Puttaparthi, Hindu Pilgrimage in India

Puttaparthi, Hindu Pilgrimage in India

PUTTAPARTHI FACTS & FIGURES

Location: 18 miles From Penukonda, Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Best time to Visit: July - March, November
Significance: Birthplace of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Prashanthi Nilayam- the ashram of the Baba.

Located in the south-west of Andhra Pradesh, Puttaparthi is surrounded by arid and rocky hills bordering Karnataka. Famous for its Sathya Sai Baba Mandir, it is among the most famous religious tourist destinations in the world. Lots of domestic as well as foreign tourists visit this place every year to get a glimpse of the legendary Sathya Sai Baba and see his much talked about ashram. It is believed that the present Sai Baba is the reincarnation of the former Sai Baba of Maharashtra popularly known as Sai Baba of Shirdi. The Sai ashram is a huge complex with living quarters, canteens, shops, a museum and library, and a vast assembly hall where Sai Baba comes out for his devotees twice daily. Queues start more than an hour before the appointed time, and a lottery decides who gets to sit near the front. The ashram itself draws the attention of the visitor with its varied attractions.

Puttaparthi belongs to the Bangalore Circuit of south India. The other destinations that come under this circuit include Bangalore, Kolar, and Nellur. On the way between Bangalore and Puttaparthi, one can visit the Veerbhadra temple at Lepakshi. At the entrance of the town, there is a huge Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. The temple is about 500 metres away.

Prominent Pilgrimage Attractions of Puttaparthi

Inside The Ashram

Prasanthi Mandir

This prayer hall was built in 1949. It is the centre of Prasanthi Nilayam. Omkar Suprabhatam at dawn, daily Bhajans and other spiritual activities are held in this hall. Ganesh Mandir: This was built around the same period as the main Mandir and is located at the entrance of Prasanthi Nilayam. Ganesh is the commander of Shiva's armym and as Vigneshwara obeisance is made to him for the removal of all obstacles.

Subramanya Mindir

Situated to the south of Ganesh Mandir, was constructed in 1977.

Gayathri Mandir

Situated opposite to the "Seva Dal" block this temple was consecrated by Bhagwan Baba on 9th October 1998. The five faced Goddess, Gayathri, the mother of the Vedas is the presiding deity here.

Sai Kulwant Hall

This is where the daily darshn takes place besides many other festivities. Divine discourses are delivered here. It has a seating capacity of about 20,000. On the northern side entrance to Sai Kulwant Hall, the exquisitely carved icons in white marble of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman were consecrated by Bhagwan on 30th September 1999.

Meditation Tree

The banyan tree planted by Bhagwan has also a metal plate with inscription done with Divine Sankalpa embedded by him at the roots in 1950. Located on the left of the road uphill to the Spiritual success of those who meditate under it. Devotees are allowed to meditate during the day time only.

Spiritual Museum

It is located on the top of a hillock on the southern side of the Ashram-centered around the experience of spirituality in man's evolution. It displays fascinating artifacts to convey the eternal message of saints and sages of all religions of the world. Legends of Bhagwan's early life and his declaration of Avatarhood are emphasised in the displays. Sprawling over 20,000 sqft., it is designed to evoke the spiritual quest of man, regardless of chronology or country. The architecture of this building is in shikara style and is also the administrative building of the university. The museum is open between 10:00 AM and 12 noon daily.

Sarva Dharma Stupa

This 50 feet feet high pillar celebrating the unity of all religions is located on the south of Poorna Chandra Auditorium and was built in November 1975 on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the advent of the Avatar and the World conference of the Sri Satya Sai Seva organizations held in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Outside the 'Ashram'

Birth Place of Bhagavan Sai

A Siva temple in the Puttaparthi village signifies the birth-place of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The temple was opened by Baba in 1979. The real birthplace, not known to most people, is located accross the river in a small dilipated house.

Sathyabhama Temple

On the other side of the street there is a temple for Sathyabhama, a rare one exclusively established for Sathyabhama. Sathyabhama is commonly known as the consort of Lord Krishna, and the worse example of such. Perhaps this is the reason why the temple in Puttaparthi is the only temple in the world dedicated to Sathyabhama. Sri Kondama Raju, Bhagavan's grandfather, had a dream where he found Sathyabhama standing in heavy rain and wind, asking for shelter. This lead to the determination of constructing a temple for Sathyabhama.

Sri Raju Kalyana Mandapam

The Old mandir was constructed in the year 1945. Bhagavan selected a new location for His darshans and a new mandir, the current one, was constructed in 1950. Thereafter the old mandir has been used as Kalyana Mandapam (marriage hall) and is given for free use for marriages in the village.

The Village Mosque

The village mosque and the hall opposite was constructed and opened by Baba in 1978. At a certain borderline from Puttaparthi, accidents and diseases would set-in on travellers. Bhagavan asked local people in the area to dig at a certain spot, and a plate was discovered, containing various Muslim inscriptions. The plate was moved into the Mandir, and all inauspicious events stopped. A mosque was built in Puttaparthi and the plate was taken on yearly processions to the mosque from the mandiram.

• Anjaneya (Hanuman) Swamy Temple

This temple is between Kalyana Mandapam and the Sathyabhama temple. At the entrance, Lord Siva as Lingam, brought by Bhagawan from Kasim, is installed. The temple appears as if Anjaneya engraved in a guha stands inside a cave. There is always a pool of water at the feet of Anjaneya (Hanuman) representing the tears he sheds in his love and longing for Lord Rama.

Kalpa Vriksha

This 'wishfulfilling' tree is an old tamarind tree from Bhagavan's childhood. The Kalpa Vriksha is famous from Bhagavan's life story in Professor Kasturi's Sathyam-Shivam-Sundaram series. In His boyhood, Bhagavan used to display His miraculous powers to His playmates by asking these to think of any fruit, in or out of season, and the same would appear hanging off the branches of the tamarind tree. Thus the name 'wishfulfilling tree' was given.

Today the tree is a great look-out point over the Chitravathi river. It is located on the side of a hill on the banks of the Chitravati.

• Chitravati River

The river is located circa ½ kms from the ashram. It is considered by many as being the new Ganga, as Bhagavan bathed in the river, played on the banks of the river and displayed many miracles and manifestations on the banks of the Chitravathi. Currently and unfortunately the Chitravathi is the source of sand for all construction in Puttaparthi. A small secret: Bhagavan's robes are still being washed in the Chitravathi, with a guard overlooking them as they dry.

Samadhi

The Samadhi of Bhagavan's parents, Sri Pedda Venkappa Raju and Smt. Easwaramma, is located in the Samadhi Road, a few blocks from the Ganesh Gate. Every year during Eswaramma Day, May 6th, special Bhajans are conducted here and hundreds of poor people are fed. In earlier years, Bhagavan used to offer obeisance to His parents on His birthday every year and travel in procession to the Samadhi.

Sai Gita-The Elephant

Sai Gita is Bhagavan's temple elephant. It is considered auspicious in India in temples to have a real elephant residing in the temple as a symbol for Ganesh-the remover of obstacles. Elephants also represent intelligence and intellect, as they are highly intelligent animals.

Sai Gita was born in 1965 and was given to Bhagavan as a gift from the Zoo in Madras, when she was merely a small baby. It is not known whether she was an orphaned wild elephant, or breed in the zoo. In any case, she was quite spoilt by Swami as a young one and he even had a small compound built for her next to the Mandir, which she used to stay in when she was not trailing after Bhagavan in and out of the Mandir.

Elephants usually live until they are about 70 years old. To ease the pain of separation, Sai Gita has a photo with her and Bhagavan hanging on the wall in her private compound next to the Planetarium.

How to Reach Puttaparthi

• Air : Puttaparthi has a small airport which is connected only to Mumbai and Chennai by Indian Airlines. The nearest major airport is at Bangalore.

• Rail : The nearest major railway station is at Dharmavaram (45 km),where one can board a train to anywhere in India.

• Road : Puttaparthi is well connected to Ananthapur (84 km) , Hyderabad (472 km) and Bangalore (156 km).