The month of Celebration at
Prasanthi Nilayam
November 2000We had
Swami’s grace to be in the Prasanthi Nilayam in the month of
November 2000. As we entered the place we saw a lot of activities
going on in the premises and were wondering what they were. We
arrived on 6th of November, and there were many more days left
for the birthday. But there was mass cooking in the premises and
hundreds of buses and lorries were going out in the morning with
Swami’s children (students) and volunteers. So, I inquired where
they were going. I learned that they were going out daily during
this month to villages to deliver food and clothes for men. Swami
wanted the volunteers to go to the villages and deliver the
service at their place, rather than expecting them to come over to
Prasanthi Nilayam.
The activities can be grouped
under the following topics:
- Narayana Seva
- Ahandanamam Bhajan
- Conference of world delegates
- Sri Sathya Sai Viratha Kalpam
- Rathotsavam
- Opening of the Chaitanya Jyoti
( Museum of Swami’s life history)
- The Ladies day
- Opening of the Music College
- Convocation
- Swami’s Birthday
- New Super Speciality Hospital
in Bangalore
1. Narayana Seva: The
distribution of food and clothes was a massive project undertaken
to commemorate Swami’s 75th Birthday. Food and clothes were
delivered to 10 million people in different villages during this
month. Furthermore, the devotees who arrived at Prasanthi Nilayam
were provided with free food for seven days from November 18th to
24th. It is humanly impossible to perform such a big task. It was
done very smoothly and orderly without any hitch because of
Bhagawan’s grace. Volunteers were working all night cooking food
and carrying them to villages in the early morning. The whole
night you hear the Bhajans and Chorus of chanting “Om Sairam” by
the volunteers who prepare the food. Since this chanting was
coming from the hearts of the volunteers, it was very melodious to
the ears and made you listen to them rather than fall asleep.
During this period, Swami was actively supervising the operations,
and blessed the students before they went out to do Narayana
Seva.
2. Ahandanamam Bhajan: We
were very fortunate to participate in the ahandanamam bhajan which
was conducted in the presence of the Divine in the Saikulwant
hall. The hall was overflowing with devotees. Towards the end of
the bhajan, the number of devotees waiting outside the hall were
more than those inside. Swami was present in the Bhajan hall most
of the time and showered his grace on the devotees. Frequently
Swami came out and blessed those waiting outside. The Bhajans were
of a very high calibre and a strong vibration was felt. Lakhs of
devotees came to participate in the occasion. The Hall was well
decorated and made you feel that you were in Vaikundam or Kailasam
or “Sorkam”. Different decorations were done every day from 17th
to 23rd of November.
3. 7th World Conference
was inaugurated on the 20th of November by Divine Hands at the
Saikulwant Hall. Swami was very kind to give a discourse on that
occasion. The following day two sessions were conducted. The first
covered the period from Swami’s birth to age 25. All were
delighted to see some of Swami's classmates and contemporaries
who described their young days with Swami and specific Leelas of
Swami they experienced. It was like a dream to hear from the real
people, who were with Swami and experienced His Leelas, about what
we knew only from books. The second session covered the period
from age 26 to age 50. Many of the speakers were people who
associated with Swami during this period. Third and Fourth
sessions were conducted on 22nd of November. The third session
covered the period from age 51 to age 75. More eminent speakers
were there because more and more intellectuals joined the Divine
Service during this period. They emphasized on the teachings of
Baba and requested that we follow the Divine Teachings in our life
and do service which is the greatest of all sadhanas to reach God.
The fourth session was about the
future of Sai activities. Jumsai the great scientist and the
sponsor of “HUMAN VALUE IN EDUCATION” gave an excellent speech
and received a big ovation from the participants. He used graphs
to show how the introduction of Human Values in education will
spread in the near future and later. According to him , about 75%
of the schools all over the world will teach human values in
schools by the year 2015, and by the year 2020 most of the schools
in the world will follow suit. That means the Sai message will
reach almost everyone before Swami leaves this physical body. The
President of the Conference requested every one to make sacrifice
towards Sai Service. He also stated that a permanent place for
each centre is essential to do the service effectively in this
critical time when we have to accelerate our activities to reach
the goal.
4. Sri Sathya Sai Viratha
Kalpam: This is similar to Sathya Narayana Pooja. Limited
number of families were allowed to participate in this event. As
the registration was done on the day of our arrival, we missed the
opportunity to participate. The families were allowed to sit
together and perform the pooja on this occasion. Learned Brahmins
were there to conduct this ceremony. The Saikulwant hall was
overflowing with devotees watching the ceremony. Swami was there
physically to bless the participants and other devotees.
5. Rathotsavam held on the
morning of 18th November was very beautiful. Sai Geetha was well
decorated for the occasion, and was leading the procession. The
Deities were taken in a well decorated Chariot (Ratham ) from
Prasanthi Nilayam to Swami’s Sivan Kovil in a procession
accompanied by Nathaswaram and Thavil music. Rathotsavam is an
annual festival which started with Swami’s blessings. This is one
of the few events where the procession passes through the Main
Gopuram.
6. Opening of CHAITANYA JYOTHI
also took place on the same morning. If you attend Rathotsavam you
may not be able to get a proper place in the new museum named as
“Chaitanya Jyothi”. So we decided to go for the opening ceremony.
As delegates for the 7th world Conference, we were invitees for
the ceremony and had the Divine Grace to receive a very good spot
to sit. Swami came very close to us and blessed us. To be close to
Swami within few feet and receive his graceful look was exciting
and blissful. The ceremony was very colourful. The next day
special passes were issued by Swami’s grace to the delegates so
that they could visit the Museum. As we were delegates from
Canada, we got the pass. The Building was designed by a famous
architect from Malaysia (Chinese by birth), and is a donation from
Malaysians. It is a marvellous piece of work, and has a distinct
design. The museum is dedicated to the life story of Swami.
Paintings, photographs, specimens, models, video and other things
depicting different incidents, miracles, and Swami’s life were
exhibited very nicely.
7. Ladies day was
celebrated on the 19th of November. Almost all the activities were
performed by ladies. Even the discourse by Swami was translated by
a lady. Normally men go round the Mandir chanting the mantras
after the Suppirapatham. But on this day only the ladies were
chanting the mantras and went round the Mandir. They presented a
nice cultural program. Sarees were distributed by Swami to ladies.
8. Inauguration of the Music
College took place on the 20th of November. The project was
done with a donation from an Indonesian devotee. The front of the
building was decorated with giant size models of different musical
instruments so that there is no need to display it’s name as Music
College. Recruitment of staff and other activities have already
started , and classes may start in the next academic year. Classic
music from different cultures all over the world may be taught
there. This includes vocal and instrumental music.
9. The Convocation of
Institute of Higher Learning took place in the afternoon of
the 22nd of November. Various dignitaries and Scholars attended
the occasion. One Federal Minister was the Chief Guest. Swami’s
discourse on this occasion was an exemplary piece of advice to the
graduates and other students to cherish it in their hearts and
practice it in their life. Nowhere in the world the graduates were
given such a worthy piece of advice when they go out to the
society. These graduates are extremely lucky people.
10. 75th Birthday celebrations
of Swami was the climax of all events. Devotees started moving
towards the Hill View Stadium as early as 1 a.m. on this day for
the function to be held at 7 a.m. so that they get a suitable
place to watch the ceremony. The stadium was almost full at 7 a.m.
when Swami arrived in the chariot. SaiGeetha was leading the
procession. She was well decorated. The crowd was spread all over
such that those staying far away were not be able to see Swami
clearly. To help these people, giant size television screens were
erected at different places. A very powerful audio system was
installed so that everyone can hear the bhajans and announcements
clearly. Swami in white attire looked brighter than the sun and
was catching the glimpses of everyone. Crackers were thundering
for a long time deafening the ears. Flowers were showered from a
helicopter flying in the sky.
As the delegates for the world
conference were assigned an area in the front, we were able to
watch Swami at a close range, and received his blessings. Swami
gave a discourse in the evening at tharsan time. The hall was
looking like “ Indralokam” because of the excellent decoration.
Prasadam was served to everyone. Swami was blessing everyone with
good health and success. One important incident to be mentioned is
that dark clouds were fast approaching on the morning of Swami’s
Birthday threatening the devotees who gathered at the stadium.
They were scared that it was going to rain heavily. By Swami’s
grace, the clouds disappeared in a short time. Swami will never
allow his devotees to suffer. Swami was graceful to accept the
popular request and gave a discourse lasting about one and a half
hours. At the end Swami blessed all and showered his grace.
11. New Super Speciality
Hospital at Bangalore was scheduled to be opened on the 28th
of November, but Swami had a sangalpa to postpone it. This is
built in the centre of the "Silicon Valley" of Bangalore, and is
about four times bigger than the one at Puttaparthi. It has the
most modern communication facility installed so that the treatment
and testing facilities could be more modern and efficient. It may
be opened very soon (probably in January 2001). It will happen
according to Swami’s sangalpa
There were cultural programs in
the evenings at Poornachandra Auditorium on many occasions. These
were presented by Sri Sathya Sai Centres from different states of
India. As the hall could not accommodate the massive crowd, many
television screens were erected in different locations to enable
the devotees to watch the events. The programs were well prepared
and performed by SSE students. The high standard of these
performances bears ample evidence to show how much sacrifice is
made by the devotees to produce them, and the artistic talent of
those involved. At the end of each performance, Swami blessed the
participants and posed for photograph with them. They were even
permitted to do Padanamaskaram.
There were hundreds of Brahmins
Chanting Veda continuously during this season, with some
interruption at Bhajan time and Tharsan time. Priests were
working on shifts to maintain continuity of the chanting. You may
recall that Swami declared that part of his mission is to
re-energize the Vedas. That is why Swami is called Veda Matha. As
a result of the chanting of the vedas, the place was full of
vibration.
- A Seva Dal
From:
http://www.saicentre.net/sai10.htm |
