To a spiritual aspirant, He is the divine master par excellence; to a rationalist, He is the greatest humanitarian on earth; to thousands of modern youth, He is the leader with a dynamic vision and a colossus of inspiration; to a devotee, He is simply divinity in human form; and to everyone who has had the opportunity to behold Him, He is Pure Love Walking on Two Feet.
Ask Bhagavan Baba, “Are you God?” And He says:
“Yes, I am God and so are you. The only difference between you and I is that while I am aware of this fact, you are not.”
And this is no casual remark. Indeed, inherent in this small, but extremely significant statement, is the fundamental truth of humanity’s divine nature - its true reality; and revivifying the heart of every human being to this salient truth is the mission and message of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Very aptly, Baba begins His every discourse, addressing the gathering as, “Embodiments of the Divine Atma”.
All who listen to Him, experience His unconditional love, benefit from His caring counsel and witness His supernormal supremacy over mind and matter, get a real glimpse of the glory and majesty of God, and therefore, of the infinity that each human potentially and inherently is.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23, 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. Even as a child, His spiritual inclination and contemplative nature set Him apart from other children of His age, and He was known as ‘Guru’ and “Brahmajnani’ (knower of Brahman or Godhead) among His peers and others in the village.
However, it was not until October 20, 1940, the day He made the historic declaration of His Avatarhood, (‘Avatar’ means ‘Divinity Incarnate in Human Form’) that the world at large learnt of this divine phenomenon.
To read in more detail about Baba’s early life, click below:
http://media.radiosai.org/journals/Portal/Sai-story.htm
Today, millions from all over the world, professing various faiths and hailing from all walks of life, worship Bhagavan Baba as an ‘Avatar’, and the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi. Thousands gather every day at Prasanthi Nilayam, His spiritual headquarters established beside the village of Puttaparthi, for His darshan (the act of beholding His sacred form), when He moves among devotees, blessing them and uplifting them by providing spiritual succour and solace.
Revealing the purpose of His advent, Sai Baba has said that He has come to re-establish the rhythm of righteousness in the world and repair the ancient highway to God, which over the years has systematically deteriorated. In His own words:
“This Sai has come in order to achieve the supreme task of uniting the entire mankind as one family through the bond of brotherhood, of affirming and illuminating the AtmicReality (Atma – The Divine Self) of each being, to reveal the Divine which is the basis on which the entire cosmos rests, and of instructing all to recognise the common Divine Heritage that binds man to man, so that man can rid himself of the animal and rise up to the Divine, which is the goal.”
To read more about what Baba has said of Himself, His mission and His manifestations, click below:
The Avatar on Himself
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is an integral manifestation who combines two very significant roles.
Firstly, He is a great spiritual Master, famed for His simple and sweet exposition of the greatest and most intricate of spiritual truths, which form the fundamental teachings of all the religions of the world. Elucidating on His mission, Bhagavan declares:
“I have come not to disturb or destroy any faith, but to confirm each in his own faith, so that the Christian becomes a better Christian; the Muslim, a better Muslim; and the Hindu, a better Hindu.”
| His formula for humanity to lead a meaningful life is the five-fold path of: | |
| Sathya (Truth), | |
| Dharma (Righteousness), | |
| Shanthi (Peace), | |
| Prema (Love) | |
| Ahimsa (Non-Violence) | |
“Love for God, fear of sin and morality in society” – these are His prescriptions for our ailing world.
Secondly, He is an inexhaustible reservoir of pure love. His numerous service projects, be it free hospitals, free schools and colleges, free drinking water supply projects, or free housing projects, all stand testimony to His selfless love and compassion for the needy and less privileged. True to His declaration, “My Life is My Message”, He has inspired and continues to inspire millions of His devotees worldwide by His personal example to live the ideal that “service to man is service to God.”
The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization today has a presence in hundreds of nations in the world, and its members undertake any number of service activities that benefit their immediate community. And they do it selflessly and spontaneously.
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has thus emerged as a beacon of hope in a world that is desperately seeking an end to the unrest and sorrow prevalent today. His message of “Love All Serve All – Help Ever Hurt Never” is a spiritual salve that will lead mankind from the pain of darkness and ignorance and to the light and bliss of immortality.
Indeed, once in a millennium does such a Divine Being walk the earth. For you and I, and all humanity, in spite of the dark clouds hovering on the world’s horizon today, there is a silver lining - nay, a golden one. If we seize this rarest of rare opportunities, world peace and harmony, along with our individual emancipation, will no longer be a utopia. It will become as real and universal as the morning Sun.
The charter of the Sai Organization says that every member should undertake sadhana (spiritual discipline) as an integral part of daily life and abide by the following Code of Conduct :
Prasanthi Nilayam, literally “The Abode of Supreme Peace”, is the birthplace and the headquarter of the sacred mission of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. For His devotees, it is what Rome is to the Catholics and Mecca to the Muslims. For others, who step into this township out of curiousity or general interest, it is a seat of inner growth and learning that visitors describe as awe-inspiring. Its draw lies in its power to nourish the soul and calm the mind.
This sacred township welcomes thousands of spiritual seekers from every faith, and all corners of the globe each day, as they arrive to behold the sacred form of Bhagavan Baba.
True to its name, anyone who steps in this holy precinct and breathes its air, vouches to experiencing the highest peace seep in their soul.
Inaugurated in 1950, what was then a humble settlement comprising of a cluster of modest concrete roofs and a shrine with no approach road worth the mention, has today emerged as the international spiritual lighthouse of the world.
The tiny township of Prasanthi Nilayam is located in the village of Puttaparthi, the hamlet where Bhagavan Baba was born. This area is part of the Anantapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, in South India.
Today, the village of Puttaparthi is no longer a rural setting. It has emerged as the centre for spiritually-driven secular learning, with hospitals combining holistic healing with cutting-edge technology, and is well-connected through road, rail and air.
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) run many buses connecting Prasanthi Nilayam directly to several major cities like.
The Prasanthi Nilayam bus terminal is located just opposite the main gate of this spiritual township, and has a fully computerised reservation counter of the APSRTC. Phone: (08555) 287210.
The KSRTC reservation counter is located in the building adjacent to the bus terminal towards the left. Phone: (08555) 288938.
There are a number of private bus and taxi operators who ply between Prasanthi Nilayam and cities like Bangalore, Chennai, etc. Please be advised that taxi fares between Bangalore and Prasanthi Nilayam are in the range of Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 1800/-.
The Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam railway station is located 8 kilometres from this township. However, a computerised railway reservation counter is located at the bus terminal itself. Phone: (08555) 287355.
Below are some of the important cities that are directly connected to Prasanthi Nilayam via rail.
For further details, contact the Station Master, Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam. Phone: (08555) 280125.
For more information regarding railway services, go to www.indianrail.gov.in
The nearest major airport is the Bengaluru (Bangalore) International Airport located about 120 kilometres from Prasanthi Nilayam. For more information, visit www.bengaluruairport.com.
There are three canteens which cater to the varying tastes of the thousands who visit Prasanthi Nilayam each day from all over the world.
The South Indian Canteen is open 4 times each day. It serves South Indian cuisine, snacks and beverages for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.
The North Indian Canteen opens only for lunch and dinner and serves North Indian cuisine.
The third is the Western Canteen which caters to the continental palate. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
All these three canteens provide purely vegetarian food at nominal rates.
Indian Citizens can be accommodated in rooms and dormitories. However, room accommodation may be difficult during festivals when there are large crowds. The Indian Accommodation office is located in Room No. 7 in front of the South Indian canteen, and is open from 6:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. Devotees seeking accomadation are adviced to bring with them any Government issued photo ID (eg. Drivers License, Voters ID, Ration Card etc.)
The Non-Resident Indians and Foreign Citizens’ accommodation office is located in North 8, N-1. These visitors need to bring along their passports and visas, and are accommodated in rooms, dormitories or common halls. This office is open from 8:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m.
There is no provision for booking any of the accommodation facilities inside this township in advance.
Life inside Prasanthi Nilayam begins at 5:20 a.m. with the chanting of ‘Om’ and morning prayers in the main shrine, followed by group recitation of Vedic hymns and devotional singing while circumambulating the main temple.
Everyday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and later from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Vedic hymns are chanted in the Sai Kulwant Hall. This is followed by Bhajans (congregational devotional singing) upto 9:30 a.m. in the morning and upto 6:00 p.m. in the evening.
On the days when there are other programs scheduled in the hall, the timings of sessions may be different from that mentioned above.
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be University) : The Administrative Office of the Sri Sathya Sai University sits majestically atop a hill of this serene valley. This unique institution, which combines the best of India’s ancient system value education along with the instruction of specialized branches of secular learning, offers a number of undergraduate, post graduate and professional courses, all completely free of charge. It has four campuses at Prashanthi Nilayam, Anantapur, Brindavan (Bangalore) and Muddenahalli (this one is under construction).
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences: Just five kilometers away from Prasanthi Nilayam, stands the grand edifice of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Medical Sciences, which offers world-class tertiary care, completely free of charge to all, especially the needy and downtrodden.
There is a similar sister institution in Whitefield, Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka.
Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust: Apart from the free University and the charitable hospitals, all the other service projects like the mammoth Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Projects, Sri Sathya Sai Orissa Flood Rehabilitation Project, Sri Sathya Sai Deena Janodharana Pathakam (boys’ orphanage) and many others are undertaken by this entirely charitable Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust which has its main office in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation: The spiritual headquarters of the worldwide Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations is housed in this hamlet. Since its inception in the early 1960s, this voluntary organisation, has been engaged in the spiritual advancement of humanity through the principle and practice of selfless love and service, without any distinction of religion, nationality, race, and socio-economic status, either for those who work in this organisation or for those who are served by them.
Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust : This is an umbrella organisation which has four divisions.
The Media Division and Publications Division are engaged in disseminating the message of Bhagavan Baba, the former mainly through Radio Sai,Heart2Heart, Video Documentaries and Television programmes, and the latter by publishing Sai literature, as well as audio and video products.
The Bhaktha Sahayak Division and the Eswaramma Women’s Welfare Division cater to the physical needs of the devotees by offering subsidized food (in the many canteens inside the township), and other articles of need in the Shopping Complex and snack joints.
Sai Kulwant Hall: This is the grand venue where a mass of humanity congregates everyday to participate in prayers and worship. This massive convention hall is also where most of the cultural and spiritual festivals that fill the calendar of Prasanthi Nilayam are celebrated.
Chaitanya Jyothi Museum: This is a museum, exquisite in its architecture and elegant in its presentation, which narrates the story of the life and mission of Bhagavan Baba through creative multimedia and fascinating models.There is free entry for all and it is open from 9:00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. on all days of the week, except Mondays.
Sanathana Sanskruti Museum: Literally, it means “The Eternal Heritage” and this is another museum which eloquently exhibits the principle of ‘Unity of all Faiths’, which is one of the cornerstones of Bhagavan Baba’s message. This too is free and open on all week days, without exception, from 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m.
Sri Sathya Sai Space Theatre: Inaugurated by Bhagavan Baba in 1985, this is a planetarium which educates not only the students of Sri Sathya Sai University but also the visitors on the wonders of astronomy. On every Thursday, there is a free show for the general public in English and Hindi. Free passes are issued at the South Indian Canteen Coupon Counter every Wednesday from 10.00 a.m. onwards on first-come-first-serve basis.
For more details and also to listen to the discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba go to http://radiosai.org
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