Let us always be reverential towards Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Samadhi, and towards flower decoration work on it

A part of a comment of brother Venky Pulipati on another Facebook post, is given below (slightly edited):

"SAMADHI IS THE SANCTUM SANCTORUM of the WORLD SAI MISSION. Millions of people pray from wherever they are to Swami. I am repeatedly requesting and I am requesting again and again, let us not be even for a second, less reverential with our silly baseless allegations on SAMADHI AND FLOWER DECORATION. Though I don’t have mandate, with courage, on behalf of all my brothers, I reiterate that SAMADHI and any activity related to SAMADHI should be out of our discussion."

Ravi: I endorse the above view of brother Venky Pulipati with a small qualification given below. Venky Pulipati is an alumnus of Swami's school in Ooty and Prasanthi Nilayam.

The marble Samadhi was unveiled in July 2011, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/sai-babas-mahasamadhi-unveiled/article2229848.ece [Additional reference with many pics: http://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/mahasamadhi-of-sai-baba-unveiled-10309]. It is now over five years since that event. As brother Venky Pulipati has pointed out, the Samadhi has become the SANCTUM SANCTORUM of the WORLD SATHYA SAI MISSION. In my considered view, it is very, very irresponsible to publicly keep re-circulating in social media and over email newsletters, unsubstantiated allegations related to the construction of the (marble) Samadhi.

How much distaste this may create in the minds of some devotees who want to approach the Samadhi of Bhagavan with a pure and fully devoted heart, and who happen to read social media posts and mails having these unsubstantiated allegations! Will that not make Bhagavan unhappy??? Based on what I have seen of Bhagavan in physical form, I have to say that I think it will. Let us not cause unhappiness to Bhagavan in this manner.

Regarding flower decoration of Samadhi matter: While it is an inescapable and very unpleasant FACT that it is a Sai university alumnus (MBA gold medalist) who is making the FALSE CLAIM of being a medium/communicator of Bhagavan, and that his claim is endorsed by a former warden and a former vice-chancellor of Sai university, and who (medium/communicator) was and is being supported by many Sai university and Sai school alumni, I think the Sai university and Sai schools alumni involved in management of funds for the flower decoration of Samadhi work, would be spending their own money for the work rather than even entertaining any thought of misusing those funds. There is HUGE level of emotion and devotion to Bhagavan associated with such work. I believe the alumni made an earnest prayer that this service activity of flower decoration of Samadhi be given to them, and the ashram authorities agreed to their prayer/request. As a former teacher in the Sai university, Prasanthi Nilayam campus (designations of Honorary Staff, Honorary Faculty and Visiting Faculty from Jan. 2003 to Mar. 2012 offering free service), I find it very, very hard to believe that any Sai university or school alumnus will even entertain the thought of financial wrongdoing related to such a blessed and cherished service (Seva) activity of flower decoration of Bhagavan's Samadhi.

One should be very, very careful in making allegations of financial wrong doing in such work. In particular, if there are any serious allegations they should be privately raised with SUPPORTING EVIDENCE to top office bearers of Prasanthi Nilayam. Only if these office bearers are not in a position to provide suitable responses and/or initiate corrective action, should such matters be raised publicly in social media and email newsletters. And if one does not have supporting evidence but only some vague suspicions, one should not say anything at all.

In short what I am saying is that for Samadhi construction and flower decoration matter, please be very, very discreet in any efforts to look into any allegations of financial wrongdoing, as deep emotional and devotional feelings of Sathya Sai devotees towards the Samadhi of Bhagavan, are involved.
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My associated Facebook post, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/1798901826993053, has a few comments which some readers may want to have a look at.