SATHYANARAYANA RAJU

Sathyanarayana Raju, more famously known as Sathya Sai Baba, was born on 23 November 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi in what was then the Madras Presidency of British India, now Andhra Pradesh. His parents, Meesaraganda Easwaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram, hailed from a Telugu-speaking Bhatraju family, a community of religious musicians and balladeers. The circumstances of his birth were surrounded by claims of miraculous conception, as recounted by his mother. He was the fourth of five children, with siblings who included elder brother Ratnakaram Seshama Raju, elder sisters Venkamma and Parvathamma, and younger brother Janakiramaiah.

From an early age, Sathya Sai Baba exhibited an unusual intelligence and a charitable nature, though his inclinations were more spiritual than academic. He showed remarkable talent in devotional music, dance, and drama and was reputed to have the ability to materialize objects like food and sweets seemingly out of thin air.

At the age of 14, Sathya experienced a life-changing event when he was stung by a scorpion, leading to a period of altered behavior that puzzled both his family and medical professionals. Following this incident, he declared himself to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a revered saint who had passed away eight years prior to Sathya's birth. This proclamation marked the beginning of his journey as Sathya Sai Baba, and he soon articulated a mission to promote righteousness, divine love, and service to humanity.

In 1944, a mandir for his devotees was built near Puttaparthi, now known as the "old mandir," and in 1950, the construction of Prasanthi Nilayam, his main ashram, was completed. Sathya Sai Baba's fame grew as accounts of his mystical powers and healing abilities spread. He established a small free general hospital in Puttaparthi in 1954 and went on a notable tour of North India in 1957.

In 1963, after suffering a stroke and multiple heart attacks, Sathya Sai Baba made a remarkable recovery that was witnessed by thousands. He claimed to be an incarnation of both Shiva and Shakti and predicted a future incarnation as Prema Sai Baba. His only overseas trip took place in 1968 when he visited Kenya and Uganda.

Throughout his life, Sathya Sai Baba established various institutions and projects aimed at improving the welfare of the poor and promoting education and healthcare. These included the Dharmakshetra in Mumbai, the Shivam Mandir in Hyderabad, and a super-speciality hospital in Bangalore. He also launched a major drinking water project for the drought-prone Rayalaseema region in 1995.

In his later years, Sathya Sai Baba's health declined, and he used a wheelchair from 2004 onwards. He was hospitalized in March 2011 and passed away on 24 April 2011. His death led to a massive outpouring of grief and tribute from millions of devotees and prominent figures worldwide. His body lay in state for two days and was buried with full state honors, attended by a half-million people, including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

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