Service To Society

“The hands that serve are holier than the lips that pray.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Statistics:

1,000 Houses built in Odisha
6.1 MW of solar power generated
5,200,000 annual volunteer hours
120 countries | cultural inclusivity

Assistance to the poor

Sri Sathya Sai Baba has undertaken a number of schemes to improve the economic condition of the rural areas of Anantapur district, which is one of the most backward districts of Andhra Pradesh. Through His projects such as the provision of clean drinking water and hospitals in Prasanthi Nilayam that provide free medical care, Baba has addressed some of the most basic needs of the people of this region. Baba has also built primary schools in places where classes were held in the open due to lack of suitable premises.

Grama Seva
Every year, students from Baba’s college and school undertook the Grama Seva or village service programme. The students offered food packets and clothing as Baba’s prasadam to each household in the villages they visited. Stationery items such as blackboards and pencil boxes were also distributed in the village schools. Every year, this programme served more than a hundred villages. Today this service initiative has taken the form of a comprehensive village development programme. Students visit an adopted village and assist villagers in the areas of sanitation, personal hygiene, health, education, skills and well-being.

Deena Janoddharana Pathakamu
On 24th July 2002, on the occasion of Gurupoornima, Baba inaugurated the Sri Sathya Sai Deena Janoddharana Pathakamu, a scheme under which residential units were built to house destitute and orphaned children belonging to the weaker sections of society. This scheme supported sixty children from various villages around Puttaparthi. Free accommodation, food, clothing, education and other daily necessities were provided. The residential units were located in the village of Kammavaripalli behind the western perimeter of the ashram. A school was also built here where the children were given formal education and were also taught computer skills. This project has also inspired similar projects in other districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Homes for the Elderly
The trust runs Vriddhashrama (Home for the Elderly) in Kadugodi, Bangalore. The inmates are provided with accommodation, food and medical care free of cost.

Community Service
The Trust has built 11 community halls in the areas around Puttaparthi. In 1978, Baba had built a Jamia Masjid mosque for the Muslims of Puttaparthi village. Until then, the Muslims, mostly poor farmers, prayed in a hut that could accommodate only about 15 worshippers. But they could not afford to build a full-fledged mosque, although they had a site for such a purpose. In the nearby town of Kothacheruvu, the Trust built a secondary school to facilitate the education of the youth of the nearby villages.

Odisha flood relief: homes building project

During the third week of September 2008, the depression in the Bay of Bengal caused heavy rains and flooding in the coastal region of the state of Odisha in India. The embankments along the Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarani rivers broke in many places, thereby inundating more than 6,000 villages in 18 districts of the state, leaving about 4 million people homeless. The districts of Kendrapara, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack were the worst affected. Relief work was slow and inadequate due to continued inclement weather and inadequate infrastructure. Many roads, bridges and railway lines were completely washed away or rendered unusable. Having robbed thousands of their homes, property, livestock and livelihoods, nature’s fury left behind a trail of devastation and despondency of a magnitude never before seen in recent times in the country.

The rivers broke the embankments
and submerged thousands of villages

Millions of people lost their homes and livelihoods

Roads and railways damaged
relief work delayed

Sri V. Srinivasan announces Baba’s determination to help people affected by floods

As an immediate response, with the blessings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, members of Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisations in Odisha and its neighbouring states rushed to their distressed brethren with food, clothes, medicines and other relief materials. But Baba was not happy with this. Soon, on 7th October, on the holy day of Ayudha Pooja during the Dasara festival at Prasanthi Nilayam, the Trust announced a project to rebuild the lost houses of Odisha.

Villagers welcome members of Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisations

Villagers welcome members of Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisations

Plans and execution schedule displayed on site.

Looking at the blueprint marks on the ground.

A team comprising representatives of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation of Odisha carried out detailed surveys at various locations. Work began in earnest on 30th November 2008. Throughout the construction period, Baba was attentive to every detail to ensure that people felt happy and comfortable in their new homes. For example, in places prone to frequent flooding, houses are built at a safe height from the ground level. Also, as farming was the predominant occupation of the villagers, there had to be space around the house to house livestock and also to store the harvest.

Bhoomi Pooja in Khandahota, Cuttack district

Bhoomi Pooja at Samjodi, Kendrapara district

Sai youth doing Nagarsankeertan at workplace in Manibad, Cuttack district

Food is being prepared for Narayana Seva

Sri V. Srinivasan welcomes the Bhoomi Pooja

Sri V.Srinivasan addressing a meeting at the site

Blankets are distributed

Happy faces everywhere!

The work was progressing in a planned and gradual manner simultaneously in many villages of Kendrapara, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack districts. Another saga of love was unfolding, this time in a different environment and for a different section of people, but undoubtedly it is the same Divine Love of Baba extending to His children.

Pile drilling in progress

Open foundation of a house.

Foundation laying in progress

Foundation made of fly ash bricks.

Foundation made of fly ash bricks.

Brick walls have already been erected at the Nadiabari site!

Roofing work in progress

Roofing work in progress

A house in Manibad before painting

Front view of a finished house.

View from the side

View of the living room

The construction activity that began in the last week of November 2008 progressed as planned and by the end of March 2009, 200 houses were completed in all respects and ready for occupancy. Though the blessed owners of these houses saw the building coming up brick by brick before their eyes, they still could not believe their good fortune. They were classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL) people and for generations they had been living in huts and hence owning a concrete house was beyond their dreams. But if God decides to intervene, is there anything impossible? To express their gratitude to God for giving them this wonderful gift, they came to Prashanti Nilayam to see Him, whom they had neither seen nor heard of until about six months ago. While the hearts of these innocent villagers were overflowing with joy and gratitude as they beheld their Divine Benefactor, Baba was like an anxious mother waiting to welcome and embrace her children into His loving fold. Even a week before, Baba was making anxious enquiries with the officials of the Seva Organisation and the Ashram to ensure that ‘His guests’ had a comfortable journey to Prashanti Nilayam and a pleasant stay at the Ashram.

On March 2, the beneficiaries and their relatives were sitting in the Sai Kulwant Hall, waiting for the Divine Darshan. When Baba came, many fell prostrate on the ground and tears streamed down their faces as they tried to convey their heartfelt feelings to Him. Baba then distributed clothes to all of them – white Dhoti and Angavastram with gold borders for the men and bright, colourful saris for the women. That evening there was a cultural programme by the devotees of Odisha called ‘Pala’ followed by a drama based on the life of Sabari from the Ramayana. If there was one prayer in the hearts and on the lips of all the people of Odisha, it was this: “Baba, please come to Odisha and bless us all. May your holy feet sanctify our land.” The people who cried after losing their huts and belongings in the flood waters, now cried again, but this time it was the flood of Baba’s Love.

On 3rd March 2009, the first batch of beneficiaries visited Prasanthi Nilayam along with their families to receive the keys to the newly constructed houses. The hearts of the innocent villagers were filled with joy. Working at a rapid pace, a total of about 700 houses in 16 villages in the three districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara and Puri had been constructed by 5th November 2009 and handed over to the beneficiaries in a record time of less than a year!

Ladies distributing saris in the presence of Baba

Gentlemen being distributed Dhotis and Angavastram in Baba’s presence

A scene from the drama about Sabari in the Ramayana.

Baba blesses the participants with a group photo.

Baba blessing the keys of the house

Baba blesses the package containing daily use items.

The beneficiaries offer their grateful Pranams to Baba.

Blessed families in the Divine Presence

When the beneficiaries returned to their respective villages, they were ceremonially welcomed by other villagers for having returned blessed from a holy pilgrimage. On 9th April 2009, the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation of Odisha organised a grand ‘Grihapravesham’ (house warming ceremony) for all the beneficiary families whose houses were ready for occupancy. On that joyous day, the beneficiaries wore the clothes gifted to them by Baba. All the houses were beautifully decorated for the occasion and the entire village wore a festive look. After singing bhajans and performing Pooja (ceremonial worship), the beneficiaries entered their new houses with Baba’s picture in their hands seeking His divine blessings. In fact, Baba had not only provided them with houses, but had granted them a completely new life!

Grihapravesham ceremony in one of the villages.

New houses decorated for the occasion

Pooja in progress

A beneficiary family entering the house with Baba’s photo

Another beneficiary family entering the house with Baba’s photo

A family performs Pooja inside their new house.

Happy and grateful owners of a new home.

Prasadam is served at the end of the function.

With Baba’s blessings, Sri V. Srinivasan, the All India President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, handed over around 300 houses to the beneficiaries at a brief function held at TTD Kalyana Mandapam, Bhubaneswar on 2nd July, 2009. In addition, another 100 houses were distributed by Sri A. Ramakrishna and Sri Kondala Rao in the villages of Cuttack, Kendrapara and Puri districts on 18th and 19th September, 2009.

The place

Sri V. Srinivasan arrives at the venue

Bhajans in progress

A beneficiary speaks

Sri V. Srinivasan addressing the gathering

Congratulations to the people who helped with the project.

Distribution of house keys.

Clothes distribution

Recipients count their blessings.

Expressing joy and gratitude to Baba

Beneficiaries participating in Prasadam

Plaque at Kendrapara

God’s generosity

Front view of the houses.

A happy family

A happy housewife

Sri A.Ramakrishna and Sri Kondala Rao are received at Bilipada

Sri Kondala Rao lights the lamp to begin the function.

Distribution of keys and clothes.

View of finished houses in Rahamba

On 29th October 2009, on the occasion of Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day and National Disaster Reduction Day, the Government of Odisha decided to express its heartfelt gratitude to Baba for the various activities undertaken in connection with flood relief and reconstruction. At a special function held at Jayadev Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Sri Naveen Patnaik, congratulated Sri K. Chakravarthi, Secretary, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and conveyed his heartfelt gratitude by presenting him with a trophy and a certificate. The Trust also constructed new classrooms, repaired and painted old classrooms at schools in Billipara of Puri district and Samjori of Kendrapara district.

Congratulations from the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha

Congratulation

Certificate of appreciation awarded by Government of Odisha.

Sri K. Chakravarthi IAS(R) inspecting the houses in Khadikera

There is an interesting incident that took place in the village of Billipara which deserves special mention. The villagers watched in amazement as their houses took shape before their eyes. However, there was one issue that troubled them. The village deity, Goddess Jageswari, whom they had been worshipping for generations, was still lodged under the shade of a tree and there was no structure worthy of being called a temple around it. How could they show this irreverence towards the very God who provided them with their new homes? Can’t we just come together and build a temple in our village? they thought. Very soon, a very willing patron came forward to provide the building materials and the villagers enthusiastically built the temple with their own hands and the sweat of their brows. What had earlier seemed impossible for the poverty-stricken villagers, now became possible. Within four weeks, a new temple had sprung up out of nowhere. Truly, there is no limit to what Love can achieve!

Makeshift temple for the goddess Jageswari

Temple under construction

Temple after construction

Nuevo Templo para la Diosa

On 5th November 2009, in the final phase, around 100 houses were handed over to the beneficiaries of Khadikera, Nirmala and Billipara of Puri district at a function held in Puri, the district sanctified by the holy temple of Lord Jagannath. The Trust also constructed new classrooms and repaired and painted old classrooms in the schools of Billipara of Puri district and Samjori of Kendrapara district. Altogether around 700 houses were constructed in 16 villages of three districts of Cuttack, Kendrapara and Puri and handed over to the beneficiaries in a record time of less than a year. The beneficiaries of Baba’s bounty had only one prayer to make their benefactor, moreover, the Universal Benefactor… It was a prayer with their hearts filled with love and gratitude towards their Lord… “Lord, please come and bless our home state of Odisha with your Divine visit.”

Work in progress at Bilipada school

Exterior view of Billipada school

Exterior view of Samjodi school

Odisha faces floods again
In September 2011, when the fury of floods in Mahanadi and other rivers wreaked havoc in Odisha, submerging hundreds of villages and affecting the lives of thousands of people, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust came forward to provide solace to the worst affected people by commencing the second phase of its Housing Project in January 2013. The Trust undertook the humanitarian task of constructing 300 pucca houses in 8 villages in Keonjhar, Kendrapada and Jajpur districts and completed the construction in a record time of five and a half months. Thus, the total number of houses constructed in both phases stands at 1,000, as promised by Baba, with a total outlay of nearly Rs 15 crore, providing safe shelter to 1,000 poor families.

Natural disaster relief operations

In January 2001, a devastating earthquake struck the city of Bhuj in the state of Gujarat. Many thousands of people were left homeless in the aftermath of the disaster. Bhagawan’s love and compassion reached the victims in the form of relief material which was sent in a convoy of 30 trucks under the flag of Prasanthi Nilayam by Bhagawan himself. About 1,200 quintals of food grains, over one lakh pairs of new clothes, tents, blankets and household utensils were sent to Bhuj and distributed among the victims by Seva Dal volunteers.

Tsunami Relief Work
There are times in our lives when all hope is lost, there is no one to turn to and nothing to live for. And then God enters our lives, like the first drop of rain on the desert sands, like fresh air to those gasping for breath. The tsunami waves that swept across the Indian coast were a disaster that swept away hopes more than homes, and ruined as many lives as it took. But we have the living and loving God, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the beacon for lost minds in the wild seas of grief.

The tsunami waves that hit South Asia on December 26, 2004 affected thousands of people and caused enormous damage to lives and property. Soon after the disaster, as the survivors struggled to recover from the blow dealt to them by Nature, Bhagawan’s boundless compassion poured out to them in the form of dedicated service by the volunteers of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Tamil Nadu. Hundreds of volunteers were organised into teams and deployed in the different areas where damage had occurred. The top priority was to remove the dead bodies entangled in the debris and dispose of them properly so that epidemics could be prevented. Food and basic amenities had to be arranged for the survivors as well.

Of all the affected areas in Tamil Nadu, Nagapattinam district was the worst hit by the tsunami. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, under the divine guidance of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, sent urgent relief to the worst affected villages of Serudhoor, Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam, Kallar, Olakottaimedu and Thoduvai in Nagapattinam district. Provisions, utensils, stoves, clothes and other basic items required to restore life to normalcy were procured and packed in cardboard boxes. Seva Dal volunteers worked day and night in procuring, packing and transporting these materials. The boxes were transported from Chennai to the base camp for relief operations near Nagapattinam. At the same time, another group of volunteers was involved in distributing these boxes to over 5,000 families in Nagapattinam district and Pondicherry. Needless to say, the Seva Dal volunteers performed the entire task in a spirit of selfless love and dedication. They comforted the bereaved, reassured them and gave them the courage and hope to start their lives anew, leaving the tragedy behind.

Relief materials were organized to be sent to survivors.

Trucks arriving from Chennai with relief supplies

In one of the villages, when supplies were running low at the end of the day, a villager was heard assuring his fellow villagers that there was no need to worry as the Sai volunteers would definitely bring more supplies the next day and continue the relief work. Instances like these are testimony to the trust that these volunteers inspired in the hearts of these people by the dedication and commitment with which they served. The district administration also praised the orderly and well-organized distribution of the materials.

It was a heartwarming experience for the volunteers as they saw the affected people helping each other rebuild their lives, overcoming barriers of caste, creed and socio-economic status. In one village, one of the villagers requested that the materials be distributed in the neighbouring village as well, as no help had yet reached that village. At a time when one would expect them to be anxious about their own well-being, it was heartwarming to see the feelings of love and concern they had for their distressed brethren. Truly, Bhagavan’s cardinal teaching of “Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God” was being translated into action by these innocent village people.

Relief operations carried out by Sai volunteers

Receiving the gifts of grace from Bhagavan

It was not only the villagers who benefited from the exercise, but also the volunteers who found the experience inspiring. The villagers were often heard saying that God is their only refuge and that He would definitely take care of their lives. Finding such strong faith in God among these rural people was a reminder of the deep spiritual foundations of the people of this country. They did not consider it as mere relief material but as consecrated gifts of the Grace of God Himself who had come to their aid in their time of distress. One is reminded of the lyrics of a song often sung in the presence of Bhagawan:

“There is someone above to comfort me
There is someone above to show me the way.
There is Swami to guide me
Here is someone above to care for
And it is Love, Love to the end…”

Cultural heritage of India

“The end of culture is perfection”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has built several convention centres where cultural programmes, symposia and conferences are held. The Sai Kulwant Hall at Prasanthi Nilayam has hosted a large number of programmes covering a wide spectrum of cultures and religious traditions from around the world. A number of conferences have also been held here on various occasions, such as the All India Vice Chancellor’s Conference in November 2003, the Sai Interfaith Conference and the International Sai Medical Conference in 2005.

In addition to the above, 11 multipurpose community halls and several temples have been constructed in Puttaparthi and surrounding villages, which have been handed over to local governing bodies. Bhagawan also built a mosque in Puttaparthi.

The Sanathana Samskruti Museum or Eternal Heritage Museum at Prasanthi Nilayam promotes one of Bhagawan’s cardinal precepts, the message of the unity of all religions. The exhibits on display highlight the main teachings of the major world religions and also the lives and teachings of great saints and spiritual masters whose mission has been the spiritual upliftment of all humanity.

The Chaitanya Jyothi Museum at Prasanthi Nilayam was built to commemorate the 75th year of the Advent of the Sathya Sai Avatar and houses an exhibition on His Life and Mission. The building is a fusion of different architectural styles combining Eastern architecture with elements of traditional Indian temple design. With multimedia presentations and fascinating models and exhibits arranged in seven phases, the museum takes the visitor through the story of Bhagawan’s birth and childhood, and the major milestones of the Avatar’s great Mission.

The Trust runs the Sri Sathya Sai International Centre and School of Human Values ​​in New Delhi for propagation of the human values ​​of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-Violence by conducting value orientation programmes for school principals and workshops for targeted groups of professionals like bureaucrats, lawyers, doctors etc. on the relevance and practice of human values ​​in their respective professions. It also organizes seminars and lectures on Indian culture, spirituality and unity of religions for the general public by eminent personalities from various walks of life.