New Delhi , India ( CNN ) -- Famed Indian spiritual guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba was laid to rest Wednesday as hundreds of thousands of followers bid a tearful farewell to the ascetic they revered as a living god . Hymns rang through his ashram at his hometown of Puttaparthi in southern India as his body was sprinkled with petals and holy water before a private burial behind a maroon curtain . Hindu funerals generally involve cremation , but infants and saintly figures are buried . Sri Sathya Sai Baba died Sunday at age 85 of respiratory failure . A number of luminaries attended the funeral conducted with full state honors . On Tuesday , Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Italian-born head of his Congress party , Sonia Gandhi , paid their tribute as they filed past the guru 's saffron-robed body placed in a glass casket and sat beside it as a mark of respect . Recognizable with his trademark puff of dark hair , Sri Sathya Sai Baba claimed to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi , one of India 's greatest spiritual leaders , who died in 1918 . Devotees believed Sri Sathya Sai Baba had supernatural powers . However , critics accused him of fraud and sexual abuse -- allegations he denied . In a hospital bulletin on Sunday , doctors did not use the word 'death ' to announce his passing . It said he was `` no more with us physically '' and that he left `` his earthly body . '' In his condolence message on the day Sri Sathya Sai Baba died , Singh remembered the spiritual leader for inspiring millions to lead a meaningful life regardless of their religions . `` His teachings were rooted in the universal ideals of truth , right conduct , peace , love and nonviolence , '' Singh said .
Sri Sathya Sai Baba is buried in a state funeral . A multitude of devotees and politicians attend the rites in southern India . The spiritual leader died on Sunday at age 85 . Critics have accused him of fraud -- allegations he denied .