* Sathya (truth) Dharma (righteousness) Santhi (peace) Prema

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98
No leakage or seepage was ever noticed in the roof structure 
of the Chaitanya Jyothi.  In order to ensure proper curing, 
pounding for 28 days and column cured slabs and beams 
were cured using FOSROC WB water based membrane 
curing compound.  For maintaining proper curvature of 
Chinese Roof and Gazebos, templates were used and 
finished surfaces matched exactly with the drawings.  
Maximum care was taken to maintain straight lines on the 
exterior finishes.  To maintain uniformity, all mortar for plaster 
was mixed in concrete mixers.  Filling in plinth was done 
using alternate layers of rock and murrum and compacted by 
plate vibrator.  Fill portion of the road was compacted by a 
vibratory roller initially and later by a conventional road roller. 
Flooring required a wide variety of materials to be used, such 
as ceramic tiles, polished granite tiles of grey/red colour and 
of different tiles - like Jaisalmer marble tiles and white glazed 
tiles. Because of the coarse sand available in the area, the 
plastered surface had to be treated with plaster of paris and 
applied with acrylic emulsion paint.  The external surface was 
treated with Heritage (granite) surfacing system and a pattern 
was created to stimulate granite masonry. Extensive stapathi 
work was done on flat surfaces to improve aesthetics.  The 
structure is lit, for most part, by halide lamps of Thorn make. 
Fiber optic lights under the Chinese roof enhance the beauty 
of the decorative reflected ceiling.  The edifice is something 
that all those connected with the construction can be proud 
of.  The unique building, now named Chaitanya Jyoti, was 
inaugurated on 18
th
 November 2000 by Bhagawan Sri Sathya 
Sai Baba.
Miniature animal forms (on 
roof) - characteristic of Chinese 
architecture. 
Top right: 
Aerial view 
of  Chaitanya Jyothi as seen from 
the top of University Building.

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I express my deep sense of appreciation and congratulate the team L&T for the excellent work done by 
them for the construction and timely completion of the Chaitanya Jyothi, which was inaugurated on 18
th 
November 2000 by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on his 75
th
 Birthday celebration. 
“Chaitanya Jyothi”is a unique but complex structure, set in a picturesque but very difficult site.  
Completing this project in one year has been a marvellous feat on the part of L&T.  What makes this feat 
even more creditable is that maximum speed was combined with topmost quality and at the same time 
observing good engineering practices.  
The dynamism, impetus and the boundless energy of the entire L&T team with its high degree of 
cohesion to carry out the task with single minded dedication, was largely instrumental in achieving this 
feat.  The synergy of the entire team went a long way in achieving this feat, which L&T can be proud of.
Col. S.K. Bose (Rtd.), Trust Engineer

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100
In line with his mission ‘Health for all’, 
Swami has been undertaking primary and 
secondary health care through Sri Sathya 
Sai Hospital in the precincts of Prasanthi 
Nilayam since 1963.  This general hospital 
now has 100 beds.  All outpatients undergo 
preliminary scanning here before they are 
referred to specialists in the field for tertiary 
health care if any.
The first venture of Sri Sathya Sai Trust into 
tertiary care came up with the inauguration 
of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher 
Medical Sciences at Puttaparthi on 
November 23, 1991.  This 280-bed super 
speciality hospital was designed and built 
by ECC on turnkey basis in a record time of 
ten months.
The architecture of the building is 
conceived in the form of a human being 
with folded arms, symbolising love, 
affection and care.  It is built on the lines 
of a palace, with arch-type windows and 
corridors running around almost the entire 
length of the hospital on the ground and 
first floors together with a domed terrace.
Structurally the building has been designed 
as a framed structure.  The dome has been 
designed as a shell structure.  It consists of 
conventional beam and column framework.  
The main central dome near the entrance, 
having a diameter of 24 m with a shell 
thickness of 150 mm, is supported on 
a ring beam with eight columns, placed 
equidistant from each other.  The tip of 
the dome outside is crowned with an 
ornamental lotus and a beautiful chandelier 
of 2 tons hanging beneath, inside the 
central hall.  Besides the main dome, there 
are 20 other domes.
Temple of healing - Front 
view of the Super Speciality 
Hospital at Prasanthigram.
Super Specality Hospital, Prasanthigram... 
Providing the Healing Touch

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102

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104
The hospital has two floors, each having a height of 4.6m.  This 
houses thirteen operation theatres, four intensive care units, 
one cath lab on the first floor and service facilities like OPD, 
X-ray dept, pharmaceutical stores, sterile stores, laboratories, 
blood banks, kitchen, central laundry on the second floor.
Till 1998, as many as 30,725 inpatients and 4,12,123 
outpatients have benefited from state-of-the-art free treatment 
at this hospital.  
The entrance gate 
from the road 
 Top: 
The 
beautiful landscaping 
and horticulture work.
I was associated with L&T in Sri Satya Sai Super Speciality Hospitals in Puttaparthi 
(1990-91) and Whitefield (2000-2001).
L&T’s contribution in the building of Bhagawan’s hospitals has been monumental. 
The sheer scales of planning, meticulous execution and timely completion have 
always been underscored by Shri A. Ramakrishna’s personal commitment and 
devoted service. 
Recently, I had the opportunity to see the Puttaparthi hospital through the eyes 
of someone seeing it for the first time. While feelings of awe and wonder are 
customary when one sees this magnificent edifice, he remarked that it was difficult 
to believe that the building - strong, solid and spectacular - was 20 years old!  
My most enduring impression of the L&T team is the open-mindedness and 
receptivity, which they have displayed to us - ‘clients’. When we were fitting out 
the Operation Theatres (OTs) at Whitefield, we discovered that the air flow from 
the centralized air conditioning was contrary to what is mandatory for an OT i.e. 
a laminar air flow. A laminar air flow is will pump in fresh air from the outside to 
replace the contaminated air, contrary to the centralized ACs.
We brought this to the L&T team’s attention, demonstrating our point with a 
smoking agarbatti! The team immediately caught on and went to great lengths to 
rectify this in spite of the paucity of time and the extent of the re-work required. 
We had a perfect OT ready for inauguration day!   I salute their spirit and wish 
them all the best in their devoted efforts in future.  
Dr. P. Venugopal, Chairman, Alchemist Medical Corporation

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