Puttaparthi, April 27: The mortal remains of Sri Sathya Sai Baba will be laid to rest in accordance with Hindu traditional practices and with full state honours between 9 a.m and 10.30 a.m at the Sai Kulwant Hall in Prashanti Nilayam on Wednesday.
A 9-ft deep grave has been dug up for the purpose at the exact spot, where Sathya Sai Baba used to sit during his daily darshan, as per the wishes of the Sathya Sai Central Trust and Baba’s family members. “The Trust members believe it is the perfect place for Baba’s Samadhi because devotees will be able to relate to him easily at the place from where he had given them his darshan for years,” sources said.
Five Vaastu experts on Tuesday inspected the area, which is just a few yards from where the spiritual leader’s body has been kept in state, in the Sai Kulwant Hall. Later, amidst vedic chants, the Sai Seva Dal volunteers began digging the 8-ft long and 6-ft wide grave. Baba’s Samadhi will be made of marble stones.
Besides a pitcher of water and soil from the Saraswati Teertha — a pilgrimage centre where the ancient river Saraswati is said to have its roots — water from five holy rivers in the country and soil from major pilgrim centres like Varanasi and Mathura will be used during the last rites. Throughout the day, the Sai Kulwant Hall reverberated with hymns and bhajans as lakhs of devotees paid their last respects to Baba. On Wednesday, though, the general public will not be allowed inside for the duration of the funeral.
Devotees who made it to the queue by 12 midnight were allowed to have a last glimpse of their Guru. Darshan for the devotees will be resumed from 12 p.m on Wednesday till April 29.
A limited number of about 600, including employees of the Sai institutions, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Governor ESL Narasimhan and veteran BJP leader LK Advani will be attending the last rites.
–Agencies–