Sai Baba’s influence had no barriers

PTI Foreign devotees of Sathya Sai Baba during a prayer in Puttaparthi.

From ordinary believers to the President of India, Satya Sai Baba’s clout spread far and wide.

India had, and has, several godmen but none could match his name and fame.

In fact, Satya Sai Baba’s influence had no barriers as his millions of followers spanned the globe.

Top-ranking politicians including prime ministers, Union Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, filmstars, sportspersons, industrialists and virtually the ‘who’s who’ of the country rank among the high-profile devotees of the Baba.

Born into an ordinary family as Satyanarayana Raju in the sleepy Puttaparthi village in the dry Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, on November 23, 1926, he was to later become Satya Sai Baba, the reincarnation of the saintly Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Now, Puttaparthi — which metamorphosed into a self—contained city — finds itself on the international map, thanks to the large number of the Baba’s foreign devotees who visit Prasanthi Nilayam day in and day out. It boasts of an exclusive airport where chartered flights, carrying Baba’s devotees from different parts of the globe, land.