Sathya Sai Baba laid to rest

Morning.Godman Sathya Sai Baba was interred at the very spot from where he used to meet and address his disciples for years.

The mortal remains of the 85-year-old spiritual leader, whose clout spread far and wide among both the commoners and the high mighty, were buried after the last rites were performed by his nephew R J Ratnakar in accordance with vedic customs following full police honours.

Watched by a galaxy of political personalities including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Chief Ministers N Kiran Kumar Reddy and B S Yeddyurappa, Governors E S L Narasimhan and Shivraj V Patil, BJP leaders L K Advani, M Venkiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya, former AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and hundreds of his followers, Sai Baba's body was buried amidst chanting of "sai" mantras.

Once the last rites were performed by vedic pandits, red curtains were drawn around 9:45 sm and the process started for laying the body in a pit created at the spot in Sai Kulwant where the spiritual leader used to make his preachings for his followers for a number of years. As per custom, Sai Baba is buried, not cremated.

It lasted about 25 minutes. The spot where he was buried is now now expected to become an eternal memorial for Sai Baba.

The samadhi will be open to the public from 12 pm.