By IANS,
Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh) : The last rites of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, who died here Sunday, will be performed Wednesday with full state honours.
This was announced by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who air- dashed to the town after news of the death.
The godman’s body is still at the Sathya Sai Super-speciality Hospital, about 5 km from the town. Sathya Sai Central Trust is making arrangements to shift it to Prashanti Nilayam, his ashram, where it will be kept for two days to enable his devotees to have “last darshan”.
According to the statement released by Sathya Sai Central Trust, the body will be kept at Sai Kulwant Hall at Prashanti Nilayam at 6 p.m. Sunday. The body will lie there Monday and Tuesday.
“Bhagwan’s body will lie in state at Sai Kulwant Hall for two days — Monday and Tuesday. Arrangements will be made for darshan after 6 p.m. today at Sai Kulwant Hall,” said a statement issued by A.N. Safaya, director of the hospital.
“We appeal to all not to rush to the hospital but to remain calm and have darshan in an orderly manner,” added the statement.
It was at Prashanti Nilayam that Baba has been giving darshan and blessing his devotees for over four decades.
The details of the last rites have not yet been announced. It is still not known where the funeral will take place but devotees believe it will happen at Prashanti Nilayam.
Sai Baba, whom his devotees worshipped as god, was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction. He breathed his last at the Sathya Sai Super-speciality Hospital, where he was admitted March 28 with cardiac problems. He was 85.