Godman's temple of healing in Whitefield

 After Ananthapur district in Andhra Pradesh if there was one city that was blessed with his vision for a change, it was Bangalore. Located just 20 km from the heart of the City, a sleepy village Kadugodi turned into a must-visit destination for the ailing humanity. Satya Sai Baba built an ashram called Brundavanam, which used to be his summer destination. Gradually Trayee  Brundavanam, Sai Ramesh Krishnan Hall, Sai Krishnan Kalyana Mandapam and Sri Satya Sai Vruddhashram too came up.

Further, Sri Satya Sai Gokulam was built, which provided dormitory accommodation for students. As the crowd at Brundavanam started swelling to get Baba’s healing touch, he felt the need for the Satya Sai General Hospital where consultation, treatment and medication were offered free of cost. As time passed, other sections like dermatology, paediatrics, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery, urology, ENT surgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, obstetrics and gynaecology too came up.

However, Baba’s crowning achievement was the super speciality hospital called Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Whitefield. The facility offered cardiology and cardio-thoratic and vascular surgery, neurology and neuro-surgery free of cost. The institute provides all services, including diagnostic, pre-operative, surgical and post-operative, as well as outpatient consultation in these two specialties free of charge to the poor.

One of those who benefited from the hospital, Rajamma, narrated her experience. Before going to the Super Speciality Hospital to get a tumour from her stomach removed, she had gone to a private nursing home where she was told to arrange Rs 1 lakh for the treatment. As she did not have money, she landed up at the super speciality hospital.

“The money I spent was my conveyance to reach hospital and return home. The entire treatment cost was borne by Sai Baba,” said Rajamma, with tears in her eyes.