Ashram
Mandiram:
fortress of solitude
The
Sathya Sai Baba is ringed with two concentric
circles of Israel trained and armed security, the
Indian devotees play second fiddle to the
foreign - and he's been a recluse since the
1993 assassination attempt,
says M Seetha Shailaja
The 100-metre perimeter around Mandiram, the Sai Baba's residence within the ashram, is guarded by two concentric circles of guards - volunteers as well as armed guards - 24 hours a day |
When
he is at Whitefield ashram near Bangalore, the Sai Baba does not give audience to Indian devotees. Indians can meet him only at Puttaparthi (see Sathya Sai Central Trust: grab as grab can). The Whitefield ashram has a well-developed infrastructure catering to foreign devotees, with a continental canteen and other amenities to fit with the posh guesthouses. |