New Delhi: Lakhs of devotees continue to pour in the ashram of Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh to pay homage to the spiritual leader who passed away on Sunday even as police tightened security for crowd control.
With grief writ large on their faces, the devotees, both young and old, made their way to the Sai Kulwant Hall at Prashanti Nilayam Ashram to have a darshan of the 85-year-old Sai Baba's mortal remains. Union ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Praful Patel and cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar along with wife Anjali were among those who paid their last respects to the Sai Baba.
With grief writ large on their faces, the devotees, both young and old, made their way to the Sai Kulwant Hall at Prashanti Nilayam Ashram to have a darshan of the 85-year-old Sai Baba's mortal remains. Union ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Praful Patel and cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar along with wife Anjali were among those who paid their last respects to the Sai Baba.
Sai Baba's body has been wrapped in a saffron-coloured cloth and kept in a glass casket in the ashram's central hall.
The body will lie in state at the hall till Tuesday to enable devotees pay their last respects. Sai Baba will be buried at the Sai Kulwant Hall on Wednesday in line with the practice adopted for spiritual leaders in India, contrary to the Hindu custom of cremating bodies.
Police have set up barricades all over the town to control the surge of devotees flocking the area.
DIG (Rayalaseema range) Charu Sinha said, "We have put up the barricades for the convenience of devotees. We have been told to ensure that devotees manage to have last darshan of Sai Baba. Traffic restrictions have also been imposed for the convenience of the devotees".
Anantpur District Collector Janardhan Reddy said food and water have been made available to the devotees who have arrived from near and far.
Foreign devotees also flocked the Ashram to pay their last respect to Baba. "I feel sad as Baba is no more with us.
However, he is in my heart and he is everywhere...," a foreigner said.
A devotee from Karnataka said, "Baba has not gone anywhere. He will soon come back in a new avatar".
An elderly couple from Orissa said despite his sudden death, they are sure that the Baba will again appear before them soon.
Expecting a large number of devotees to converge here, police have made elaborate arrangements at the Puttaparthi airstrip and railway station. Two temporary helipads have been constructed to allow VIP landings.
Top politicians including the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, Karnataka Chief Minister B Yeddyurappa, BJP President Nitin Gadkari, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and Prajarajyam chief Chiranjeevi visited Puttaparthi on Sunday. Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was there to pay his respects as well.
Stampede outside ashram
While VIPs, trustees and relatives got to pay their respects from up close, lakhs of devotees who are coming from all across India and the world were allowed to have a glimpse, but from a distance - with many waiting for hours without food and water. A stampede broke out outside the ashram late on Sunday night. No injuries were reported and police raised barricades to keep the crowds at bay.
Politicians mourn Sai Baba's death
"Sri Sathya Sai Baba was a personification of human values and service to mankind. He was indeed a phenomenon which occurred very rarely. He lived with us for a long time and contributed immensely for strengthening spirituality," said Yeddyurappa.
Sai Baba was a spiritual saint of the highest order. He was devoted to service throughout his life. Be it water, education, health or be it the spirit of service, he has done an invaluable service in all these aspects," said Narendra Modi.
"It is a great loss of humanity. Though he may not be there physically among us, but his spiritual message will continue. He will guide us forever. Purity of love, universal love, service to humanity, and his divine message will continue to guide the society," said Chandrababu Naidu, TDP leader.
"We all know that he is going to live in our hearts permanently. He will continue to guide and inspire us despite the fact that he has left his physical form," said Sunil Gavaskar.
Preparations on for last rites
Preparations are on for Sai Baba's last rites. A pitcher of holy water and soil from the Saraswati Teertha is being sent to Prashanti Nilayam today. Saraswati Teertha is a pilgrimage spot in Kurukshetra from where the ancient Saraswati river is said to have emerged.
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