MY BLESSINGS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU
 

27 April 2011 morning

Bhagawan was laid to rest in Sai Kulwant Hall this morning in the presence of a huge assemblage of devotees, also attended by a host of political luminaries.

Earlier, there were hour-long bhajans and a host of prayers representing various religions, including Jewish, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism

The final journey of Bhagawan had the full state honours as both Governor and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh were present during the occasion. The gun salute was accorded and the police band played in homage as the final proceedings were on.

The final rites commenced with physical frame's nephew RJ Ratnakar performing the rites representing the family. A host of priests guided the entire ceremony, which lasted for 45 minutes.

The Divine Physical Frame was lowered in a specially made pit of 7 feet by 12 feet on the very podium that Bhagawan used to adorn during His darshan sessions.

A longer description of the cermony can be found here.

Videos of the event will be available after the normal editing process.

Jai Sai Ram

Visit this page to see Swami lying in State in Sai Kulwant Hall.

Here is a video, on www.saicast.org.

Letter from Michael Goldstein, Chair, Prasanthi Council

Here is a discussion of Swami's age when He left HIs body.

Article on Sathya Sai Baba in the Hindustan Times, by Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Also in pdf

Interview with Prof. Venkatarman and Dr. Narendranath Reddy. Text and audio.

Transcript of report concerning Bhagawan's health by Dr Goldstein. Recording of report

Discourse, 5 July 2003. Swami talks about His health and body.

Discourse, 13 July 2005. Swami talks about His Well-Being.

Musings by Prof G. Venkatraman, 6 April .

Dr. Safaya's report on Swami's health (5 April). video   transcript

"In regard to every matter, my thoughts are always sublime and exemplary. You must note that Swami's life is in His own hands and not in those of anyone else. If I will it, I can live for as long as I please. I can also terminate it at will. It is my will that decides and not any other person. The reason is My purity, selflessness, and divinity. What other testimony is called for? The life of the pure hearted is in their own hands and not in those of others." Discourse, 3 July 1993

Message from the Radio Sai Team, on April 27 morning early

Like every one of you, we were caught completely unawares on April 24, and immediately we had to organize huge screens for devotees' viewing in Sai Kulwant Hall, at select points inside the Ashram and the Puttaparthi town. This had to be done with no delay not only for convenience of devotees but also for security.

We have offered Live Audio Stream of the bhajans and devotional offerings in Sai Kulwant Hall on Radio Sai since the morning of April 25.

For Live Video of the happenings in Sai Kulwant Hall we made quick arrangements for a Live Video Feed which was carried by a number of TV Channels through their broadcasting vans stationed in Prasanthi Nilayam. This way we were able to serve the yearning devotees at the regional and national level. Because of the pressure of all these immediate tasks on our extremely limited manpower (hardly half a dozen staff) and other resources we could not organize a Live Video Stream on our website radiosai.org or sathyasai.org or saicast.org.

We regret this inconvenience to overseas devotees. However, we hope many people in several countries will watch the special video "The Miracle of Pure Love" which will be aired by Astha International TV Channel. Please go here for the timings.

April 27 is the most sacred day when the Sai Kulwant Hall will transform into the Maha Samadhi Mandir of our dearest Bhagawan. We will video record every second of this momentous occasion and will offer you special highlights shortly, both on radiosai.org and saicast.org. This way people in all time zones will be able to see a compact footage of this event at their convenience.

People in India can watch the Live Video of tomorrow's proceedings on the many TV channels that are already carrying the divine darshan in Sai Kulwant Hall for the past two days.

Additionally, we are organizing huge screens in Hill View Stadium to enable the ever increasing number of devotees thronging Prasanthi Nilayam to witness tomorrow's proceedings with much ease.

We hope you understand the immense constraints and demands on our time and resources because of which we are not able to offer you a Live Video Stream of tomorrow's proceedings on our website.

Thank You.

"I am in You, With You, Above You, Beside You, Around You…." Any number of times Bhagawan has reminded us about this ultimate truth. Our Sai, as we all know, is very much in our hearts, guiding us, guarding us, and loving us as ever. Let us now resolve to make our lives His message.

Bhagawan's physical frame laid to rest amidst state honours

Puttaparthi, which sung lullabies to infant Sathya, which fondled and nurtured Little Sathya to Sri Sathya Sai, and which received the abundance of His love and care over and over again during the past eight and a half decade, finally earned a day to grieve, though the day will be marked in the annals of Divine History as the most significant of the day, when Avatar of the age was laid to rest. ...This is definitely not of her choice, but as fate would have it, a grieving Puttaparthi had to accept this present as well, as she has been receiving over the past eight and a half decade, in abundance

It was a Divine Script written by Him alone and executed in His own inimitable fashion. For all the glory, happiness, and bliss that she has received over and over again, when the final moment arrived, to bid farewell to the Soul of entire creation, she grieved, and so were millions upon millions around the world. Bhagawan, who left His mortal coil on the 24 April 2011, was laid to rest in Sai Kulwant Hall this morning in presence of a huge assemblage of devotees, also attended by a host of political luminaries.

Earlier, the function commenced with an aalaap bhajan by noted classical vocalist Pt. Jasraj. This was followed by an hour-long bhajan by students. A host of prayers representing various religions, including Jewish, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism, followed before a set of selected bhajan, that were so dear to Beloved Bhagawan was rendered by students, bringing tears in the assemblage, taking one and all to nostalgic happy days with their Beloved "Swami".

The final journey of Bhagawan had the full state honours as both Governor and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh were present during the occasion. The gun salute was accorded and the police band played in homage as the final proceedings were on.

The final rites commenced with physical frame's nephew RJ Ratnakar performing the rites representing the family. A host of priests guided the entire ceremony, which lasted for 45 minutes.

The Divine Physical Frame was lowered in a specially made pit of 7 feet by 12 feet on the very podium that Bhagawan used to adorn during His darshan sessions.

Giant screens were erected at vantage places in and around Puttaparthi so that the devotees could witness the final rites. The look on the faces of the devotees was that of shock and sadness, and the township is still coming to terms with the departure of their Beloved.

Among the dignitaries present were the Governor and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, EVL Narasimhan and Kiran Kumar Reddy, Senior BJP leaders L K Advani and Venkaiah Naidu, former Union Home Minister and Governor of Punjab Shivraj Patil, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Telugu Desam Supremo and former AP Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, veteran VHP leader Ashok Singhal, AP Ministers Geeta Reddy, Raghuveera Reddy etc.

The Divine Physical Frame, draped in Bhagawan's favourite orange colour, was lowered into the Samadhi amidst vedic chanting. In a symbolic gesture, the ceremony was marked with gifting of a cow and clothes (godhaana and buudhaana). Special water collected from various holy rivers across India was also sprinkled on the Divine Frame sanctifying the occasion.

Even as the first set of rituals were completed, the curtain came down for the finishing touches of the tomb where Bhagawan was laid to rest. Incessant Sai Gayathri chanting continued for the next more than half-an-hour before the curtains went up for the public to have their maiden view of the Tomb of the Avatar of the Age.

As fragrant Vibhuti smell wafted in the air, granting the nostalgia of golden days when Beloved spent time amidst on the same dais, an announcement came that darshan would commence at 11:45 hrs

As is the case in Shirdi, this Tomb of the Avatar of the Age would start speaking to His chosen devotees now on and would be the solace for grieving devotees from around the world. Puttaparthi beckons, with much more intensity, as our Beloved Lord Sri Sathya Sai would speak from His tomb from now on!!!

Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Samadhi

" 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.

R J Ratnakar, Swami's nephew and trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Central Trust, performing the last rites of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. - 27-04-2011

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 a.m. 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.

The nephew of Sri Sathya Sai Baba R. J. Rathnakar  is guided by  priests as he performs the last rites over the Bhagawan's body inside Prashanthi Nilayam

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 Mr. Ratnakar, who wept inconsolably, while priests recited vedic chants.  Mr. Ratnakar Swami's Nephew & also a member of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.

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

After the ceremony was over, Sai devotees gathered at the hall rushed to have a look at the samadhi, which was open for public viewing after 11.45 a.m."