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Sai Baba's Ashram
Accommodation Guidelines for booking a room - Travel - Local
Information - Places
of Interest - Code
Of Conduct
- Ashram
Facilities - Kulwant
Hall - Darshan
Mandir - Daily
Schedule - FAQ - Daily
Spiritual Activities -
Prasanthi Nilayam
Reaching Prasanthi Nilayam
The Divine Love of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba attracts people
from far and wide to Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of supreme
peace located in the small village of Puttaparthi. What was once
a small hamlet, has now become an internationally known
spiritual centre. The ashram Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Supreme
Peace) is situated in Puttaparthi in the Anantapur District of
Andhra Pradesh State in South India. It is 150 kilometres (about
90 miles) north east of Bangalore, about 85 km from Anantapur,
30 km from Penukonda, 40 km from Dharmavaram and 450 km from
Hyderabad.
Puttaparthi is well-connected to all the major cities in the
southern part of India. The holy town has its own airport,
railway station and bus stands. Getting to Puttaparthi from any
other city in Andhra Pradesh is easy, since a network of good
roads connects it with other parts of the country.
By Air
The nearest airport to Prasanthi Nilayam is the Bengaluru
International Airport. It is situated about 130 km (80 miles)
from Prasanthi Nilayam.There are flights to and from Bengaluru
airport to many cities within India and other countries. To
reach Prasanthi Nilayam one may fly to Bangalore (either
directly or from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad etc). Then
take a taxi or bus. The airport is situated about 30 kilometres
north of Bangalore, between Bangalore and Puttaparthi. A taxi
from the Bangalore airport to Prasanthi Nilayam takes 2.5 to 3
hours and the charges vary from time to time. You can ask your
travel agent to reserve a taxi ahead of time. However, it is
possible to get a taxi at the airport itself --there are lots of
taxi drivers waiting there.
Reaching Prasanthi Nilayam
The Divine Love of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba attracts people
from far and wide to Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of supreme
peace located in the small village of Puttaparthi. What was once
a small hamlet, has now become an internationally known
spiritual center. The ashram Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Supreme
Peace) is situated in Puttaparthi in the Anantapur District of
Andhra Pradesh State in South India. It is 150 kilometers (about
90 miles) north east of Bangalore, about 85 km from Anantapur,
30 km from Penukonda, 40 km from Dharmavaram and 450 km from
Hyderabad.
Puttaparthy is well-connected to all the major cities in the
southern part of India. The holy town has its own airport,
railway station and bus stands. Getting to Puttaparthi from any
other city in Andhra Pradesh is easy, since a network of good
roads connects it with other parts of the country.
By Road
A taxi from Bangalore to Prasanthi Nilayam takes around 2.5 to 3
hours and the fare varies from time to time. To make
arrangements for a taxi from Prasanthi Nilayam to Bangalore,
contact one of the taxi operators and travel agents that have
offices outside the ashram. The Andhra Pradesh State Road
Transport Corporation and the Karnataka State Road Transport
Corporation operates buses to and from Puttaparthi to many
cities / towns.
Reaching Prasanthi Nilayam
The Divine Love of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba attracts people
from far and wide to Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of supreme
peace located in the small village of Puttaparthi. What was once
a small hamlet, has now become an internationally known
spiritual center. The ashram Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Supreme
Peace) is situated in Puttaparthi in the Anantapur District of
Andhra Pradesh State in South India. It is 150 kilometers (about
90 miles) north east of Bangalore, about 85 km from Anantapur,
30 km from Penukonda, 40 km from Dharmavarm and 450 km from
Hyderabad.
Puttaparthy is well-connected to all the major cities in the
southern part of India. The holy town has its own airport,
railway station and bus stands. Getting to Puttaparthi from any
other city in Andhra Pradesh is easy, since a network of good
roads connects it with other parts of the country.
By Train
Reaching Prasanthi Nilayam by train is simple, since Sri Satya
Sai Prasanthi Nilayam railway station connects the town with the
major cities of India, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam,
Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi. This station is 8 km
from the ashram. It is connected to Puttaparthi by regular bus
services of APSRTC. There are many daily trains passing via
Prasanthi Nilayam (Station Name: Sri Sathya Sai Prashanthi
Nilayam; Station code: SSPN on the IRCTC website ). There are
many other trains passing via Dharmavaram Railway Station
(station code: DMM on the IRCTC website) which is about 40 KM
from Prasanthi Nilayam. You can also reach Dharmavaram by train
and travel to Prasanthi Nilayam by road.
Guidelines for booking a
room - Registration Form - Download
Form C (for non-Indian visitors)
This website provides online room
reservation facility to devotees visiting Prasanthi Nilayam for
Darshan of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Currently the website
provides reservation of two types of rooms subject to
availability about one month in advance.
1. Furnished Room with tariff of Rs. 300
per day (taxes inclusive)
2. Furnished Room with hot water facility
with tariff of Rs.350 per day (taxes inclusive).
Kindly go through the following guidelines
to make a room reservation.
A user-id is compulsory for
inquiring about the room availability and making a
reservation. Create a user-id by clicking on the new user
link. Provide the necessary details and activate the user-id
by clicking the activation link in the mail received.
Complete the profile by providing all other essential
details like address for correspondence, photo id etc to
proceed further to make a room reservation.
Following a successful reservation, you will receive a
booking confirmation mail which is to be submitted at the
check-in counter in Prasanthi Nilayam. You may also show the
mail on a tablet or a smartphone.
The member whose user-id is being used to make a reservation
(the lead member) should be one of the occupants of the
room.
After logging in, there is a facility in the profile section
to save the details of the family members accompanying the
user who is making the reservation. These may be fetched for
inclusion as accompanying members during the actual room
reservation.
The Ashram policy is to let only families visiting Prasanthi
Nilayam for Darshan purpose to stay in rooms. Implementing
this policy, the website makes it mandatory to mention the
relationship of all the occupants with the lead member.
Single persons, male / female are not permitted to reserve a
room. There should be a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3
adult family members in a room. A maximum of 2 children,
below 4 years of age, can stay for free in the room with
adult accompanying members.
A room can be reserved for a maximum of 2 days duration.
Rooms can be reserved up-to 30 days in advance. Reservation
closes at 12.00. midnight (IST) for arrivals on the
following day. For example, if you expect to arrive at
6.30.a.m. IST on 11th November, you will have to book before
23:59 hrs IST on 9th November.
Room Reservations are not transferable and all the members
mentioned during the reservation along with their valid
photo identity cards are to be necessarily present during
the check-in time in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Currently, the website doesn’t provide for any cancellation
/ refunds option. Hence the devotees are advised to make a
reservation only when they are sure of their travel plans to
Prasanthi Nilayam.
About
Prasanthi Nilayam
Places of Interest and their visiting hours
Shivalayam -Bhagawan's Birth Place- Gopuram Road Outside Ashram
10.00 A.M to 12.00 Noon
Chaitanya Jyothi Museum (closed on Mondays)
10.00 A.M. to 12.00 P.M and 3.00 P.M to 5.00 P.M
Sri Sathya Sai Space Theater - Planetarium
Daily shows in English, Hindi and Telugu using headphones. Entry
upto 10.30 am only.
Sri Sathya Sai International Centre for Sports - Indoor Stadium
10.00 A.M to 11.30 A.M
Sanathana Samskruti Museum (Wednesday Holiday)
10.00 A.M to 12.00 Noon
Divine Parents Samadhi - Samadhi Road - Outside Ashram
9.30 A.M to 11.30 A.M
4.30 P.M to 6.30 P.M
Tour of Super Specialty Hospital(Sunday Holiday)
12.00 Noon to 2.00 P.M
Film Shows on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - Satsangh Hall Opp.
Shopping Complex
8.00 P.M to 9.00 P.M
Temple of Sathyabama - Gopuram Road - Outside Ashram
Temple of Venugopalaswamy - Gopuram Road - Outside Ashram
Ganesha Temple
Hill View Stadium (Statues of Hanuman, Lord Krishna,
Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, Lord Buddha - Entry Restricted)
Shirdi Sai Temple in General Hospital
Sai Geetha Samadhi - Vidya Giri Road
Sri Sathya Sai Gokulam - Vidya Giri Road
Kalpa Vriksham - Chitravathi Road
For more information, please visit : Ashram
Information Page of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust
At an altitude of 800 m above sea level, Prasanthi Nilayam
essentially has tropical climate. Just like any other part of
India, the pilgrim center enjoys three seasons - summer, monsoon
and winter. The summer season is usually between March and June.
In late June, pre-monsoon showers bring a sense of relief to
Prasanthi Nilayam.
Monsoon falls in between July and October. In late October, cool
breeze envelops the town making the weather quite pleasant. The
weather conditions in the monsoon months and winter months make
it possible for the visitors to travel to Prasanthi Nilayam.
Winter is from the month of November extending upto February.
Typical Day in
Prasanthi Nilayam (Schedule)
Items NOT permitted inside Sai
Kulwant Hall
Mobile Phones
Cameras
Calculators and Electronic Items
Alarm Clocks & Torches
Footwear
Musical Instruments
Umbrellas
Binoculars
Cosmetics & Sprays
Firearms & Sharp Objects
Cigarettes, Drugs, Paan Masala & Lighters
Candles Matches & Incense
Big Bags & Hand Bags
MP3 Players & Tablets
Puja Materials & Coconuts/Oil
Food, Alcohol & Soft Drinks
Tetra Packs & Flasks
Open Cushion Covers
Metal Chairs
Pen drives, Cassettes, CDs
Non-spiritual / Non-study Books
Battery operated Toys
Top
Basic
Regulations / Guidelines for safety and security of devotees
staying in Prasanthi Nilayam
In order to make your stay in the Ashram purposeful in
furthering your progress in Sadhana, kindly adhere to the
following guidelines :
- Be
austere, simple and live with minimum comforts, while at the
Ashram.
- Be calm and do not show
haste. Do not waste time;always utter “Sairam” within
yourselves.
- The devotees are
required to maintain absolute silence. They should move to
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Sannidhi in an orderly manner
without any haste. The Sannidhi will be kept open after the
Bhajans, both in the morning and in the evening, till the
last devotee offers his/her prayers to Him.
- Adhere to the Ashram
Dress code strictly. For both men and women, wearing shorts
/sleeveless shirts/ transparent and semi-transparent
clothes, tight-fitting dresses are not permitted in the
Ashram. Women are required to dress to their ankles and a
dupatta/shawl is compulsory.
- Take care of personal
hygiene as well as the surroundings. Do not spit or litter
anywhere; use the trash cans. Tobacco products, paan,
alcoholic drinks, narcotics and non-vegetarian food are
strictly prohibited in the Ashram.
- Ladies and Gents have to
move separately in the Ashram. Hugging, kissing etc., are
out of place in the Ashram premises.
- Do not group with
persons/relatives/friends and indulge in long talks or
socializing in the Ashram.
- Take care of your
belongings while in the Ashram ; this is a pilgrim center
and people from various backgrounds visit this place every
day.
- Take your food in any of
the three canteens or outlets in the Ashram only. Do not
waste food, water and electricity.
- Do not move out of the
Ashram needlessly. Be cautious of touts/brokers/thieves/
tricksters. Please do not encourage beggars.
- Please report
immediately about the unsociable / doubtful elements to the
Security officer or the Seva Dal volunteers or police posts
nearby.
- Please do not move
around at night especially after lights-off time at 9.00 P.M
- In case one desires to
donate cash, he / she may approach the Ashram Donations
Office in Room No.2 (Opposite to ladies entrance of South
Indian Canteen) and deposit the money in the State
Bank of India, Prasanthi Nilayam branch and obtain an
acknowledgement from the Banker. Donations by Cheque/DD can
be submitted at the Donations office in Room No.2 adjacent
to the SBI branch premises inside the Ashram. For more
information about donations, please visit this
link at the website of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Avoid strangers/persons who seek donations in cash or kind
for other NGOs or private benefit.
- Photography in the
Ashram is strictly prohibited.
- CCTV cameras are
installed at various places in the Ashram in the interest of
devotees visiting the Ashram, to ensure their safety and
security.
- Please co-operate while
undergoing security checks at the entrance. Avoid carrying
items like knife, lighter, match sticks etc.
If any
item / article / valuables are found by you anywhere, please
hand them over at the Public Relations Office or Security
Office nearby.
FAQ
1. Is Registration mandatory for checking availability and
booking ?
Yes. You can check availability only after registration and
login. You will be required to complete the profile (including
photo upload, address etc ), before you can check availability
or complete a booking.
2. I
want to book a room for tomorrow. Can I book?
Reservation closes at 12.00. midnight (IST) for arrivals on the
following day. For example, if you expect to arrive at 6.30.a.m.
IST on 11th November, you will have to book before 23:59 hrs IST
on 9th November.
3. How
many days in advance can a room be booked?
Room Reservations for a particular date opens 30 days in
advance. For example, if you expect to arrive at 6.30.a.m. IST
on 11th November, you will be able to do so from 12th October,
00:01 hrs (IST) onwards.
4. I
have made a booking during this month already. I intend to book
a room again. Is it possible?
Yes, currently we allow multiple transactions.
5. I
am a single person. Can I book a room?
No. Our current booking policy does not allow a single person to
avail a room. We are sorry for this inconvenience. You may,
however, seek dormitory/hall accommodation at the counter on
your arrival. Online booking is not possible.
6. We
are two friends wishing to make a booking. Can we?
No. Only families are allowed to book a room. At the time of
booking, you must disclose your relationship with the family
member. Only selected immediate family is allowed.
7. Can
I book a room for my parents who would like to stay in Prasanthi
Nilayam?
No. The person who is booking a room must be present during
check-in and during the stay.
8. I
am an Indian National and my family members are non-Indians. Can
we book a room?
No. You may, however, request your foreign family member to do
the booking. He/she may include you as an accompanying member.
9. I
am a Non-Resident Indian wishing to book a room in Prasanthi
Nilayam along with my family members who are overseas nationals.
Can I book a room together?
Yes.
10. We
are a family of 5 persons wishing to visit Prasanthi Nilayam.
How many rooms do we need to book?
The rooms that are available online are furnished with 2 cots
and 2 mattresses. A minimum of 2 adults and a maximum number of
3 adults are allowed to stay in a room. You will have to book
two rooms to accommodate upto 6 persons.
11.
Where should I report on arrival ?
Please report at the Online Booking Check-in Counter at the
Accommodation Office (next to N-9 block, behind North Indian
Canteen) (View map here)
on arrival, for your check-in. The office is open from 6.30.a.m.
IST to 7.30.p.m IST. Check-in outside office hours is not
allowed. Overseas nationals will be required to submit Form-C
before check-in.
12. We
are a family of 9 persons wishing to visit Prasanthi Nilayam.
How many rooms do we need to book?
You will need to book three rooms for 9 people, since a maximum
of three adults are allowed per room. A maximum of two rooms are
allowed per booking transaction. Therefore, you may do two
booking transactions, to book a total of three rooms for 9
people.
13. I
wish to stay in the Ashram for a month. Can I book a room?
Online room reservation facility is restricted to upto a maximum
of two days per transaction. Currently, you may make multiple
transactions, but you may have to check-in to another room after
two days.
14.
There are no rooms available for booking on the website. Are
there any alternate arrangement?
(or)
I am
travelling with family members who are not on your permitted
list of family members for online booking. How do I book a room
?
A certain number of rooms are available under current booking in
Prasanthi Nilayam Accommodation Office. On arrival in Prasanthi
Nilayam, you may proceed to the Accommodation Office (next to
N-9 block, behind North Indian Canteen) (View map here )
. Rooms are provided only for families subject to availability.
The members should carry valid photo id for submission during
room booking.
For any further details about your stay in the Ashram, please
visit the Ashram
Information page of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Aumkar is the chanting of ‘Aum’, the primordial sound, also
called the ‘Pranava’. The vibrations that emanate from chanting
‘Aum’ have the potency to purify the inner personality of an
individual as well as the surrounding environment. That is why
the day at Prasanthi Nilayam begins with the chanting of 21
Aumkars.
Suprabhatham:
‘Su’ signifies good, auspicious and ‘Prabhath’ means morning.
‘Suprabhatham’ refers to the morning prayers that are chanted in
praise of the Lord to awaken the divinity present within each
individual. It is the act of dedicating oneself to the Lord and
praying for His blessings right at the start of a new day.
Veda Chanting:
Vedas are ancient spiritual scriptures revealed to great sages
and seers while in communion with God. Chanting or listening to
these hymns confers spiritual as well as physical benefits. That
is why Baba gives a lot of importance to Vedas and encourages
everybody to chant these hymns and understand their meaning. The
students of Baba chant these hymns in the early hours of the
morning while circumambulating the mandir complex, and also
during Darshan hours in the morning and afternoon sessions in
the mandir.
Nagar Sankeertan:
‘Nagar’ means city or locality and ‘Sankeertan’ means devotional
singing. After Suprabhatam, devotees circumambulate the mandir
complex while singing devotional songs and clapping their hands
keeping beat. It charges the atmosphere with holy vibrations and
one begins the day with the name of the Lord on one’s lips.
Bhajans:
Bhajans means “Singing aloud the glory of God”. Bhajans in the
divine presence of Sri Sathya Sai Baba are unique as they are
universal in their scope and appeal and emphasise the unity of
faiths.
Arati:
‘Arati’ is the ritual of waving lighted camphor to the deity to
mark the culmination of worship. During Arati, devotees sing a
devotional song in praise of the Lord and end with a prayer for
universal peace.
Ashram Facilities
Public Relations Office
Emergency & Security Office
Wheel Chair Facility
Cloak Room
Cloak Room for Mobiles
Safe Deposit Locker
Banking Services
ATM Facilities
Shopping Center
Book Store
Library and Reading Room
Telephone Booth
Maintenance Office
Medical Services
Laundry (Dhobi) Service
Porters
Some festivals usually observed at
Prasanthi Nilayam are noted below. usually a discourse is given
by Swami..
Makara Sankranti (January)
This festival is dedicated to the Sun God
Vaikunth Ekadashi (January)
Maha Sivarathri (February)
Yugadi or Ugadi (March)
This festival marks the New Year, according to the Indian lunar
calendar.
Sree Ram Navami (March)
This festival marks the birthday of Lord Rama,
Guru Purnima (July)
This festival dedicated to the Guru,
Janmashtami (September)
This festival marks the birthday of Lord Krishna.
Onam (September)
Navarathri or Dassara (October)
This nine-day festival is dedicated to the Goddess of Energy (Shakti)
Deepavali (November)
This festival of lights
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Birthday
(23rd November).
Christmas (25th December
.
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Prasanthi Nilayam
 Prasanthi
Nilayam, the Highest Abode of Peace is the crest jewel of the now
internationally famous village of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. With the
construction of this monument of Love and Peace in 1950 by the dedicated and
loving devotees of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba a new Movement itself for the
regeneration of human society has started. It soon became the cynosure of all
eyes of the world as it housed the Ultimate in human form. People belonging to
all creed and all walks of life cluster here for the coveted Darshan (sight) of
the most beautiful human form on earth descended to confer Grace, Peace and Love
on one and all, black or white, east or west, young or old. Over a period of
years, this structure gathered a rare beauty and grandeur making it now an
architectural jewel. Its serene atmosphere that proclaims its alchemic influence
on the visiting multitudes is atonce unique and elevating. Here silence is more
eloquent than speech. Service is more rewarding than chanting or meditation.
Absorbing the atmosphere is a treat to all human faculties. Senses get
controlled and groomed, and mind silenced and attentive. Originally a small
temple in 1950 when it was first dedicated to the Lord, it has now grown into a
much bigger size, covered with a beautiful roof, covering a Darshan area of some
10,000 square yards. The expanse of the sitting space on both sides and in the
centre can accommodate 30-40 thousand people, the crowd milling around and
squeezing in to another half of it during celebrations. The irresistible and
most powerful Love-Waves emanating from this Abode of Highest Peace will not
spare any spot on the world map from its care whether it be hard rock or dry
sand.
The subtle influence of the Avatar is so compelling that the
impact of a visit to Puttaparthi is great. Absorbing the spiritual atmosphere
here, one feels refreshed and recouped. It is atonce enchanting and entrancing.
People of different nationalities and cultures realise the Brotherhood of man
and the Fatherhood of God here. Devotees from abroad are attuned to the
atmosphere without much of an effort. After all who in this world is not related
to Prasanthi Nilayam? It is everybody's home. The pathways leading to the Abode
may look new, but the destination cannot be unfamiliar.
Those who have distanced themselves from Home, of their own
volition, are again initiated into a purposeful, spiritual life of calm and
quiet with no reprimand whatsoever. In short, a visit to Prasanthi Nilayam is a
homecoming from far and near. The talkative, the extravagant, the egocentric,
the arrogant, the ill-tempered and the short tempered are cut to size and proper
shapes with no additional and visible labour. It is like a vehicle entering the
workshop in a battered condition, but coming out in good running condition, the
duration depending on the number and depth of dents. But reconstruction and
reconditioning are sure to be. On return hard headed administrators become soft
and friendly, hard hearted industrialists become kindly and accommodative,
conscienceless politicians become honest and upright, headstrong mothers-in-law
become loving and considerate, irresponsible husbands become sympathetic and
co-operative, wayward children become obedient and disciplined, unhealthy family
relations become healthy and strong, and so on. All for a sea change. All begin
to realise that none can escape the eyes and hands of Sai. The realisation of
the omnipresence of Sai effects the transformation. Decades ago Bhagawan Baba
had declared that 'every step in the career of an Avatar is calculated'. This
Divine workshop of Prasanthi Nilayam, the Highest Abode of Peace, is perhaps the
first and foremost in this direction.
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