Dear Friends,
The 79th Anniversary of the Advent of the Sai Avatar was celebrated with
great divine gaiety at Prashanti Nilayam today 23rd Nov'04. At around 6.45
am the Lord arrived wearing a white robe, and blessed all present both
inside and outside Sai Kulwant Hall. He was a divine joy to behold!
Heralding the entry of the Lord were the Vedam boys, as well as his
students dressed colourfully playing the band - both simultaneously. Of
course the band played 'Happy Birthday' with all present clapping in tune
with the music, among other tunes. After Bhagwan had settled down
into his Chair, two lectures were delivered, one by
Dr.Goldstein, an American physician residing in southern California,
and a great devotee of Bhagwan, and Mr. G.Venkatraman the renowned Indian
Physicist.
After these 2 devotees, had related their experiences with Swami, it was
the turn of the Birthday Boy - Bhagwan himself, to address the gathering.
He mentioned in his speech, his long association with Dr. Goldstein, and
how he had told him not to travel on a particular flight out of Bombay,
and how Dr. Goldstein was very keen to travel on that particular flight as
his tickets had already been purchased and he did'nt want to forego the
large sum of money. Bhagwan even told him to forget about the money, but
Dr. Goldstein was determined to travel.........and many of you might
already know that the flight was hijacked, and both Goldstein and his wife
had a harrowing experience. Of course his wife called out to Bhagwan for
help and they were not harmed at all. Bhagwan also praised Nehru and
Subhash Chandra Bose in the course of his lecture and mentioned that
Bose's daughter Anita had visited his Ashram in Kodai Kanal, and had spent
a considerable amount of time, travelling with Bhagwan. He also mentioned
the time he had a fall in the bathroom at Whitefield and injured his hip
bone, and how all the doctors had told him that if he underwent an
operation, he would be bed-ridden. But Bhagwan did have the operation, and
when his doctors wanted to bandage the area he refused, and how he
recovered without any medicines at all. The doctors had also informed him
that he should not stand for long periods of time, and here he was
standing for one hour to deliver his lecture. Bhagwan also stated to a
thunderous applause that he NEVER feels any PAIN. He then asked if he
looks his age - 79 years, and of course the instant retort was a big NO.
He said he had no wrinkles etc, and would continue looking the way he does
now even when he is 90 years old. He stressed the need for SEVA, and said
that his devotees should be prepared to sacrifice, while performing SEVA,
just as Bhagwan has made sacrifices for the SEVA of his devotees. He ended
his lecture with the bhajan, 'Sai bhajan bina sukh shaanti nahin'. After
this he cut his Birthday Cake in the Mandir. There were several cakes for
Bhagwan. he left Sai Kulwant Hall at 9.40 am.
In the afternoon Bhagwan entered Sai Kulwant Hall at 3.30 pm, and after
listening to the Vedam boys went into the Mandir. He came out at about
4.15, with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, who left Kulwant Hall
immediately. At 4.30 Parveen Sultana first sang a raga, ane then a few
Meera Bhajans, followed by some Sai Bhajans.
Bhagwan thoroughly enjoyed her
performance, and after the aarti was performed, left the Hall at about
5.30 pm.
Thus ended the 79th Birthday celebrations of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba,
With Sai Love.
Denaz
Sai Ram brothers and sisters,
This morning Bhagwan came for darshan as usual at 7 am and stayed till
about 8.30 am.
In the afternoon the Convocation commenced at 3 pm and Bhagwan came,
standing in an open car along with Mr. Rasgotra, the Chief Guest. Mr.
Rasgotra was Foreign Minister, and Indian High Commissioner to the United
Kingdom, and this is the 2nd time he was attending the Convocation as
Chief Guest. It began with Swami declaring the convocation open, after
which the students took their pledge. Then Swami distributed medals to
outstanding students. The Gold medal for the best all round student was
awarded to Miss Deepti Baghia, and Swami materialised a chain for her, of
course putting it around her neck.
After this Mr.Rasgotra delivered a lecture, following which the Chancellor
of the Satya Sai Institute for Higher Learning - Swami, delivered his
Lecture. The essence of his lecture was Transcendental Divinity and Love.
He ended his lecture by mentioning that Ms Deepti Baghia, the most
outstanding all round student has been diabetic since birth. However Swami
has told her to carry on with her life without taking any medicines, and
that he would look after her. So Deepti has lead an absolutely normal
life. She reads a lot, works very hard, and has full faith in Swami. Swami
said that even if her blood is tested today it will have a very high sugar
level, but her blood sugar will NEVER harm her. This is his way of curing
her. She still has sugar in her blood but it will never affect her ever.
Deepti's father is a doctor, and professor at the Puttaparthi campus.
After Swami's lecture there was a break for 30 mins after which his post
graduate students performed an English Play at the Purnachandra
Auditorium. So is was a busy and most enjoyable afternoon, and evening at
Prashanti Nilayam.
With Sai Love,
Denaz
Posted on 22-11-2004
Sai Ram to all my Sai brothers sisters,
Prashanti Nilayam is really crowded right now, and more devotees are
expected tomorrow, to attend the Convocation of the Sri Satya Sai
Institute for Higher Learnig. The atmosphere is charged with emotion,
feeling, reverence, and great devotion. It feels really great to be here
in the presence of the Divine Lord. His newly constructed Living Quarters
look wonderfully majestic but Swami has not moved in yet, and nobody knows
when He will.
This morning, Bhagwan arrived for darshan at around 7 am and sat listening
to the Vedam Boys till about 8.15 am, when he went into the Mandir. He
came out at 8.30 am and then left Sai Kulwant Hall. Thereafter the Bhajan
commenced and ended at 9 am.
The afternoon's programme comprised of speeches by 2 members of a group of
180 from the United Kingdom. Thereafter bhajans were sung by a group of
devotees from Brazil. They sang popular bhajans but had changed the tunes
and music of some of the bhajans so they sounded really nice & lively, and
were greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all. After them there was a
Shehnai recital which Swami really enjoyed, and he moved his right
index finger to the beat of the music.
Swami materialised a ring for the gentleman, and also gave him a shawl, while the musicians from Brazil were presented with saris and Kurtas/Pyjamas. Thus ended the days programme and Swami left Sai Kulwant
Hall at 5.45 pm.
With Sai Love,
Your Sai sister
Denaz
Posted on 21-11-2004
Sai Ram to all my dear Sai
brothers and sisters,
This morning there was no special programme at Prashanti. Swami came as
usual, sat listening to the Vedam boys, and then went in to the Mandir. He
came out again at 9 am for the bhajan, and left Sai Kulwant Hall at 9.30
am.
In the afternoon, Swami came
early, at 2.30 pm. A Dance Drama in Kannada, depicting episodes from the
Ramayana was staged by the boys and girls of Swami's school in Alikke,
which is near Mangalore in Karnataka. It lasted for about an hour and 25
mins, and at the end of it Swami seemed very pleased, and smiled a big
smile. He called the boy who played the part of Ram, materialised a chain
for him, and even put it around his neck. Next he called for the main
singer and materialised a ring for him. After this all the boys and girls
who participated, took photographs with him in their colourful costumes.I
was told the costumes were very heavy. which makes movement difficult.
However when Swami's students perform before him, attired with heavy or
light costumes, they perform with relative ease, and so it was, with the
students of Alikke. Bhajans commenced after the dance drama at 4.30 pm,
and Swami left Sai Kulwant Hall by 5 pm, after the participants did Aarti
to him.
With Sai Love,
Your Sai sister
Denaz
Posted on 20-11-2004
Sai Ram to all my dear Sai
brothers and Sisters,
Since I am in Prashanti Nilayam right now I thought I'd share the days
programme with all of you. Today is Ladies Day, and it was celebrated with
great gusto at Prashanti. The morning's programme commenced with a short
speech by Mrs. Chetna Shah, the wife of Mr. Indulal Shah, who is the
National Convenor of the Satya Sai Seva Samitis. Tributes were paid to the
great Mother of Mothers Eashwaramma, and the Eashwaramma Seva Project for
under-privileged women was unveiled by Swami. After Mrs. Chetna Shah, came
the turn of Dr. Geeta Reddy, the Tourism Minister of Andhra Pradesh, who
is also a Gynaecologist, who spoke of how Swami has influenced every
aspect of her life. She spoke of how she lost her parents early in
life and of how Swami has guided her all throughout. How Swami's message
should be our life, and that his life should be our message. She has
traveled the world over in her capacity as tourism minister, and found to
her surprise that even in the Vatican City there are as many as seven Sai
Centres!!
After her a Greek lady called Helen shared her experiences with Swami,
whichwere indeed most overwhelming and moving. She spoke of the time she
was performing relief work among the refugees of Bosnia. One night when
she visited them to give them food with the help of a torchlight,
she took along photos of Swami. When the refugees saw his photos they
began mumbling among themselves. Since she couldn't understand the
language, she turned to the soldiers for help, who in turn informed her
that they were saying that this man in a saffron robe had been visiting
them everyday giving them food, and that they all knew him!! What a
wonderful miracle. Swami is really omnipresent. Helen and the Satya Sai
Centre were among the first to provide relief in war torn Iraq as well. On
one occasion they had taken along several tons of wheat powder (atta), and
the Iraqis told them that they should have instead brought along milk
powder as this was urgently required. For some reason milk powder could
not be procured by Helen and she felt awfully dejected. Just then she saw
a boy taking out some of the powder, and putting it in his mouth. Of
course she told him not to, as it was wheat powder. Lo and behold, the boy
told her that it tasted like MILK powder. She says all the several tons
of wheat powder had turned to milk powder ...........what a wonderful
leela. Then again Helen was arrested by the Iraqi Police one morning and
was kept in custody from 0930 hrs with her hands tied and
blindfolded. Throughout she could feel Swami's presence by her side, and
knew she would be released soon. Of course she was released that night
itself. After this Saris, and prasadam were distributed, and I received an
apple as prasadam.
The afternoons programme comprised
of a musical session by children from the United Kingdom. This was
followed by Bhajans rendered by Anuradha Paudwal in her beautiful,
melodious voice. She was accompanied by her son Aditya. Swami enjoyed her
bhajans immensely, and materislised vibhuti for her. The highlight of the
afternoons session was a dance programme performed by schoolgirls
from Secunderabad. Their last item was a classical dance come balancing
act with diyas on their heads and in their hands and were heartily
applauded by all. Swami stood talking to them for quite a while and
presented each girl with a small box (contents unknown). Then he called
for more boxes, and each girl was presented with one more. They looked
like velvet jewellery boxes to me.
Thus ended the days programme.
Sai Ram to you all
Denaz
POSTED ON 19-11-2004
LOVINGLY CONSENTED TO SHARE BY
DENAZ ROY
HOME PAGE
COURTESY SAIBABA NEWS
|