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Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at
Prasanthi Nilayam
April 2, 2004
Lovingly shared by Raghu Bhat
Afternoon
Excerpts from Prof. Anil Kumar's Talk
Swami came around 3.20 p.m. in the afternoon. Vedam chanting went
on for some time. Suddenly, Swami called Prof. Anil Kumar and
asked him to speak. What followed was a torrent of beautiful
messages, experiences and Telugu poems of Swami. The talk was very
inspiring. He went on for around half an hour plus and stopped.
There was a loud applause. Swami asked him to continue and we had
another half an hour plus.
Excerpts of his talk:
We all may be wondering why Swami has started this practice of
Vedam chanting in the Mandir both in the morning and in the
evening. This is the very Mission of Swami. The first vow is
Dharma Samsthapana ? restoring the practice of Dharma ? not
establishment of Dharma. Once when I mentioned reestablishment of
Dharma, Swami said ? No wrong. Dharma need not be established. It
is always there. Only it's practice has declined. The second vow
is Veda Samrakshana. Today all around the world devotees of Swami
are learning Vedam chanting and are looking into its meaning. Mere
hearing of these chants is also beneficial to all, though we may
not be able to chant. Today is a very special day as it is the
combination of two festivals. One ?
Bakri Id and the other Bhishma Ekadasi
Bhishma Ekadasi is the day when Bhishma was lying on the bed of
arrows and
Lord Krishna asked the Pandavas to go to him so as to learn from
him. Once in Kodaikanal, Swami very beautifully narrated this
episode. Bhishma asked Krishna as to why He was sending the
Pandavas to him. For the Lord could Himself talk to them. Then
Krishna explains how, since He was talking, walking and laughing
with them, the Pandavas did not realize His true Divinity and
hence would not appreciate what He said so much. Therefore, He
wanted Bhishma to act as His instrument. Saying so, Swami made a
remark that it is just like Swami asking some people to speak
before His Discourse.
Bhishma chanted the Vishnu Sahasranaama on this day, teaching the
Pandavas the Truth about the Lord and inspiring them to rise from
the Human level to the Divine level.
On the other hand, today happens to be the Bakri Id festival. What
is it about? Ibrahim, the devotee of the Lord is ready to
sacrifice even his son for the sake of the Lord. When Ibrahim is
about to slaughter his son, an ethereal voice is heard which tells
him to stop the act. The Lord declares that this was only a test.
Ibrahim need not kill his son. He could sacrifice a sheep instead.
From this people have concluded that sheep must be slaughtered on
this day. But Swami explains that what needs to be sacrificed is
not the animal sheep but the animal qualities within ourselves.
Even during Dussera Yajnam, Swami says that true sacrifice is
sacrificing the animality in us. Thus Bakri Id helps us to get
over this animality.
Hence, Bakri Id on one hand inspires us to move from the Animal
level to the Human level, while Bhishma Ekadasi implores us to
move further from the Human level to the Divine level.
It is the very same Lord who is with us here today. These days
there are many miracles taking place all over the world. Here are
two recent happenings:
The first one happened right here in the Mandir just a week back.
The grandfather of one Music College student had come to get the
wedding card of his daughter blessed by Swami. He contacted me
(Prof. Anil Kumar) and asked me whether I could get it blessed by
Swami. I said, "I dare not". He then asked whether I could at
least get him a seat in the first row. I told him that I myself
was not sure of my seat tomorrow, them how could I get him a seat.
He was disappointed but went his way. The next day, he sat in the
fifteenth row with a cup of Akshatam (yellow rice) and the wedding
card in his hands. Swami's car passed by and he stretched out the
card as though Swami's hands would stretch out and reach for it.
Nothing happened apparently. Swami finished His rounds and went
into the Interview room. This man came running to me and said with
excitement, "Anil Kumar, you could not get me a seat in the first
row, but see, Swami has blessed me". Saying so, he showed a gold
Mangal Sutra that had automatically materialized on the bowl of
Akshatam as Swami's car went past him. I too was drowned in Bliss
and joy.
The other experience is related to a village called Chilukur in
Khammam district. The district President himself narrated this to
me. The youth of this district went to this abandoned village a
month back and did service there. They found the village temple in
a dilapidated condition and so got it painted, renovated?. Pooja
was performed by the village priest. And they went back home. In
the afternoon, Ghee started pouring out from Swami's photo that
was kept in the temple. Pure, fragrant Ghee!! Later in the
evening, Kumkum started appearing on another photo of Swami. This
is Bhagawan's omnipresence. Once, Ramabrahmam, the erstwhile
caretaker of Trayee Brindavan told me, "Anil Kumar, when you talk
with Swami, be careful. He will laugh, talk and cut jokes with
you. But remember always that He is God, He is God, He is God".
Swami, please help us so that we do not get deluded. Help us to
see you everywhere.
What is true devotion? Is it plucking leaves from plants and
offering them to God? No, this will only cause pain to the plants.
We must offer the leaf of our body (Deha Patram). Is it plucking
the flowers from the plants and offering them as garlands to the
Lord? No. No. The flowers will cry out that they look so beautiful
on the plants. The moment they come into our company, they get
dried up. So, we must offer the flower of our pure mind (Mano
Pushpam). Then is it plucking fruits from the trees and making an
offering? If we do so, the parrots will cry that we have taken
away their food. Therefore, what we need to offer is the fruits of
our action (Karma Phalam). Finally, what water must we offer to
God. Is it the water from the Ganges. There is already a shortage
of water in the rivers. If we take away that too, there will be
water conflicts. Hence, we must offer the tears of our joy and
Bliss to God (Ananda Bhashpamu).
Once in Brindavan, as Swami was sitting inside Trayee, He saw one
boy sitting outside plucking the leaves from a plant and
scratching them with his nails. Swami asked whose son was it. A
VIP came forward. Swami asked him to tell his son not to do that.
I went forward and made bold to say, "Swami, after all he is a
young boy". Swami instantly replied, "What do you know of the
pain. If I pinch you, then you will come to know. Trees also have
life in them and they also feel the pain". This is the concern
that Swami has even for plants.
On another occasion, Swami was giving me an individual photograph.
I deliberately stood as close to Swami as possible. Swami asked me
to move a little far. I asked, "Why Swami?" Swami pointed to a
beautiful flower on a plant just behind us and said, "Move a
little far. That flower is more beautiful than you. Let it also
come in the photograph". Such is the Love of Swami.
On yet another occasion, Swami was giving individual photographs
to students. I was standing far and watching the whole show. He
called me closer and asked me as to what I was seeing. I replied
that I was watching how each student came one by one and walked
away while Swami kept standing so patiently. Swami replied, "Yes.
I am the never changing one. I am eternal. Boys come and go!!"
Dear Swami, help us to journey from the animal to the human and
from the human to the Divine as symbolized by the two festivals
today.
Concluded
Source:
http://10815.tripod.com/bakri-id/bakri-id.htm
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