Places of Interest Near the Ashram
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences
Inaugurated on the eve of Bhagawan’s 66th birthday in 1991 by the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Super Speciality Hospital delivers high quality medical services completely free of-charge regardless of caste, creed, race, religion, and economic status. Medical priority is the sole consideration. It is also known as the Temple of Healing due to the atmosphere of love and peace.
Designed with the very best of ancient and modern architecture, the building is a beautiful and breath-taking sight. A photo exhibition on Bhagawan’s life and mission is available on the ground floor. The central prayer hall of the building has a towering 90ft high dome and is decorated with a magnificent chandelier.
The construction of 15,000 square metres with facilities for 300 beds in a rural location in less than a year is miraculous. In addition, the supporting facilities and sophisticated equipment were also provided in that time span. Skilled doctors and administrators manage the hospital and patient care, combining a rigorous pragmatism with an inspiring philanthropy. The hospital currently multiple subspecialty departments including: cardiology, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, urology, nephrology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, and supporting services including laboratory services and a high tech radiology department.
Visiting Hours: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Monday-Saturday. Cameras are not allowed beyond the imposing dome of the prayer hall. Footwear is not allowed within the hospital. For blood donation, please contact the public relations office of the hospital (phone: 87388 or 87511, extension 501)
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: The hospital is located near the old airport and is 6km from the ashram. Please enter and exit only through the Main Gate of the hospital.
The Abode of Sai Geetha
Sai Geetha, a wonderfully intelligent, loving and sensitive elephant was Bhagawan’s pet. She left her mortal coil on January 22nd, 2013, and her ashes are in Prasanthi Nilayam. Sai Geetha was given to Bhagawan Baba when she was a baby, and she stayed with him until she passed away in her late thirties.
Operating Hours: 10:00am - 12:00pm, Sunday thru Saturday
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: Next to the Sri Sathya Sai Planetarium. From the Ganesh Gate, it is about 10 minutes by foot or 5 minutes by auto.
Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium
Located behind the Higher Secondary School, opposite the hill, framed by statues of Hanuman, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha, Zoroaster and Christ, it provides an inspiring view. Bhagawan Baba addressed the mammoth gathering, from the Santhi Vedika (covered podium) on the southern end of the stadium on His Birthday, 23rd November, every year
Among other events held here is the Annual Sports and Cultural meet for the Schools and Colleges on the 11th January. The stadium is not open to public except when in use. An international cricket match, The Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup Match, was held in this stadium on 30 December 1997. Top cricketers from India as well as from other cricket playing nations played in this exhibition match.
Planetarium
The Sri Sathya Sai University is the first university in the country to employ a planetarium for educational purposes. Its Space Theatre has a capacity of 200. The well-equipped, multimedia planetarium chamber provides opportunities for multipurpose, interdisciplinary use beyond astronomy and is of immense educational value for students and visitors.
The SPITZ SPACE SYSTEMS-512 planetarium instrument provides a star field of 4054 images including 88 recognized constellations and 57 navigational stars, besides globular clusters and open clusters, milky way, megallanic clouds, and nebulae. With computer control and over 30 special effect projectors, almost any celestial or meteorological observation can be reproduced on the sky indoors. The tilted dome (hyposphere) permits unidirectional viewing like any other theatre (e.g. cinema hall). The viewers observe events in the same direction as they are sitting and at their eye level. Thus they become participants in the programme.
The planetarium is a space science laboratory and is as useful to the understanding of the universe as the physics and chemistry laboratory.
In 2002, the Planetarium control system was upgraded to a completely computerized system, with an automation system developed in-house. In 2011, a full-dome projection system was incorporated using the mirror-dome technique.
Among the programmes contemplated for the entire range of education are Night and Day, Solar System, Seasons, Constellations, and Zodiacal Signs
Located in rural surroundings, this planetarium also aims to educate rural masses on the latest developments in science and technology and help remove superstition and blind faith through education.
Operating Hours:
Visitors are welcome to regular shows six days a week - daily except Wednesdays. Entry on first-come-first-served basis begins at 10 am, show begins at 10.30 am. Duration of the show is approximately half an hour. Special shows for school/college students or large groups above 120 in number may be arranged in advance by contacting the Public Relations Office. Visitors can listen on headphones in English, Hindi, Telugu or other languages depending on availability.
For more information, visit saispace.in.
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: The planetarium is located across the Higher Secondary School Boys’ Hostel. From the Ganesh Gate, it is about 10 minutes by foot or 5 minutes by auto.
Chaitanya Jyothi Musuem
Inaugurated on 18th November, 2000 to commemorate the 75th year of the advent of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, this architectural marvel houses an exhibition on the life and mission of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. With multimedia presentations and fascinating exhibits arranged in seven phases, the museum takes the visitor through the story of Bhagawan’s birth and childhood, the prophecies connected with His advent, and major milestones in the grand mission of the Avatar.
Constructed on a hill slope, the building is a mosaic of different architectural styles and a fusion of the ancient and the modern.
The roof, built in typical oriental fashion, is the biggest Chinese roof outside mainland China.
Flanking the roof on both sides are two Moorish domes made of titanium.
The crowning semicircular ends of the roof are adorned with Gothic arches.
The two lift shafts have Japanese style roofs.
Apart from these features, it has extensive stapathi (traditional Indian carving) work done on flat surfaces, which vastly enhances the aesthetics of the building. Fiber optic lights fixed under the Chinese roof add to the beauty of the reflected decorative ceiling. The flooring inside consists of ceramic tiles, polished granite tiles in grey and red colours, Jaisalmer marble tiles and white glazed tiles.
Operating Hours: 10:00 am-12:00 pm and 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Tuesday to-Sunday
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: The museum is located beside statues of great spiritual masters, over looking the Sri Sathya Sai Hillview Stadium. From the Ganesh Gate, it is about 10 minutes by foot or 5 minutes by auto.
Sanathana Samskruthi Spiritual Museum
Bhagawan inaugurated the first museum in Puttaparthi, the Sanathana Samskruti Museum, on November 19th, 1990. Commonly known as the ‘Eternal Heritage Museum’, this museum is located on top of the hillock on the southern side of the ashram. Centered around the experience of spirituality in man’s evolution, it displays fascinating artifacts to convey the eternal message of saints and sages of the major religions of the world. Legends of Bhagawan Baba’s early life and His declaration of Avatarhood are emphasised in the displays. Sprawling over 20,000 square feet on three levels, it is designed to evoke the common spiritual quest of man. The architecture of this building is in the Shikara style as also the administrative building of the University. This museum is the tallest landmark in Puttaparthi.
Operating Hours: 10:00 am-12:00 pm (except Wednesday). Open on Public Holidays
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: Next to the University’s Administrative block. A road opposite the police station leads up the hill on the southern side of the ashram. From the Ganesh Gate, it is about 10 minutes by foot or 5 minutes by auto.
Meditation Tree
The Lord, who wrote a Divine treatise on meditation, titled Dhyana Vahini, with His Divine vision, had planted a small sapling five decades ago on the idyllic hillock, at the eastern side of Prasanthi Mandir, precisely on 29th June 1959. Located on the left of the road uphill to the spiritual museum, it enhances the spiritual success of those who meditate under it.
Prof. N. Kasturi in His book of commentary on ‘Sri Sathya Sai Ashtotharam’ writes thus on the great significance of the Vata Vriksha:
One Vaisakha Purnima day, years ago, Baba was on the sands of the Chitravathi river in the evening, with about a hundred bhaktas. The talk inevitably moved towards Buddha whose birth, illumination and release happened on that day of the year. While speaking on the Bodhi Tree at Gaya to which Buddha proceeded for thapas, someone asked, “why did he go so far and select that tree?” Baba replied giving an account of mystic yanthras over which such trees grow, yanthras which keep out evil forces and stimulate spiritual impulses and help concentration. Even while He was describing these yanthras, He created from the sands, a shining copper plate on which was drawn in squares the mystic symbols and numbers of which He spoke. He said that He would be depositing it in the Thapovana, (on the hills behind Prasanthi Nilayam) and plant a Vata Vriksha (Ficus Bengalensis) thereon. “It will act as the yanthra which I am describing. Yogis wherever they are, when they reach a certain stage of sadhana, will know of this congenial spot and hurry hither, to be benefited by this mystic potency”.
Operating Hours: Visitors can meditate only during daytime.
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: The meditation tree is half way from the ashram to the Sanathan Samskruti Spiritual Museum on the hilltop.
Kalpavriksha (wish fulfilling tree)
The Wish Fulfilling Tree is a tamarind tree that stands at the crest of a hill called ‘Obuladevara Gutta’. As a young boy, Bhagawan took devotees atop this hill and would pluck out any fruit they desired from the tree.
Operating Hours: Visitors are allowed to visit from morning till evening.
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: The tree is located on the crest on the left bank of the Chitravathi river. From the Ganesh Gate, it is about 7 minutes by foot or 3 minutes by auto.
Samadhi Mandir
The Samadhi (tomb) of Bhagawan’s physical parents, Sri Pedda Venkappa Raju and Smt. Easwaramma, is located in the Samadhi Road, a few yards from the Ganesh Gate. Every year during Eswaramma Day, 6th May, special bhajans are conducted here and hundreds of less fortunate people are fed.
Operating Hours: The temple is open every day.
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: The Samadhi Mandir is located on Samadhi Road, a few yards from the Ganesh Gate.
Siva Mandir (Bhagawan’s Birthplace)
The birthplace of Bhagawan Baba is now adorned by a Siva Temple. It was opened by Bhagawan in 1979. Puja (worship) is performed here every day at dawn and dusk, and Shiva Abishekam is performed every Monday. Legends of His birth and boyhood leelas can be visualised here.
Operating Hours: Open every day at dusk and dawn.
Entry Pass: Free entrance
Location: The temple is located in Puttaparthi village, down the Gopuram Road in the lane adjacent to the Sathyabhama temple. From the Ganesh gate, it is about 7 minutes by foot or 3 minutes by auto.
Paatha Mandiram (Old Temple)/Pedda Venkappa Raju Kalyana Mandapam (Marriage Hall)
To accommodate the growing number of devotees, the first temple―Paatha Mandiram was inaugurated on December 14, 1945 on the outskirts of Puttaparthi village between the Sathyabhama temple and the Gopalakrishna temple on a small plot of land that was gifted by Subbamma. A small thatched hut was constructed to serve as Swami's residence. This was later converted into a hall with walls and ceiling made of corrugated sheets. Within a few years, even the Paatha Mandiram was not sufficient to accommodate the large number of pilgrims. Swami inaugurated Prasanthi Nilayam on November 23rd, 1950 on the occasion of His 25th birthday. The Paatha Mandiram later became the Pedda Venkappa Raju Kalayana Mandapam, wedding hall.
Gopalaswami Temple
Long before "Puttaparthi", the village was known as "Gollapalli" (home of cowherds). It was the land of a large number of beautiful and strong cows. In a strange turn of events, a cowherd noticed that his favourite cow yielded no milk since she fed a cobra. Enraged, the cowherd killed the serpent with a stone and in its last moments, it threw an angry curse that the place will be full of ant-hills. The cattle declined in numbers and health. Ant-hills spread all over and the name soon changed to Valmikipura (since Valmika in Sanskrit means an ant-hill) or Puttaparthi in common parlance. To avert the curse and help cattle to prosper again, a temple was built and endowed by the Raju family, and that stone is still worshipped as "Gopalaswami."
Sathyabhama Temple
Kondamma Raju (Swami's paternal grandfather) dedicated a temple to Sathyabhama, the consort of Lord Krishna, a deity to whom this type of homage is seldom offered in any part of India. He was persuaded to build this unique tribute to Sathyabhama by events that occurred during a dream.