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Source: radiosai.org
Prashanthi
Bulletin
December 25th, 2005
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MAS
It has been a long time since we have brought you an update from Parthi.
Since Birthday, Swami has been spending most of His Mandir Time inside the
interview room. Every evening, He is out for Darshan by 3.15 p.m. and goes
straight inside the interview room calling a few lucky devotees into the
room. However, the students eagerly await the clock to strike 4.00 when
they rush into the Bhajan Hall, each one trying to reach first and capture
a vantage point near the throne, where Swami sits for the Bhajans. Very
often, Swami comes into the Bhajan Hall a few minutes or sometimes even
half an hour before the Bhajans commence at 5.00 p.m. This time slot is
exclusively for the students and it has been a source of great joy and
thrill for everybody inside the Bhajan Hall.
Swami speaks to the boys seated in the front, at times calls for some
students or staff members and speaks to them. Of late, He has been
enquiring a lot about the Sports Meet activities that have already begun
with full force. Incidentally, this Annual Sports and Cultural Meet in Jan
2006 will be the first major event marking the 25th Year - the Silver
Jubilee Year - of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (1981 to
2006). A number of events are being planned out by all the three campuses
of the Institute to celebrate this Meet. However, adhering to explicit
command from Bhagawan, this time, no adventurous items like motor bike
stunts or aero sports are being presented for the Sports Meet. Most of the
events are display of physical prowess and cultural items.
Some interesting events occurred in the last few days. We bring you a
brief on these. One evening, very soon after the Birthday celebrations,
Swami called all the students and staff inside the Poornachandra
Auditorium, in the evening after Bhajans. There was a video presentation
of the series made by Smt. Anjali Devi, a famous actress of the yester
years and a devotee - well known for her TV series "Shirdi Sai Parthi Sai
Divya Katha". This time she has produced a film on the Chinna Kathas -
short stories written by Bhagawan. Three three episodes were shown,
projected on a large screen in the presence of Swami. It was well
appreciated by all. Incidentally, all the scenes have been shot in the
premises of the Chaitanya Jyoti Museum and other spots in and around
Parthi.
Again, on December 15th, a similar thing happens. Out of the blue, one
evening all students and staff are called inside the Poornachandra Hall.
This time, they all watch a very poignant movie along with Swami. This is
a recent Hindi movie titled ‘"Iqbal"’ and is about a deaf and dumb young
man who is a great cricket fan. His cherished desire is to join the Indian
cricket team. The movie beautifully tracks his relentless pursuit in
achieving his goal. Swami sits for half the movie and then retires. The
others continue to see the rest of it.
And then just three days back, Swami distributed T-shirts to all the
students and staff of the School and Institute. The young school children
are given different coloured T-shirts while the Institute students get
pink coloured half sleeve T-shirts. This has become the standard uniform
now for all the Sports event practice sessions.
Another event was the visit of the devotees from the Srikakulam district
of Andhra Pradesh. On December 5th, the last day of ther stay, Bhagawan
called all of them into the Poornachandra Auditorium. There, He witnessed
a short cultural programme by them, heard their bhajans and also spoke to
them.
Well, let us now come to the present. We wish all of you a very happy and
holy Christmas. However, the weather in Parthi, in no way indicates the
oncoming of Christmas. Surprisingly, the chilly winter seems to be past
now and even the nights are quite warm. Many Christmas trees decorate the
shops and hotels on the streets.
Bhagawan always keeps us on our toes and we never know when He would take
us by surprise. Bhagawan comes out this morning by seven o'clock! The Sai
Kulwant Hall is decorated beautifully with stars hanging all around.
Silver stars, bells and other decorative items make the hall look
majestic. Two Christmas trees adorn the stage on either side of Ganesha.
They are sparkling with cottony snow, colourful boxes of gifts and stars.
The pillars on the dais and in the front half of the Kulwant Hall are
wrapped with shining gold covering. In front of the dais, across the
railings, on one side, are figures of Joseph and Mother Mary at the
Manger, watching with awe their Child and our Saviour! At the other end
are statues of the three wise men following the holy star. The Portico in
the first floor of the Mandir is decorated with white cloud shaped sets
giving a feel of snow all over. On the balcony behind the three domes are
two angels blessing all seated below.
After His Darshan round, Swami comes out of His car and cuts the cake kept
next to the interview room. A number of overseas devotees are standing all
around, watching the Lord Blessing their offering. Soon, all the students
rush in and take their places. The devotees are also seated, waiting
eagerly to catch a glimpse of their Lord. Swami comes out onto the dais
and sits in the centre. There is loud applause from all as this has become
a very rare sight these days. When He comes out, everybody tries to grab a
glimpse for we never know when we would get it again.
It is 7.15 a.m. and Swami stops the Vedam chanting. The young primary
school boys march in with their violins for making a presentation. The
next five minutes is their offering of sweet music to the Lord. After
this, the Institute Brass Band takes over. The band leader comes forward
with a colourful card holding a huge Christmas Candle. Swami keenly
watches the card and asks him something. The band leader takes Namaskar
and Swami Blesses him. The band commences its presentation, filling the
Hall with scintillating beats and notes. They play for around 20 minutes,
carrying the audience along with lovely Carol music.
It is 7.45 a.m. and time for the students to sing Carols which they have
been rehearsing for the past one week. The drums and keyboards are all in
place. The commentary begins. Two students, one a very young boy from the
School and another from the College, compere the show taking us 2000 years
back to the times of Jesus, His Birth and His sacred life. Moving down
memory lane, we come to the recent times and herald the advent of the Holy
Father - our beloved Bhagawan. A number of popular carols keep all
clapping and swaying to the beat. "All night long I shall burn my
Christmas candle...", "Rudolf the red nosed reindeer..." and so on.……
8.20 a.m. and the music programme comes to a close. Bhagawan watches all
the instrumentalists sitting down and after a while asks for the Vedam to
begin again. Meanwhile Prasadam distribution starts. Dairy milk chocolates
for all students and sugar candies for all devotees. As the distribution
is in progress, Swami decides to go inside. The chair is turned and moved
towards the interview room, but to our delight, He speaks to somebody over
there and returns to the dais and continues sitting. A few more minutes
pass by and then suddenly there is loud applause. We see Swami standing up
from His chair, holding the railings. We are filled with joy and thrill to
see His full Form after so many days!
Even as our hearts are full of joy, they burst open further as we see
Bhagawan walking towards the staff block away from the interview room. The
two students hold Him on either side and Swami walks quite swiftly taking
a turn to go inside the Portico. He climbs up the slope and enters the
Portico and walks right into the interview room. The Hall is full of claps
and the heart is full of joy. The Vedam team joins in the celebration by
chanting Mantra Pushpam at a very high pitch. As Swami emerges on the
interview room side, the Primary School children also join the Vedam
chanting.
Bhagawan enters the interview room. After a while He comes out of the
room, walking again. He moves forward so that all of us can have His
Darshan! Then He sits down on the chair. It is 8.50 a.m. The car moves
into position to receive the chair. Aarti is offered and Swami retires for
the morning. An announcement is made that in the evening at 4.00 p.m.
there would be a programme by the overseas devotees entitled "Spirit of
Christmas".
In the evening, at 3.40 p.m., the car arrives near the PC entrance. The
front part of the Hall opposite to the dais is filled with all overseas
devotees ready to make their presentation. The Hall is packed to its brim.
Swami takes a full round and then reaches the interview room. There, He
alights from the car and then asks to be assisted to stand up. The moment
Swami stands up, there is loud applause in the Hall. To add to our
delight, He starts walking slowly towards the centre of the dais. He
stands over there holding the railings for some time, before He sits down
on the chair.
At 3.55 p.m., He Blesses the Vedam group to conclude the chanting. Two
young children offer the programme card to Swami. This is followed by
Carol singing by the young children from overseas. The conductor comes
forward and seeks Bhagawan's Blessings. They start with a Ganesha song and
then a Telugu song succeeded by other carols. This goes on till 4.30 p.m.
Then comes the much awaited Carol singing by the adults from overseas. The
conductor for this choir also seeks Bhagawan's Blessings. Swami speaks to
her for a while.
For the next half an hour, the Hall is filled with soothing music and
singing, carrying us away to a world of peace and happiness. The melodious
Carols, the beautiful form of Bhagawan seated in front of our eyes with a
lovely smile on His face, transports us into a totally different
dimension! After a few songs, the conductor prays to Swami asking whether
they should continue or not. Each time, Swami smiles and gives His consent
to continue. Finally at 5.05 p.m. Bhagawan asks them to sing Bhajans.
As the Bhajans are going on, Swami asks the students to distribute
Prasadam to all the overseas devotees. They are showered with a number of
chocolates and wafers. The little children start munching away to glory!
As all this goes on, Swami calls one of the adults, a young man, and
speaks to him for quite some time. After a very lively conversation
between them, Swami materializes a pendant for him. The man is overjoyed!
Bhajans go on. Again after a while, Swami calls another gentleman, speaks
to him for a while. The man is ecstatic! He too gets a chain at the end of
the dialogue. Swami calls him inside the railings, next to His chair and
ties the chain around his neck. The Hall is filled with applause.
A few more Bhajans by the overseas adults and then once again a third
gentleman is summoned. All clap and start singing loudly. This devotee too
gets immense Blessings and a ring to top it all. When God gives, He gives
in bountiful measure! Finally it is 5.45 p.m. when Swami again stands
amidst loud clapping. He starts walking towards the portico on the side
opposite to the interview room. Taking few steps at a time, He converses
with a number of devotees adjacent to Him. Meanwhile, Aarti is offered by
the Pujari and a number of overseas coordinators. Bhagawan sits down on
the chair and receives the full Aarti.
Subsequently, He moves once again onto the dais and towards the interview
room. On the other side, He stops near a devotee and speaks to him for a
long time. The conversation concludes with the creation of a ring for him!
As He moves across the dais, He looks at the overseas devotees assembled
in front of Him and says, "I am Happy". He says this twice. Then Swami
asks them, "Are you happy?" Some of them who are able to hear say, "Yes!"
Swami again asks,– "Are you all happy?" By then everybody understands what
Swami is asking and there is a loud roar - "Yes Swami!!" All of them start
clapping and the drummer starts playing the drums to indicate their joy
and thrill!
It is twilight. The chandeliers shine brightly in the Hall reflecting
their light in the stars and the other decorations all around. All hearts
are full and the Porte car glides along the path to the Lord's abode.
Christmas 2005 draws the curtain down on yet another unforgettable
celebration!
November 25th, 2005
Even after the completion of the Birthday there were still so many
countries that had cultural programmes prepared that Swami on November
25th permitted two programmes to be held in Sai Kulwant Hall - a Russian
Language Choir and a Balvikas drama by children from Singapore.
About 280 devotees (out of a total group strength of 1300) from the
Russian speaking countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, and Ukraine gave a concert in the Russian language entitled "Sathya
Sai Baba, Our Hearts are singing for you."
The group of men and women, who were all dressed alike for their
opportunity of a lifetime to sing in His Divine presence, sang the
following songs in Russian: "Glory to God", "Our souls are full of
luminous light", "God is your best friend, God is love", "There is nothing
better than Swami coming to us", "Our dearest Sai", "In the luminous
light", "Sounds of flute", "Evening Bells", "Sathya Sai Baba, our hearts
are singing for you" and finally "Kalinka".
Their palpable devotion and singing from the heart had everybody clapping
their hands and keeping tune. Though the songs were in an unknown tongue,
still it found resonance with everyone through the language of the heart.
Swami was happy with their performance and also acceded to their prayer
for a group photograph with Him.
Following the Russian language choir, the Bal Vikas students from
Singapore presented an offering to Bhagavan entitled "Atma Nivedanam"
based on the story of Bhaktha Pothana, a great poet and devotee of Lord
Rama whose life is exemplary of total surrender to God.
The programme began with a musical performance known as Dikir Barat, a
time-honoured Malay art form in which a group of performers sit and sing
with synchronized body and hand movements.
The play itself was performed in many parts. The first scene highlights
Pothana's attitude of selfless love and service when he gives his own food
away to a hungry man. In the next scene Lord Rama entrusts Pothana with
the sacred task of composing the Bhagavatham in Telugu. This scene also
shows the Gajendra moksham episode.
The third scene shows the stark contrast between the divine Pothana and
his worldly brother-in-law Srinatha. It also depicts Prahlada's great
devotion and surrender to the Lord. In the next scene, Mother Sita showers
grace on Pothana and Srinatha's pride is humbled.
After this scene, Arati was offered and thus officially the Birthday
celebration had come to an end
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