Tearful farewell to Sathya Sai Baba (VIDEO)

Sathya Sai Baba was laid to rest amid vedic chants at the Sai Kulwant hall in Puttaparthi with full state honours on Wednesday. His nephew RJ Ratnakar performed the last rites three days after Sathya Sai Baba died.

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The Samadhi of Sathya Sai Baba is at the same spot from where he used to meet and address his disciples for years.

Once the last rites were performed by vedic pandits, red curtains were drawn around 9:45 AM and the process started for laying the body in a pit created at the spot in Sai Kulwant where the spiritual leader used to make his preachings for his followers for a number of years. It lasted about 25 minutes.

The curtains were removed after 40 minutes for the people to have a glimpse of the Samadhi where the body was laid to rest in line with the practice adopted for Hindu spiritual leaders. Normally, Hindus cremate their bodies.

Earlier, a little before 9 AM, the glass casket in which Sai Baba's body was lying in state from Sunday night was removed and the body was wrapped in national flag for a brief while.

Men of the Andhra Pradesh Armed Police sounded the last post and fired 21 shots in the air as a mark of respect.

Then the Tricolour was removed and verses from Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Sikh, Judaism and Buddhist scriptures were read out by leaders from these sects.

Later, they joined in sprinkling the sacred ash at the samadhi spot as 'mangal aarti' was performed.

The spot where he was buried is now now expected to become an eternal memorial for Sai Baba, who at the age of 14 announced himself as a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba.

He made his mark initially with miracles but later founded institutions of excellence in education and medical facilities besides undertaking development work and philanthropy.

Leaders from across the political spectrum were among the many thousands who attended the ceremony. The Darshan for devotees will start at 12 noon on Wednesday.

Just family and trust members, and a few VVIPs were allowed to attend the funeral at Prashanti Nilayam. Many senior political from all the major parties attended the last rites of the Baba.

The political leaders included Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka chief ministers N Kiran Kumar Reddy and BS Yeddyurappa, governors ESL Narasimhan and Shivraj V Patil, BJP leaders LK Advani, M Venkiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya, former Andhra chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan.

Governor Narasimhan, Chief Minister Reddy, Advani, Chandra Babu Naidu and other leaders went to the samadhi had a word with Ratnakar and sprinkled sacred ash at the spot.

The past few days have seen some prominent and important personalities join over 5 lakh devotees at Puttaparthi, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.



Source: IBN