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Sathya Sai Baba, one of India’s most revered spiritual leaders, died here Sunday after prolonged illness, plunging millions of his followers across the world into gloom. He was 85. Sai Baba, whom many worshipped as god despite attacks from critics, breathed his last at the Sathya Sai Super-speciality hospital, where he was admitted March 28 with cardiac problems. The spiritual guru’s last rites will be performed Wednesday morning with state honours. Andhra Pradesh has declared four days mourning. “Sri Sathya Sai Baba is no more with us. He left his physical body at 7.40 a.m. April 24, 2011 due to cardio-respiratory failure,” said a statement from the hospital released around 10.30 a.m. The body was shifted from the hospital to Prashanti Nilayam in the evening, where it will be kept till Wednesday for his devotees to pay homage. Thousands of devotees, from commoners to VIPs and celebrities, are making their way to this pilgrim town for a last glimpse of Sai Baba, whose body lies in state at the Sai Kulwant Hall of Prashanti Nilayam, the ashram he founded. The devotees began entering Baba’s ashram around 7 p.m. to pay their last respects. With folded hands, the devotees, mainly VIPs, were seen passing by the body of Baba in Sai Kulwant Hall. Though Baba’s face was covered when Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narashiman and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy paid their last respects at the hospital, it was not covered at Prashanti Nilayam. The body was wrapped in saffron-coloured cloth. Prashanti Nilayam, where heads of states and prime ministers used to forego protocol to seek his blessings, will also have the guru’s last rites being performed. Puttaparthi, a small hamlet in Anantapur district, that Baba turned into a town with state-of-the art medical, educational and infrastructure facilities became a wailing town with hundreds of devotees lining up its streets with tears in their eyes as Sai Baba’s body was brought in a convoy of vehicles amid tight security. “I can’t believe that Swamy is no more,” said Sharada Devi, a devotee, her voice choked with emotion. “Today is the saddest day of my life,” said T. Raghav, another devotee trying to control his sobs. The town is getting ready to receive tens of thousands of devotees arriving here from all parts of India and abroad in the next two days. Over 6,000 policemen had already been deployed and additional forces are being rushed to the town. Transport authorities are operating special buses to Puttaparthi from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Messages of sorrow poured from all quarters of the society, from common devottes to celebrities, corporate heads, film personalities and politicians. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled Baba’s death, saying he was an inspiration to people of all faiths and that his death was an irreparable loss to all. Vice President Hamid Ansari said Baba’s message of service to humanity is of eternal relevance. Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a statemen said: “He was a spiritual person whom millions followed. His life has inspired people in the country and abroad towards spirituality and religion.” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani, a follower of Sai Baba, said: “I offer a tearful homage to his great soul. I would like to go for the ‘anthyesthi kriya’ (last rites).” Sathya Sai centres across India and abroad witnessed gatherings of followers in prayer sessions. Sai Baba, whose real name was Sathyanarayana Raju, was born Nov 23, 1926 at Puttaparthi. In 1940, he claimed he was an avatar of god. The “miracles” he performed captivated his followers while also prompted scathing attacks from critics. Sai Baba later focused his attention to social and charitable works that covered vital areas of ordinary life to many. He had reportedly visited only two foreign countries – Uganda and Kenya. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, which runs several hospitals, educational institutions, drinking water projects and undertake other charitable works in India and abroad, is estimated to have movable and immovable assets of Rs.40,000 crore. The trust members include former chief justice of India P.N. Bhagwati, former Indian Administrative Service officers K. Chakravarthi and S.V. Giri, chartered accountant turned entrepreneur Indulal Shah, Venu Srinivasan of TVS Motors and the Baba’s nephew R.J. Ratnakar.
Playing Sai Baba is Challenging: Nag
Akkineni Nagarjuna said that he’s worried and anxious to play Lord Shirdi Sai Baba in his upcoming movie. Nagarjuna, in one his recent promotional interviews for Rajanna said that he’s a wee bit anxious to play the role of Shirdi Sai Baba since it is a divine character. The star actor says that since Sai Baba idol is a faith for millions of people, he’s feeling the heat about the characterization. I’m a bit nervous to play Shirdi Sai Baba since the name itself is a trust for lakhs of people. So I need to ensure that the character will be etched properly whilst respecting the sentiments and values of the people”, said Nagarjuna. Asked how felt once again doing a devotional film after Annamayya and Sri Ramadasu, “I earlier played Annamayya and Sri Ramadasu and both are the characters of devotee. But in Shirdi Sai Baba movie, I play the divine role and not a devotee. So it’s very challenging than my earlier two movies,” signs off Nag.
Mohan Babu to play Sai Baba
Dr Mohan Babu has just played Yama in Yamadonga. Now, he will be playing Sai Baba in a special role in Vishnu's forthcoming film. He has said that it will be a small role towards the end of the film. However, he was excited beyond doubt to be seen as Sai Baba. He said that his production house had also entered into television production and that it was doing rather well. It was their intention to expand into various media activities it was disclosed. Already, Vishnu had recently started an animation house to do production work for other clients.
Trust decides to open Sathya Sai Baba’s personal chamber
Nearly two months after the demise of spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, the trust managing his empire Tuesday decided to open Yajur Mandir, his personal chamber in Prashanti Nilayam ashram at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district. As the speculation continued about what was inside, the Sathya Sai Central Trust decided to open the locks soon. The decision was taken at the meeting of the trust in the pilgrim town of Puttaparthi. Trust member and former chief justice of India P.N. Bhagwati said the trust would open Yajur Mandir and declare what they find inside. He appealed to Sathya Sai Baba’s followers to have faith in him and other members of the trust. Bhagwati, the most famous and respected of the five trustees, assured the devotees that the trust would do everything to protect the property of Sathya Sai Baba. Yajur Mandir, also known as Yajurveda Mandir, has remained closed ever since Sathya Sai Baba was hospitalised March 28. The keys to this personal chamber of the Baba were with his caretaker Satyajit, who later handed these over to the trust after Sathya Sai Baba’s death April 24. There are speculations that the chamber contained huge quantities of gold, jewellery and cash donated by devotees from across the world. A section of devotees also alleged that valuables were taken out of Prashanti Nilayam when Sathya Sai Baba was battling for life. However, the trust has denied this. The trust at its meeting held last month could not take a decision on the issue as Bhagwati could not attend it. He is believed to have given legal opinion at Tuesday’s meeting. The issue of opening Yajur Mandir has also taken a political overtone with former minister and opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader D. Nagireddy demanding that the locks be opened only in the presence of devotees.
Sai Kumar: Doughty to Divinity
Sai Kumar is a man of high action and doughty fights. But the mass actor is now changing his track. Keeping in with the mood of the moment, he is doing a religious movie. Sai Kumar is acting in a movie called Sai Darshan. And he is set to play the role of Sai Baba. The film started rolling from yesterday. Sai Kumar, who had made a name for himself as a conscientious policeman or a do-gooder dadha, is very happy to do the role of Sai Baba. It will be a different kind of experience, he said. In Sai Darshan, he has Sai Kiran for company. Sai plays the role of Tatya in the movie. Suresh Kumar directs the flick while S Lakshmirathnam produces it.
Sai Kumar to launch his son
Sai Kumar, who is presently acting in 'Citizen', is a happy man as he has won the Nandi Award as Best Villain in the film Samanyudu. He says he hopes to get another Nandi next year to hit a hattrick. Now, the latest from him is that he is planning to introduce his son very soon. He says, once he is clear about the script, then he would do the necessary ground work to launch him ASAP, he said at the launch of 'Citizen'.