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

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Sai Bhaktha Nivas...
For more influx and added comforts 
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Two of the five dormitory complexes 
inaugurated by Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 
September 11, 2010 at Prasanthi Nilayam.  
Each of this dormitory is designed to 
accommodate 864 devotees.

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Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba declared open three out 
of five dormitory blocks completed by L&T at Prasanthi 
Nilayam on 11
th
 September, 2010 and dedicated them 
to Sai devotees on the auspicious occasion of Vinayaka 
Chathurthi.  Consisting of ground plus two stories, each 
of these dormitory block has an area of 40950 sq.ft .  The 
walls of the buildings are made of solid block masonry 
while the floors and roof including the stairways are made 
of precast elements. Each of this dormitory is designed to 
accommodate 864 devotees.
Sai Bhaktha Nivas is a dwelling place for the devotees 
thronging Prasanthi Nilayam from all over the world to have 
a darshan of Baghwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.  In order to 
meet the growing accommodation needs of overflowing 
devotees at Prasanthi Nilayam, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai 
Baba decided to build these five new dormitories.  Unlike 
the earlier built dormitory sheds with sheet roof, the new 
dormitory dons a modern look and they are provided with 
complete amenities for the devotees to have a comfortable 
stay.
Surrendering the fruit of 
action to the Lord 
is real sacrifice. 
Top left:
 Interior view of the dormitory.  Inset: 
A. Ramakrishna briefing Swami about the 
facilities. 
 Bottom left:
 An illuminated view of 
the building.  
Above: 
Between two wings of 
the dormitory, there is an intermediary open 
space for ventilation and lighting.

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Each of these new dormitories is provided with two 
blocks – a spacious hall of size 12m x 30 m area in the 
front with a 9 m x 32 m toilet block in the backyard.  
Divided into two wings, each dormitory block has 
two staircases in the centre of the building to provide 
access to the upper floors. Overlooking downwards 
between the two wings, is an open intermediary space 
for better ventilation and lighting. 
160 precast rib slabs, each of size 5.8 m x 1.61 m 
form the floor of the first and second floors and each 
of these rib slab weighs 2 tons.  The second floor 
roof is made of precast shell elements, each having 
a dimension of 13.9 m length x 2.65 m width and a 
weight of 9.5 tons. 42 parabolic shell roof elements 
adorn each dormitory complex.  The curved edges 
of the precast roof shells placed side by side and 
projected outward along the sides of the building with 
its wavy form design, presents the structure a beautiful 
look.  There are two precast stair ways providing 
access – one in the front and the other at the backyard 
of the dormitory.  Each of these stairways are made of 
12 precast segments each weighing 5 tons.
There are two entrance doors for each wing and 
sufficient space is provided for the walkways.   
Accommodation inside the hall is provided in the 
form of a double deck steel cot with berths (cushion 
beds).  The two wings in each floor provides 8 rows 
of 8 double berths (lower and upper berths) which 
can totally accommodate 288 persons per floor and 
altogether 864 persons in three floors of one dormitory 
block. Adequate number of ceiling fans and lights are 
fitted for good ventilation and lighting.  In the backyard, 
the toilet block is provided with bath rooms, wash 
basins, closets and taps with good water connectivity 
and lighting.
A casting yard at a strategic location with negative 
moulds yielded the required precast rib slabs, staircase 
segments and roof shells.  After casting, they were 
demoulded, transported and erected in place with 
heavy lift cranes for speedier operations.
The operations which began on February 2010 was 
completed in a record time of eight months by  
30
th
 September, 2010.
Major items of work
Precast elements
•  Floor rib slabs
-
800 Nos
•  Roof Shell elements
-
206 Nos
•  Staircase segments
-
60 Nos
 
Structural
•  Concrete
-
3380 cu.m
•  Shuttering
-
23190 sq.m
•  Reinforcement
-
600 tons
Architectural
•  Solid Block masonry
-
16980 sq.m
•  Plastering
-
35420 sq.m
•  Flooring & dado
-
39230 sq.m
•  Painting
-
58800 sq.m
Top right:
 Exterior view of Sai Bhaktha 
Nivas.
Right:
 Mr. K. Chakravarthi, Mr. Satish Nayak 
and Architect Rama Nayak explaining 
details of a new project to Swami.

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