Puttaparti, April 11: People have been queuing up to tie a rolled letter containing a handwritten message, ‘Jai Sai Ram. Long live Baba’ to a branch of the Kalpavruksham, a tree considered divine, here ever since Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to hospital.
The tree has so many papers containing get-well messages hanging from every branch that it has become invisible.
“Normally, summer is not the season for devotees to visit Puttaparti. But ever since the baba fell ill, devotees have been coming in large numbers and several of them have been visiting the Kalpavruksham to write messages for the well-being of Sai Baba,’’ Nageswar, a priest who takes care of the tree, said.
These days nearly 100 devotees holding handwritten papers are seen praying at the tree which normally attracts 40 devotees a day.
According to locals, the tree has been being considered sacred for several decades as it is where Satya Sai Baba did ‘tapas’ and ‘bajans’ as a child.
The tree grew between two huge rock formations on the banks of Chitravati river.
“The baba, invoking his magical powers, would give whatever the devotees sought by plucking it from this tree. Devotees also use the tree’s wood for its medicinal value,’’ Nageswar said.
The locals said further: “Devotees whose wishes come true will come and pull out one of the handwritten letters hung from the tree and drop it into the Homagundam.
During the peak season thousands of people queue up. “I came to know about the divine tree from a friend and I am convinced that it has some mysterious powers. Since my examination results are due any time now I have come to tie the letter with a pray that I should come out with flying colours,’’ Bhaskar, an Intermediate student, said.
Ever since the doctors said that Satya Sai Baba’s health condition had improved people have been either tying letters of pray for further improvement of his health or dropping the letters into the Homagundam.
The number of devotees visiting the place would increase if the restrictions imposed by the police were eased, said the locals.
–Agencies