Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and Madhya Pradesh
Divine Footprints in Madhya Pradesh
A long journey of love on the land of the Narmada: from the first Bhajan Mandalis of the 1960s to Shantivan in Bhopal, and every Parthi Yatra that sets out for Prasanthi Nilayam today.
In brief
Swami and Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh’s bond with Swami goes back to the 1960s, when Sri Sathya Sai Bhajan Mandalis took root here. The state reported its work at the First World Conference in 1968, and on 13 April 1982 Swami inaugurated Shantivan, His residence in Bhopal, one of the major centres He established.
Today the same love lives on in the state’s Samithis, its Bal Vikas classes and its Parthi Yatras to Prasanthi Nilayam. This page lists only events with a published source, and every entry links to it.
13 April 1982 · Bhopal
Shantivan: Swami’s residence in Bhopal
After Prasanthi Nilayam (1950), Brindavan (1964), Dharmakshetra (1968), Sivam (1974) and Sundaram (1981), Bhopal received Shantivan in 1982. The national Organisation describes these centres as headquarters for community service and spiritual upliftment that still reverberate with His message of love and service.
“In 1982, Bhopal was blessed with Shantivan.”
1960s — 2026
A journey of footprints
Verified milestones in the bond between Madhya Pradesh and Swami, each with its source. On a phone, swipe sideways.
- 1960s
The years after 18 March 1963
Bhajan Mandalis reach Madhya Pradesh
On 18 March 1963 the first Sri Sathya Sai Bhajan Centre was inaugurated at Prasanthi Nilayam in Swami’s presence. Within a couple of years such Bhajan Mandalis had come up in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
- 1968
16–19 May 1968, Bombay
Madhya Pradesh at the First World Conference
At the First World Conference at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan campus in Bombay, Swami called on delegates to summarise the activities in their states. A delegate from Madhya Pradesh reported on the work in the state.
- 1980
23 November 1980, Prasanthi Nilayam
Bhopal in Swami’s discourse
In a discourse during the Third World Conference, Swami spoke of His care for the students of the Sathya Sai educational institutions who had come from Puttaparthi, Ananthapur, Bangalore, Jaipur and Bhopal.
“…I was concerned after the welfare of the students from all the Sathya Sai educational institutions, who had come from Puttaparthi, Ananthapur, Bangalore, Jaipur and Bhopal.”
Source:Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 14 ↗
- 1982
13 April 1982, Bhopal
Shantivan, Bhopal, inaugurated
Swami inaugurated Shantivan, His residence in Bhopal. The national Organisation counts Shantivan among the major centres He established during His lifetime.
“In 1982, Bhopal was blessed with Shantivan.”
Source:Dharmakshetra — timeline ↗ssssoindia.org — Major Centres ↗
- 2014
29 July 2014 (Eid Milan, Jabalpur) · November 2014 (89th Birthday, Indore)
Jabalpur and Indore: two glimpses of love
Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Jabalpur celebrated Eid Milan at a mosque, greeting Muslim brothers after namaz and serving sewai made by devotees in front of the mosque. The same year Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Indore celebrated Bhagawan’s 89th Birthday with Omkar, bhajans and tricycle distribution.
Source:Media Centre — Jabalpur, 2014 ↗Media Centre — Indore, 89th Birthday ↗
- 2015
13 September 2015, Prasanthi Nilayam
‘Narmada Gatha’
During the Parthi Yatra from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, after devotional music by a renowned Kabir Panthi singer, Bal Vikas children and Sai Youth staged the drama ‘Narmada Gatha’ in Sai Kulwant Hall.
Source:Media Centre — 2015 ↗
- 2017
9–10 September 2017, Prasanthi Nilayam
Parthi Yatra: ‘Punya Shloka Ahaliya’
Devotees from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh offered a cultural programme on the first day and the drama ‘Punya Shloka Ahaliya’ on the second.
Source:Media Centre — 2017, Day 1 ↗Media Centre — 2017, Day 2 ↗
- 2024
15–16 June 2024, Prasanthi Nilayam
About 1,700 pilgrims, and ‘Sai Premavahini’
About 1,700 devotees from Madhya Pradesh came for a two-day Parthi Yatra. Bal Vikas children walked in procession and presented ‘Bhaja Govindam’ and ‘Sri Ram Agaman’. In ‘Sai Premavahini’ the Sai Youth shared real incidents from the Sai Rehabilitation Programme, which follows up patients in their home towns after free surgery at the Sathya Sai hospital.
Source:Media Centre — 15 June 2024 ↗Media Centre — ‘Sai Premavahini’ ↗
- 2025
18 April 2025, Ratlam
New Sai school building at Ratlam
The new building of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Ratlam, which began on 22 April 2023, was opened: uplifting lives through value-based education.
- 2026
6–7 June 2026, Prasanthi Nilayam
The Centenary-year Parthi Yatra
After Vedam and the Ashtottara Shata Namavali on the first day, Bal Vikas children presented ‘Bhagawat Kathamrut’, a dance drama drawn from the Srimad Bhagavatham and Swami’s Bhagavatha Vahini. On the second day the yatra closed with the Sri Sathya Sai Chalisa and Hanuman Ashtakam, chanted for the welfare of the world.
Source:Media Centre — 6 June 2026 ↗Media Centre — 7 June 2026 ↗
- 1960s
The years after 18 March 1963
Bhajan Mandalis reach Madhya Pradesh
On 18 March 1963 the first Sri Sathya Sai Bhajan Centre was inaugurated at Prasanthi Nilayam in Swami’s presence. Within a couple of years such Bhajan Mandalis had come up in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
- 1968
16–19 May 1968, Bombay
Madhya Pradesh at the First World Conference
At the First World Conference at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan campus in Bombay, Swami called on delegates to summarise the activities in their states. A delegate from Madhya Pradesh reported on the work in the state.
- 1980
23 November 1980, Prasanthi Nilayam
Bhopal in Swami’s discourse
In a discourse during the Third World Conference, Swami spoke of His care for the students of the Sathya Sai educational institutions who had come from Puttaparthi, Ananthapur, Bangalore, Jaipur and Bhopal.
“…I was concerned after the welfare of the students from all the Sathya Sai educational institutions, who had come from Puttaparthi, Ananthapur, Bangalore, Jaipur and Bhopal.”
Source:Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 14 ↗
- 1982
13 April 1982, Bhopal
Shantivan, Bhopal, inaugurated
Swami inaugurated Shantivan, His residence in Bhopal. The national Organisation counts Shantivan among the major centres He established during His lifetime.
“In 1982, Bhopal was blessed with Shantivan.”
Source:Dharmakshetra — timeline ↗ssssoindia.org — Major Centres ↗
- 2014
29 July 2014 (Eid Milan, Jabalpur) · November 2014 (89th Birthday, Indore)
Jabalpur and Indore: two glimpses of love
Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Jabalpur celebrated Eid Milan at a mosque, greeting Muslim brothers after namaz and serving sewai made by devotees in front of the mosque. The same year Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Indore celebrated Bhagawan’s 89th Birthday with Omkar, bhajans and tricycle distribution.
Source:Media Centre — Jabalpur, 2014 ↗Media Centre — Indore, 89th Birthday ↗
- 2015
13 September 2015, Prasanthi Nilayam
‘Narmada Gatha’
During the Parthi Yatra from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, after devotional music by a renowned Kabir Panthi singer, Bal Vikas children and Sai Youth staged the drama ‘Narmada Gatha’ in Sai Kulwant Hall.
Source:Media Centre — 2015 ↗
- 2017
9–10 September 2017, Prasanthi Nilayam
Parthi Yatra: ‘Punya Shloka Ahaliya’
Devotees from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh offered a cultural programme on the first day and the drama ‘Punya Shloka Ahaliya’ on the second.
Source:Media Centre — 2017, Day 1 ↗Media Centre — 2017, Day 2 ↗
- 2024
15–16 June 2024, Prasanthi Nilayam
About 1,700 pilgrims, and ‘Sai Premavahini’
About 1,700 devotees from Madhya Pradesh came for a two-day Parthi Yatra. Bal Vikas children walked in procession and presented ‘Bhaja Govindam’ and ‘Sri Ram Agaman’. In ‘Sai Premavahini’ the Sai Youth shared real incidents from the Sai Rehabilitation Programme, which follows up patients in their home towns after free surgery at the Sathya Sai hospital.
Source:Media Centre — 15 June 2024 ↗Media Centre — ‘Sai Premavahini’ ↗
- 2025
18 April 2025, Ratlam
New Sai school building at Ratlam
The new building of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Ratlam, which began on 22 April 2023, was opened: uplifting lives through value-based education.
- 2026
6–7 June 2026, Prasanthi Nilayam
The Centenary-year Parthi Yatra
After Vedam and the Ashtottara Shata Namavali on the first day, Bal Vikas children presented ‘Bhagawat Kathamrut’, a dance drama drawn from the Srimad Bhagavatham and Swami’s Bhagavatha Vahini. On the second day the yatra closed with the Sri Sathya Sai Chalisa and Hanuman Ashtakam, chanted for the welfare of the world.
Source:Media Centre — 6 June 2026 ↗Media Centre — 7 June 2026 ↗
“The Sai Organisation is set up to develop and foster Love; it is not set up through compulsion; it arose from the heart and it expands the heart.”
6–7 June 2026
Madhya Pradesh at Prasanthi Nilayam, in the Centenary year
Photographs from the Parthi Yatra.
Reports: Media Centre — 6 June 2026 ↗ · Media Centre — 7 June 2026 ↗
Gathering memories
Swami’s visits to Madhya Pradesh
A published record exists of Swami inaugurating Shantivan in Bhopal on 13 April 1982. The dates and places of His other visits to towns in the state are still being gathered from published sources and devotees’ memories; only what can be verified will be added here.
If your family has a photograph, a letter, an issue of Sanathana Sarathi or a memory of Swami’s visit to Madhya Pradesh, it could become a precious part of this history.
Do you have a memory or photograph of Swami’s visit to MP?
Share it with us. Nothing is published until its source and your consent are confirmed.
Sources
The published basis for every fact on this page. All links open in a new window.
- ssssoindia.org — Genesis and Historyhttps://ssssoindia.org/genesis/
- ssssoindia.org — Major Centreshttps://ssssoindia.org/major-centres/
- Dharmakshetra — timelinehttps://dharmakshetra.in/sri-sathya-sai/
- Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 14https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/discourse-writing/sai-speaks/sss14.pdf
- Media Centre — Jabalpur, 2014https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/eid-milan-by-sri-sathya-sai-seva-samithi-jabalpur-mp-29-7-2014-5ff99381f021872c59b7e335
- Media Centre — Indore, 89th Birthdayhttps://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/89th-birthday-celebration-at-sri-sathya-sai-seva-samiti-indore-5ff7e68cf02187bbafb7dd63
- Media Centre — 2015https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/music-and-drama-presentation-by-the-devotees-from-mp-and-cg-5fed7457f02187eed0b7cf5e
- Media Centre — 2017, Day 1https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/parthi-yatra-by-mp-chhattisgarh-devotees-at-psn-day-1-5fe49c0945ccfb41f18cff7e
- Media Centre — 2017, Day 2https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/parthi-yatra-by-mp-chhattisgarh-devotees-at-psn-day-2-5fe49ada45ccfb925e8cff59
- Media Centre — 15 June 2024https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/bal-vikas-procession-by-the-children-from-madhya-pradesh-june-15-2024-666d2051dcaa4751e038e6ab
- Media Centre — ‘Sai Premavahini’https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/sai-premavahini-drama-presentation-by-the-sai-youth-from-madhya-pradesh-june-16-2024-666e781adcaa4717ae38e6fd
- Media Centre — Ratlam, 2025https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/opening-of-new-sai-school-building-at-ratlam-madhya-pradesh-april-18-2025-68024c1939f8df8046eb8284
- Media Centre — 6 June 2026https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/parthi-yatra-by-the-devotees-from-madhya-pradesh-june-6-2026-6a243c8f7c5fada8b1cde8ef
- Media Centre — 7 June 2026https://www.sssmediacentre.org/gallery/parthi-yatra-by-the-devotees-from-madhya-pradesh-june-7-2026-6a25004b7c5fade81ccde942
The 21 November 1970 quotation is from ssssoindia.org/genesis. The Sathya Sai Speaks text is from Volume 14 as published on sathyasai.org.