As the clock ticks leading into the stipulated hour, before the final Darshan possible this evening, there is palpable tension in Prasanthi with every heart and soul weeping within, embracing the fate, geared up to give a final good-bye to The Lord of Parthi, her Beloved, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Baba was the personification of the highest spiritual values of the human race - Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India.
I pay my pranaams to Sathya Sai Baba in gratitude for giving hope to millions and millions of people - Sonia Gandhi, UPA Chairperson.
Prime Minister of India, along with many other dignitaries, that included UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Ministers, SM Krishna, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni, Panabaka Lakshmi, Union Minister of State for Textiles, Governor and Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, ESL Narasimhan and Kiran Kumar Reddy respectively flew down to Parthi to pay homage to Beloved Bhagawan, this evening in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Arriving in a chartered flight from Delhi, the Prime Minister and his entourage arrived at the Sai Kulwant shortly after 1700 hrs. to spent ten minutes offering homage. He even chose to speak to senior Trust officials in Prasanthi Nilayam, Former Chief Justice PN Bhagawati and SV Giri, formerly Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India.
Other dignitaries visited Prasanthi this morning included Former Prime Minister of India, Deva Gowda, Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal, Swami Nityananda of Nithyananda Peetam, former Sri Lankan Cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga etc.
It had been a case of rejoicement, great merriment for Parthi, over and over again, welcoming The Lord every morning and evening and even during His staying away at Bangalore or Kodaikanal, welcoming her Beloved back to her precincts, every time when He returned. It is indeed hard for this privileged land to bid fare-well to this most 'loving persona', Who lived a life sticking to His preaching. His Life has always been His Message and it is time for everyone who loves Him to follow the path shown by Him, and the legacy left behind by the Sri Sathya Sai Avatar.
Lead Kindly Light, Oh! Beloved Lord!
A zillion Pranaams to the Beloved of Lord of Puttaparthi, who pulled the curtains down, in dramatic fashion, on His glorious Avataric Mission on the 24th April 2011 in Prasanthi Gram. At the stipulated hour at 23:30, Mangala Arathi was offered that was preceded by a round of Rudram. By then it was 54 hours of unending stream of devotional fervour, that Parthi has never witnessed earlier. An unestimated millions over millions would have watched the Divine Form lying in state in the Sai Kulwant Hall for the past more than two days, some in Prasanthi Nilayam and others through television and the internet in the rest of the world.
An announcement was made on the next morning's programme, that would witness the last rites for this grand avatar of this age would like any other occasion by another opportunity for Humanity to serve Him for what is the meaning of last rites to the immortal one. The body of Bhagawan would be laid to rest in the Sai Kulwant Hall with due religious respects and government honour. The programme would begin at 0700 hrs. with bhajans. After the announcement, the Divine physical frame was taken into the bhajan hall. Even as the casket was taken in a procession, thousands upon thousands joined chanting jaikars, hailing victory to their Beloved Bhagawan. Undoubtedly, for Prasanthi and the lakhs of convergence, it was indeed an odd, painful experience, at the midnight hour.
