GENERAL INFORMATION
Prasanthi Nilayam is located in Anantupur District of Andhra Pradesh,South India.(Latitude140 N
Longitude 780 E)
CLIMATE
The climate generally is hot and dry throughout the year.Light rainfall may be expected during the months of June ,July and August and again from October to December.Since morning hours of December and January can be cold,light woolens may be advisable. It is advisable to use mosquito nets during winter.
5.20 a.m Omkar Mandir
Suprabhatam Mandir
Veda Parayan From Mandir to Ganesh Temple
around Mandir
Nagarasankirtan From Ganesh Temple around
Mandir to Ganesh Temple
6.45 a.m Darshan Sai Kulwant Hall
8.00 a.m. Orientatuion Lecture hall on the I st floor
talk for Overseas of North Indian Canteen
devotees(new comers)
9.00 a.m. Bhajan and Arathi Mandir,Sai Kulwant Hall
10.00 a.m. Lecture on Spiritual Lecture hall ,Ist floor,North Subjects Indian canteen
2.00 p.m. Darshan Sai Kulwant hall
5.15 p.m. Bhajan and Arathi ,Mandir, Sai Kulwant hall
5.30 p.m. Meditation Mandir,Sai Kulwant hall
9.00 p.m. Lights Off.
Omkar - Chanting of the sacred syllable “OM” 21 times,
Symbolizing the 10 sense organs,the 5 basic elements
And the 5 sheaths comprising the individual
And the mind.
Suprabhatam - Salutation to the Lord at Dawn.
Veda Parayan - Chanting of the Vedas,while going round the Mandir.
Nagarasankirtan - Singing of devotional songs while walking around the
Mandir by separate groups of men and women.
PUBLIC
RELATIONS OFFICE
This is located below the Poorna Chandra Auditorium,opposite to the South Indian Canteenas you enter from the main gate(Gopuram).Enquiries regarding all matters pertaining to the Ashram may be made here.This office is open from 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Devotees can submit their”Likhitha Japam” books in this ofiice.
Close to the Public Relations Office,it has a counter for the Indian devotees,for allotment of accommodation,extension of stay etc.All payments are top be made in cash.(rupees).Please tender exact changes as far as possible.Yhe checking out time is 12 noon.Leave key after locking the room at this office before departure.It is open fron 6 a.m. to8.30 p.m.All rights of allotment or admission are reserved by the Ashram.Accommodation is not available when Bhagvan Baba is not in the Asharm during the summer months.However devotees who cvome not knowing Bhagvan’s absence here,will be provided acconnodation for a singl;e night in the common hall.No advance reservations are made ,but allottees and donors are requested to notify the Accommodation well in advance of their visits through letter or fax:08555-287390.
As soon as you arrive at the Ashram ,you are requested to proceed to this office.Devotees can get such accommodation as is available at time :roomsd for families or dormitories called Halls.No single person is allotted for separate room.After payment proceed to the room indicated on the slip,which must be carefully preserved during your stay here.Generally during festival occasions ,only dormitories are available; you may however enquire the rooms after the event.Services of porters are available and their tariff is notified from time to time.If only one key is available,ypu may use your own lock with several keys.If keys are lostreport to this office forthwith.Make sure to leave the room clean and tidy,switching of all lights and closing of all tps,doors and windows.Return the key after locking the roomat the office on your way out and retain the receipt till you leave the Ashram.For any guidance regarding accommodation you may approach the Seva Dal volunteer posted in your block.Since he maintains a record of your movements ,please co-operate with him.Cooking is not permitted in shared rooms which have no separate kitchens.No locked portion of any room must be opened on any account.
REGISTRATION AND ACCOMMOADATION FOR OVERSEAS DEVOTEES
Foreigners must proceed
on arrival to the office of Overseas Registration and Accommodation ,North
Prasanthi 8(N-8). Registration of passports,parking and unloading are done
here.Registration of passports ,is a mandatory requirement and involves checking
of Visas,date of entry in to India,age,marital status and record of previous
visits.A passport size photograph has also to be produced(those under 18
exempted).Young men and women below 25 years of age are not permitted to stay in
the Ashram alone,unless they arrive in a agroup or with their families.They mey
however paticipate in all the programmes e.g.Darshan,Bhajan,use
canteens,shops,etc.Devotees staying outside are not to join the groups inside.
After registration
,proceed to the rooms assigned and occupy them.Cooking is not permitted except
where there are separate kitchens.Beds and mattresses are provided in all North
Prasanthi romms,including the dormitories for ladies in North
Prasanthi-8.However the halls are not provided with these facilities.You may
make your own arrangements.But no mattress shall be allowed to be taken outside
the Ashram.
CENTRAL OFFICE
The Central office of
the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations,located on the first floor of the North
Indian Canteen attends to the work of coordination of the activities of Sri
Sathys Sai Seva Organizations in India and Overseas.The Inernational Chairman is
in Charge of oversaeas actiovities,while the
All India State President looks after the activities of the organizations in
India.
The overseas
organizationa are spread over 5 zones covering 21 regions.Each zone covering one
or more regions and each region covering one or more countries with a central
coordinator dfor each region, and a Central Council or Coordinationd Committee
in each country to supervise and coordinate the activities of avriuos Centers
and groups in that country.
The Indian organizations
consists of a State President for each State who is assisted by Coordinators and
District Presidents.
The Sai Organizations in
different countries carry on spiritual activities ,such as
Bhajans,Sathsangs,Seminars etc.Educational and Seva activities woith spiritual
fervour as the base and core.At present here are 170 Overseas Countries having
Sri Sathya sai Devotees covering over 2000 Sai Centers and Groups.
CENTRAL TRUST OFFICE
Donations to Sri Sathya
Sai Central Trust or Sri Sathya sai Medical Trust can be made in the branch of
the State Bank Of India located inside the Ashram adjacent to CentralTrust
Office alongside the Accommodation office opposite to South Indian
Canteen.Before going to the Bank,the necessary form has to be obtained and
filled in the Central Trust Office.No other agency or individuals is authorized
to receive any donation inside or outside the Ashram on any account.
SECURITY OFFICE
This office is located
at the eastern end of the South Indian Canteen near the Gopuram Gate.It is open
24 hours of the day.In case of emergency devotees can seek the help of this
office.A First Aid Box and stretchers are available here.Small Vibhuti(Sacred
Ash) packets,blessed by Bhagvan baba,amy be collected from the Security Office
as Prasad before leaving Prasanthi Nilayam.Devotees are requiestedto cooperate
with the volunteers on duty in maintaining
the discipline and peaceful atmosphere of the Asharm.Right of admission to
Prasanthi nilayam is resrved.
SRI SATHYA SAI BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS TRUST
The Sri sathya Sai Books
and Publications Trust is housed in a commodious and beautiful new
building,inaugurated by Bhagvan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on the 23 rd August
2001,near the new Shopping center and behind South –6 building.It has no
floorwise division as it is constructed on a hillock slope taking advantage of
the natural configuration.The various units of thr Trust,such as
Bookstall,Sanathana Sarathi office,Audiovisuals,Multimedia Theatre,Library cum
reading room and the Administrative Office are located at different levels in
one and the same building,one accessible to other.
The Administrative
Office entertains books written in English and in various Indian and Foreign
languages on Bhagvan Baba and his teachings.Books found suitable will be
accepted on “donation” basis.
There may be occasions
when the books/manuscripts submitted may not be accepted unless certain
corrections/modifications /deletions are carriedout by the authors.
The Trust may also
choose to print a book in which case the “Copy right” of that book will be
retained by the Trust,if the material/source is from our Trust Books/cassettes.In
other cases,the “copy right” o0f the author will be sought for.
Under the consignment
scheme,books from within India only will be accepted,after approval.
The same procvedurre
will be apply in case of audio/video cassettes and CDs submitted for sale
through the Book Trust.
The decision if the
Trust shall be final in all these matters.
The Convener can be
contacted by phone:287375 or telefax:287236
or e-mail:sssbpt_psn @rediffmail.com.
SANATHANA SARATHI
Sanathana Srathi,the
monthly magazine of the Ashram,published both in English and telugu is
available.Indian and Overseas subscriptions can be made in cash in Indian
Rupees.The subscriptions can also be paid by M.O/,D.D/P.Os/Cheques drawn in
afvour of “The Convener,Sri Sathya sai Books and Publications Trust,Prasanthi
Nilayam”.The subscriptionms are accepted for 1 or 2 or 3 years as under:
Period
Inland
Overseas
US$
UK
Ind.Rs Ind.Rs.
For 1 Year 50.00 480.00 11/- 7/-
For 2 Year 100.00 960.00 22/- 14/-
For 3 Year 150.00 1440.00 33/- 21/-
Sanathana Sarathi is also published in the following regional languages by the respective States- Assamese,Bengali,Gujarati,Hindi,Malayalam,Marati,Oriya,Nepali,Sindhi,and Tamil.
Books written by Bhagvan Baba,His discourses as well as Books on Bhagvan Baba authored by Indian and Overseas devotees in many languages are available in the Book stall.Audio/Videocassettes/Cds/DVDs/VHS-Pal system cassettes,photos of Bhagvan Baba are also available. The Booksatll is open from 9.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. on all days.Bulk orders for books can be made in the boom Trust Office in person or by mail.
This Library has an array of spiritual books in 51 foreign and Indian languages with facilities for radding in a calm atmosphere.It is open to all on all days between 9.00 a.m. and 11.30 a.m and again between 3.00 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.Some books in Braille are available for the visually handicapped persons to read.
DRESS
Cover your bodies with modest, clean and sober clothing at all times. Your dress reflects your love and respect for Bhagvan.Wearing of sleeveless shirts or short is strictly prohibited. Women are requested to dress down to their ankles and wrap their fronts with a proper shawl. Tight or see-through dresses are nor permitted, as also beach or sports wear. Avoid garish clothes. It is best to get yourself a pair of local sandals. Do not display unorthodox hairstyles,overmatted hair,Tallset hair etc.,or wear large obtrusive hats-especially in the Darshan Line. Above all cloth yourself neither to attract nor distract others.
Ascertain number of lockers are available ,free of charge at North block 8 for Overseas devotees. Three or four persons together are eligible for one ;if you are staying in the same hall. If per chance ,the key is lost ,report immediately as there is no duplicate, as well as for security reasons. The replacement of the locks must be paid for. Service timing is displayed at N-8 Foreigners Registration Office.
Two cloak rooms are provided for the safe keeping of non-valuable articlres,one each for men and women. The men’s cloak room is located adjacent to the security Office and the Women’s close to the Public Relations Office on the Western end,oppositethe Indian canteen. Please be careful with the tokens of receipt and observe the timings. They are open from 4—am to 10.00 am and 1.—pomp to 7.00 p.m.
Devotees who find any lost article are expected to deposit it in the Public Relations Office without dealy.Those who wish to claim their lost property may do so at the same Office on proper production of identity. In this context, devotees are advised to be careful with their cash,jewelley and other valuables, while moving about in the Ashram.
There are few ground floor rooms and wheel chairs for use by handicapped devotees. When issued, the wheel chairs must be maintained with care, kept inside the rooms, away from children and on no account taken out of the Ashram even to the hospital. Please return them on the specified date to facilitate their use by others in distress.
Handicapped devotees may please contact the office of Overseas Registration and Accommodation, North Prasanthi(N-8) in this regard.
Authorized washer man are allotted to various blocks and halls of residence. You may check their identity Cards and report to the Security Office if there is any irregularity. Rates for washing each piece of cloth is notified at the Security Office.
Do not feed,pet,tease or patronize the stray dogs, cats or monkeys. This may be an act of misplaced compassion. They may become dependent on you. Besides they are a source of a number of diseasses.The children especially maybe warned of this danger.