Anantapur: 92-year-old saint wants to be buried alive

Anantapur: The decision of 92-year-old saint Avadhuta Narsireddy Swamiji of Kuraganipalle in Narpala mandal in the district of undergoing sajeeva samadhi (buried alive) has created a panic situation among officials as a huge number of devotees are rushing to the area.

According to sources, Narsireddy Swamiji had settled in Kuraganipalle village and has been preaching there for 40 years. Initially a landed farmer, he had become spiritual. He had also built an ashram in the village five years ago and had kept a site vacant for the sajeeva samadhi.

The saint has a huge number of followers and devotees from various parts of the district and neighbouring Karnataka.

On Thursday morning, he informed his sons and disciples that he wanted to be buried alive at around 4 pm. When the news spread, officials and the Narpala tahsildar rushed to the spot and tried to convince the saint not to carry out his plans, but he did not listen.

Later at his ashram, he told his disciples, a huge number of whom had gathered, that he wanted to be buried alive early on Friday morning as the planets were not currently favourable.