Parthi Update
HERE WE
ARE?
EVENING
SESSION
!!!
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
TO
BELOVED
SWAMI
!!!
Sairam.
The experience that we all had this evening is unforgettable. We have
never witnessed something like this ever before. We have been
literally transported into some other world. We will now try to take
you through a feel of this experience, though words will surely fail
to do that.
We
assemble in the Shanti
Vedika grounds on the green mats by
It
is
Pandit
Shiv Kumar Sharma and other artistes seek
His Blessings. It is
The
stage has been brightly lit. The lotus petals in the background are
beautifully illuminated with a rose colour
light. Above the stage on a metal structure, a number of lights are
arranged to add colour to the show.
Pandit Shiv
Kumar Sharma has performed even on Swami's 60th and 70th Birthday. He
considers this as his greatest fortune. Melodious
Santoor charges the air in the stadium. After a scintillating
performance, he concludes his fascinating piece with ?Baba We Love
You? chorus. The whole stadium breaks into applause.
The
next artiste is Ustad
Amjad Ali Khan on the Sarod with
his sons Amaan and
Ayaan. The clock strikes 5.30 as they take over the stage. His
first piece is titled 'Truth' and is specially
composed for Bhagawan's Birthday. The second piece is
Ragupati Raghava
Raja Ram. The audience receives the performance very well.
The
backdrop on the dais where Swami is seated is visible clearly to us.
There are pillars dividing the backdrop into arches with floral
decorations on the top of the arches. The opening leading to the
backstage has been made up very professionally with silk and flowers.
The
next artiste is Begum Parveen Sultana -
the queen of Hindustani Classical Music. She has had the privilege of
performing on most of Swami's Birthdays. She sings her common hit
songs ? Sai Tero Maya
Aparampaar, Payoji
Mene Nama
Ratana Dhana
Payo and Sai Ram Sai Ram
Sumirana Karo.
As she concludes, the evening light gets dimmer. All the decorative
lights in the stadium come on. Above the hill we find cute coconut
trees made of just lights. The Ad Block and Museum on the hill are
illuminated with colours that keep
changing from time to time. Looks majestic!
At
At
At
The
final performance is by Richa Sharma who
sings a Bhajan in her unique style. The moment she completes her
performance, the lights in the stadium go dim and the Laser show
begins once again. This time there are many more laser beams spreading
across the stadium from even the Hanuman hill top. Thousands of beams
spread crazily across the grounds but with flawless precision. Some
beams stop abruptly in mid air with a dot while others form patterns
on whatever they strike. Loud music with heart throbbing beats
fill the air. Suddenly from nowhere,
rockets spring into the skies and burst forth with
colourful stars. The rockets were blasted
off from the college campus and also from the Ad Block Hills. For the
next 15 minutes or so we all are gripped with awe and wonder.
The
display of fireworks is too spectacular. The frequency with which they
are shot into the sky and their bursting forth into clusters of
colourful sparks ? red, green, gold,
silver?all this leave us wonderstruck. Soon the sky is full of smoke
but then piercing this smoke the rockets go through and emerge with
bright sparks. We literally feel that we are watching the Big Bang. It
looks as though galaxies after galaxies are exploding and imploding,
thus giving birth to the Universe.
All
the while, Bhagawan keeps watching the display in the sky, possibly
laughing at our wonder and surprise at this seemingly great display.
After all for Him, this would be something like lighting a small match
stick. For He is the One who is the source of the
Big Bang. He is the power in all these crackers and also the
splendour inherent in their manifestation.
After this brilliant presentation of fireworks, all the artistes came
down from the stage and walk upto the
Shanti Vedika
dais and go onto the dais towards Bhagawan. The screen comes down. But
we can see Swami interacting with them for a long time.
At
All
this while, another song specially composed for the occasion is being
played on the system. Aashayen Mile
Dil Ki,
Ummide Hasen
Dil Ki?.As the
Toyota Porte glides along the pathway, we catch our last glimpse of
His beautiful face on this holy day.
Surprisingly, the drizzle that is on all this while suddenly stops. It
seems as though Mother Nature has put on her A/c so long as the
programme is on ? for the audience. The moment the programme is over
and the audience starts leaving, she promptly switches off the A/c.
Another important point is that even though there is a drizzle all
along, it is so beautiful. It is neither too light nor too heavy. The
drops fall on us like dew drops and settle
down like pearls on our faces and body. It is Bhagawan?s way of
Prasadam distribution!! We feel as though Swami has cleansed all our
bodies and minds and given us a fresh lease of life.
As
the car moves out of the stadium, the crowds start dispersing to their
destinations. We return to the Hostel with a feeling of immense joy
and fulfillment. Expressing gratitude to Bhagawan for having given us
an opportunity to witness such a grand event we also pay our silent
gratitude to the coordinators of this mega event who have planned
every bit of it so meticulously. There were a hundred odd things to be
planned and executed. All of it went on with clockwork precision and
with no lapses whatsoever. It is all due to His Love and Grace.
Let
us all surrender ourselves at the Lotus Feet of this compassionate
Lord and as a mark of our Love for Him, let us all make every possible
attempt to follow His Message and Teachings to redeem our lives and to
bring that lovely smile on His face.
Sairam.
Shared by A Anantha Vijaya - Posted on 24.11.2005
Proceedings of XXIV Convocation of SSSIHL
Bhagawan's Message
Posted by Anantha Vijaya
12-11-2005
Today being the second Saturday of the month of November, we know that it is time for the Global Akhanda Bhajans. The family of Dr. Padmanabhan, whom we often find walking behind Bhagawan at Brindavan Ashram, came into the Divine Fold of Bhagawan way back in 1944. A year later, to commemorate their entry under the Divine Umbrella, they had planned to have a long, non-stop Bhajan at their house in Bangalore. When they informed Swami about this, Bhagawan immediately responded saying that He would come over there to Bless the occasion.
The family was taken by surprise for they had never expected this. They hardly had made any arrangements and it was meant to be just a small family affair! They sent back a message informing Swami about this but even before their message could reach Bhagawan, they received a telegram stating that Swami had already started for Bangalore!! Rest is history?This is how the concept of Akhanda Bhajans began.
Years later, when the International Sri Sathya Sai Organization came into existence, the Akhanda Bhajans became a global affair. This evening at 6.00 p.m. Bhajans will commence at Prashanti Nilayam. Samithis in respective nations start the Bhajans at 6.00 p.m. according to their local time. Therefore, at some point, the sacred vibrations of Bhajans will envelope the entire globe, initiating a massive cleansing of the minds. Let us all actively participate in chanting the name of the Lord.
This evening, Swami came out at around 3.30 p.m. and proceeded to the grounds as He has been doing everyday. He returned at 4.10 p.m. and went straight into PC. We all sat in Kulwant Hall waiting eagerly for our Lord. The Bhajan Hall was packed to its full. At 5.45 p.m. the Toyota Porte glided into the Kulwant Hall. All the lights came on instantly, including the chandeliers and the series lighting across the roof of the Hall. The entire place was shining brilliantly welcoming our Lord.
Swami went straight into the Bhajan Hall. To everybody?s delight, Swami stood up from His chair and took a few steps to light the ceremonial lamp. There was loud applause. A few minutes later, the Omkaram began marking the commencement of the Akhanda Bhajans. Swami sat in the Bhajan Hall until 7.00 p.m. The mikes were kept on even after Swami retired and were put off only at 8.00 p.m.
This morning, Swami came out for Darshan at 9.40 a.m. He came and went inside the Interview Room. He called a few people inside and after a while proceeded to the Bhajan Hall. Bhajans had started at 9.00 a.m. itself. Swami retired to PC at 10.10 a.m. while Aarti was offered at 10.30 a.m. These days this occurrence is very common. Bhagawan retires to Poornachandra even as the Bhajans go on. After a while, when He retires to His room, usually ten to fifteen minutes later, Aarti is offered in the Bhajan Hall.
13-11-2005
Sairam. This morning, Bhagawan came out for Darshan at 7.20 a.m. The mikes for the singers were put on at 6.00 a.m. itself. Bhagawan sat inside the Bhajan Hall for a while and then went into the interview room. There was a possibility that He would go to the Institute for watching the rehearsal of the Convocation Drama and also for inaugurating the new ?Humanities Block? that has been constructed in the College Campus. However, He went straight to PC at 8.30 a.m. and retired for the morning.
The cooks in the canteen are busy preparing the Prasadam for the Akhanda Bhajan. Puliyora (Tamarind Rice) and Sakar Pongal (Sweet Rice) which will be served to all this evening after Aarti. The crowds are huge and the Hall was packed yesterday evening. The main road outside the Ashram leading to Yenumulapally, along the Institute and the Hostel is being redone. The tar laying machines and equipments are working non-stop to get the roads ready in time for the Birthday. The Stadium is also busy with a number of Seva Dals engaged in decorating the ground.
In the evening, Bhagawan was out by 3.30 p.m. The Prasadam Coordination and arrangement task began at 4.00 p.m. with tractor loads of Puliyora and Sakar Pongal being delivered from the Canteen into the Kulwant Hall. Students were also passing on bowls of Prasadam across long human chains, shifting the vessels from the Canteen to the Mandir. By 5.15 p.m. all arrangements were completed. We were all set for the distribution. Swami sat inside the Bhajan Hall for most of the time and at sharp 6.00 p.m. Aarti was offered.
Few minutes later, signal was given to commence the Prasadam distribution. Swarms of students spread themselves across the dozens of bays in the Kulwant Hall, distributing Prasadam to the devotees. As the distribution was taking place, Swami came out in His chair, moved across the portico and proceeded towards the gents? side of the Kulwant Hall. He moved along the rows of students who were seated in neat bays receiving Prasadam. As He approached the Primary School boys, the young children who were waiting for His Presence, spontaneously started chanting Brahmarpanam Brahamahavir Mantra. Following this they partook the Prasadam. Watching this, Swami was overjoyed!! A good lesson for all of us. Well, that's the news as of now. We'll get back again with further details.
A Anantha Vijaya
Shared by A Anantha Vijaya - Posted on 14.11.2005 |