Inception and Inauguration

Through His teachings and actions Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba shows us that, “SERVICE TO MAN IS SERVICE TO GOD”. One such manifestation of Bhagwan’s love for humanity is the SRI SATHYA SAI INSTITUTE OF HIGHER MEDICAL SCIENCES which provides “Tertiary Level Medical Care” totally free to all irrespective of caste, colour, religion, creed and status.

On 23 November 1990 Bhagwan declared that a big hospital providing specialised medical services will be set up and will start functioning within one year. The story of how human effort was able to execute the "divine” will starting from scratch on a previously undeveloped site by erecting a new building and staffing and equipping the hospital so that the first operations in open-heart surgery could be carried out one year later is a remarkable one. The impressive building, which rose miraculously within a six-month period, was designed by the British architect, Professor Keith Critchlow, and stands as a magnificent temple of healing. Even till, as late as November 1991, professionals involved with the project were apprehensive about the declaration coming true, but at every step the Divine Sankalpa prevailed. Infact when Col. Joga Rao, a member of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, who was entrusted with the construction of Super Specialty Hospital was having sleepless nights worrying about meeting the deadline, Bhagwan declared,” It was I who promised that Super Specialty Hospital will be opened in November. Why do you worry about it? Our country Bharat is a Punya bhoomi, Yoga bhoomi and Thyaga bhoomi. In this sacred land, if anyone takes up any activity with a pure and selfless motive, all that is required for the fruition of that activity will come spontaneously. There will not be any dearth of funds for our super specialty Hospital. Rest assured!” Its inspiring architecture imparts an aura of divinity and peace to all who enter the hospital for investigation or treatment and to those who work in it. As declared by Bhagwan, the first cardiothoracic operations were carried out successfully exactly a year later on 22 November 1991.

Establishment of the Institute has demonstrated that medical care of the highest quality can be provided totally free of cost even in the highly specialized fields of medicine to all human beings, rich and poor alike. A well-coordinated effort has made it possible for every department of the hospital to have modern equipment and to be staffed by qualified and dedicated surgeons, physicians, nurses, other health care practitioners and technicians.

This impressive Institute building rose miraculously within a six-months period in a stark rural countryside in the southern part of India and now stands as a magnificent Temple of Healing. Its inspiring architecture and its perceptible spiritual environment, infuse an aura of Divinity and Peace to all who enter it for being treated or who treat. Serving as an inspiration for compassionate loving care and selfless service in an age when high-cost makes high-technology medical therapy out of the reach of most of the world's population, this Institute stands as a living functional monument for Basic Human Values.

Inside the Central Dome

The Institute’s central attraction is a grand circular dome- 60 feet high and 62 feet in diameter with artistically sculptured huge doors opening on to a vast shining granite floor. The atmosphere is sublime and serene with sculptures of various deities and the pictures of the founders of different religious. The sanctoum sanctorum enshrines the statue of Lord Ganesha, who is revered as a remover of obstacles and a bestower of success in whatever endeavour is undertaken. A huge brass statue of Nandi is placed in front of the Ganesha statue. The interior decoration is marked by cascading floral pendants and miniature trees. The magnificent hospital dome stands as a landmark dominating the skyline in this sublime rural setting.