Thousands of devotees thronged Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparti, the abode of Sri Satya Sai Baba on the occasion of his Aradhana Mahotsavam on Tuesday. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan joined devotees in paying tributes to the god man whose service to humanity earned him a revered niche across India and other parts of the world. Participating on the second day of the three-day Sri Satya Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam (first death anniversary), the Governor equated Satya Sai Baba with the Sun — always shining without any beginning or end.
“Bhagwan has no beginning and end. He is eternal. The Sun grants happiness to everyone without any discrimination and Bhagwan is the same, granting happiness to the entire creation,” he said. “By his physical departure, Bhagwan has made his devotees even stronger. I feel elated visiting Prashanti Nilayam,” Mr Narasimhan added. The Governor said he had come to Puttaparti as a devotee and promised that the present government would do all that it could do for the people of the state.
Complimenting the Sri Satya Sai Central Trust for taking up drinking water projects, medicare and other services for the devotees, Mr Narasimhan questioned why the government could not implement them in the same manner. Revenue minister N. Raghuveera Reddy and major industries minister J. Geetha Reddy were also present. All India president of SSSSO V. Srinivasan, asserted that Satya Sai Baba’s divine mission would continue with the support of his devotees. “This is not an occasion to grieve but to rededicate to his mission. His mission is ever expansive and each one of us has a role to play,” he reminded.
Mr Srinivasan said the fourth campus of SSSIHL at Muddenahalli was cleared by the Central government and added that works on the Rs 80 crore drinking water schemes for 118 villages in Puttaparti, Kothacheruvu and Bukkapatnam mandals in Anantapur district would begin soon. A book on Satya Sai Baba, Miracle of Pure Love written by Prof. G. Venkataraman, was released by the Governor on the occasion.