Sathya Saibaba Dies At 85 Burial Set For Wednesday 4 lakh Expected At Funeral
N D Shiva Kumar | TNN
Puttaparthi: One of India’s most famous ‘godman’ with a following of kings and commoners alike, Bhagwan Sri Sathya Saibaba, passed away on Sunday at 7:40am of cardiorespiratory failure at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences here. He was 85.
Saibaba’s death was announced at 10.15am by hospital director Dr A N Safaya, who said, “Bhagwan Sri Sathya Saibaba is no more with us physically. He left his earthly body on April 24, 2011, at 7.40am due to cardio-respiratory failure.’’ The godman was admitted to the hospital 28 days ago with cardiac problems and his condition deteriorated with many of his organs failing.
The Baba’s body will lie in state at Sai Kulwant Hall in Prasanthi Nilayam until Tuesday for his devotees and followers to have a last darshan. He will then be buried close to his Yajur Mandir residence on Wednesday in line with the practice adopted for Hindu spiritual leaders. Sanyasis are said to symbolically submit their bodies to fire at the time of renunciation by donning saffron or flame coloured robes. “The exact time of burial will be announced later,’’ said state industries minister Geeta Reddy. Four lakh people are expected at the funeral that will include national and international dignitaries.
Before announcing Saibaba’s demise, the police ordered a complete shutdown of Puttaparthi. All shops were closed and roads barricaded. Those arriving from Bangalore and Hyderabad (barring mediapersons and government officials) had to stop eight km out of the town.
Except for Baba’s close relatives and disciples, and office-bearers of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Central Trust and VIPs, no one was allowed into the hospital. Once the news of his death broke, Andhra Pradesh governor ESL Narasimhan, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan rushed to the hospital.
“His body was wrapped in orange clothes and covered up to the eyes. Nobody uttered a word. Everybody wept,’’ said Sai Kumar, 33, a local businessman and a devotee. “I spoke to him on March 18 for two minutes and took his photograph,’’ he said, tears rolling down his cheeks.
At 3pm, the body was shifted to Sri Kulwant Hall in Prasanthi Nilayam, where the Baba gave discourses and met devotees daily for over four decades. Hundreds of people who gathered there tried to barge into the ashram. Police used lathis to disperse them.
Already 6,000 police personnel have been deployed in Puttaparthi. Anticipating large number of VIPs, the police have made elaborate arrangements at Puttaparthi air-strip and railway station. Two helipads were constructed temporarily near Kothacheruvu to enable VIPs to land. Round the clock security check-up is going on in and around Puttaparthi as the area is also known to be vulnerable to Leftist extremist activity. The round-the-clock darshan, which began at 6pm on Sunday, will continue until 6pm on Tuesday. The Andhra Pradesh government announced state mourning until Wednesday and declared a holiday in Anantapur district on Wednesday.
LAST GLIMPSE
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Police sources said that by late evening around 60,000 people had arrived by all modes of transport and from nearby towns and villages including metro centres like Bangalore and Hyderabad for a last darshan. The APSRTC and South Central Railway have increased bus and train services from Hyderabad to Puttaparthi.
The spiritual leader was in indifferent health since 2005 after a hip bone fracture and remained confined to a wheelchair. His close aide Anil Kumar, who used to translate Baba’s Telugu speeches into English, said: “His objective was the establishment of ‘sanatana dharma’ which believes in one god. His spirituality can be summed up as journey from I to We. That’s his greatness.’’
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