1941-1960
[4th Oct. 2005 is 50th Golden Jubilee anniversary of Sri
Sathya Sai General Hospital.]
Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Prasanthinilayam (Date Line-2 3.11.1950)
There are two hospitals run by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust: one at
Prasanthinilayam and another at Whitefield, Bangalore.
The foundation of the Prasanthi Nilayam hospital was laid thirty years ago
on 23rd November 1954 and the hospital was inaugurated on 4th October
1956. Many devotees toiled to help build the hospital by carrying stones,
bricks, cement and other articles on top of a small hill on which it was
constructed. From the hospital, one could get a bird's eye- view of the
river Chitravathi with the hills in the background.
The hospital initially had twelve beds, six of them for confinements,
according to the needs of the time. The hospital catered mainly to the
villagers and the devotees. The doctors and the para-medical staff were
appointed by Swami. They worked voluntarily without any remuneration.
Some of you may ask why there should be a hospital here. Why should not
Bhagawan Baba cure diseases by the exercise of his will? To this, Swami
has replied, "The question is silly, for it implies that everything here
should be done through some miracle or in some inexplicable manner. It
also implies that one who comes here should not fall ill or die. For me,
this is not my only hospital. All hospitals are mine. The hospital seems
to increase faith, to demonstrate divinity and to remove doubt. It is
Faith that matters and which cures. The patients who come here benefit by
the spiritual vibrations that fill the air in Prasanthi Nilayam. There are
also many who will be satisfied if drugs are given and injections
administered. Their faith in grace is not yet strong. So a hospital is
required for such."
Treatment both for indoor and outdoor patients is free. Medicines,
injections, operations and deliveries are also free. During festivals like
Dasara, Sivaratri and Swami's Birthday, special medical camps are
organised to cater to the needs of the large number of devotees. Doctors
attending the festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam are allowed to participate in
the camps on a voluntary basis.
As the demands on the hospital built in 1954 increased due to the
University Campus and the very large number of devotees coming from far
and near, the need was felt for the construction of a new hospital
building, equipped with all medical facilities. The foundation of the new
hospital building was laid on 23rd November, 1982 and the hospital was
inaugurated on Sivaratri Day 29th February 1984. The hospital has
arrangements for one hundred beds with an air-conditioned fully equipped
operation theatre, blood bank, laboratory, intensive care unit, X-Ray and
an eye and dental unit. Well-qualified medical and paramedical staff have
been recruited to man the various branches of the hospital.
Related story:
The start
The foundation of the Prasanthi Nilayam hospital was laid on 23
November 1954, and the hospital was inaugurated on 4 October 1956. Many
devotees toiled to help build the hospital by carrying stones, bricks,
cement, and other articles on top of thesmall hill on which it was
constructed. From the hospital, one could get a bird's eye-view of the
river Chitravathi, with the hills in the background.
The hospital initially had twelve beds, six of them for confinements,
according to the needs of the time. The hospital catered mainly to the
villagers and devotees. The doctors and the paramedical staff were
appointed by Swami. They worked voluntarily without any remuneration.
Some ask why there should be a hospital here. Why shouldn't Bhagawan
Baba cure diseases by the exercise of his will? To this, Swami has
replied,
The question is silly, for it implies that
everything here should be done through some miracle or in some
inexplicable manner. It also implies that one who comes here should not
fall ill or die. For me, this is not my only hospital. All hospitals are
mine. The hospital seems to increase faith, to demonstrate divinity, and
to remove doubt. It is Faith that matters and that cures. The patients
who come here benefit by the spiritual vibrations that fill the air in
Prasanthi Nilayam. There are also many who will be satisfied if drugs
are given and injections administered. Their faith in grace is not yet
strong. So a hospital is required for such.
Treatment both for inpatients and outpatients is free. Medicines,
injections, operations, and deliveries are also free. During festivals
like Dasara,
Sivarathri, and Swami's Birthday, special medical camps are
organised to cater to the needs of the large number of devotees. Doctors
attending the festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam participate in the camps on a
voluntary basis.
Reconstruction
As the demands on the hospital built in 1954 increased due to the
university campus and the large number of devotees, the need was felt for
the construction of a new hospital building, equipped with all medical
facilities. The foundation of the new hospital building was laid on 23
November 1982, and the hospital was inaugurated on Sivarathri Day, 29
February 1984.
The hospital has arrangements for one hundred beds with an
air-conditioned, fully equipped, operation theatre; blood bank;
laboratory; intensive care unit; X-Ray unit; eye unit; and dental unit.
Well-qualified medical and paramedical staff have been recruited to staff
the various branches of the hospital. 12 <<
- Sai Saga - 14 >> ...to be continued
