Mahasamadhi of Sai Baba unveiled

Shri Sathya Sai Baba's mahasamadhi was opened for darshan in Prasanthi Nilayam ashram in Puttaparthi today. The construction of the mahasamadhi had begun soon after Sai Baba's demise on April 24.

Baba's devotees have gathered in Puttaparthi in large numbers for darshan after the ceremony. The Sathya Sai Central Trust, which manages the affairs of Sai Baba's spiritual empire, had announced that the construction of mahasamadhi would be done in a grand manner.

The white marble samadhi has been built where Sathya Sai Baba lies buried, the exact spot where he used to sit and give darshan to his devotees.

The unveiling of the samadhi on the occasion of Guru Purnima saw a fresh inflow of thousands of devotees into the small town.

There are hopes that this will help revive the fortunes of Puttaparthi which had seen a decline in the number of visitors, affecting many small traders.

A look at the final farewell to Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the next few pictures.

Priests sit next to the burial place of Sathya Sai Baba inside the Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram in Puttaparti. (Photo: AP)

Bharatiya Janata Party Leader Lal Krishna Advani broke down after paying homage to Sri Sathya Sai Baba, inside Prashanthi Nilayam in the village of Puttaparthi.

Volunteers and devotees remove curtains after the final rituals of the burial of Hindu guru Sathya Sai Baba inside Prashanthi Nilayam in the village of Puttaparthi,

Curtains lifted after the burial.

Devotees wait as the burial of Sri Sathya Sai Baba takes place behind the area covered with curtain, at the Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram in Puttaparti.

Priests performing rituals .

R J Ratnakar, Baba's nephew and trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Central Trust, performing the last rites.

The nephew of Sathya Sai Baba R J Rathnakar (3R) is guided by priests as he performs the last rites over the Hindu Guru's body inside Prashanthi Nilayam in the village of Puttaparthi, some 200kms north of Bangalore on April 27, 2011.

The nephew of Sri Sathya Sai Baba R J Rathnakar (3R) is guided by Hindu priests as he performs the last rites.

Police officials spread the national flag on the transparent casket containing the body of Sathya Sai Baba.

Sathya Sai Baba's casket covered with the tricolour.

Police officials spread the national flag on the transparent casket containing the body of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees move the transparent casket containing the body of Sri Sathya Sai Baba inside Prashanthi Nilayam in the village of Puttaparthi.

Devotees move the transparent casket containing the body of Sri Sathya Sai Baba inside Prashanthi Nilayam in the village of Puttaparthi.

Devotees move the transparent casket containing the body of Sri Sathya Sai Baba inside Prashanthi Nilayam in the village of Puttaparthi.

Leaders of various religions pray ahead of the burial of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees grieve as they wait to pay homage after the final rituals of the burial of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees grieve as they wait to pay homage after the final rituals of the burial of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees grieve as they wait to pay homage after the final rituals of the burial of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees wait to pay homage after the final rituals of the burial.

Devotees pay their last respects to Sathya Sai Baba.

Last rites being performed at Puttaparthi.

R J Ratnakar breaks down.

Curtain being drawn for the final private burial.

The private burial in progress.

The private burial in progress.

The private burial in progress.

The private burial in progress.

Curtains being lifted at the end of the burial.

Curtains being lifted at the end of the burial.

Shivraj Patil paying respects at the end of the funeral

Telugu Desam Party chief Chandra Babu Naidu at the funeral.

Lal Krishna Advani pays homage to Sathya Sai Baba.

Former BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu with Advani

Devotees pay their last respects to Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees pay their homage to Sathya Sai Baba.

Buddhist monks at the prayer meet.

Muslim cleric at Sathya Sai Baba's prayer meet.

Sathya Sai Baba's body being taken for the final farewell.

Devotees offer prayers to Sathya Sai Baba.

Guards outside Sai Kulwant Hall in Prashanthi Nilayam premises.

B.S Yeddyurappa Chief Minister of Karnataka along with Shivraj Patil and Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Sikh religious leaders at the funeral.

RJ Ratnakar at the funeral.

Body being carried for the burial.

Devotees offering prayers.

Priests offer prayer to Sathya Sai Baba.

Ratnakar performing the last rites.

Devotees offer prayers to Sathya Sai Baba.

RJ Ratnakar performing the last rites.

A priest performs rituals with a cow near the body of Sathya Sai Baba.

Volunteers attend the last rites ceremony of Sathya Sai Baba.

Thousands of tearful devotees, including top politicians, gathered Wednesday for the funeral of Baba.

Devotees wail as they watch the funeral of Indian religious leader Sathya Sai Baba on a big screen during his funeral.

Devotees at the funeral.

A foreign devotee wails as she watches the funeral of Indian religious leader Sathya Sai Baba.

Devotees at the funeral.