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

20
One day, on October 14, 1940, after returning from school, 
Sathya cast his books aside and called out, “I am no longer 
your Sathya, I am Sai, I am going and I do not belong to 
you. The ‘maya’ has gone and my ‘bhakthas’ are calling 
me. Saying, “I have work to do and cannot stay any 
longer”, he went and sat in a garden. People came into 
the garden from all directions, carrying flowers and fruits 
and singing in chorus, the lines that Sathya Sai had taught 
them. “Maanasa bhajare gurucharanam Dhusthara bhava 
saagara tharanum” Meaning - “meditate in thy mind on the 
feet of the guru. That can take you across the difficult sea 
of samsara” During the next few years, he was crowded 
with hordes of pilgrims from all parts of the country visiting 
him. Also devotees began calling him ‘Bhagawan’ Sri 
Sathya Sai Baba.
Cultivate the attitude of 
oneness between people of all 
creeds and all continents to 
establish world peace

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The Prasanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi was inaugurated 
on November 23,1950 on the occasion of Sri Sathya Sal 
Baba’s 25
th
 birthday. The engineering and design aspects 
of the building were worked out by Baba himself. The 
suggestions he gave for the construction proved to be 
far superior to what the engineers had come up with. 
They found that Baba had a greater sense of perspective 
and a better aesthetic point of view.
 
He developed Prasanthi Nilayam brick by brick with awe 
inspiring and architecturally marvellous structures for 
meeting the complete needs of his devotees, thronging 
the place in millions, from all over the world. To take 
care of the maintenance of these structures as well as 
to serve the society in matters of health, education and 
Prasanthi Nilayam
other welfare measures, he established a Trust called “Sri 
Sathya Sai Central Trust” with a clear vision and mission 
of service.
Today, Sri Sathya Sai Organisations have spread all 
over the globe. And, the followers or devotees of Baba 
are working with the same zeal and vigour everywhere, 
spreading the message of ‘universal brotherhood of man’ 
to one and all. There’s no individual on earth, today who 
can spearhead a massive movement like this. That’s 
the Institution Baba has built and that’s “Sri Sathya Sai 
Central Trust”.   A Trust that people really trust, all over 
the world.   Pranams to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

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22
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi, a hamlet in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, 
has earned name and fame world-wide due to the presence 
of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is considered an incarnation of 
God by a large number of his devotees.  Located at a distance 
of 85 km from Anantapur and 124 km from Bangalore, this 
religious and sacred place has witnessed the visit of not only 
top politicians and the ruling elite of India, but also the heads 
of the states and governments from many countries on special 
occasions.
Puttaparthi has a legend that strengthens the belief in the 
divinity of the place and reflects the divine powers of the Baba.  
The village name is derived from ‘Putta’ which means an 
ant-hill and ‘Parthy” means a modified form of multiplier. This 
village was earlier known as Gollapalli or home of cowherds.  
The cows yielded plenty of milk.  Every home made butter and 
ghee.  According to a legend explained by N.Kasturi, author 
of ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’ a cowherd noticed that one of 
his cows did not have milk in its udder when it returned home 
after grazing.
The cow later came out of its shed and reached an ant-hill on 
the outskirts of the village.  The cowherd, who followed the 
cow, was surprised to see a cobra that started drinking milk 
of the cow.  Annoyed at the loss of milk, the boy lifted a stone 
and threw it on the cobra.  The injured serpent threw a curse 
on all the ‘gopalas’ of the village and the creature’s last words 
were that the place will be full of ant-hills and multiplication of 
the same in endless numbers.
The curse came true and the cattle population in the village 
declined drastically.  They could not be raised successfully in 
the village any longer.  Ant-hills spread all over the place and 
the village name was changed to Valmikipura for Valmika in 
Sanskrit means an ant-hill or Puttaparthi in common parlance.
The villagers still show, as a proof of this legend, the same 
thick and round stone, with a slight jam one side, which the 
angry cowherd had thrown at the divine snake.  The stone 

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has a long reddish streak over it, which is believed to be 
the mark of the cobra’s blood. This stone is worshipped as 
Gopalaswami, the lord as cowherd, probably in an effort 
to nullify the effect of the curse and improve the cattle 
population.
It is said that Sri Sathya Sai Baba had directed some people 
to wash the stone and smear sandal paste on the jammed 
side.  When his instruction was carried out, a clear outline of a 
picture of Lord Gopalaswami, with the flute at his lips, leaning 
on a cow, was seen.
Some say that even today they can hear the melody of Lord 
Krishna’s breath passing through the straight and hollow reed.  
From that day, the curse has lost its effect and the cattle have 
begun to flourish at Puttaparthi.  Puttaparthi is also believed to 
be the abode of goddesses – Lakshmi and Saraswati.  
Baba gives ‘darshan’ to his devotees at Prasanthi Nilayam, 
the spacious spiritual centre where ‘Bhajans’ and religious 
discourses are regularly held.
A museum on a nearby hillock at Puttaparthi displays the 
models of various temple structures, including the Golden 
Temple of Amritsar, the Holy Mecca Masjid, etc. “Service to 
humanity is service to divinity’ is the basic concept that guides 
and runs the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Trust. This world famous 
place is about 8 km from Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi railway 
station and is well connected by road.
Spiritual progress is right 
living, good conduct, 
moral behavior. 

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