Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Indian Rationalist Association, says Sai Baba’s charitable work is questionable. Critics pointed to Sai Baba’s incredible wealth (more than 9 billion US dollars) and levelled accusations of fraud that sit alongside more serious claims of sexual abuse and murder. The billionaire guru’s charities and claimed miracles won him both devotion and scorn. Using the donations that he received over the years, he built a sprawling empire of free hospitals, schools, clinics and prayer centers.
Millions of followers across the globe believe Sai Baba possessed supernatural powers. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, second right, pays his last respects to the Hindu holy man Image: AP He adds that Sai Baba has been a great strength, not only to all Sai devotees, but especially to the Chavan family, which has been associated with Sai Baba for more than 45 years. "We all Sai devotees are in a situation of grief, extremely sad about Baba’s passing away," Chavan says. "I think it is a sad day not only for us but for the entire world," he says, "I think the amount of things he has done for people in the world, you can’t put it in words."Īshok Chavan, Maharashtra’s former chief minister also says he will miss Sai Baba. Among them was Arjuna Ranatunga, the former Sri Lanka cricket captain, who has been a follower of Sai Baba for 10 years and became close to the guru. There was an outpouring of emotion among his followers.
Millions followed the burial live on television. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among the thousands of mourners who paid their respects. In attendance at his funeral on Wednesday were a host of politicians, bureaucrats and film stars. Devotees pay tributes to Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparti, India, on the eve of his funeral Image: AP It was at this very place, the Sai Kulwant Hall, where the "godman" gave blessings to his devotees and delivered discourses for decades. He died recently of multiple organ failure.Īmid the chanting of Vedic hymns and holy verses, a team of 18 priests performed the last rituals before the coffin of the 85-year-old spiritual guru was lowered into a grave on Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands bid farewell to Sathya Sai Baba, India's most influential spiritual guru, as he was laid to rest with state honours in the southern town of Puttaparti.
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