28th June 08 : final day of the Ramayana Saptaha at Prasanthi Nilayam

22nd 23rd Index: The seven-day Ramayana Saptaha Mahotsava 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th

Saturday, June 28, 2008 Bhagawan was at Sai Kulwant hall for more than six hours on this final day of the Ramayana Saptaha festival at Prasanthi Nilayam. He arrived in the Hall a few minutes after the Vedic chanting commenced at 9 am, when the priests seated onstage commenced the preparatory pujas for the Coronation ceremony for Sri Rama. Swami indicated that the procession of Sri Rama should take place only after Rahukalam, that is, after 10.30 am. The priests completed the rituals onstage while Bhagawan sat there. Swami also went for a round of the front part of the Hall in His chair. The palanquin with the idols of Sri Rama and Mother Sita came up from the main gate of the Sai Kulwant Hall, reaching the stage in 15 minutes after taking a round of the gents' side of the hall. The final Coronation ceremony was then concluded by 11.10 am. Bhagawan blessed two of the priests with chains - these were the ones who were doing the daily worship for all seven days. After the puja came to an end, Bhagawan asked for the Bhajans to begin, and the prasadam of sweet rice, tamarind rice and rava laddoo was distributed to all the devotees in pressed leaf plates while the Bhajans went on. Bhagawan watched till the devotees were all served, then accepted Arati at 11.30 am and returned to His residence. click to enlarge picture and save as wallpaper The evening Vedam chanting began by 4.10 pm, and Bhagawan arrived in the Hall shortly thereafter. When Swami came onstage, the musical programme for the evening got underway after the priests did their daily puja. Sri Venkataraghavan and party presented devotional vocals for an hour while the Sri Rama idol was rocked in a jhoola onstage. At 5.45, Swami asked one of the students to sing, and he sang a song on the Sun God, "Karya Karana Swaroopane". songs by students continued for half an hour, then Swami asked them to sing Bhajans. While the Bhajans went on for half an hour, prasadam was distributed to all. The time was now 6.45, and Swami asked for His mic to be brought. He began by praising the organisers of the function and commended all the speakers. He then led the entire congregation in singing some Rama Bhajans for fifteen minutes, following which He spoke for 45 minutes more, narrating incidents from the Ramayana. After His Discourse, Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 8 pm.