Sai Baba News Blog 23rd Dec- 28th Dec 2007

Friday, December 28, 2007 - Yesterday was the 100th birthday of Mr. Gopal Rao, former chairman of Andhra Bank and a resident of the Ashram for many decades. Bhagawan Blessed him yesterday, and today arranged for a felicitation ceremony. Swami came in the evening at around 5.20 pm, moving onstage after a brief interaction with some devotees on the verandah. Mr. Gopal Rao was also brought onstage by his son. Prof G. Venkataraman spoke for twenty-five minutes, then Mr. Gopal Rao spoke, seated on his wheelchair, for half an hour, about how he came to Bhagawan and how Swami instructed him to do seva in the canteen. Mr. Chakravarthy, Secretary of the Central Trust, garlanded Mr. Gopal Rao. Swami Blessed him and interacted with him while prasadam was distributed. Swami returned to His residence after accepting Arati at 6.35 pm. Photos: 27^th & 28^thDec 2007

Thursday, December 27, 2007 - This evening, devotees from Southern California and Hawaii presented a short play and a programme of songs. Bhagawan came onstage at 5.15 pm after His darshan round the the programme commenced shortly thereafter. SSE children presented the first fifteen minute play, "Boy Jesus", with traditional carols sung by the group forming most of the sound-track. Bhagawan Blessed one of the participants with a chain. The song programme then began, with songs like Ronan Keating's "Hello Again" and Josh Groban's "You raise me up" rendered very well and with great feeling by the devotees. Bhagawan went into the interview room during the last song of their performance and came out with clothes for the singers and chocolates shaped like gold coins for the children. After distributing the coins and the clothes, He accepted Arati and retired for the day. inside the Sai Kulwant Hall.

Wednesday, Dec. 26th: In the morning, while the Bhajans went on, Swami went to the Vidyagiri stadium where the students were practising the Marchpast for the Sports and Cultural Meet in January. He returned to the Mandir moving through the Primary School and later accepted Arati.

This evening, Bhagawan came onstage and interacted with Mr. John Behner, then asked Prof. Veerabhadraiah the college Telugu professor to speak on Jesus Christ. The professor spoke in Telugu for fifteen minutes till 5.20 pm. Then Bhagawan stood up to speak.

Bhagawan declared that there is peace everywhere, and only the restlessness inside is reflected outside on our vision. He reminded us that our real name is "Aham Brahmasmi" and not the names "kept" by parents. To illustrate how everything happens by Divine Will, He materialised a chain and hung it on the mic, and later, at the end of His Discourse, called up a student and put it around his neck. Swami narrated the story of Jesus and commented on the need for Faith with Love. Bhagawan made all the devotees joyful by saying "All of you are in Me; I am yours, you are Mine".

After Bhagawan's 75 minute Discourse, there was a bhajan as prasadam was distributed, then He accepted Arati and left for His residence.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - Christmas morning celebrations commenced in Sai Kulwant Hall with Bhagawan arriving at 8.20 am. After He came onstage, the Primary School violins performed for a few minutes, followed by a ten minute performance by the University brass band. Carols and other Christmas songs by the students was the concluding item of the morning. Santa Clauses appeared on the scene during the "Jingle Bells" renderings by both the Primary School violins and the students' carols. Swami accepted Arati at 9.45 am after prasadam was distributed. Click here for updated: Photos & detailed Report of Christmas from 23^rd - 26th^th Dec. In the evening, Bhagawan arrived at 5.10 pm and the programme of talks began at 5.20 after He came onstage. Mr. John Behner of Latin America introduced the four speakers of the day - Ms. Inez from Argentina, Mr. Sumeet Tappoo from Fiji, Ms. Poppy Hillcoate from Australia and Dr. Michael Congleton from the USA. The first two Youth speakers spoke of the transformation Sai has brought in their lives. Ms. Hillcoate spoke of the joy she experienced in past Christmases at Prasanthi Nilayam, and Mr. Congleton spoke of the joy derived from selfless service. After the four speakers, Bhajans commenced. Bhagawan accepted Arati after a Bhajan and returned to His residence at 6.30 pm.

Monday, December 24, 2007 - This morning, Swami came to Sai Kulwant hall as the Bhajans went on at 9.45, accepted Arati after a couple of Bhajans, then went on a drive before returning to His residence. Christmas eve was celebrated in the afternoon session with the traditional singing of Christmas songs by children and devotees from overseas. The Sai Kulwant Hall was beautifully decorated with seasonal decorations. Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.40, and came onstage after His darshan round in the car. The children's choir performed first for half an hour, the overseas choir with 600 ladies and 300 gents began at 5.20 pm. Bhagawan blessed the conductors of both choirs before each performance. Bhajans by the overseas devotees went on as prasadam was distributed to the choir singers. One of the ladies who played the cello was Blessed by Swami with a chain. After twenty minutes of Bhajans, Swami accepted Arati offered by the overseas devotees and returned to His abode. Photos : Click here for pictures & more details of Christmas Eve 24^th Dec.

Sunday, December 23, 2007 - Bhagawan had asked for a drama presentation by the students incorporating the story of Shravan Kumar from the Ramayana. This evening, the students got ready with the drama and were seated inside the Bhajan Hall with costumes. Swami arrived just after five o'clock and came to the Bhajan Hall after His darshan round in the car. He interacted with the students in costumes, asking about many of the main characters like Rama, Sita, Shravan Kumar, Lava, Kusa and so on. After ten minutes of interaction, Bhagawan moved to the stage area. But He asked for a change in the presentation. Instead of the students facing the Mandir with Swami seated onstage, He asked them to face the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall so that all of them could see the drama. Swami moved down from the stage and sat among the students in the middle of the Hall. The forty-five minute presentation had dances, songs and touching dialogues. The stories of Shavan Kumar, Sabari and Guha the boatman were highlighted. Sai Rama appreciated the narration of Sri Ramachandra's devotees and stood up to grant the participants group photographs. Then He again interacted for fifteen minutes with the participants while wafers were distributed to them, and then accepted Arati at 6.30 pm. Click here for23^rd Dec. Photos