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Moving through the ladies side, Swami reached the centre of the hall where He took a detour towards the interview room. The Primary school children were arriving in great hurry and Swami seemed to enjoy them rushing in. Anyway, rushing for God is a noble quality worth of emulation by anyone! Swami granted interviews to various devotees till 5:15pm. He then came out and wanted the drama to begin. The initial offerings of the card and flowers were made. Once the Veda chanting stopped, flexible and foldable props erupted on the stage and created appropriate settings for the scenes to begin.

The storyline was very similar to many dramas put before but the presentation style was different and nice. The drama begins with a dialogue between Narada and Kali (the demigod in charge of the present age). Kali exults over his power and influence. Narada laughs at him and challenges him to influence a simple person. Kali uses all his powers to tempt that person into taking money - by ensuring that he loses his job, pressures from the family growing and finally with his mother falling very sick. But the person never yields and Kali surrenders as the hero's mother is alloted a bed in a Super Speciality hospital under the Trust's hospital collaboration scheme. Wondering where on earth does the lad get his sustenance and determination from, Kali discovers the power of the Sathya Sai kavacham (shield). He too desires to come to Parthi to see Swami and gives up his crown of ego.
 

Swami seemed very involved in the drama. He was very touched when the hero held on to his principles in the face of very stiff challenges. Swami was moved seeing the hero torn between options and was pleased to see him select the correct one over the easy one.

As the drama concluded, Swami called one of the participants and told Him that He would move down for group photographs. He moved down and the boys clustered around Him. He materialised a gold chain for the Narada of the drama. He kept saying, "Romba Santosham" and His smile and beaming face conveyed the same to those who did not understand Tamil or could not catch those words. He moved up the stage and then brought Safari cloth pieces from inside. As Aarthi was performed and prasadam was distributed, He personally distributed white cloth pieces to each and every member of the performing troupe. The boys were all joy at this shower of Grace.

Icing up this cake of Grace, Swami asked the boys to sing some bhajans. The mikes were quickly transported to the youth from TN and they began singing. Swami kept rhythm as two bhajans were sung and everyone joyfully clapped and followed. After those bhajans, Aarthi was performed for a second time. Everyone seemed so happy because very rare are the days when Swami receives Aarthi twice. Swami raised both His hands in benediction and Love and told all the participants that He was very happy. Then He retired.

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The red rays of the early morning sun turned golden and began to filter and flow into the Kulwant hall lighting up the central area especially. Krishna Gita, the elephant, the Gokulam cows, deer, peacocks, doves and rabbits accompanied by the students too had arrived to the mandir in procession. They too had been bedecked and some of them appeared to be in bridal finery. It was at this moment that the sweet Lord too arrived covered in the golden yellow robe! There was an applause of thrill as He entered the Kulwant hall. We have only heard about the beauty of Lord Krishna in the pitambara (yellow dress) but we are indeed blessed to see Him in the splendid yellow robe! HE moved slowly down the aisle and a sweet smile adorned His beaming face. He blessed all as He arrived. As He neared Krishna Gita, she stretched out her little trunk to touch Him. Smiling to Himself, Swami slowly waded into the confluence from the animal world.
 

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He fed the cows with bananas. There was a suckling calf. Today it was blessed to receive milk from two mothers as Swami too fed it with milk from a feeding bottle. Gently moving amidst the animals, He ensured that everyone was fed at least something in His divine presence. Two white doves had the special privilege of being released into the free skies from His divine hands. As the birds soared skywards, the decibel levels in the hall also soared as people joyously clapped at the happy sight. Moving ahead, Swami lovingly fondled a baby deer that was brought up to Him. He fed the mother of that deer with a biscuit which she quickly gobbled. He not only blessed the animals but their caretakers too. Many of the members of the Sathya Sai Gokulam offered roses to Swami. It was as if a bouquet of roses had been presented to Him. He patiently and lovingly accepted all of them and then moving through the students, He went up the stage. It was then that two children decked as Krishna and Balarama went on stage. Swami blessed them and the sweets they offered to Him. top

Swami sat listening to the chants that were on. He sat that way for about 20-25 minutes. In between, He told the caretakers to take all the animals away, back to their lovely homes that He so lovingly has gifted them. It is really wonderful how much concern Swami has for the animals. Normally any of us feel that though the animals do not know, it is their privilege to be in Swami's presence. However, on the smooth marbled floors of Kulwant hall, the animals find it a little difficult to get a grip. It was not so before when the hall had concrete floors and before that when there was sand. So Swami sends back the animals as soon as possible so that they remain on firm footing!

Once the animals left, Swami asked the students to put up their programme. The card was shown to Him and the programme started with a group song, the Pandurangashtakam. Since it is a popular one, even the children from the Primary school joined in the singing. After that, two students sang the song, "Govardhana Giridhara" in all its majesty and grandeur. This was followed by a novel programme. A group of students have been working hard at picking up playing the flute. All these students with their teacher, put up a 15 minute recital in His presence. Swami kept tapping in beat as they played on the flute. And therein lies the beauty of being a student! Any talent that one has or any skill that one acquires, one gets the wonderful opportunity to present before the supreme Lord Himself! After they finished their presentation, it was back to songs. A Telugu song recounting the leelas of Lord Krishna as a child was sung and Swami was so involved in the song. He seemed to be drinking in every word of the song and appeared very touched at times. As that song was completed, Swami decided that it was best that all leave in that frame of mind. He asked for the Aarthi.
 

As the Aarthi was nearing conclusion, Swami called the students who had arrived with a cake. He cut the cake and naturally so for was it not His birthday? Many Krishnashtami cards had been made by students from the Institute, school and primary school too. Swami called them all and began to slowly and patiently go through the works of art that His children had designed. Some were huge, others were three dimensional structures, some others were fine carvings while some others were simple sketches and paintings depicting the episodes in the life of Krishna.

But all of them were prayers addressed to Swami. As Swami was going through these cards, the "Krishna" and "Balarama" moved up on stage again and offered chocolates to Swami for giving the Primary school children who had made the cards. Swami seemed to like the idea and He gave a chocolate to every child who came to Him. In this manner, Swami spent more than 20 minutes seeing and blessing the cards with their creators. Then raising both His hands in benediction, He retired for the morning.  Click here to read more details of Krishna Janamasthmi Darshan - an eye witness account submitted to "SBOI" by a Sai devotee from Prasanthi Nilayam >> -   top

There was a funny sequence whence Hanuman teases and troubles Lankini! Finally vanquishing her and releasing her from the curse she had been under all this while, Hanuman comes to know the whereabouts of Sita from Vibhishana, the Satwic brother of Ravana. Sita is with Sarama, Vibheeshana's wife. Ravana enters the orchard with material gifts and tries to persuade Sita to marry him. Sita reprimands and curses him. Hanuman then makes his appearance and tells mother Sita all about Rama. The description of Rama touches the inner recesses of Sita's heart. It also seemed to touch some chords deep within Swami. He was touched by the loyalty and love of Sita to Rama and Hanuman's devotion to both Rama and Sita.

All the singing was being done by the Bhagavathars as they are called, standing backstage. There was the main singer and accompanists for him. A mrindangam, a drum, a set of cymbals and a music box provided the rich music. Most of the speaking was being done by that singer. The actors would once in a while speak English dialogues so that the non-Kannada people could also catch the action going on. But all that was rendered superfluous by the superlative acting of the children as they brought alive all the characters from a time period of thousands of years back!

Sita is overjoyed and she hands over the "Choodamani" as her mark of identification for Rama. Then when she seems to despair, Hanuman, meek and sweet till now, stands to his magnificent height and reassures her. Hanuman then destroys the Ashokavana and then gets captured willingly when Indrajit, Ravana's son, uses the Brahmaastra against him. In anger, Ravana commands that Hanuman's tail be set on fire. Jumping across the city of Lanka, Hanuman sets it on fire. Finally, Hanuman returns to Sri Rama and informs the joyous tidings. When he gives the Choodamani to Rama, Rama embraces him. Marching against the demonic forces, Rama vanquishes Ravana and rescues Sita. The drama closed with the scene of the coronation of Lord Rama. It displayed the glory of the humble Hanuman who achieved so much that even the Lord was speechless in gratitude to him.

The Ramayana is such a wonderful epic that even today when we listen to it, it arouses such noble feelings and emotions within. The story never seems to get boring and every time it is narrated or depicted, it inspires one to rise above the pettiness and narrow mindedness and get lost in Love for God. And so it is no surprise that Swami gives so much importance to that epic. It is not just a story, but the story of every person in the journey called life.

As the drama concluded, Swami came down from the stage and was so very happy with all of them. He stated so many times that each and every actor had done a wonderful role. He posed for group photos with all of them He also materialised two gold chains simultaneously and gifted them to Rama and Sita respectively. Many tried giving letters to Him. He told them to wait and hold on. He seemd to say, "When I am here available for you to tell me whatever you want, why the impediment of the paper? When the rich feelings of the heart are on song, why use the grossly insufficient medium of the words of a language?" He called for Rama, Sita and Lakshmana and took a picture. He then slowly moved on to the stage. All the children in a very disciplined manner moved backstage when they were all told to come front and sit.

Discipline is something that pleases Swami so much. Not one person, child or adult, rushed to Swami. As a result, Swami Himself kept calling people to Him and spoke and interacted with them. He sat for more than 20 minutes after the drama and interacted with all. He distributed t shirts for all the students. He gifted the elders with Safari pieces. For some of the elders who always dress in traditional clothes, He gifted silk dhoties. He asked about the people who had been involved in the make up. He gifted clothes to them also. He spoke at length with the heads of the institution at Alike. Then blessing them profusely, He asked for the Aarthi to be taken. He sat for the whole Aarthi and blessed the children specially after it concluded. Before leaving, He once again said, "Very nice drama. All acted very well. Very happy!" Blessed indeed are these children for they delighted the Lord so much!top
 

Swami came out at about 5:05 pm and after listening to the Vedic chants for a while, asked them to stop and beckoned the Vishakapatnam group begin the programme. The office bearers first came and symbolically offered the programme unto His feet. A silver lamp made its way up the stage and soon it was lit by the Lord. This is another practise that is gaining ground especially among the different districts of Andhra Pradesh. A lamp is lit by Swami at Parthi and its "light" is taken back to the respective places signifying Swami's entry into their homelands. And so it was only after the lamp was lit and Padukas blessed that the actual participants moved upto Swami and offered flowers. Soon the drama began.

The drama opened with Karnam Subamma calling out to Krishna and little Sathya responding to her asking her why she had called. He reminds her of the wonderful Brindavan days that He has come to recreate - those days of leelas when He as Krishna had danced with the gopikas. Then too, like now, He was the favourite of everyone. All wanted to spend time with Him and no one felt their day complete without Him being a part of it. As a tiny tot, Krishna showed Mother Yasoda that the entire Universe is in Him - the same boon that the little Sathya bestowed on Subamma. The episode of Krishna merrily dancing on the hoods of the vicious serpent Kaliya as He subdued him was wonderfully depicted and the episode of Swami swallowing the poisoned vadas and in turn consuming the hatred and anger of people who tried to poison Him was brought up as a comparision. Krishna also performs the miracle of lifting the mountain Govardhana to spare the people of Gokulam, who had placed all their faith in Him, from the ire of Lord Indra. When Subamma asks little Sathya whether He would do a similar thing even now, He replies, "Then I lifted only one mountain - symbolic of achieving the impossible. This time I shall do many more." He then allows her a sneak peek into the future where He accomplishes "lifting the Govardhanas" of health care, educare and socio-care. top

Throughout the drama, Swami was very moved and it appeared as if He was reminded of the Love that exists between Him and Subamma and that which exists between Him and Yashoda, if there is any difference between them that is! He seemed overwhelmed on many occasions and here and there kept nostalgically remembering the episodes and even told some of them to the people by His side. The crowning moment for the drama came towards the end. Both Subamma and Yashoda express their desires to see their dear little ones gently swinging in a jhoola. At this point both Krishna and Sathya came to Swami and pleaded with Him to fulfill that desire! Swami agreed and as the final dance was on itself, Swami moved down from the stage and near the big swing that had been placed in the centre of the performance area. The dancers went about merrily dancing till Swami told them to stop and pose with Him by His side.

And so all the children came crowding around. Slowly all the people associated with the dram also came to Swami They surrounded Him from all sides as the flashes were fired and tapes rolled. Most of the children began to break down into uncontrollable tears. There were expressions of Love and uncontrollable joy. The urge to fall full at His feet was also uncontrollable. In short, everything about the final formation and photo session was uncontrollable! And thats how it is with the Lord - everything beyond limits and boundaries! Swami created two gold chains simultaneously and gifted one to Krishna and the other to Subamma. He was surrounded on all sides by the children and children seemed to be everywhere. And everyone seemed to have only one objective- to fall at His feet. Soon, Swami waded out of the surging waves of children and as He moved towards the stage, He asked for sarees and white safari pieces. He gifted two beautiful sarees to Yashoda and Subamma. He also asked for sarees to be distributed to all the other children. For the boys side, He gave T-shirts to all the kids and to the elder boys, He gifted Safari pieces. In the meanwhile, He also sent word for Krishna and Sathya. He told Krishna, "Call your mother also." The innocent 'Krishna' instead of calling 'Yasoda', called her mother from the audience. And the mother of Sathya also came to Swami in the same fashion. Swami posed for a picture with them. The mothers broke down and almost lay at His feet. Swami told them to rise and blessed them. top

 

Swami continued the giving with pens that were also brought out. To many of the children, He Himself distributed. After that was done, Swami went back on stage. Everyone were so happy and Swami was the only reason for that. Swami said that the drama was very well scripted and presented. After a short visit to the interview room, Swami received Aarthi and retired for the evening.
 

Photos sent by Sai devotee - Sai abode :" We would like to share a few pictures from our visit to Kodaikanal and Puttaparthi   ...Sai abode

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After a short while, Swami came out slowly to the stage from the gents side via the portico. He came front till the railings and then sat there gently swaying to the tunes of the Vedic chants. It is such a satisfying feeling to have the great Lord Himself "swaying to the tunes" of your chants! And that too with a smile dancing on those lovely lips. With a sweeping glance, He graced everyone in the hall. He suddenly beckoned to His left and to the pleasant amazement of everyone, He came down the central ramp and began moving around the students. He began His rounds where He had left off during the previous trip! Slowly moving into the gents side, He began to ask for and collect letters. It is a great joy for all when Swami begins such rounds.

It was a beautiful and touching sight as people rejoiced at His close proximity. He moved over to the students' side where there were letters galore awaiting His attention. Each and every letter got the attention it deserved. The birthday boys and boys with trays were blessed. He passed by the Veda group and was soon engaged by a group of boys who also prayed for MBA day celebrations. Swami interacted with them and then moving further along the boys, materialized a gold chain for one of them. Thus having completed the rounds, He was headed towards the interview room. But then, a subtle movement of His eyes indicated that He wanted to Grace the ladies too with a bonus darshan round. And so, it was round 2 for the women.

Swami moved along the corridors and continued taking letters. Completing that, He moved along the students back towards the bhajan hall. Not leaving anything incomplete, He took a round in the bhajan hall too! Then He topped it by moving through the upper portico. Surely not only the darshan-thirsty, but also the darshan-greedy would have been satiated today. It was 5:30 pm when the bhajans began and they continued till 6:00 pm when Aarthi was taken.
A Wonderful, Divine and Joyous Day for everyone to remember and Cherish. top

SBOI

15th Aug 2006 click to enlarge

SBOI

In the evening, Nandi award winning Telugu singer Smt. Sunitha presented a musical programme. Bhagawan arrived for darshan and made a full round of the Hall while the singer and accompanists were seated in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall. The 45 minute song programme got underway at 5.20 pm when Swami came onstage. Swami blessed the artiste with a chain and gave clothes to her accompanists. A couple of Bhajans by the students was followed by a song "Dinakara Shubhakara" by one of the students before Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 6.45 pm. top  - Read More Sai darshan details from 15th Aug. The completion of sixty years is a very spiritual event in the life of a person as per Bharatiya traditions. It is celebrated as the "Shashti Poorthi." It signifies the fact that a person has completed all his/her earthly duties and from now on, the focus is God and God alone. It is an event that marks the watershed in the life of any person. And India today, turned 60 as a free and independent nation! What greater fortune for this nation for when everyone turns Godward as they turn 60, God has turned towards her ever since her birth and also when She turned 60! As if symbolizing this Godward turn for Mother India, as everyone awoke to "life and freedom", in the words of Pandit Nehru, Puttaparthi awoke to the celebration and worship of the Mother in the form of the Varalakshmi Vratam! It is very significant that this Vratham(vow) is one that is done only by the ladies and it has very spiritual connotations. The fact that this vow was performed in the divine presence on the occasion of independence day as Mother India completed her 60th birthday was in itself thrilling and goose bumps erupted on the being of anyone who realized the supreme significance.

The whole Kulwant hall resembled a bedecked bride awaiting her Lord! The stage had been set and a small pandal had been erected to house the presiding deity, Lakshmi. All the ladies participating in the pooja were seated neatly in rows on both the ladies and gents side of the Kulwant hall. Swami came out after 9:30 am. He moved along the lines of the ladies, all dressed up in pink, granting darshan. There was the gap in the centre but today Swami said that He wanted to go on and complete a full darshan round. The students were in one corner of the hall and Swami moved there too. After completing it, Swami moved onto the stage. There He lit the lamp to mark the auspicious beginning of the worship. The Veda chanting was told to subside and the pooja began. Swami sat for a while as the worship went on and then He moved into the interview room. Five minutes later He was out again and He began a second round of "rounds" starting with the ladies side. He slowly moved along the lines of the worshipping ladies and blessed a few of them too by sprinkling the holy Akshatha grains. He moved around the entire gathering and surely there wasn't even a single woman who could complain of not being able to see Swami from close quarters.

As Swami went on these rounds, the pooja continued. The various aspects of Laksmi were worshipped and mantras chanted- some by everyone and some others only by the priests. Swami slowly returned to the stage and He sat witnessing the rituals. The story behind the worship and the inner significance also was explained by the chief priest. The event concluded with the women exchanging gifts with the feeling that they were welcoming and presenting to the Goddess Herself. As holy threads were tied on the wrists, Swami blessed the conclusion of the worship. He spoke to and blessed the priests. Prasadam was blessed to be distributed to everyone and as the prasadam distribution went on, Swami asked the priest to chant some special Sama Veda mantras. He chanted or rather sang them slowly and well. Swami swayed to those tunes! After that was completed, He blessed the priests once more and then left after receiving Aarthi.

In the evening, there was a scheduled programme by Smt Sunitha. She is a renowned Playback Singer, Anchor and Dubbing Artist in Bollywood and Tollywood. She has won many awards at various levels. The stage was set by way of a wonderful blue carpet in the central marble block. The artistes were ready and Swami came for darshan rounds. He took a complete round and then moved into the interview room. He soon came out and asked for the concert to begin. She sang many light devotional songs and most of them were in Telugu. She was lost in the joy and feelings that aroused in her as she sang and Swami too was very happy listening to her sing. She was accompanied by a keyboard, a table, a veena, a tambourine and a mridangam. She completed her planned quota of 6-7 songs. Swami, however, asked her to sing some more. She sang one more and when Swami asked her to sing another, she seemed so very thrilled and happy. She told Swami that the song she was about to sing was one that matched exactly to what she was feeling right now. She also sang a Meera bhajan. She finally concluded with Swami's bhajan, "Giridhara Naagara Kunja Vihaari" which everyone followed.

Swami called her to the stage and created a gold chain for her. He also gifted silk sarees to her and safari pieces to her accompanying artistes. He also blessed her husband who came up the side stage. He had many words of encouragement for the singer and He very lovingly blessed her. To the husband, He seemed to be advising and correcting! He blessed him too and then each of the accompanying artistes too had their share of interaction with Him. As they returned to their places, Swami asked for the boys to sing bhajans. Two bhajans with Aalaap were sung and everyone including the artistes followed with great fervour. As the bhajans concluded Swami called one of the students and asked him to sing a song. He sang the Carnatic song, "Dinakara Shubhakara" with all its intricacies. The singer artiste of the evening, Smt Sunitha, herself was lost in appreciation of the lad's singing. After he completed Swami told her that from a young age itself the boy had been practising and that he was a student in the University. She seemed very happy and pleased for she too had begun her music training at a young age of three.

Prasadam was blessed to be distributed to all and Swami received Aarthi. Swami sat through the whole Aarthi and at the end raised both His hands in blessings and benediction. It was 7:00 pm as He retired into Yajur Mandir.

 The hour-long performance depicted scenes from the lives of heroes of Inda's freedom struggle as well as from mythology. Bhagawan interacted with the students after the drama, blessing one of them with a chain. He moved down from the stage to take group photographs with them. Then He came onstage and called up students in small groups for more photographs. Later, He blessed all the II PG students with watches. Bhajans were sung for ten minutes while prasadam was distributed before Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 6.50 pm. top

Skit by students of Sri Sathya Sai University The Saga of National Independence struggle August 14, 2008 --- India and Pakistan, countries which were Siamese twins at birth, were separated by a political cesarean operation. And so it happens that while India celebrates its rebirth as a free nation on the 15th of August every year, its separated twin, Pakistan, does so on the 14th of the same month. Whatever be the date, it is indeed in "august" company that the celebrations occur! 15th of August 2008 had both celebrations, of the national Independence and the Varalakshmi Vratam. Swami never allows anyone to go disappointed. And thus, Swami instructed the students to put up their traditional I-day drama on the 14th evening itself so that the very elaborate preparations that had gone into the Vratam could continue into fruition the next day. The stage was set and all the boys in their costumes were seated in the bhajan hall. Swami moved along the lines as He came out for darshan and then as He reached the central block, He looked admiringly at the simple yet elegant backdrop that had been constructed with the Indian tricolour on it. He cut through the central area and moved straight into the bhajan hall. All the actors were waiting. Swami seems to be fascinated by good colourful costumes. And like a child, He seemed so happy seeing the 'various colours' of the boys! He was 'introduced' to Gandhiji, Subash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh. He looked at a bearded person sitting nearby and asked him what he was doing. He turned out to be Harishchandra and his wife Chandramati too was nearby in a blue saree! Swami was also very happy to see Krishna and Arjuna figure in the scheme of things. He enquired into the duration of the programme. 1 hour was the answer. Similarly, Vasishta and Vishwamitra were introduced to Him. Swami blessed all the actors and told them that He would soon be out to witness their programme. top As per His word, He soon came out and asked for the Veda chanting to give way to the programme. Krishna and Arjuna came up to Him and offered roses. Swami appeared very touched seeing Krishna in all splendour. The programme started with the Sootradhaari or compere introducing the drama. Then all of a sudden, he asked, "Why are you proud to be an Indian?" Everyone were taken by surprise. A few tense moments passed when it seemed that no one wanted to voice an answer! Then a hand went up and a student rose saying, "There are many reasons why I am proud to be an Indian. But the greatest and the most heartfelt is because God has taken birth here over and over again through the ages!" The crowd burst into a joyful applause and Swami was very touched. He called the student and told him to announce that the programme was being done by the 2nd year post graduate boys and he did as asked. The programme continued with another student, a lad from the 8th standard getting up and stating that he too was proud to be with the avatar and for the reason that Bharat has such a glorious culture. Swami was deeply touched to see the fire in the belly of that child.   The drama was weaved into a fine brocade of a story by the threads of little known individual patriots who gave their all for the sake of Poorna Swaraj. The story coursed alongside the lives of two young men who dedicate their lives for the freedom struggle under the leadership of the Mahatma, Gandhiji.. They rise against the British non-violently, trusting the power of their immortal spirit rather than relying on the strength of the mortal body. They receive the blows rained by the British joyfully knowing that each blow that seemed to crush their body actually developed their resolve to be free into an indomitable and unbreakable one. They go to jail and there too experience the joy of Unity and oneness as people of all religions and strata in society rub shoulders, united in the common cause of freeing Mother India from the fetters of foreign rule. Gandhiji motivates them by his mere words which are laced with Truth. The episode of Sathya Harishchandra was depicted very aptly at this point. Being a king, Harishchandra is reduced to a poor undertaker at the cemetery. His legendary adherence to Truth is seen as he refuses to be bound by bodily attachments and bury his own son for free. His wife pleads and the king's heart bleeds. But he remains firm in his resolve to be on the path of Truth. As Swami saw the episode of Harishchandra, He became very emotional. It seemed as if His heart too bled and tears were shed at the memory of a person who always adhered to the path of Truth and righteousness. Especially when Chandramati, the wife, pleaded for the son, the divine mother that He is, Swami felt the pangs of another mother's heart. When the protagonist of the play loses his son to police brutality, he is a broken man. With tears he goes to his Guru, Sri Aurobindo. His brother and comrade too is there and he is just unable to understand why people meekly receive blows and think that it is bravery to be non-violent. Did not the Lord Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita too urge Arjuna to rise in arms? The Guru clears all the doubts by taking both the disciples through the Bhagwad Gita. The Krishna Arjuna dialogue ensues and message becomes very clear. Krishna, though apparently urged Arjuna to wage war, wanted him to actually give up body attachment. And war was the means of doing it then for Arjuna did not want to fight because he thought he was killing his own people. Non violence was the means now for the revolutionaries wanted to fight because they thought they were killing enemies! Whatever be the means, the end must be to annihilate body consciousness and then alone can one be truly free. top Towards the end, the heroes, Gandhiji, Bhagat Singh and Subash Chandra Bose made their brief but very inspiring appearances. Patriotic songs were liberally sprinkled all over the drama and all the singing was being done live. Rather than using recorded tracks, the boys wanted to get immersed in the feelings of the day and occasion and sing the songs live. It had the desired effect as each song touched the people in some deep recess of the heart. There were no spectators or audience today as all felt one with the feelings of patriotism and true love being depicted at the centre. The drama concluded with all the students coming forward in the crescent formation. Then in military style, one by one, they all stepped out of line, stated loudly and proudly what the Bharata Bhagya Vidhata, Swami, had done for them and then stepped back in line. As this concluded, it was so clear for all in the hall that if at all there is a True Patriot, then He sat right before them robed in the saffron of sacrifice! This final portion elicited a lot of applause from everyone.   Swami called all the actors to Him. He was very happy and He congratulated everyone. A 'muslim' from the drama was called onstage and Swami spoke a few words with him. He however commented that the Bhagwad Gita was the greatest treasure from India and more time should have been spent on dilating its teachings. He then moved down to the performance area to grant the students the privilege of group photos with Him. He materialised a beautiful and thick gold chain for the student who played the role of Krishna. A point to be noted here is that Swami always seems to gift those actors who do positive roles, however small their actual roles may be. It is not that He is not rewarding talent and making a bias or anything of that sort. Swami believes that the only way to spread goodness and 'Godness' in the world is by embodying those qualities. Whenever the students put up a drama in front of Him, they involve themselves so deeply in their roles so that they can do their best. It is but natural that the ones who get so involved in the roles that are divine, Krishna in this case, really embody that divine spirit, even if its for a short duration. Swami rewards that noble effort and feeling. Swami accepted all the letters the boys had to offer. He moved back on stage slowly and then very patiently and lovingly posed for group photos with all the boys. He Himself called on the groups. "Krishna and Arjuna", "Bose and Gandhi", "Harishchandra and Chandramati", "the sepoys", "the red clothes sepoys" (British soldiers), and son on He would call and they would go on stage to pose for photographs with Him. He blessed lush red apples to be distributed to one and all. As if that were not enough, He personally distributed watches to each and every member of the 130 strong team that had made the presentation. As this distribution went on, each student interacted with Swami in his own way and Swami responded to every one of them and made them feel special. One of the students gave a golden ring to Swami and requested Him to put it on his finger. Swami smiled and obliged. All the students prayed that Swami visit the hostel and Swami said, "I will come". Then Swami asked for bhajans to be sung as He continued to distribute watches ensuring that He missed no one. The bhajans began and after two bhajans of vociferous and enthused singing, Swami received Aarthi. It was past 7:00 pm when He retired to Yajur Mandir. top

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Every day spent in the presence of the Lord is something special to be remembered. Every day and in fact every moment, the Lord touches hearts, cleanses minds and uplifts spirits. On occasions when we get 'lucky' we see, hear or at least get to know how the dear Lord did these things. This Wednesday, turned out to be special not because Swami did anything that He does not always do, but because anyone with a little alertness could observe and admire what He did!

Swami came for darshan at about 4:05 pm. The students' blocks appeared a little barren, what with the boys taking time off to practice for a drama to be put up in His presence the next day. Swami moved slowly through the ladies section of the hall and then as He neared the central area, thousands of fingers on the gents side were crossed as all watched in anticipation whether Swami would proceed straight or take the now famous "square cut" detour.

The sigh of joy and relief was almost audible as Swami moved through the central area into the gents side. He collected letters and blessed the ones assembled. He spoke to the youth members from West Bengal who had assembled. He blessed the programme that they had come ready with. Moving through the students, He blessed some of the boys holding trays and also collected letters from the boys. Then, Swami moved into the interview room after blessing Sri Rasagothra who was seated on a chair in the portico. top
 

After a few minutes, Swami came out and to the stage. He sat there as the Veda chanting went on. He called the boys who were holding trays. He blessed them by showering the sacred akshatha grains on their heads. To one student who went up, He said, "I blessed you in the lines right?" Another boy was so engrossed in Him and lost in the joy of receiving the 'rice shower' that he forgot that he had a letter for Him in the tray. Swami Himself reminded him to give the letter! He blessed about 14 students thus.

Then He saw two boys seated with a tray full of "sacred threads". He called them and blessed them too. After a few more minutes, He went via the interview room to the ladies side. He moved slowly through them, speaking to many of them, giving padanamaskar and taking letters. He came once again towards the central blocks. But then, He asked to go back to where the youth from Bengal were seated. He spoke to them for some time and then even created a gold chain for one of the ladies. Then moving slowly along all the ladies seated on the mandir side also, Swami went into the interview room. Bhajans began at 5:10 pm and Mangala Aarthi was taken at 6:00pm. top
 

arrived there at 3.45 and saw more than 45 minutes of the documentary before asking for the screening to be stopped so that He could go to the Sai Kulwant Hall. There, devotees from Vijayanagaram district of Andhra Pradesh presented a Telugu drama 'Jagame Rama Mayam'. The Vijayanagaram devotees had arrived in strength yesterday and had a procession through Puttaparthi last evening. This evening's 45 minute drama concluded at six o'clock, and Bhagawan Blessed the children who participated with clothes. The students sang bhajans for fifteen minutes while prasadam was distributed, and Bhagawan accepted Arati at 6.25 pm. - Prasanthi Bulletin sairadio.org  top 

Read more details from 10th Aug. :  "....Swami had decided to gift His dear students with a wonderful opportunity today! He had invited all to the Poornachandra Auditorium to view a film entitled, "Living with God is true education" which had been prepared by the students working at the Prashanti Digital Studios. The Auditorium began filling at 3:00pm and by 3:30pm, it was filled by students who had filed in. At about 3:50pm, a hush fell over the entire gathering as Swami entered the hall from the stage. The students had lined the paths as usual and Swami slowly move to His place in the centre. As Swami entered the hall, the musical CD entitled, "Bhaavanjali" which Swami had graciously blessed for release, was being played.. Swami and the guests who had come with Him sat in their respective places.. Swami was surrounded by boys and how apt it was. Living and sitting with God, the students were watching ,"Living with God is true education"! The new Vice chancellor, Prof Vishwanath Pandit, welcomed everyone and spoke a few words of gratitude to Swami as an introduction to the film. He said that it was indeed wonderful to see something by the students, of the students and for the students with Swami, on Swami and around Swami! The film then began and the lights all went out. Swami was attention personified as the storyline moved on along Swami's philosophy of education. It showed how Swami's University combined the best of modern education with the glorious culture of the Gurukula system of education. The documentary traced the history of how Swami literally put together bricks and bonded them with Love to raise the massive edifices of Educare in Puttaparthi, Anantapur and Brindavan at Bangalore. Swami was quite nostalgic as the events that led Him to build the hostel in Brindavan right next to His bungalow were recounted. He became emotional as former students, now well settled in various professions, related how Swami would personally take care of every aspect of their lives and how they would manage everything in the hostel and college as in Self-rule, for here The Self really ruled! When a former student. now a teacher in the University, recalled an incident where Swami miraculously made the sweet filling enter into the hollows of the wheat dough fried in oil, Swami pointed and said, "That is Ravikumar!" The videos of the Sports meet where Swami was almost tumbling in laughter and enjoyment made everyone clap in joy as they all relived those lovely moments. Memories of Kodaikanal and Trayee sessions captured on film also left indelible imprints in the hearts of all watching. Swami was at many times recollecting the people involved and the incidents and events and telling them to the vice chancellor. It was an experience that thrilled many. As one viewer put it, "As you see Swami toiling, as You watch Him laughing and thinking for your welfare, as You see Him excited and grim on your cause, something deep inside your heart sprouts back to life….your tears would water it and the strength of relationship endows it a will to sustain it." At the point when, Indreshwar, the grandson of the Rajmata, narrated how none of the students were even in the billionth worthy of what Swami was showering on all, Swami said, "Stop! We will go now!" It was a very profound moment. Swami said that the devotees from Vijaynagar with the drama were waiting. But it was a perfect and beautiful spot to leave everyone in the hall lost in deep introspection. As the film was stopped, the students who had prepared a card for putting up a drama on August 15th went to Swami. Swami interacted with the students for quite some time. Then He began to move towards the stage.All the students moved to Him like bees to the lotus. As He neared the stage, the students from the Digital Studios presented the two boys whom Swami had blessed to join as employees at the studios. Swami blessed them. There is something beautiful and poignant to be mentioned here. One of the boys whom Swami blessed to join the studio has been rendered almost immobile due to a tragic accident a few years ago. With dogged determination and tons of His love and grace, he has overcome, mentally and psychologically, the trauma of the tragedy and has become a revelatory inspiration of sorts. For the past three months, he has relentlessly and devotedly worked on picking up video editing and photo editing softwares, using a stick plastered to his hand to handle a keyboard and the mouse. Moving around in his battery powered wheelchair, Raghuram, has only smiles to flash at everyone and his is the only "four-wheeler" that is allowed everywhere without a vehicle pass! And so, when he offered a rose and himself as a flower at His feet, Swami remarked, "I know he works very hard." Swami flashed a lovely smile at him and blessed him. Swami then moved from the auditorium towards Kulwant hall where all the devotees from Vishakapatnam had gathered. Swami took a turn in the central marble block after 'inspecting' all the children involved in the drama as they sat in front of the backdrop. He came on the stage and asked for the program to begin. The children accompanied by an adult from both the ladies and gents side went up to Him with cards and roses. As Swami blessed them, a group of people advanced to the stage with a big silver lamp and a Shivalingam. Swami lit the lamp and blessed the Shivalingam. Like a sweet child, He picked the silver snake that lay coiled around the lingam and then placed it back. As the devotees returned to their place, the drama to be staged was introduced. The drama featured the story of Mallamma, a great devotee of Lord Rama from the Rayalaseema district. Her father writes a shatakam (hundred stanzas) but is refused entry into the temple to offer to the Lord as he belongs to a lower caste. Mallamma speaks strongly to the guards and has them shut-mouth. But as always, might becomes right and both father and daughter are thrown out of the temple. With her intense devotion and prayers to Rama, Mallamma forces the Lord to appear before her and Rama himself blesses her to write the Ramayana in her native tongue. She thus composes the Ramayana in Telugu. She goes back to the temple and the guards feel that she must be punished for her audacity. But she is rescued by none other than Tenali Ramakrishna, the minister and jester for the king Krishnadevaraya. Being a great poet himself, ramakrishna is floored by Mallamma's work. He personally informs the king and soon, the king also appreciates and gets her work published and recognised. Mallamma finally, lost with Rama's name on her lips and His beautiful form in her heart, gives up the ghost. The drama was interspersed with lovely recorded songs and dances by children. As the drama concluded, Swami moved down from the stage.. He created a golden chain for the devotee Mallamma! He also got a wonderful blue saree and gifted it to her. He gave all the other girls sarees. As they crowded and almost mobbed around Him, He was sweetly telling them, "I will give all of you. I will give all." He then personally distributed white cloth pieces to all the boys. He accepted letters from many of them.. Blessing all of them, Swami returned to the stage. He asked for bhajans to be sung and blessed prasadam to be distributed to all. After 4-5 bhajans, Swami received Aarthi and left for Yajur Mandiram....!top

At about 9:50 am, the huge curtains began to part. It gave the feeling of the huge doors of some grand temple opening to reveal the diety. The 'veil' lifted and the Lord was seen. Two huge banners stating, "Saa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye", adorned the stage. Swami took His place in the centre and then Mr.Anil Gokak and his wife came on  stage and took their places by Him. Finally, Prof. Vishwanath Pandit, the Vice chancellor to be, also took his place. The programme began with Mr. Gokak and his wife being garlanded by the principals of the Prashanti Nilayam and Anantapur campuses respectively. Then Sri Rangarajan, a lecturer from the Business school, made the opening remarks and expressed gratitude to Mr. Gokak. Recounting the instances where he had shown a lot of care and concern for students just as Swami wants all His administrators to be, the speaker spoke of the glowing qualities of Mr. Gokak. Then he invited former VC, Sri. S. V. Giri to address the assembly after which he requested Mr.Anil Gokak to do the same.

Mr. Giri spoke of the glory of the story of the Institute. He too spoke of the sterling qualities of Mr. Gokak as well as those of Prof. Vishwanath Pandit. There was an applause as he concluded and Mr.Gokak rose to speak. He was overwhelmed by the nature of the ceremony being accorded to him. He recounted how his father had experienced Swami's divinity and had come to Him. He was almost in tears as he gratefully narrated Swami's love that had and has been bountiful on the family. He said that wherever he may be, he was sure that Swami would be with him always and he would work for Him always. He concluded his talk and after that, Swami rose to speak. There was a joyous applause and Swami began with a poem on the glory of Bharat. A detailed summary of His discourse is given below:

Bharatiyas are like the elephant. They do not have a measure of their own strength. An elephant is very powerful, but on man's command, it moves and sits. That is because it is not aware of its might. So too, the Bharatiyas do not realize the might they contain.  top
 

				click here to read the High light of Swami's Discourse-6th Aug 08

There is a lot of affluence today. But does anyone have peace of mind? Money gives worldly comforts but not spiritual bliss. Where does happiness come from? Bhajana Bina Sukh Shanti Nahi... (Swami sings the first line). Sing the Lord's name. Today, people study a lot and gain knowledge to a great extent. Of what use is it if you remain the same mean person and do not realize who you truly are? What you need today is the inculcation of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa. The six vices of desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride and jealousy are not human at all. You are all experiencing animal qualities today. That's why in spite of all the wealth, there is so much of restlessness.

Move therefore, from the realms of education to that of Educare. It means to bring out what is latent within. It is different from education which is external and worldly. There are so many colleges and professors in the world. Why is it that there is no peace and happiness? Peace is missing in the world because education is being used only for a living. Educare is related to the soul. The soul or Atma is everywhere, in the hearts of all beings. Remember, man is nothing but the Divine in human form. Seeing the body which is just a case, do not get deluded. The body is a case for holding the 5 values.  top
 

Sathya has no form and it is invisible. So too is the case with Dharma, Shanti and Prema. But though one cannot see Prema, one can feel the Love. And once one feels this love, there is no scope for hatred, anger or violence. Then automatically Ahimsa comes. Forgetting these five values, you keep running behind so many things. Keep telling yourself always, "I am a man, not an animal." You might have won great titles, be very rich and might be a scholar, but only the five values will safeguard and protect you. Alexander the great, conquering most of the world, landed in India. Crossing the Indus, he had a massive heart attack. The doctors said that He would not live long. So he expressed his desire, "When I am taken in the funeral procession, let my hands be outstretched. Let the world see that the great Alexander who conquered everything, is taking back nothing with him." Keep this Truth firmly in mind. Whoever you may be, you will return empty handed. You cannot take away even a grain of sand with you.
 

August, 10, 2008: Divine Discourse on Vice Chancellor changeover ceremony, 6th Aug 2008

The inner feelings are most important. The Gayathri mantra prays for illumination of the intellect. (Swami chanted the Gayathri mantra here). Even chanting the Aumkara is enough. That is educare. Acquire that and do not crave only for the secular education.

I knew Gokak even before he came here. He has spent so much time and learnt so much from me. Whenever I visited their home, they would take me to the Puja room. V.K.Gokak was the first VC. Students today are doing very well and are happy because of the good deeds of Gokak. He would follow Swami fully. Anil Gokak is the worthy son of a worthy father. He has completed three years and he retires in a worldly sense. But, both he and his wife, are always with me. Wherever they go, in their hearts they have Swami and the interests of the Institute. All their feelings are for me. He is always there for me and I am always there for him. I and Gokak are one and the same. And that is the TRUTH. Everything in the creation is nothing but the Creator. All are one, be alike to everyone. All acts, big and small, happen in accordance to God's will.  top

The sun is always present. Even in the night, the sun exists only that it is on the other side. Days and nights pass but the sun remains. So too is the case with God. He is above you, below you, in you and around you. Keep chanting His name. Never ever feel that you are away from God. If you are so, how is it that you are living? You and God are one. Lord Shiva is Ardhanarishwara - having both the male and female aspects. So man and woman too are Shiva. Do not have the God-devotee feeling. You are also God and God is you.
 

Do not feel that Gokak is leaving us. He is living with us! If we remove that I and mine, then you will realize there is nothing like accepting or relinquishing a post. When you say that,"This is my body," you are different from the body. The sun is reflected in the thousand pots filled with water. But the sun is one. So too, when you empty the water of feelings that lead to duality, only One remains. God is ONE. Today Gokak gives the post to Vishwanath Pandit who will be the new Vice Chancellor from tomorrow. Different people come and go, but it is only their bodies. They are always with Swami. You are all always with Swami and there is no coming or going. Do your duty well. This duty establishes a relationship with God and so duty is God. Gokak has discharged his duty extremely well.  top

All the future people who come and those who have come in the past too - all belong to Swami. I bring such noble and good people here for our students. Our students are very good. There is no comparison between them and the other students. They have no hatred or anger. The alumni have all come up in Life in the spirit of Love. Always keep spirituality at the head of everything. If the head remains fine, everything else is fine. Gather knowledge from all the lectures you hear. Do not distinguish and compare between lectures. Receive everything with Love. Whatever is thought, said or done must be in harmony. The heart, word and deed must be one. That is Educare. Your heart is your textbook. Follow it and then you will be good boys and good people. Good people become God's people.

Swami concluded the discourse. He asked Prof.Vishwanath Pandit to speak a few words and the professor did exactly that. Stating that being a man of few words, he had fewer words on such an overwhelming occasion, the professor thanked his predecessor for all the wonderful works done and prayed to Swami to use him as an instrument. As he concluded, Swami very lovingly blessed him and asked for the "Suvarna kankanam" (golden bracelets). First Swami put the bracelets to Mr. Gokak's wife and then calling Mr. Gokak, Swami placed bracelets on to both his wrists and blessed him as the audience applauded. Aarti began. At the same time, Swami blessed prasadam to be distributed to all. He sat for the complete Aarthi on stage and personally gave the prasadam to both the ex-VC and the next-VC! As He moved backstage, the new VC took padanamaskar. It was 12:15 pm as Swami left.

In the evening, Swami had agreed for a music programme by Ms. Sunanda Sharma. It was being placed at the lotus feet as part of the Parthi yatra by the youth of Himachal Pradesh. They were all seated in the centre of Kulwant hall. Swami arrived close to 5 pm and taking a detour between the youth from HP, He moved into the interview room. After a brief stay there, He came out. He sighted one of the lads sitting in the first row and asked him, "You were playing the dholak last time right?" That lad was really touched and thrilled. He nodded an affirmative. Swami also said, "That small boy was sitting in that corner last time. Now he is in the third line there." After a while of Veda chanting, Swami asked for the programme to begin.  top
 

Ms.Sunanda Sharma, an MA in Indian classical music from the Punjab University, went onstage and offered a rose to Swami. Taking namaskar, she came back and began the presentation with three Aumkaras. The first song, a Chota Khayal actually, was in raag Madhuvanti entitled, "Sai Gun Gao". She showed what nine years of rigorous training under an able guru in the Guru-shishya tradition can do to groom one's talent. Her performance was scintillating to say the least. She continued in the same vein as she sang "Bhool Jaave Sab Dukhve" (I forget all my sorrows).

Then she shifted over to singing Meera bhajans. She enchanted the audience with "Jogiya Tu Kabhahu Miloge" in raag Sindhubhairavi and then with another Meera bhajan in raag Kaapi. As she concluded, Swami called the 'Dholak player' and told him to find out how many songs she had still. When He was told that she had sung her quota, He asked, "One more song?" She was overjoyed and she responded with a song that seeks refuge at His lotus feet to cross the ocean of life. As she completed her rendition, Swami called her to the stage and materialised a gold chain for her. She was so happy and excited that she ran to the stage with the tambura still in her hand. It brought to one's mind the images of saint Mirabai running to her beloved Krishna. Swami was all smiles as He quickly placed the chain around her neck. Another lady came walking to the front and Swami told her to sit down. The singer told Swami, "My mother Swami." Swami said, "I know. And that is father..." He pointed to the person playing the harmonium and the parents were so very happy.

Swami then asked the students to start bhajans. As it went on, Swami asked the HP youth girls whether they were ready to sing as a group. So one bhajan later, they were asked to sing. Swami meanwhile called the artistes who accompanied the singer and gifted them clothes and paadanamaskar. He called the singer too and gave her a wonderful saree. The HP youth girls sang two songs, one on Lord Ganesha and the other on the mother goddess. Then Swami, the divine orchestrator that He is asked the students to continue. As bhajans of a very pacy nature went on, Swami asked for prasadam to be distributed. Chocolates went around sweetening the mouths after the ears had been sweetened by the musical feast. On the ladies side, the people distributing the chocolates to the youth, got back the box half full stating that everyone had received prasadam. Swami said, "Take it back and finish it. Its yours!" And through that simple act, all understood what it is to give wholly, the way God always does - no restrictions.

As the famous English quote says, "When it rains, it showers!" After two more bhajans, Swami received Aarthi and retired to Yajur Mandir at about 6:30pm.  read more details & highlights of Divine discourse  
 

Photos & Report 5th August 2008

and then went down from the stage to take group photographs with them, standing up for the photos. Once He returned onstage, He sent chocolates, clothes and vibhuti prasadam for them. Swami listened to a few minutes of bhajans by the HP group, followed by a bhajan by the students before accepting Arati at 6 pm. Prof. Anil Kumar was then asked to make an announcement about the Vice-Chancellor change ceremony tomorrow at the Poornachandra Auditorium. - Prasanthi Bulletin.   Read More Darshan news from today submitted to SBOI:  This afternoon Swami came for darshan at 4:30 p.m. in His mobile Thorne and took a right turn in front of the stage skipping gents darshan lines. As I type this email, a beautiful music programme by the Sai Youth of Himachal Pradesh is going on. Also, This evening Prof. Anil Kumar is speaking to the UK group.  Click here to read  the complete eye witness account  by a devotee from Puttaparthi (29th July - 5th Aug. 2008)  Also: read more details from 5th August Below:

Sai Baba Darshan update 4th Aug. -  Photos & Report 3rd August 2008

Monday, August 4, 2008
The day at Parthi was quite cloudy and a moisture laden breeze swept through refreshing the otherwise sweltering afternoon. Slowly, more and more clouds gathered and the day grew cooler and cooler. Early evening, the message was that Swami had permitted the youth from United kingdom to sit in front and have a short speech programme. The thick clouds soon gave way and a torrential downpour began. As the rain lashed on the Kulwant hall roof, the movements near Yajur Mandir indicated that Swami was about to arrive. Swami came in the car and after a short darshan round, came on stage. He enquired about the speakers for the afternoon. After a short while listening to the Vedas, Swami went into the interview room.
 

Swami came out and asked for the speeches to begin. The first speaker was an elderly lady devotee by name Josephine. She was helped to the stage and as she slowly walked, Swami was all compassion and love for her. He asked for the mike and podium to be immediately placed and then blessed her to begin. She seemed to be completely drenched in His love and overwhelmed at the wonderful opportunity. She spoke only for four minutes wherein she stated that all she wanted to convey was that everyone must have full faith in Swami and that was enough! As she concluded with "Sai Ram", Swami seemed surprised. He asked her smilingly and jokingly as to why her speech was so tiny. Blessing her, Swami asked for a chair to be placed for her to sit.

The next speaker was Mr. Ajit Popat. In his usual inimitable style he began with a sloka saluting the Lord. Centering his talk on the theme of "onward, forward, Godward", he spoke on a plethora of subjects ranging from faith and devotion to realizing the Self as the Swami within. He concluded after a little above 35 minutes and then Swami patted him lovingly for the effort. Then He asked for bhajans to begin. As per His command, the first bhajan was "Sri Raghunandana" with the aalaap. The next began with the Aalaap, "Allahu Akbar". As the singer travelled through the highs and extra highs of the opening tune, Swami was visibly moved. He even told Mr. Popat sitting beside him that the boy was singing so very high. Seeing Swami so moved, the youth sitting in front of Him too began shedding tears.

The Love that devotees have for Swami is so unique and complete, just like His Love for them. A smile on His face lights every other face similarly. A tear welling up in His eye as He is moved and there is a free flow of tears in all the thousands of eyes watching Him. He reflects the emotions and feelings of the devotees and they in their turn, reflect His emotions and feelings. Indeed beautiful is this unique relationship. As the bhajan reached its crescendo and the zenith of its rhythm, Swami asked for Aarthi. Swami retired to Yajur Mandir after that.

Photos & Report 3rd August 2008
There is a devout Muslim searching a good match for his daughter. In his daily interactions with the shopkeeper of the local grocery store, he discovers the power of prayer. The episode narrated here is of a very pious but poor lady who begs for food at the store. When the shopkeeper mockingly tells her that he would give her provisions equivalent to the weight of her shopping list, she takes the name of Allah and places the list on the scales. The scales get "tipped" so heavily in favour of the one taking the Lord's name that no amount of provisions seems to move the weighing balance! With the Lord's name, nothing is impossible. And so with the Lord's name on his lips, the devout Muslim is able to find a good match for his daughter. That lad is also devout and hardworking and helps a music teacher, Ram mohan, to run his music classes.  top
 

Some years after their wedding, on the holy day of Eid Ul-Fitr, a begger comes to their house and asks for alms. The protagonist argues with his wife that charity comes above family and his wife reluctantly parts with the food. He convinces her that Allah will take care of them and that she should not loose her faith. Before he could complete his sentence, a guest appears with lot of sweets for all of them to celebrate Eid and the wife regrets that she let her motherly anxiety overcome her faith.. Finally, there were simple dances and songs in praise of Bhagawan.

As the programme concluded, Bhagawan called a little girl (one of the children in the story) and materialised a gold chain for her and put it lovingly around her neck. He also blessed them posing for group photographs. Bhagawan then permitted them to sing bhajans. Very creatively and nicely, they sang Bhajans, each threaded into the other. After the singing went on for about 15 minutes, Bhagawan blessed the prasadam to be distributed and then retired after receiving Aarthi.  and see more Photos  top

 - Source: Photo slides & text: www. sssbpt.org - Graphic art: saibabaofindia.com - Below Submitted Photos SBOI GROUP
 

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This morning Swami did not come out to give Darshan . In the afternoon, Swami arrived for Darshan at 4.40pm and immediately called the Italian group for an Interview, which lasted for 50mins. After which Swami emerged from the Interview room and entered the Mandir. Swami accepted the Aarthi and left for Yajur Mandiram at 6.00pm.   top

Bhagawan arrived onstage. After an introductory song, a visually-challenged devotee presented a few songs and a couple of medleys on the accordion. As group songs followed, Swami called her up and interacted with her. Bhajans by the UK devotees was followed by Bhajans by the students at 5.30 pm till Bhagawan accepted Arati at 5.45 pm.  Devotees from Kuwait presented a skit entitled 'Faith & Surrender', a drama based on the power of Prayer.  top

 Healing Golden Lingam Wallpaper Photos