Andhra Pradesh

Unique ritual marks Saibaba’s birthday

Holy mentor: Satya Saibaba sits in the midst of his devotees on his 82nd birthday in Puttaparthi on Friday.

PUTTAPARTHI: The 82nd birthday of Satya Saibaba that was celebrated here on Friday was different in many ways as there was no spiritual discourse, no special guests. Most importantly, six couples had an opportunity to perform ‘paada pooja’ and apply ‘thylam’ (oil) on his head which was perhaps the first of its kind that ever happened in so many years.

Immediately after entering Sai Kulwanth auditorium at 9 a.m., about one-and-half-hours behind the customary schedule of 7.30 a.m., Saibaba went around the hall on a special wheel-chair to bless the devotees.

Several devotees presented him with greeting cards as he was passing by them and touched his feet.

On reaching the dais, he released a book, a compilation of poems written on him by a devotee after a ‘pooja’ was performed by the trust. Malladi brothers rendered classical music with most of songs written on Saibaba. Later, a trust representative announced that six couples (‘punya dampathulu’) would participate in a sacred anointment, which included performing pooja at the feet of Saibaba and anointing him with the oil ritual on his head.

This had happened about 65 years ago when his mother Eeswaramma used to perform a similar ritual on his birthday.

Accordingly the couples-R.J. Ratnakar, nephew of Saibaba, P.N. Bhagawati, former Chief Justice of India, Indulal Shah, a member of Sri Satya Sai Central Trust, Gangadhar Shetty, Shourie and Margabandhu performed the anointment. The flowers used in the ritual were later distributed among the women devotees.

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