Sai Baba death: Mourners flock to Indian guru's ashram
Thousands of Sri Satya Sai Baba's followers flocked to Puttaparthi where public mourning will continue until Tuesday
Thousands of mourners have been visiting the south Indian ashram where the body of revered guru Sri Satya Sai Baba is being put on display.
The body of Sai Baba, who died in hospital of multiple organ failure at 84, is being kept in a transparent box at the temple complex in Puttaparthi.
He enjoyed wide support in India and had followers around the world.
But he was also dogged by controversy including allegations, unproven, of sexual abuse and charlatanism.
Many devotees - who included senior politicians, business leaders, sporting heroes and Bollywood stars - considered him a living god and credited him with mystical powers including the ability to conjure objects out of thin air.
His trust financed health and education projects, among them hospitals and clinics that claim to cure illnesses beyond the capabilities of mainstream medicine.
Assets of $9bn
The late guru attracted followers across India's religious divideHundreds of thousands of people are expected to pay their last respects in Puttaparthi, Sai Baba's home town, where a funeral with state honours is planned for Wednesday morning.
Andhra Pradesh state has declared four days of mourning, with its top official calling Sai Baba a "symbol of love, affection and passion".
Indian television ran non-stop news coverage on Sunday of the guru's death, while officials and celebrities grieved for an "irreparable loss".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement that Sai Baba was a spiritual leader who had "inspired millions to lead a moral and meaningful life, even as they followed the religion of their choice".
It is unclear who will run the trust set up by his devotees in 1972, now believed to be worth nearly $9bn (£5.4bn).
Sai Baba rose to prominence as a youngster after announcing to his family he was the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, a 19th Century Indian holy man equally venerated by Hindus and Muslims.
By 1950 he had built his first ashram, and in the following decades he built up a global following.
While his following spread worldwide, with ashrams in more than 126 countries, the guru was accused of faking some of his so-called miracles in which he conjured jewellery and Rolex watches.
Some former followers also accused him of sexually abusing young male followers.
The allegations were denied and he was never charged with any offence.
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