Spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba was laid to rest with full state honours at his abode in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
Amid the chanting of hymns, the last rites of the 85-year-old guru, who commands a mass following worldwide, was performed by R.J. Ratnakar Raju, his nephew and a member of the Sathya Sai Trust.
Sathya Sai Baba was buried inside the Sai Kulwant Hall at his Prasanthi Nilayam ashram. Water and soil from seven rivers and navratnas symbolising nine planets were used for the burial. A 21-gun salute was given.
Clerics from all religions, Sai Baba's immediate family and members of the Sathya Sai Trust were present for the last rites. Among the political leaders who attended were Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Reddy, BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Venkaiah Naidu and B.S. Yeddyurappa and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.
After the burial, those present inside the hall walked up to the samadhi and paid floral tributes. Sathya Sai Baba's samadhi will be thrown open for public viewing later in the day.
Sathya Sai Baba passed away on Sunday after prolonged hospitalisation and multiple organ failure. His body was kept for public viewing for two days, allowing lakhs of devotees to pay their last respects.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers S.M. Krishna and Ambika Sonia were among those who paid homage to Sathya Sai Baba on Tuesday.
Amid the chanting of hymns, the last rites of the 85-year-old guru, who commands a mass following worldwide, was performed by R.J. Ratnakar Raju, his nephew and a member of the Sathya Sai Trust.
Sathya Sai Baba was buried inside the Sai Kulwant Hall at his Prasanthi Nilayam ashram. Water and soil from seven rivers and navratnas symbolising nine planets were used for the burial. A 21-gun salute was given.
Clerics from all religions, Sai Baba's immediate family and members of the Sathya Sai Trust were present for the last rites. Among the political leaders who attended were Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Reddy, BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Venkaiah Naidu and B.S. Yeddyurappa and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.
After the burial, those present inside the hall walked up to the samadhi and paid floral tributes. Sathya Sai Baba's samadhi will be thrown open for public viewing later in the day.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers S.M. Krishna and Ambika Sonia were among those who paid homage to Sathya Sai Baba on Tuesday.
