Metro India News | PUTTAPARTHI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid rich tributes to late spiritual guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He said that Baba’s life was a living embodiment of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) therefore, this birth centenary year has become a grand festival of universal love, peace, and service.”

He went on to add that his teachings spur people even today not just in India but in 140 countries. On the occasion of the birth anniversary celebrations of Sathya Sai Baba, Modi also released a coin and a set of stamps to commemorate the guru.

"Sri Sathya Sai Baba's birth centenary year is not just a celebration for this generation, but a divine blessing. Though Sai Baba is not among us physically, his love and spirit of service are the guiding forces for crores of people," Modi said. Modi also said that the central value of Indian civilisation was Seva and Service.

"All our diverse spiritual and philosophical traditions ultimately lead to this one idea, whether one walks the path of Bhakti, knowledge or karma," he added. 'Seva Parmo Dharmah' is the ethos that has sustained India through centuries of changes and challenges, giving our civilisation its inner strength, emphasised Modi, noting that many great saints and reformers have carried forward this timeless message in ways suited to their times.

He recalled Baba's words, "Love All, Serve All," and affirmed that for him, Seva was love in action. The Prime Minister stated that Sai Baba's institutions in education, healthcare, rural development, and many other areas stand as living proof of this philosophy. He further said that Baba did not impose any doctrine or ideology, but worked to help the poor and alleviate their suffering.

PM Modi recalled that after the Gujarat earthquake, Baba's Seva Dal stood at the forefront of relief efforts. His followers served with full dedication for several days, contributing significantly in reaching aid to affected families, providing essential supplies, and offering psychosocial support.

He said that Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and its affiliated organisations are advancing service in an organised, institutional, and long-term manner. He commended the work being done in areas such as water, housing, healthcare, nutrition, disaster support, and clean energy.

He said the Trust laid over 3,000 km of pipeline to address the severe drinking water crisis in Rayalaseema; built 1,000 houses for flood-affected families in Odisha and runs hospitals where poor families are astonished to find there is no billing counter. He noted that while treatment is free, patients and their families face no inconvenience. The PM appreciated the noble initiative by the Sri Sathya Sai family in opening 20,000 Sukanya Samriddhi accounts here.

More than four crore accounts have been opened under the scheme so far and more than Rs 3.25 lakh crore has been deposited in these accounts, he said about the central government initiative. Modi also said he had the opportunity to participate in a Gau Daan programme, where the Trust is donating 100 cows to poor farming families. He said in Indian tradition, cows are considered a symbol of life, prosperity and compassion as they help in the financial, nutritional and social well-being of these families.

There is only one religion that of love: Aishwarya Rai Bachan

Actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who an ex-student of the Sathya Sai Bal Vikas progra, said though a century may have passed, the guru's teaching and guidance and compassion continue to reverberate in the hearts of millions worldwide. There is only one religion that of love, she said.  She further added that there is only one caste and that of humanity. There is only one language and that of the heart and there is only one God and he is omnipresent.

Recalling Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings, she said the Guru had often spoken about 5- Ds, five essential qualities- Discipline, Dedication, Devotion, Determination and Discrimination, needed for a meaningful and purposeful and spiritually anchored life.

Baba was ready to mortgage Prashanthi Nilayam for drinking water project: Babu

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that the service of Sri Sathya Sai Baba cannot be compared. Baba was ready to even mortage Prashanthi Nilayam for drinking water project. provide drinking water to the people of Rayalaseema even by mortgaging Prasanthi Nilayam to if needed and for this devotees came forward and donated crores of rupees.

He also informed that Rs 550 crore had been spent to provide water to 1600 villages and more than 30 lakh population in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu and Rs 250 crore spent on Chennai Drinking Water Modernization SchemHe also appreciated the Sathya Sai Baba for imparting value-based education free of cost from class 1 to higher education to 60,000 people through “102 Sathya Sai Vidyalayas”. He also mentioned how super specialty, general hospitals and mobile hospitals are providing services to patients on a daily basis. 

During World Cup, Baba called me: Sachin

Famous cricketer Sachin Tendulkar shared his spiritual attachment and divine feelings towards Baba . "I bow down to Sathya Sai Baba. He gave me a sense of belonging from a very young age," he said. Stating that Baba's teachings on physical and mental health had influenced his life, Sachin shared a moment from the 2011 World Cup. He recollected that when there was a lot of expectations and pressure during the tournament, Baba sent him a book apart from calling him personally. 

Sachin Tendulkar recalls his visit to Whitefield in the 1990s, recollecting that Baba used to tell what was in the minds of devotees and would clear their doubts without even asking and termed those incidents as “unbelievable”. Baba gave him inner strength, courage and self-confidence with that victory. He made it clear that it was a blessing to remember Sathya Sai Baba and that there was nothing to fear as long as Baba is with us.”