Prasanthi Nilayam, ‘The Abode of Supreme Peace’, is the Ashram (spiritual resort) of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba near the village of Puttaparthi in the Anantapur District of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Nestled amongst a chain of hills and with the river Chitravathi flowing towards its east, this valley houses the Mandir (shrine), residential complexes for devotees, the headquarters of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization and the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Daily Schedule (at Sai Kulwant Hall)
Bhagawan has laid down the daily schedule to be followed in the Ashram. Every activity of the Ashram routine is suffused with deep spiritual significance. See the table below for the Ashram schedule:
| Time | Activity |
| 05.10 a.m. | Aumkar, Meditation and Suprabhatham |
| 05.40 a.m. | Veda Chanting and Nagar Sankeertan (Circumambulating the Mandir) |
| 06.30 a.m. – 07.30 a.m. | Pooja inside the Bhajan Hall (Entry for Devotees will start at 06.25 a.m.) |
| 8.00 a.m. – 9.00 a.m. | Veda Chanting |
| 9.00 a.m. – 9.30 a.m. | Bhajans |
| 9.30 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. | Darshan of Bhagawan’s Mahasamadhi and Prayer Hall |
| 4.30 p.m. – 5.15 p.m. | Veda Chanting |
| 5.15 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. | Bhajans |
| 6.00 p.m. – 7.00 p.m. | Darshan of Bhagawan’s Mahasamadhi |
| 6.30 p.m. – 6.40 p.m | Meditation for Overseas Devotees in Prayer Hall |
Extension of Darshan timings: In response to requests by devotees, an additional time slot has been introduced on Sundays to facilitate Darshan of Bhagawan’s Sannidhi. Starting from September 7, 2014 (Onam Day), on all Sundays, devotees will be allowed to have Darshan of Bhagawan’s Sannidhi from 4.p.m. to 4.30.p.m, in addition to the current Darshan Timings after Bhajans.
Late Evening Aarti: To bring the Sannidhi Darshan to a ceremonial close and enhance the spiritual experience for the devotees, an Aarti will be offered at Bhagawan’s Sannidhi on all days towards the close of Evening Darshan, from September 4, 2014 onwards. This will be in addition to the usual Aarti offered after Evening Bhajans. Devotees will not be permitted to approach the Sannidhi after the last Aarti for the day.
Kindly Note:
Electronics articles such as cell phones, can be kept in the cloak room located close to the entrance to the hall.
Aumkar: 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. For the text and MP3 audio of the prayer, click here.
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 Bhagawan gives a lot of importance to Vedas and encourages everybody to chant these hymns and understand their meaning. The students of Bhagawan 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 Bhagawan Baba are unique as they are universal in their scope and appeal and emphasise the unity of faiths. For Bhajans MP3, click here.
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. Arati MP3,click here.
Prasanthi Nilayam Township is adjacent to the village of Puttaparthi, in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, South India (Latitude 14° North, Longitude 78°1 East). It is well-connected by road, rail and air. Bangalore is the nearest metro at about 120 kilometres from the Ashram.
Road
A number of bus services connect Prasanthi Nilayam to cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam and Tirupati.
The Prasanthi Nilayam bus terminal is located just opposite the Ashram. It has a fully computerised reservation counter of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC: http://www.apsrtconline.in/). [ Phone: (08555) 287210 ]
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC: http://ksrtc.in) too runs bus services connecting Prasanthi Nilayam to Bangalore (including a Volvo luxury bus service) and to Mangalore from this terminal. The KSRTC reservation counter is located close to the bus stand. [Phone: (08555) 288938 ]
Private Transport: There are a number of private bus and taxi operators who ply between Prasanthi Nilayam and cities like Bangalore, Chennai, etc. Please be advised that taxi fares between Bangalore and Prasanthi Nilayam are in the range of Rs. 2500/- to Rs. 3000/-.
Rail
The ‘Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam’ railway station is located 8 kilometres from the ashram. There is a computerised railway reservation counter in the bus terminal just outside the Ashram [ Phone: (08555) 287355 ].
Several trains pass through Dharmavaram junction, located 40 Km. from Prasanthi Nilayam too.There is a direct rail connectivity from the major cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam, Vijaywada, Bhubneswar etc.
For more information please check www.indianrail.gov.in.
Code for Prasanthi Nilayam station is SSPN.
Code for Dharmavaram Junction is DMM
Air
The nearest major airport is the Bengaluru International Airport (http://www.bengaluruairport.com) located about 120 kilometres from Prasanthi Nilayam.
| Type of Accommodation | Office Location | Office Timings | Tariff Rates (per head per day) |
| Dormitory | Entrance to the ashram | 5 a.m. – 9.00 p.m. |
|
| Rooms (for families) | Room No.7 Opp. South Indian Canteen | 6.15 a.m. – 8.00 p.m. |
|
For Citizens of India and Nepal (with valid Photo ID)
For Overseas Devotees (with Passport and valid Visa) and Non-Resident Indians (with Indian Passport)
| Type of Accommodation | Office Location | Office Timings | Tariff Rates (per head per day) |
|
Dormitory |
North Block-8 |
6.15 a.m. – 8.00 pm |
|
|
Rooms (for families) |
|
Advance reservations: No advance reservations can be made. However, large groups may be able to make arrangements in advance, preferably by contacting the Accommodation Office well before the planned time of arrival.
Payment: All payments towards accommodation charges must be made in cash (in Indian rupees) only. There is a bank counter inside the Ashram premises where devotees can exchange their foreign currency for Indian rupees. Payment by credit card is not accepted.
Service of Porters: Service of authorised porters at fixed tariffs is available for shifting of luggage at the time of arrival or departure.
Laundry service: There are authorised dhobis (laundry personnel) who collect the laundry outside the building every morning after 7 a.m. The clothes are usually returned within a day or two.
Checking Out: The checkout time is 12 noon.
There are three canteens in the Ashram that cater to the varying tastes of the thousands who visit Prasanthi Nilayam from all over the world. They provide hygienically prepared vegetarian food at nominal prices.
South Indian Canteen
The South Indian Canteen offers South Indian style purely vegetarian meals, breakfast, snacks, tea, coffee, milk etc. at highly subsidized rates.
Timings:
| Breakfast | 6-30 a.m. to 8-30 a.m. |
| Lunch | 11-00 a.m. to 01-00 p.m. |
| Afternoon tea & snacks | 3-30 p.m. to 04-15 p.m. |
| Dinner | 6-30 p.m. to 08-00 p.m. |
Payment: Payment in the canteen is in the form of canteen coupons only. Direct cash is not accepted. Canteen coupons can be purchased from the ‘Canteen Coupons’ counter located in front of the gents’ entrance of the Canteen.
North Indian Canteen
Timings:
The North Indian Canteen in North Block of the ashram and serves purely vegetarian North Indian cuisine.
| Lunch | 11.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. |
| Dinner | 6.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. |
| Breakfast and afternoon snacks/tea are not served in this canteen. | |
Payment: All payments in this canteen are made directly in cash.
Timings:The Western Canteen is located between Round Building 2 and Round Building 3 of the Ashram premises and offers purely vegetarian continental cuisine.
| Breakfast |
08.00 a.m. to 09.00 a.m. & 09.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
|
| Lunch |
12.45 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.
|
| Dinner |
07.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
|
| Afternoon snacks/tea are not served in this canteen. | |
Payment: All payments in this canteen are made through vouchers purchased directly outside the canteen.
Snacks Counters
Kiosks are located, one adjacent to the Shopping Centre and another near the North Indian Canteen, where snacks, beverages and ice-creams are served. Other than this there are beverage counters distributed all around the ashram where coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc are available.
Timings:
The timings of these shops are often staggered to ensure availability from 0500 Hrs to 2030 Hrs. However these Kiosks will stay closed during Programmes and Bhajan Sessions in the morning and evening.
Bakery
The Bakery is located behind South–6 block flanking the Shopping Center on the left side. One can find here all kinds of bakery items from bread & bun to pizzas, all prepared by dedicated Sevadal Volunteers inside the Ashram premises itself.
Timings:
| Morning | 09.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. |
| Afternoon | 3.30 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. |
A bakery counter is opened daily in South Indian Canteen between 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. and between 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
General Hospital
Timings:Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital is adjacent and South of the ashram premises. The hospital has outpatient facilities and also provides casualty/emergency services. The hospital provides free diagnosis and treatment in General Medicine, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
| Department | Timings | |
| Casualty / emergency | Open 24 hours | |
| Out Patient | Morning | 8.00 a.m. – 12.00 Noon |
| Afternoon | 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. | |
Super Speciality Hospital
Timings: The hospital is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm on all days except Sundays and public holidays.The Super Speciality Hospital, also called as the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prashanthi Gram, is located 7 kms from the Ashram. The hospital offers Specialty treatment in the departments of Cardiology, Urology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, and Gastro-enterology completely free of charge. More…
Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust (Bhakta Sahayak Division)
Shopping Centre
Timings:The Shopping Centre is adjacent to South-6 block, near the Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust (Publications Division) building. Day-to-day needs of devotees ranging from stationery, grocery and home needs to clothing and travel goods are available at very reasonable prices.
| Morning (Only for Ladies) |
9.30 a.m. to 12.00 Noon |
| Evening (Only for Gents) |
3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
Fruits and Vegetables
The Fruits and Vegetables Stall is located contiguously to the south of the Shopping Centre.
Timings:
| Morning |
9.30 a.m. to 12.00 Noon |
| Evening |
3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust (Publications Division)
The Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust (Publications Division) located behind South-6, near the Shopping Centre undertakes the printing, publishing and sale of various books, audio & video cassettes, CDs & DVDs etc. relating to the life and teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Bhajans and festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam. The Trust also undertakes the sale of publications in other Indian and Foreign languages.Books, Photographs, Audio & Video Stall
Subscriptions to the Ashram Magazine, Sanathana Sarathi for the English and Telugu editions can also be made here or online at www.sanathanasarathi.org
| Morning |
9.30 a.m. to 12.00 Noon |
| Afternoon |
3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
Timings:
Library cum Reading Room
The Book Trust building also houses a reading room that is a storehouse of Sai Literature with a large and varied collection of books on the life and teachings of Bhagawan Baba and experiences of devotees, in many Indian and foreign languages.
Timings:
| Morning |
9.30 a.m. to 12.00 Noon |
| Afternoon |
3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
For more information, please visit www.sssbpt.org
Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust (Media Division)
Sai Blossoms
Sri Sathya Sai Sadhna Trust (Media Division) makes available books, audio and video products under the banner “Sai Blossoms’. These may be purchased from their stall in front of the Radio Sai Studio near West-8 block.
Timings:
| Morning |
9.30 a.m. to 12.00 Noon |
| Evening |
3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
Sai Blossom products are also available at the Shopping Complex.
For more information, please visit www.radiosai.org
State Bank of India, Prasanthi Nilayam Branch is located at Room No. 5 opposite the South Indian canteen.
Timings:
|
From Monday to Friday |
|
| Morning |
9 a.m. to 12 noon |
| Afternoon |
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
|
On Saturdays/Sundays |
|
| Only Morning |
9 a.m. to 12 noon |
ATM Facility: Canara Bank operates an ATM located near North Indian Canteen.
Other major banks with branches in Puttaparthi (outside ashram premises): Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, State Bank of Hyderabad, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and ING Vysya Bank. All these banks too provide ATM and Credit card/Debit card facilities.
Note: Devotees are advised not to deal with any unauthorized persons for foreign exchange transactions as it is prohibited under Indian law.
The men’s cloakroom is located in Room A-12 of East Prasanthi Block.
The women’s cloakroom is situated next to the ladies entrance of Sai Kulwanth Hall on the Northern Side.
Timings:
| Morning |
4.30 am to 10.30 am |
| Afternoon |
4.00 pm to 7.30 pm |
Telephone Booth
Inland and overseas telephone calls can be made from the telephone booths in the ground floor of the Sevadal Accommodation building located opposite the Round Block-5.
Timings: 6 a.m – 8.45 p.m.
This office is located adjacent to the South Indian Canteen, beside the Gopuram Gate of the Ashram and is open 24/7. Any issues concerning the security of the Ashram and the devotees are dealt with here. Ambulance service is available here, in case of emergencies. One may also collect Vibhuthi prasadam from here when leaving the Ashram.
Contact: +91-8555-286100
Devotees in need of wheelchairs may obtain them at North-8, A-10 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The accommodation office also allots ground floor rooms to such people on request, subject to availability. The wheelchairs are not supposed to be taken outside the Ashram premises and must be returned on the specified date
The Ashram Maintenance Office may be contacted for any civil, electrical, water supply problems or any other complaints concerning the room or hall allotted within the ashram. It is located adjacent to the West-3 block on the southern end.
Timings: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
The Public Relations Office is located in Room No. 10, opposite the South Indian Canteen. This office is open from 8.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. on all days. The ‘Lost-and-Found Office’ is also located here, where devotees can enquire about their lost belongings, or deposit any unclaimed articles found inside the Ashram. Any clarifications can be had by contacting the Public Relations Office at the Ashram.
Special shows at the Planetarium for school/college pupils or large groups above 120 in number may be arranged in advance by contacting the Public Relations Office.
Address: Public Relations Office
Prasanthi Nilayam
Anantapur District
Pin Code – 515 134
Andhra Pradesh
INDIA
Phone: (0091) 8555-287390. (extn: 209)
E-mail: pro@sssct.org
Safe Deposit Locker
A safe deposit locker is made available to overseas devotees at North-8, A-10 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for storing valuables during their stay in the ashram.
Dress Code
Devotees are expected to dress modestly, in clean and sober clothing, as befits a place of worship. Generally, people in the Ashram dress in whites.
Wearing of shorts or sleeveless shirts is strictly prohibited. Women are required to dress to their ankles. Tight-fitting or diaphanous dresses are not permitted.
Ashram Discipline