When Sri Sathya Sai Blessed the Gurukulam at Rajahmundry

Friday, May 15, 1981

Sri Hanneru Bulliah, a devotee from Rajahmundry, started a ‘Gurukulam’ named ‘Navabharat Gurukulam’ with 3 pupils and 4 teachers in a rented accommodation at Rajahmundry in the year 1940. However, it blossomed to occupy a Campus of 40 acres of land on the bank of the Godavari river. It had on its rolls 800 students and about 30 teachers. 

Sri Sathya Sai with the materialised map of India at the Summer Course in Ooty - 1976

Bhagavan in His Valedictory Discourse to the Summer Course in 1976 at Ooty, stressed on the need for changing the structure of the present educational system. He spelt out His decision to establish many more such progressive educational centres. Bhagavan, at that instant, materialised a map of India etched on a silver plate. Sri Bulliah who happened to be present there then asked Bhagavan, “Swami is the ‘Navabharat Gurukulam’ on that map?” “Yes,” said Bhagavan, and touched the spot on the map demarcating the ‘Gurukula’.

Bhagavan flew to Vijayawada from Bombay on 14th morning and blessed a vast gathering with His Darshan at Vijayawada Airport. He proceeded to Rajahmundry by car and reached Rajahmundry at dusk. He addressed a mammoth gathering of 50,000 engaged in Bhajan singing that evening. Bhagavan visited the ‘Navabharat Gurukulam’ at Sri Sathya Sai Nilayam at 9 am on the 15th and was welcomed by the members of the Governing Body of the Gurukulam led by Sri Bulliah. It was truly a unique ceremony of Bhagavan graciously taking over the educational institutions amidst Vedic recitations, witnessed by nearly a lakh people. The Gurukulam was declared ‘Sri Sathya Sai Gurukulam’ on the 15th of May 1981, and was assigned to a New Trust with Bhagavan as its President.

On this auspicious occasion, Sri Bulliah ceremonially washed the Lotus Feet with the sacred water collected from 22 holy rivers of India and from 22 sacred spots on the eastern and western sea shores.

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1926-1985)