"This is a manifestation of Baba power," announced Anil Kumar, an ardent devotee who used to translate Baba preachings into English. For several devotees who adore Baba as a living God, the appearance of moon was a sign that Baba was showering his blessings on his followers from the sky.
Watched by a galaxy of personalities including Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and B.S. Yeddyurappa respectively Governors E.S.L. Narasimhan and Shivraj V. Patil, BJP leaders L.K. Advani, M.Venkiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya, former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and hundreds of his followers, Sai Baba's body was buried amidst chanting of "sai" mantras.
Once the last rites were performed by vedic pandits, red curtains were drawn around 9:45 a.m. and the process started for laying the body in a pit created at the spot in Sai Kulwant where the spiritual leader used to make his preaching for his followers for a number of years. It lasted about 25 minutes.
The spot where he was buried is now expected to become an eternal memorial for Sai Baba, who at the age of 14 announced himself as a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba.