Vision of God', skit by Gujarat Youth & Music Programme by Sri. Devesh Dave

The drama was themed on the cataract surgery seva activities done in Navsari district of Gujarat. The region, being backward, was infested with quacks who always attributed the eye problems of the suffering masses to the curse of God for all the sins they had committed. The story which was portrayed could have been the story of any one of the hundred or so tribals treated and nursed by the doctors and devotees of Swami. It showed how a poor man is deprived of his sight by a cataract and of hope by a local "witch doctor" wielding peacock feathers and chanting humbug. But it is firmly ingrained in him that he has been cursed by God. When the volunteers from the Sai Organisation arrive to help and treat the people of the area through eye camps, everyone at first eyes them suspiciously. Isn't it funny that nowadays we accept selfishness as natural and are unable to believe that selflessness exists? Else how can one explain the amazement that we express and Swami's Love and Grace? As He aptly puts it, "What is Aascharyam for you is Sahajam for me.")
 

		click to enlarge 30th Oct. 08

The drama was very simple but powerful in showing how a little care and love coupled with the Lord's grace can literally help thousands to see more clearly! The drama was backed with the power of Truth and though no 'flashy' or 'showy' miracles seemed to happen, the miracle wherein the patients were blessed from seeing through the milky fluid of the cataract to the clear fluid of grateful and joyous tears was awe inspiring in itself. The eye camps in this region have been vastly successful and have covered more than a hundred villages and more than four thousand operations have been successfully conducted. The drama was short and sweet and at the end of it as all the participants gathered in a formation, Swami called the "tribal" who had been "cursed" by God according to the "village quack" and blessed him with a gold chain. Everyone burst in applause and Swami blessed the participants with Abhayahastha. He then told them all to sit in their places and the next part of the evening's programme began..

Sri Devesh Dave sang some popular songs and bhajans. Before the performance, he and the other artistes bowed to Swami and that included a small boy who was to play the cymbals. Swami smilingly kidded with the kid asking him, "Are you going to sing?" The smile was returned by the apparently startled kid. The concert then began and went on for about half an hour. At the end of it, Swami accepted Aarthi. It was 6:30 pm and Swami started moving towards Yajur mandir in the chair itself! Now this was a bonus for all the ladies and they rejoiced at the close darshan. At Yajur Mandir, the security guards prayed to Swami for group pictures as their shifts had been completed and a new set of guards would be replacing them the next day. With a sweet smile, Swami posed for photographs with them before retiring for the day.
 

Swami was so happy and moved during various portions of the drama. In the beginning when the organizers are facing a very tough situation with getting the arch and gateway ready in time for the D-day, they surrender completely to Swami and are fully confident about His Grace flowing on them for hasn't He said, "If you need me, you deserve me." Swami seemed so charged during the course of the scene so much so that when one of the characters pray falling on their knees, "Swami only you have to help", Swami nodded His head and blessing Him said, "Yes! I will help." At the end, Swami moved down and posed for group photos with all the participants. As that was completed , many of them gave letters to Swami. One little boy in particular, dig deep into his pockets trying to extract a card that he had made for Swami. Swami on His part, sat sweetly and patiently and accepted the extracted letter! Then with a lovely smile and a gracious Abhayahastha, Swami moved to the ladies section of the youth. He posed for photos with them too before moving back to the stage. He then blessed Smt. Piu Sarkhel to present Hindustani Classical songs. As the stage was being prepared for her, Swami went into the interview room and came back with watches for all the participants.

At this time, the lady began her songs and Swami noticed two primary school children right up in the front. He called them on stage and began to see through the card that they had made for Him for the occasion of the Gujarati New Year. One of the boys also gave Swami an invitation to the ground breaking ceremony of the land for his house. Swami had a detailed look at it. He also played with the boys with comments about the card that they had made. Blessing both of them, He sent them to their places. Then again, as if like an afterthought, Swami called both back on the stage and materialized vibhuti for them. Putting spots on their foreheads, He put the remaining into their palms and told them, "Eat it now itself!" And immediately, the boys stuffed the vibhuti into their mouths much to the glee and amusement of all the devotees assembled. Playfully patting them , Swami sent them back.

		click to enlarge 29th Oct. 08

Smt. Piu Sarkhel then presented Hindustani classical songs and bhajans onstage for half an hour. Swami blessed her and her group with clothes and photographs, and Bhajans by the devotees commenced at six o'clock. Ten minutes later, Swami asked the students to sing the 'Allah ho Akbar' bhajan with alap, following with He accepted Arati and returned to His residence. The concluding programme of the devotees from Gujarat was based on real life experiences at Navsari in Gujarat in a drama entitled "Vision of the Divine". It was 5:10 pm when the programme began in the true sense as Swami came out to grant darshan! As always, the central area was kept empty and free and the backdrop stood majestic. Swami looked at it as He slowly passed by it and it was wonderful moment - Swami looking at a majestic backdrop that proclaimed, "Vision of the Divine". Completing the round, Swami moved to the stage. Once again, there was a parade of lucky souls who went up to Swami seeking blessings before the programme proper. It's a great opportunity and everyone utilizes it to the full. Swami blessed all the people who came up the stage and then the programme began.

The drama was themed on the cataract surgery seva activities done in Navsari district of Gujarat. The region, being backward, was infested with quacks who always attributed the eye problems of the suffering masses to the curse of God for all the sins they had committed. The story which was portrayed could have been the story of any one of the hundred or so tribals treated and nursed by the doctors and devotees of Swami. It showed how a poor man is deprived of his sight by a cataract and of hope by a local "witch doctor" wielding peacock feathers and chanting humbug. But it is firmly ingrained in him that he has been cursed by God. When the volunteers from the Sai Organisation arrive to help and treat the people of the area through eye camps, everyone at first eyes them suspiciously. Isn't it funny that nowadays we accept selfishness as natural and are unable to believe that selflessness exists? Else how can one explain the amazement that we express and Swami's Love and Grace? As He aptly puts it, "What is Aascharyam for you is Sahajam for me.")

The drama was very simple but powerful in showing how a little care and love coupled with the Lord's grace can literally help thousands to see more clearly! The drama was backed with the power of Truth and though no 'flashy' or 'showy' miracles seemed to happen, the miracle wherein the patients were blessed from seeing through the milky fluid of the cataract to the clear fluid of grateful and joyous tears was awe inspiring in itself. The eye camps in this region have been vastly successful and have covered more than a hundred villages and more than four thousand operations have been successfully conducted. The drama was short and sweet and at the end of it as all the participants gathered in a formation, Swami called the "tribal" who had been "cursed" by God according to the "village quack" and blessed him with a gold chain. Everyone burst in applause and Swami blessed the participants with Abhayahastha. He then told them all to sit in their places and the next part of the evening's programme began..

Sri Devesh Dave sang some popular songs and bhajans. Before the performance, he and the other artistes bowed to Swami and that included a small boy who was to play the cymbals. Swami smilingly kidded with the kid asking him, "Are you going to sing?" The smile was returned by the apparently startled kid. The concert then began and went on for about half an hour. At the end of it, Swami accepted Aarthi. It was 6:30 pm and Swami started moving towards Yajur mandir in the chair itself! Now this was a bonus for all the ladies and they rejoiced at the close darshan. At Yajur Mandir, the security guards prayed to Swami for group pictures as their shifts had been completed and a new set of guards would be replacing them the next day. With a sweet smile, Swami posed for photographs with them before retiring for the day.

In Puttaparthi, Diwali is another occasion to celebrate! Any occasion with the Lord is a reason to celebrate and so Puttaparthi has no shortage of reasons for a celebration. The day at Puttaparthi saw the confluence of people from various parts of India and the world, especially from Gujarat as the Gujarati New Year also happens to fall during this period. They had come prepared with programmes for three days and Swami in all Love and Grace had permitted them to put it up in His presence.

The 28th evening saw Swami go to the Vidyagiri stadium a little after 4:00pm. After having a look at the progress of the preparations for the Yajna starting on the 15th of November, Swami returned in about 25 minutes time. Since it was the day of Diwali, the people from Gujarat had prepared two programmes. The first one was based on the Ramayana. It compared the Sri Rama story with the Sai Rama story and brought out the similarities between the two missions. The drama focused on the bridge building episode to highlight the power of the name. It also highlighted the same with the example of the great devotee Hanuman - how he crossed the ocean and overcame all the demonic forces to fill the Lord's heart with hope and thrill. He also filled Lord Sai's heart with joy as Swami seemed to nostalgically reminisce on the devotion and Love exhibited by this great devotee. It had a song cum acting scene highlighting the dialogue between Ravana and Mother Sita. As the war went on between the forces of good and the evil, little Vanaras (monkeys) arrived in clusters holding Swami's picture. It concluded with all the children coming together in a formation. It was like the aggregation of the forces of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema.
 

That concluded and the children dispersed. Then a little boy so perfectly dressed as the Father of the Nation- the Mahatma, came and offered his salutations to Swami. Some more participants came up to Swami with cards, pictures and a specially prepared brochure showing the various seva activities being carried out in Gujarat. Two children then brought a special card which showed symbolically all the children contributing to the mission by rowing the boat of Sai's work. All the photos of the participants adorned it and Swami blessed it. The programme entitled, "The great souls meet" highlighted the various religious conflicts taking place in the world and attempted to provide solutions based on the teachings off all the great people of God - Jesus, Adi Sankaracharya, Prophet Mohammed, Swami Vivekananda, Confucius, Zarathushtra, Gautama Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln. It ended on a jubilant note when the Lord's voice is heard telling them not to worry for this time He Himself had arrived on earth for the redemption of mankind.

As the final formation came into place, the children came to the front and rolled out a blue velvety carpet and invited Swami to the centre of the formation They also placed a lovely cushiony lotus for Swami to rest His tender feet on! Swami sweetly obliged them and moved into their midst. After that, all the children moved back to let the participants of the first programme have their share of the Lord's time and Presence in their midst - but not before a quick padanamaskar or a word with Swami. Swami was all smiles and He called the children of the other group also to surround Him. After the photo session, Swami blessed prasadam to be distributed to all and asked for bhajans to begin. As bhajans were on, Swami went for a short while into the interview room.

Coming out Swami asked for the Aarthi. Blessing everyone, Swami moved towards the Yajur Mandir. There some school children, a few teachers and some other devotees had gathered with some fireworks. Swami so sweetly held out a sparkler and as it sizzled on, it appeared so poignant and significant. It was absolutely significant of His life - burning Himself away to lend light and joy to everyone around! He then distributed sparklers and other crackers to some children and the students. A 'garland' type cracker was lit and the sound it created was such that all devotees gathered at the gate of the Yajur mandir. A lot of smoke and sound was created. But again the sight there embodied what Swami means to the devotees. They are ready to face any hardship for even a glimpse of His beautiful form - and when you ask them why they are ready to undergo anything, they just reply, "Who is undergoing anything? We are so happy and Swami is so sweet and Loving." As the lines of a famous song goes, "Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a Love can be?"

Swami sat a while watching the small display of flowerpots and the chakras on the ground. He advised everyone to be careful. He pointed out towards the loose clothing of some people and advised them to be at a safe distance from the lit lamps. Spending 15 minutes and giving joy to all who had gathered there, HE agreed for a second round of Aarthi and also coconut breaking before retiring for the day.
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Swami conferred His Abhayahastha on all the dancers as they concluded and then the singers from the gents and ladies sides respectively went up to Swami and offered roses. They sang alternating with each other and what followed next was a lovely session of Carnatic and Hindustani songs. While the male singer seemed intent on exploring various ragas, the lady singer explored possibilities in different languages. As the singing went on, Swami went briefly into the interview room but returned soon and sat for the remaining songs. Swami then asked for bhajans and the students, ever ready that they are, began singing.

As the Bhajans were on, Swami proceeded to the Act-1 of "Love my uncertainty" play! It seemed more like a "You will love my uncertainty" play! First Swami called all the birthday and tray boys and blessed them. Then Swami called the lead dancer and materialized a beautiful gold ring which had 11 diamonds in it and was shaped like a cross. The lad was overjoyed and was fully prostrate at His feet. Swami conferred him with all the smiles and love one would aspire for.

And then began Act-2 Swami called all the participants - both the dancers and singers - and began to distribute white safari pieces to all of them. He specially asked for sarees to be brought and distributed them to the ladies. As each participant received the clothes, he/she bowed down and took the special privilege of the padanamaskar. Meanwhile the Bhajans ended with Aarthi. Swami was saying that He was very happy and then He performed the Act-3 of the play! Swami called all the participants and personally distributed vibhuti packets to them. The proverbial cups of joy of the participants would have definitely overflowed and just seeing the sight was like the overflow filling up the audience's cups of joy too! Swami then moved to the car and then to Yajur mandir.
 

"Sai Teachings in Daily Life", Kerala Youth Meet
' Sivashtakam', a Classical Dance Ballet and Classical Music by
Sri Prasanna Venkataraman and Kum. Lakshmi
October 21, 2008