The Sathya Sai Central Trust on Thursday opened Yajur Mandir, the personal chamber of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba in Prashanti Nilayam ashram at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district.
Almost two months after the demise of Sathya Sai Baba, members of the trust in the presence of some senior judicial and police officials opened the locks of his residence. Media persons were not allowed. Two days after the trust decided to open Yajur Mandir, trust members entered inside. Details of what they found were not immediately available. Former chief justice of India P.N. Bhagwati, who announced his resignation as member of the trust on Wednesday night, was also present.
Bhagwati, however, said he would continue as the vice-chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University. Sathya Sai Baba’s personal care-giver Satyajit, who alone had the knowledge of the biometric lock system, accompanied the trust members and officials. During the spiritual guru’s lifetime, Satyajit was the only person who had access to his personal chamber. Other trust members R.J. Ratnakar, who is also the nephew of Sathya Sai Baba, S.V. Giri, V. Srinivasan and trust secretary K. Chakravarthi were also present.
Yajur Mandir, also known as Yajurveda Mandir, has remained closed ever since Sathya Sai Baba was hospitalised March 28 with multi-organ dysfunction. He died April 24. There are speculations that the chamber contained huge quantities of gold, jewellery and cash donated by devotees from across the world. A section of devotees also alleged that valuables were taken out of Prashanti Nilayam when Sathya Sai Baba was battling for life. However, the trust has denied this. Some devotees had demanded that the locks of Yajur Mandir be opened in their presence.