Sunday, July 18, 2010 - Sai News & Photo Updates : Sunday dawned in Prasanthi and with it the grand finale of the ongoing five day Sri Alwarula Bhakti Samrajya Mahotsavam. Main event for this concluding day was the Sri Sathya Sai Sathya Narayana Vratham attended by 1108 couples.
In the evening, in Sai Kulwant Hall, the main sitting block was almost completely occupied by the participating couples, who were seated in their specially allotted block, well in advance of the scheduled hour at 1600 hrs. The function began at 1600 hrs. with Vidwan Nidumamidi Srikanta Rao, master of ceremonies, explaining step by step instructions, in Telugu and English, for the couples to follow. First part of the function lasted for 55 minutes upon which Sai Gayathri chanting went on, invoking Bhagawan.
As the ceremony went on, at Yajur Mandiram, Bhagawan was received with Poornakumbhamm, at around 1748 hrs. by the group of officiating priests and organisers.
Emerging at 1750 hrs. to the escort of a procession by priests, Bhagawan went for two rounds of Sai Kulwant Hall blessing the participants, before coming onto the portico in fifteen minutes. Gliding through the lower portico, Bhagawan made a round through the bhajan hall, through the upper portico to come onstage, round of Ganesha, at 1815 hrs.
Gayathri chanting stopped and penultimate steps of rituals of the function followed that lasted for three minutes. Customary practice of sacred reading of Sathya Narayana Story followed, wherein, the first four chapters of Bhagawan's Life Story was narrated in English, lasting for almost half-an-hour.
A five minutes pause ensued after which final proceedings were completed. Mangala Arathi was offered at 1650 hrs., upon which Bhagawan sat through the next twenty minutes watching over the prasadam distribution. Sumptuous prasadam, Tamarind Rice, Sweet Pongal, Kesari Baath and Bobbattu were distributed to the entire assemblage including all the participants.
Moving off the dais at 1915 hrs., Bhagawan went into the interview room to spent next 25 mintues in. Emerging at 1940 hrs. Bhagawan glided into the ladies' end retiring to Yajur Mandiram.
Earlier in the morning, after the regular one hour Veda chanting was followed by a forty minute bhajan session, after which Pushpayagam (Pushpabhishekam) to Lord Ranganathar, the main Idol on the dais, was performed to the holy chants of Vedam. Over twenty two varieties of flowers were used for this abhishekham, done by priests, that lasted for more than half-an-hour.
...And for this final day, Sai Kulwant's main stage, the dais, wore a thematic costume, symbolising and illustrating the special ritual for the day, Pushpabhishekam. It was a riot of flowers and colours everywhere...and in the evening, every heart and mind joined in unison, relishing every moment of the occasion, in the immediate Divine presence. Yes, it was Pupshpabhishekam in the hearts and minds in His immediate Divine presence!
Text & photo source: Radiosai.org Prasanthi Diary, sssbpt.org - Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation - h2hsai.org
web layout - photo design : saibabaofindia.com & SBOI group. |
No comments:
Post a Comment