UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said she was greatly pained over the death of Sathya Sai Baba.
"The news of the death of Sai Baba of Puttaparthi has greatly pained me.
He was a spiritual person in whom lakhs of people had faith. In his lifetime, he inspired the people of this country and those abroad towards spiritualism and religion," she said in her condolence message.
The Congress president hailed Sai Baba's contribution towards establishment of institutions for social welfare and said these would be remembered for a long time.
"His death has caused a big vacuum. At this sad hour, I express my deep condolences to his followers," Gandhi said.
The 86-year-old Sai Baba died this morning in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh following multi-organ failure.