Monday, July 14, 2008: Just as the month of December instantly triggers the thoughts of Christmas, the month of July is intimately linked in the Ashram with the celebration of the Ashadi Ekadashi and the Guru Poornima Festivals. It is a mega event that triggers the first big celebration of the new academic year. It is the devotees from the States of Maharashtra and Goa that kick-start this event with the two-day long celebration of the Ashadi Ekadashi festival by hundreds of Bala Vikas children from these States. Today's highlight inside the Prasanthi Nilayam were the Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations. Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations program got started out witha drama themed on the Indian scripture Ramayana. The bala vikas from Maharashtra presented an excellent play. After the play Swami granted the balvikas children a group photo.
Photos: Sunday, July 14, 2008:
Swami also matereilzed a gold chain for the bal vikas student playing the character of Lord Rama in the play.The Bhajans went on til 11.00 a.m. since Swami was inside the mandir for sometime and then He moved to the interview room granting interviews to the devotees up to 10.55 a.m. Swami accepted the Aarthi at 11.a.m.and retired to Yajur Mandir. This morning Ashadhi Ekadashi prasadam was distirbuted inside the Kulwant hall to all devotees. Evening: A huge banner inside the Kulwant hall displaying Swami's teachings, reminded all of us to"Be good - See Good - Do good" . This evening the devotees form Maharashtra presented a musical play on Goddess Tripura. After the drama Swami came down on the stage and blessed the performers with a group photo, Swami walked back to the veranda with the help of the students and after taking His seat Swami called some of the performers one by one and graciously blessed them with Padanamaskar. After sometime Swami went inside the Bhajan mandir & after few Bhajans Swami accepted the aarthi thus concluding todays evening program.
Sunday, July 13, 2008: As part of the Ashadi Ekadasi function, the introductory honours had been gifted to Sri.Kunal Ganjawalla and his wife Gayatri Ganjawalla. Swami had agreed to a concert by the musical couple and the whole stage had been set and kept ready for them. Swami came out at about 3:45pm and in the car took a round in the Kulwant hall. Swami is called "Nitya Nootana" meaning the ever new. No two days are ever similar in the things He does. Today, He took the route via the portico from the gents side and then moved to the ladies side again. From there He went back towards Yajur Mandir and via the passage between the Yajur Mandir and the Kulwant Hall, He drove out! He went for a darshan granting ride in Puttaparthi and then returned to the mandir.
This time, He came straight to the portico and then soon onto the stage. He called the artistes of the day and asked them to begin. The veda chanting came to a halt and the artistes sought His blessings. The first song by Sri.Kunal was on Lord Ganesha and it was an auspicious beginning. He and his wife kept alternating between themselves in the songs and it was a treat for the ears and more so for the eyes - the music was so good and Swami's reactions and responses to the songs were so sweet and full of Love. When Gayathri began the song "Thumak Chalat Ramachandra" after saying that it reminds her of the beautiful days when Swami would come glidingly walking down for darshan, Swami seemed to get overwhelmed. He began singing along with her. In fact at one point, when the singer stopped singing to allow the flute to play a piece, Swami continued singing and was apparently surprised as to why the singing had stopped! He looked at the singer and gave vigorous rhythm on His lap indicating her to begin singing. Kunal then sang the song, "Sainath Tere Hazaro Haath" from the movie Shirdi Ke Sai Baba. Being a very popular song, the members of the audience too began to sing along with him. At the end of that song, Swami looked at the artistes and lipped, "Very very happy!"- and that was exactly the feeling shown on the faces of the artistes too for what can be greater reward than being able to make the Lord happy. A Meera bhajan followed next and the audience lapped it up as it went through the highs and lows of pitches and loudness! As the songs continued, Swami called Kunal and made some enquiries of him. Then taking leave for a few minutes, Swami went into the interview room. He returned soon and sat on the stage. One other lady too sang the song,"Oh Rama! Nee nama yenta ruchira" and Swami sat swaying to it and enjoying it. Really, the only tunes the Lord dances to are the tunes of Love from the heart.
Every action of Swami has so much of meaning to some people. It may appear that it means nothing for the world, but it definitely means the world to somebody! Knowing the story in the background sometimes helps one in appreciating the actions He does. And in today's case, having met the artistes and got a chance to interact with them, the writer is able to enjoy and share some of these stories. Some time back, Swami had appeared in the dream of Kunal's sister telling her that Gayatri must sing the bhajan -"Sri Venkatesha Saishwara" - and very soon she began that bhajan. It appeared as if Swami had been waiting for that bhajan. As soon as it concluded, Swami called Kunal and began waving His palm. At this juncture, it is necessary to reveal another part of the story in flashback. As Gayatri put it, "It was our dream that we get married in His presence. It did not happen that way, but He knows every desire in the heart!" Swami created a golden chain and instead of putting around Kunal's neck, gave it to him and told him to tie it around his wife's neck! Then immediately, He materialised a ring and gave it to the wife to put it on the finger of the husband! Both man and wife broke down. Showers of Grace and showers of tears are often synonymous. And thats what happened on stage as Swami fulfilled a deep desire in the devotees' hearts without them even telling Him physically. Seeing them in tears, Swami also momentarily was overcome with emotion. He presented sarees to the ladies and shawls to the gents.
As this shower of Love came to a pause, Swami asked Kunal to sing a bhajan. He started, "Bolo bolo Sab mil bolo"- a bhajan which urges everyone to sing out the name of the Lord. Having witnessed all that happened on the stage, nobody needed any urging, only an excuse was needed, to sing out the divine name! The bhajan had a whole hearted and vociferous following. At the end of that, Swami told the artistes that He would come to centrestage and pose with them for photographs. They were all thrilled and overjoyed. When Swami wants to make you feel special, He goes all out to do so. As the pictures were being taken, Swami looked at the lad shooting the video and told him, "Move your fingers! Don't block the video!" everyone smiled in merriment. Then, Swami spoke to almost every member of the performing troupe. He blessed the prasadam to be distributed to all. Then as Aarthi began, He called Prof. Anil Kumar and told him to announce the next day's programme He also blessed a couple of books that the state president of Maharashtra presented to Him. After Aarthi, giving the abhayahastha blessings to all, Swami retired to Yajur Mandir.
Photos: Saturday, July 12, 2008
Bhagawan visit to Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences
Inauguration of Gastrointestinal Unit and Sri Sathya Sai First Annual CME Conference
Saturday, July 12, 2008 :Over the last few days, Bhagawan has been coming to Sai Kulwant Hall and moving to the interview room after crossing the ladies' side. He has also been moving about on the verandah and sitting for a brief while onstage with prasadam being distributed. This evening at 3.40 pm, He went to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences to inaugurate the Gastrointestinal Unit there. He also Blessed the ongoing conference of Orthopedic specialists there before returning to the Mandir at 4.40 pm. Read more details of inauguration of the Gastrointestinal Unit by Swami - click here
No comments:
New comments are not allowed.