About

The Prasanthi Reporter (TPR) is your best source for official news and information about the daily events taking place in Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. TPR also features reports on activities and service projects undertaken around the world under the Sathya Sai banner. This website is maintained and operated by the Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust – Publications Divison, which is an official part of the “Sai Organization.”

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Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Who is Sathya Sai Baba?

“Yes, I am God. And You too are God. The only difference between you and me is that while I am aware of it, you are completely unaware.” This has been the response of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to people who question Him about His identity and divinity. This is the basic spiritual truth that Sai Baba is ceaselessly striving to inculcate in the mind of every man. Anybody who has been a witness to His miraculous powers and illuminating wisdom, and experienced His pure love would know that He is demonstrating to one and all what God is, and therefore, what man potentially and inherently is. (continue reading…)

The Avatar

An ‘Avatar’ is defined as the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of the Supreme Being. The word ‘Avatar’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Avataranam’ which means ‘descent’, and usually implies a deliberate descent of the Divine into the mortal realms to reveal the Absolute Truth to humanity and remind them of their true divine nature. Though Avatars may appear in different forms at different times, places and circumstances, yet they are all the manifestations of the One Supreme Lord. (continue reading…)

Birth of Sathya Sai Baba

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born on the 23rd day of November 1926, at a quiet little village, Puttaparthi, in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, then a part of the Madras Presidency. The year was Akshaya, the Never-declining, the Ever-full. It was the time of sunrise; and, the villagers were chanting the names of Lord Shiva, remembering that the day was still Karthika Somavara, a Monday of the Holy Month of Karthika, devoted to the puja (worship) of Shiva. That day was made even more auspicious for Shiva worship, because the ascendant star was Ardra (the star of Shiva). On this day, when these rare and propitious signs came together, the people thronged the temples of the Lord to offer special pujas and pray for His benediction. (continue reading…)

Family History

The Raju family was noted for its piety since the days of the renowned sage, Venkavadhootha, who was looked upon as a Guru in hundreds of villages around. Not only did they build and endow the Gopalaswami Temple (dedicated to Lord Krishna), but Sri Ratnakaram Kondama Raju, the grandfather of Bhagawan’s physical frame, 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. (continue reading…)

The Announcement

On May 23, 1940, Sathya rose from bed as usual, but after some time, He called the members of the household around Him, gave them sugar candy and flowers taken from nowhere. At this, the neighbours too rushed in. He gave them each a ball of rice cooked in milk, flowers and sugar candy concretised by a mere wave of the hand. Meanwhile, Venkama Raju came and he was incensed by what he thought was a trick, hiding things somewhere and producing them by sleight of hand. He wanted the chapter to be closed before it lengthened into a tragedy. So, arming himself with a stick, he accosted Sathya and asked, “Are You a God, a ghost or a madcap? Tell me!” Prompt came the answer, the Announcement, that had been held back so long, “I am Sai Baba.” (continue reading…)

The Early Years

The Divine child became the pet of the entire village of Puttaparthi and the farmers and cowherds vied with each other in fondling it and feeding it and playing with its lovely silken curls. Its charming smile attracted every one. Like a lighted lamp, Sathya moved about the house and laughter tinkled in the street when he lisped his sweet vocabulary of sounds. (continue reading…)

The First Signs

The Divine child became the pet of the entire village of Puttaparthi and the farmers and cowherds vied with each other in fondling it and feeding it and playing with its lovely silken curls. Its charming smile attracted every one. Like a lighted lamp, Sathya moved about the house and laughter tinkled in the street when he lisped his sweet vocabulary of sounds. (continue reading…)

The Mission Begins

Sathya was also sought after by people who had lost articles of value, for He had brought with Him to Uravakonda the reputation for intuitive perception, which revealed to Him the place where anything was! Baba says that in those days, He used to give His friends only the first and last letters of the names of the persons with whom the lost articles could be found. He left them with their own resources to recover the goods. (continue reading…)