slokas in Sanskrit, a language he had never learned. Moreover, he declared himself an incarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, the 19th century seer venerated by Hindus and Muslims alike.The boy wonder’s popularity began to spread and a small temple was built to him. He began to reign from a seat he called Prashanthi Nilayam, which today is the centrepiece of a spiritual empire. But even in those early days, Sai Baba’s vision had a secular dimension. In 1954, he began to get his flock involved in service activities by building a humble free general hospital, which today has grown into the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, where he died on Sunday.A soft-spoken man, always dressed in flowing robes of saffron or white, his popularity extended to the poorest of the poor. He often declared, “I have not come to disturb or destroy any faith, but to confirm each in his own faith, so that a Christian becomes a better Christian, a Muslim a better Muslim and a Hindu a better Hindu.”His formula to lead a meaningful life was a five-fold path of satya (truth), dharma (righteousness), shanti (peace), prema (love) and ahimsa (non-violence). Love for god, fear of sin and morality in society were his prescriptions for the world at large. But controversy has always dogged the Sai Baba, the most startling of them happening in June 1993. The stillness of Prashanthi Nilayam was shattered when an attempt on his life was made by associates, six of whom were killed.Observers say Satya Sai Baba’s following, especially foreign devotees, dwindled in recent years as a result of such controversies. But at the same time, the focus of discourse ceased to be centred around his miracles, which left him to do his work unhindered.  His followers have stayed unflinching in their devotion, gaze fixed on his message rather than his miracles.

Sathya Sai baba:Health Deteriorates.

Sathya Sai Baba's condition has deteriorated further and his liver has stopped responding to medication. Baba's liver and low blood pressure is also causing his doctors anxiety. Breathing is still dependent on ventilators, haemodialysis was started on Thursday morning to assist the kidneys. But his body is not responding to any treatment.

The 86-year-old religious leader was hospitalised on March 28. Meanwhile, security has been tightened at his ashram in Puttaparthi, as lakhs of devotees poured in upon hearing the news.

The Andhra Pradesh Police has been taking all precautionary measures towards maintaining security at Puttaparthi town.

On April 4, people tried to gatecrash into the super specialty hospital. Besides, the Collector's car was stoned by an angry mob when he was entering the hospital.

Sathya Sai baba: Miracle at Puttaparthi.

A day after Sathya Sai Central Trust member R J Ratnakar issued a statement that all was well in the trust and that they are hoping for Sai Baba's recovery, news of a 'miracle' swept through Puttaparthi on Tuesday.

Around 9.30 am, devotees rushed to the house of a retired deputy tehsildar at Ganesh Circle on the outskirts of Puttaparthi, where a 4-ft idol of Sai Baba was reportedly oozing perfumed oils from its feet. TV cameramen rushed to grab the visuals and devotees thronged the house. They claimed it was a sign of Sai Baba recovering.

Devotees refused to consider that the wax idol could be melting in the sweltering heat and the oil was a resultant residue. Raheem, a sculptor, said Sai Baba had appeared in his dream last November. "He told me to make his idol and worship the same. I followed his direction," said Raheem. He had made the idol five years ago, but had kept it hidden till now.

The idol is a replica of Sai Baba complete with his thick bushy hair and saffron robes.

In the morning, Raheem's wife informed her neighbours as soon as the oil began oozing out. Soon, crowd gathered at the house. Policemen arrived to manage the swelling crowd. B Narayana Swamy, owner of the house, said he rushed when Raheem told him about it, said, "It's a miracle. It's one of Swami's marvels. After I touched the feet of the idol and smelt the perfumed oil, I began to believe Sai Baba has come back."

Sathya Sai Baba shows signs of improvement.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is undergoing treatment for multi-organ dysfunction, is showing signs of improvement and doctors treating him are optimistic about his recovery.

“Sathya Sai Baba, who was admitted in this hospital on March 28, is showing positive signs of response to the treatment being given to him,” a health bulletin issued this morning by A.N. Safaya, Director of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences here, said.

“His blood pressure and other clinical parameters continue to be nearly normal and satisfactory. His kidneys are also showing signs of recovery. The state of his consciousness also continues to show improvement. Indices of other vital organs like the heart and liver have also shown improvement.

“He is in a stable condition of health, though he still continues to be on the ventilator and slow dialysis,” it said.

The panel of doctors treating him is optimistic about his recovery, the bulletin added.

85-year-old Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to the super-speciality hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and lungs.

The doctors treating him have said he is suffering from multi-organ dysfunction and that he was responding positively to the treatment.