Puttaparthi is the name of the holy village selected for manifestation by this Sai Avathar. It is also called Parthi which is very much akin to Pathri, the place which the previous Sai Avathar had selected. Putta means snake mound; Parthi came to be called so, because the village was covered with snake-mounds in the past.
This village is on the banks of the Chitravathi river, which rises from the famous Nandi Hills in Mysore State, the Hill which is of the shape of the sacred bull of Siva, which has great temple built by the Chola emperors, for Nandikeswara, the Lord with the Nandi (Bull) (Dharma) as His vehicle. The four legged Bull is the symbol of Dharma on four props: Sathya, Santhi, Prema and Sahana (Fortitude). The Chitravathi River is thrice blessed,(1) Baba took birth in a village on its banks. (2) Baba as a child and boy gambolled and played about with His companions on the sandy bed of this river and (3) Bhajan gatherings were held on the sands of the river-bed for many years and on special occasions like Rama Navami, Vaikuntha Ekadasi etc.,.
Baba has created from sands of this river by the Divinity of His will, idols, pictures, books, gems, conches, sweets, vibhuti, vessels with Amrith, plates with yantras and a variety of objects of unequalled spiritual potency. It is the Sarayu and Yamuna of this age.