| Saturday, July 17, 2010 - Sai News & Photo Updates : On this Saturday morning, while sacred Vedic hymns rendered the air bringing soothing, holy touch to many an ear assembled in the Sai Kulwant Hall, the centre of main activity turned out to be on an elevated platform turned mandap (covered structure with pillars), in the centre down the stage, facing the original Seat of The Divine! The elevated platform, a square shaped one, had all the paraphernalia related to the morning rituals, including eighteen kalashas placed reverentially for worship along with a Sudarshana Yantram, apart from having a sacred fire pit for the proposed Maha Sudarshana Homam. Nicely decked up, showing up with a riot of floral decor, quite pleasing to eyes offering a visual treat, the special seat of worship had the touch of grandeur and could be seen by everyone present in the hall without any exertion. The elevated platform also had two ramps on both sides, facing ladies and gents side, to felicitate Bhagawan to get onto the venue.
The morning proceedings commenced at 0700 hrs. with initial rituals for Maha Sudarshana Homam, worshipping the eighteen Kalashas, that lasted for more than an hour. By 0830 hrs. the activities were shifted to the sacred pit where the second and final part of the proceedings of the Sudarshana Homan began.
His entry is always timed by Him alone! As the Sudashana Homam went on with the holy chants of Vedam reverberating the air, Bhagawan emerged at 0955 hrs. to come for a complete round.
Coming onstage at 1006 hrs., Bhagawan spent sometime over the stage before moving off the dais to the bhajan hall. Spending sometime inside and later, around the interview room interacting with the organisers, Bhagawan came onstage at 1022 hrs., soon to return to the interview room. Coming onstage yet again at 1040 hrs., Bhagawan moved down the dais on His way to the Yajna Vedhi.
The Chantings that had been on from 0700 hrs., reached its highest point with Bhagawan climbing the aisle from the ladies' end to come onstage to officiate the Maha Poornahuthi. As He sat facing the sacred pit, priests got the sacred offering blessed by the Divine Hands, and as the chanting went on, these sacred offerings were made into the sacred pit officially marking Maha Poornahuthi. Bhagawan just spent five minutes onstage before moving down the aisle through the gents side to come upfront where another elaborate ritual was scheduled.
Sudarshana Moola Mantram chanting for 10000 times had been going for the past two days, chanted by fifteen participating priests, and the next ritual was an offering to the idol of Sudarshan Alwar. The double faced statue had both Sudarshan Alwar and Narasimha Swami, two in one, facing opposite to each other. As Bhagawan took His seat, facing upfront, down the stage, the rituals continued with sacred bath offered to the Lord, using the eighteen kalashas, that were being worshipped during the previous day and this morning. One after one priests took these Kalashas to get them blessed by Bhagawan before offering the same, giving the Lord a sacred bath, in the immediate presence of Lord of all Gods! These eighteen Kalashas, named after eighteen selected names of Lord Vishnu, namely, Kesava, Madhava etc. contained waters from selected holy rivers across India.
After the rituals "Vastram" was offered to the Lord, before He showed up on the specially erected dais facing the Seat of The Divine! It was 10 past 1100 hrs. and Bhagawan indicated for Mangala Arathi. Maha Mangala Arathi was offered to Bhagawan and upon Arathi Bhagawan moved onstage, moving off to Yajur Mandiram, not before blessing special prasadam for the session.
Tamarind Rice, Sweet Pongal and Curd Rise were offered to one and all as Prasadam marking the auspiciousness of the occasion.
Proceedings for the evening will have Nithya Pooja and Mangala Arathi before the final talk on three of the Alwars by Vidwan Nidumamidi Srikanta Rao of Bengaluru. |
