|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
<<Previous PRASHANTI DIARY
- Next PRASHANTI DIARY>>
PRASHANTI DIARY March 30, 2008 – "Follow the Master" Drama by X Class Students
March 30 is the time when the academic year reaches its fag end in Bhagavan’s educational institutions every year, and the hostels are busy with students packing their bags for the summer vacation. As everyone else, the students too would like to end the year on a beautiful note and what "note" can be more enthralling and satisfying than the one that is filled with the Lord's melody and Love! The students of the X class from the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School had been permitted by Swami to put up a small programme in His presence and they were in high spirits! So, that evening, the Bhajans did not begin at five o'clock, and a back-drop was erected in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall, with the title of the drama "Follow the Master". Swami arrived for darshan at 5.20 pm. He completed a full round and as He came out of the car in the mandir portico, He went into the Bhajan Hall to interact with the students who were in costumes. This is a unique gift that Swami bestows on the students. Whenever there is a programme to be put up in Sai Kulwant Hall, the students get ready with their costumes in the Bhajan Hall. Swami comes to the "green room" if one may use the term and interacts with the actors. He asks them about the roles they are about to play, scrutinizes the costumes and makes observations on the make up and theme of the programme. On many occasions, Swami has also made modifications in the dialogues to be spoken in the presentations, and the students have in the short span of 15-20 minutes incorporated the changes too! Many times, these interactions assume an importance greater than that of the actual drama itself, for, usually, while the drama carries powerful messages for all, this little drama behind the drama, carries a lot of profundity and significance for the lives of the students. Swami spent a few precious moments with all in the Bhajan Hall and then told the students to go out and begin their programme as soon as they were ready.
The programme got underway just after 5.35 pm, with Swami coming onstage. The storyline was based on the true experiences of four students on how Swami had guided them in various circumstances of their student lives. One of them brings about a change in the mindset and attitude of his "hooligan" friends by sheer dint of his self-confidence and Swami's teachings. The story of Nachiketa was woven into this story of transformation and it depicted the direction that life must take. One student brings in love for one's parents in a lazy and callous friend. Another helps a pickpocket reform himself and gets him a job to support his ailing mother. The drama had songs interspersed aptly.
After the hour long drama, Swami blessed the participants with group photographs. The bonus round came when Swami walked down from the stage for another set of group photographs! Then He also had a group photograph with the school teachers. When all the teachers stood by Swami, a thrill of joy ran through the students who were overwhelmed by the sheer sight itself. They burst out clapping. Swami, then, slowly moved back towards the car. The boys shouted out, "We Love You Swami!" Swami turned back and seemed to ask how much they loved Him. They shouted louder, "We love You". He turned back completely, and then there was a resounding third shout, "Swami, We Love You". Swami looked at them, smiled and said, "Sing something". The students sang one Bhajan and Swami sat enjoying it. He seems to love the Love that comes in a musical form! Swami then accepted Arati and returned to His residence just before seven o'clock.
March 31, 2008 – Mirpuri College of Music Gratitude Programme Like in every year, on March 31, 2008 started the summer vacations for the students. It is a very different time of the year from the way things generally move on in Puttaparthi. The people, both, within and outside the Prashanti compound are bustling with activity. Outside, the speculation about Swami's plans for the summer is on and numerous versions of many stories are doing the rounds. The shop owners are using all their forecasting methods to predict the crowd strength and therefore the stocks to be ordered, and also of probable dates to have a temporary stop to their establishments. Inside the compound wall too the guessing game is on. The students are planning their itinerary keeping various options in mind. Either they are blessed by Swami to be part of the group if and when He leaves for Kodaikanal, or they leave for their hometowns to be with their parents - in both scenarios they get joy and satisfaction, though one maybe more joyous than the other. All the inmates and residents are having their own preparations for the scorching summer looming large. In these conditions, the students of the Mirpuri College of Music had come prepared to mandir with their gratitude programme. Swami arrived at 5.50 pm. He completed the darshan round, and then, after a round of the verandah in His chair, He moved to the stage and sat listening to the Vedas being chanted. Soon, He asked for the programme to commence. Usually when the students of the School or Institute put up a gratitude programme, the general format is that they speak out their feelings which are supported by the songs that they sing. Today it was a simple reversal. All the feelings were expressed in songs and tunes and they were supported by the few words that they spoke!
The fifty minute programme had Hindustani and Carnatic songs as well as a sitar recital. A wide range of ragas were explored. The harmonium, keyboard, tabla, mridangam and other instruments were used to beautiful impact. The sitar recital was also well orchestrated and it picked up gusto and beauty as it progressed. As the programme concluded, Swami blessed the items brought up to Him by the students before accepting Arati and returning to His residence at seven o'clock.
April 2 to 4, 2008 –Special Chair Darshans
The sweltering summer had arrived at Puttaparthi. The breeze blowing also seemed to carry heat waves along with it. The summer vacations were declared and the impact of this declaration was seen very prominently in the Mandir; the students' number had dwindled. This was of some cheer to the devotees as they had the chance to occupy more of the "prominent" places available in the Sai Kulwant Hall. There were still many students who had decided to put away the summer heat and the "heat of the moment" decisions to leave for their home towns at the earliest. Similarly, there were many devotees braving the dry summer to see their Beloved Lord. In these hot conditions too, Swami made His "warmth" felt to one and all alike! As if as a bonus gift to those who had either cancelled or postponed their summer trips to stay with Him, Swami had been coming on the chair. From April 2nd to 4th, 2008, the darshans everyday was same, in terms of the route that Swami took, but there were so many different and touching stories along the way.
Swami generally started from the ladies side and moved down gently. He was in no hurry at all and He seemed to be taking letters from everyone! Letters are so symbolic of desires! The more He takes, the more there seem to remain to be taken! But during those three days, the profusion of letters being given and the overwhelming Love with which they were being accepted was such that on April 4, the letters' number seemed to have reduced. Well, it is also a common practice, especially among the students, to compose letters to their dear Lord whenever there seems to be a good chance to hand it over to Him. So from the students' side, there were always letters flowing. The Primary School block was comparatively so empty. Instead of the twittering and talking thousands, there were only a few tens left. But these tiny tots rushed down towards the rear end of the block during every darshan to have a close glimpse of Him as He passed by and then rushed back to their places in the front of the block to get another darshan when He came to the front! He knows all this and yet, so sweetly, He, every time, chose to be surprised when He saw them again for the second time. His expression seemed to say, "Hey! Did I not see you there at the back a few minutes ago?" It was a bonanza time for all the devotees too.
When He comes in the car, the people sitting on the driver's side crane their necks to have a glimpse of His Divine Locks, at least. But those three days, it was such a wonderful and fulfilling feeling to see Him in all His grandeur. He looked to both the sides and took letters. Many of the devotees bent and took the opportunity to touch His Feet. The effect of the hot cuddapah slabs below and the
scorching roof above seemed to just fade away with the cooling and refreshing
Presence of Swami so close. The heat might seem to make it the worst of times, but
His warmth made it the best of times. Indeed blessed were those being able to enjoy
the bliss of this proximity that He decided to shower.
April 6, 2008 – "Baala Rama" by Institute Dance Group The dance group in the Institute and School is growing both in numbers and quality. With a phenomenal performance of the "Saagara Manthanam" dance a few weeks ago, it is definitely true that the nimble student dancers have to do a real quality job each time they step on the big stage, for the expectation levels are just being pushed higher and higher. On April 6, 2008, Swami had permitted them to put up what would be a major milestone in the dancing history of the students. To date, dance has always been like the proverbial "icing on the cake" that the dramas and programmes constitute. That day, an attempt was made to make dancing the "cake" along with the "icing" and the "cherries" on top too! A 40 minute dance entitled, "Baala Rama" depicting the Ramayana story till the marriage between Lord Rama and Mother Sita had been planned in great detail. The songs had been specially written by the students and had also been tuned and recorded by them. It was a fully "in house" production if the term can be used. Swami arrived at 4:50 pm. And like the last few days, He came on the chair to the delight of everyone. For the devotees, it was really ‘summer showers’ in the hamlet of peace. Ever since the holidays began on April 1st, it seemed to be holiday time even for Swami's vahana (vehicle)! Though Puttaparthi is hot and uncomfortable, the minute Swami comes on the chair, all pains disappear like mist in the sun.
As soon as Swami completed His rounds and reached the interview room area, He saw the students in costumes in the Bhajan Hall. He went in and then began a sweet interaction. He enquired into the role that each student was performing in the drama. When they said that the dance would depict briefly even of Raghuvamsha (Raghu clan), He said, "It became Raghuvamsha only due to Rama. Then it was Ikshvaaku dynasty." Even as He smiled, everyone nodded sheepishly. He was very particular about "Seeta's" costume. He made 'her' stand and checked 'her' from top to bottom. A piece of string to hold up the saree was being seen and Swami asked for it to be covered. Blessing everyone, He told them that they should start in another 10 minutes time. As He went to the interview room, the stage was set up and the dancers got ready for the performance. A beautiful Rama figurine comprised the backdrop and that too had been crafted by a student!
It was 5:15 pm when Swami came out and sat asking for the programme to begin. The glory of the nectarine story began to unfold and the whole story was scripted as narrated by Swami in the Rama Katha Rasa Vahini. Valmiki writes about Rama as a man would view God, but Swami's narrative gives insight into the feelings of Rama too. Swami was absorbed in the programme right from the start. It began tracing the history of the clan till Dasharatha prepares for the sacrifice to obtain sons.
The wonderful childhood of the four brothers was depicted and then the scene where sage Vishwamitra asks for the princes to vanquish the demons came up. The conflict between Dasharatha's duty as a king versus his attachment as a father was very well portrayed and the music really elicited the flow of emotions from the heart. The graceful movements and soulful music transported the audience back in time to the period of the Treta Yuga. Swami's moods seemed to flow along with the moods of the drama. Finally, the princes accompany the sage to the dark forests where their first exploits as super heroes are demonstrated. The climax came when Rama and Lakshmana go to the kingdom of Mithila where the mighty bow of Shiva lay between them and the princess. Lord Rama, as per the Guru's command, breaks the bow and later proves His Divinity to Parashurama. There is a grand celebration for the marriage between Rama and Seeta.
The famous episode, which Swami loves narrating, where Seeta comes to garland Lord Rama was depicted. He is tall and being the Purushottama (perfect man), stands erect without looking down at Seeta. She is unable to garland him. (In the dance however, Rama was not that tall. The problem had been dealt by giving Him a big crown!) Lakshmana falls at Rama's Feet and when Rama bends to raise him, Seeta quickly garlands him. This act elicited great applause. The atmosphere was dramatic and yet so real. One really felt as if the Rama-Seeta Kalyanam had been witnessed. The dance concluded with a final formation. Swami immediately said that He would come down. As Rama and Lakshmana went up to receive Him, everyone else prepared to receive Him.
Swami was so sweet as He asked Lakshmana, "Ay Lakshmana! Where is Urmila?" Lakshmana was dumbstruck. "Tell me....Where is she?", Swami persisted! The four princes were actually married all at once and Swami was fully justified with the question. The answer was a blushing smile and Swami seemed to enjoy the redness flushing in Lakshmana's cheeks as He once again asked, "Tell, where is Urmila? Paapam! Not there!" Swami showered Love and smiles liberally as He posed for photos. All the students who were part of the drama got a picture with Him. That included even the boys who did the music recording and all the backdrop work. All the programmes put up in front of Swami are like the Taj Mahal. Though they are beautiful to look at, they have a supporting huge foundation. And Swami blesses not only the Taj but also the foundations!
Filling every heart with joy, Swami had prasadam distributed and at about 6:40 pm received Aarthi and retired. April 7, 2008 - Ugadi Celebrations
It is that time of the year when the sun's rays are increasing in intensity, going from mellow to hot. The crops have been harvested and the fruits of the harvest are making their way to the marketplaces. Mangoes, called "the king of fruits" in India, are in season once again. The ripe smell of jackfruit is filling the air. Shrubs and trees are bursting into their flowering best. Everything is fresh and new. It looks and smells like spring. The cool springtime breeze is wafting through the air carrying the fragrance of the fluttering flowers. The birds are chirping their charming chants and
there is greenery as far as the eye can see. The sweet scent of the soil, the
butterflies fluttering by, the symphony of the birds and bees, the swaying of the
flowers and trees - everything around arouses a sense of sublime harmony. Hail the
festival of Yugadi - the festival of bounty and Grace. As Swami glided down the aisles granting darshan and joy, a special song composed to welcome the "Sarvadharin" year filled the hall. The joyous song seemed to fill all the hearts in the hall too. Swami looked so beautiful. A gentle breeze began to blow. The sweet smile on that enchanting face; the curls swirling in the gentle breeze, the Tender Hands swaying to the beat of an ethereal melody, and those Soft Feet that are the refuge of the entire mankind - the Lord is truly incredibly sweet.
Swami was on the rounds when the students got up and began the narration. They explained in English, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi the significance of the day. Apart from being Ugadi, the day was also celebration time as Gudi Padwa and Cheti Chand, the New Year day for Maharastrians and sindhis respectively. As these were explained, Swami continued to move around and bless everyone who had so eagerly assembled to begin the New Year with a glimpse of their dear Lord. Very appropriately, the song began, Yenta Bhagyamo, in Telugu, referring to the great good fortune of gathering at His Feet on the holy occasion. Swami sat enjoying the songs and each time a smile blossomed on His face, it reflected on the faces of everyone assembled.
The next part of the programme was the traditional "Panchanga Shravanam" where the almanac is read out to see what the coming year has in store for all. Two students dressed as learned brahmins rose. They discussed the coming year in a very scholarly manner. Much to Swami's amusement, they even began to see what each sign of the almanac portended to the people under its rule! They discussed the meaning of the Panchangam. Swami so beautifully has said that if we take care of the Pancha Angas (the five limbs and five senses), nothing in the Panchangam can affect us. As the discussion progressed on the influence of the planets which were both positive and negative, the significance of the Ugadi ‘Pachchadi’ was highlighted. This is a kind of soup-like preparation that is taken as sacred prasadam. It is very unique in its composition. It is made with jaggery, tamarind, raw mangoes, chillies, salt, neem and water. It has a component of all the 6 tastes namely - salty, sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and pungent. It is symbolic of the fact that whatever the New Year brings, it will be accepted with equality and equanimity. It concluded with the statement, "When we have the God's Anugraha (Grace), what can the Navagraha (nine planets) ever do to harm us?" There was a very joyous and thunderous applause. Swami called one of the ‘pandits’ and created a beautiful gold chain for him and the soul stirring song, Karuniso Ranga (Shower compassion on us Krishna) struck a rich melodious chord.
Being a New Year day, the significance and importance of time was highlighted. An incident was also narrated. Swami, while gifting watches to His students once said, "See, this outer box is the body. The inner plastic cover is the mind and deep within is the watch - the most precious one with Swami in it. Treasure the watch and do not give undue importance to the box and cover. Also ‘Watch’ has T as the central letter and so it becomes very important to watch over our thoughts. It is our thinking that determines everything. Many times when we feel that, "bad things" are happening to us, it only shows the weak nature of our faith. For instance, let us consider that something untoward has happened to us. This can mean only two things – 1) My God is not powerful enough to protect and
shield me from that calamity. The songs continued and Swami seemed to enjoy every moment of it. In between, Swami called out to one of the boys assisting him and asked him to make some arrangements. Those who saw that were wondering what Swami was saying. Using the traditional art of lip reading, the message understood was as if He seemed to say something about pouring water! A song on the sweetness of His Name and glories was followed by a discussion on the fact that noble deeds make the day holy and not that a holy day is for doing noble deeds. As Swami so beautifully says, "The flow of time can never be stopped. It continues relentlessly and continuously. But it is not correct to keep saying that this is a bad time and we will wait for a good time. The Yugas or time periods change only with the change in dharma, not with the mere passage of time. The wicked demon Hiranyakasipu and the pure hearted Prahlada both lived in the same chronological Yuga; the same Yuga saw Dharmaraja, the personification of righteousness and peace, as well as the arch-cheat, Duryodhana. So, dharma is what makes the Yuga or time into good or bad for each; one can always be in the Kritha Yuga, if only one has all the four qualities of dharma. It is the conduct of man that makes or mars history and changes the Golden Age to the Iron Age or vice versa.
As seven songs concluded, Swami seemed to tell the programme to stop, but then seemed to change His Mind. It becomes very easy to enjoy the grandeur and the beauty of every action of Swami in retrospect. But as Swami was doing this, all wondered as to what was happening. But the programme continued. There was a beautiful Hindi introduction on the beauty and glory of namasmarana or chanting of the Lord's Name. It was followed by a song by saint Mirabai, Baso More Nainan me Nandalaal. That song was completed and then what happened next was something so divine and unexpected. And these kinds of uncertainties of the Lord, who will not love? The song that began was, Barso Re… which was a prayer to the Lord to rain His Blessings on all. As it started, Swami asked for a big silver container to be brought from inside. In it was the holy Ganges water! Swami descended from the stage and began to shower the water on the devotees and people assembled in the hall! It was so thrilling. Goose bumps erupted on every inch of the skin and the whole hall erupted in joy. The joy was common but its expression varied from frenzied shouts to serene meditative stances. As the ‘summer showers’ continued, people were lost in a devotional ecstasy. After a while, symbolically blessing all, Swami told the priest to go around showering the consecrated water on everyone assembled. Then with the smile of an innocent child that had surprised everyone, Swami sat on the stage enjoying the song. He was gently swaying and a smile danced on His Lips. He was radiating happiness all the while and everyone assembled had no choice but to be happy! Surely the people must have thought this to be a coincidence that the song acted as a "theme song" for Swami to shower His bountiful Love and Grace. One of the students immediately rose up with the mike and exulted at this great good fortune wherein Swami, like always, instantly responded to the prayer to shower Grace on all!
|
