No Sai darshan on Ram Navami

A thick rumour that Satya Sai Baba would give Darshan yesterday did the rounds on Monday, thus sending thousands of devotees flocking to Puttaparthy only to be disappointed. B V Shiva Shankar reports

No Sai darshan on Ram Navami

Sanctified: It is believed that the Sri Satya Sai Baba tuned godman after Satyamma Devi blessed him when he was a child. File pic/AFP

On the back of the rumour that Baba would be giving Darshan on Ram Navami, devotees began flocking to Puttaparthy by the thousands throughout Monday, and late into yesterday. The strong belief that their guru would perform the ultimate miracle and grace the celebrations at Prashanthi Nilayam on the eve of Ram Navami, brought them out in droves.

"It was not an official announcement from Prashanthi Nilayam. I don't know where the rumour originated, but devotees began pouring in yesterday, as they have been doing from the time Baba was hospitalised. They are praying for his health and there is no question of disappointment," said an official at Prashanthi Nilayam.

Divine drama?
While devotees remain skeptical about the Baba's condition, there are many who believe that the recent developments regarding his health are all part of his divine will.

"I know the Bhagwan is playing a divine drama just to firm up our belief in him and we call it his Leela Natakam. He will show up whenever he is willing and we are prepared to wait," said Shiva Sai Baba, a devotee and Baba look-alike, who runs an ashram near Chilkkaballapur in his name.

Even as the health condition of the Baba continues to be critical but stable, according to medical bulletins, devotees took out a lamp procession followed by prayers at the temple of Satyamma Devi, the village deity of Puttaparthy.

Baba Blessed
It is believed that the Baba turned godman after Satyamma Devi blessed him when he was a child. Recent popular belief is that he fell ill after an idol of the deity was damaged and then immersed in a lake. It was recovered from the lake and re-established in the temple last week, following which Baba is showing signs of recovery.

Doctors however, continue to express concern over the slow pace of his improvement. "The vital parameters like heart rate, blood pressure and blood gas values continue to be stable and are almost normal," said Dr A N Safaya, director of Sri Satya Sai Institute of Medical Sciences, who is supervising his treatment.

He added, "Baba's response to the treatment is positive but sluggish, which is a slight cause of concern for the team of doctors attending to him."u00a0

Safaya said that Baba has entered the 16th day of treatment in this hospital and is still on a ventilator to assist his respiration and intermittent haemodialysis to assist his kidneys. "His liver functions are slowly recovering and he continues to be in a critical state of health," he added.

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