Spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who was undergoing treatment for multi-organ dysfunction, passed away in Puttaparthi today (24.04.2011). He died at 7.40 am following a cardio-respioratory failure. The godman's body is still at the Sathya Sai Super-speciality Hospital, about 5 km from the town. Sathya Sai Central Trust is making arrangements to shift it to Prashanti Nilayam, his ashram, where it will be kept for two days to enable his devotees to have 'last darshan'.
Date of birth -23 November 1926
Place of birth -Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India
Birth name -Sathyanarayana Raju
Date of death -24 April 2011 (aged 84)
Place of death -Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India
Quotation -Love All, Serve All
Help Ever, Hurt Never
Place of birth -Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India
Birth name -Sathyanarayana Raju
Date of death -24 April 2011 (aged 84)
Place of death -Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India
Quotation -Love All, Serve All
Help Ever, Hurt Never
According to the statement released by Sathya Sai Central Trust, the body will be kept at Sai Kulwant Hall at Prashanti Nilayam at 6 p.m. Sunday. The body will lie there Monday and Tuesday.'Bhagwan's body will lie in state at Sai Kulwant Hall for two days -- Monday and Tuesday. Arrangements will be made for darshan after 6 p.m. today at Sai Kulwant Hall,' said a statement issued by A.N. Safaya, director of the hospital.
'We appeal to all not to rush to the hospital but to remain calm and have darshan in an orderly manner,' added the statement.
It was at Prashanti Nilayam that Baba has been giving darshan and blessing his devotees for over four decades.VIDEO
'We appeal to all not to rush to the hospital but to remain calm and have darshan in an orderly manner,' added the statement.
It was at Prashanti Nilayam that Baba has been giving darshan and blessing his devotees for over four decades.VIDEO
Biography
Sathyanarayana Raju was born to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram in the village of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India. Almost everything known about his life stems from the hagiography that has grown around him, the presentation of narratives that hold special meaning to his devotees and are considered evidence of his divine nature.
His birth, which his mother Eswaramma asserted was by miraculous conception, was also said to be heralded by miracles. As a child, he was described as "unusually intelligent" and charitable. He was exceptionally talented in drama, music, dance and writing, and was an avid composer of poems and plays. He was said to be capable of materialising objects such as food and sweets out of thin air.
On 8 March 1940, while living with his elder brother Seshama Raju in Uravakonda, Sathya was apparently stung by a scorpion. He lost consciousness for several hours. Within the next few days there was a noticeable change in Sathya's behavior.There were "symptoms of laughing and weeping, eloquence and silence." "He began to sing Sanskrit verses, a language of which he had no prior knowledge." Doctors believed his behavior to be hysteria. His parents brought Sathya home to Puttaparthi. Concerned, they took him to many priests, "doctors" and exorcists.
On 23 May 1940, Sathya called household members and materialized sugar candy and other items. His father became furious upon seeing this, thinking his son was bewitched. He took a stick and asked him who he was. To this Sathya announced calmly and firmly "I am Sai Baba," a reference to Sai Baba of Shirdi. He proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi—a saint who became famous in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Maharashtra, and who had died eight years before Sathya was born.
Later that year, Sathya Sai Baba declared that he had no worldly relationship with anyone, and around this time, devotees began to gather to him. In 1940, Sathya Sai Baba began to travel to Madras and elsewhere in South India and soon had a large regional following.
In 1944, a mandir (temple) for Sathya Sai Baba's devotees was built near the village. It is now referred to as the old mandir. The construction of Prashanthi Nilayam, the current ashram, began in 1948 and after 2 years, was completed in 1950. In 1957 Sathya Sai Baba went on a North Indian temple tour. In 1954, Sathya Sai Baba established a small free General Hospital in the village of Puttaparthi.
Read more
Sathya Sai Baba: Life & Times
Photogallery
His birth, which his mother Eswaramma asserted was by miraculous conception, was also said to be heralded by miracles. As a child, he was described as "unusually intelligent" and charitable. He was exceptionally talented in drama, music, dance and writing, and was an avid composer of poems and plays. He was said to be capable of materialising objects such as food and sweets out of thin air.
On 8 March 1940, while living with his elder brother Seshama Raju in Uravakonda, Sathya was apparently stung by a scorpion. He lost consciousness for several hours. Within the next few days there was a noticeable change in Sathya's behavior.There were "symptoms of laughing and weeping, eloquence and silence." "He began to sing Sanskrit verses, a language of which he had no prior knowledge." Doctors believed his behavior to be hysteria. His parents brought Sathya home to Puttaparthi. Concerned, they took him to many priests, "doctors" and exorcists.
On 23 May 1940, Sathya called household members and materialized sugar candy and other items. His father became furious upon seeing this, thinking his son was bewitched. He took a stick and asked him who he was. To this Sathya announced calmly and firmly "I am Sai Baba," a reference to Sai Baba of Shirdi. He proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi—a saint who became famous in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Maharashtra, and who had died eight years before Sathya was born.
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| Sathyanarayana Raju |
In 1944, a mandir (temple) for Sathya Sai Baba's devotees was built near the village. It is now referred to as the old mandir. The construction of Prashanthi Nilayam, the current ashram, began in 1948 and after 2 years, was completed in 1950. In 1957 Sathya Sai Baba went on a North Indian temple tour. In 1954, Sathya Sai Baba established a small free General Hospital in the village of Puttaparthi.
Read more
Sathya Sai Baba: Life & Times
Photogallery