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The Bliss Of (A Drive by)
Darshan - Feb 1st 2004
Swami
had just finished giving the Bliss of His
Darshan to the thousands who had assembled in Sai Kulwant
Hall that afternoon. He then sat down in His chair on the verandah
and listened blissfully to the Veda
Chanting by the Institute boys. But something was amiss. There was
a certain Divine restlessness and suddenly He got up and signaled
to the boys, “ I will go out and return”.
Swami goes out often in His car into Puttaparthi
village, ostensibly for a drive. But the
Avatar is really beyond the vagaries
of the mind, in that He does not become bored and “needs” to go
out for a drive to relax. In reality, it is His deep and unlimited
Compassion and Love, that motivates Him to “go out for a drive”,
so that He can give the Bliss of His Darshan
to the hundreds of poor people of Puttaparthi, who are unable to
come to Sai Kulwant Hall, engrossed as they are in their own day
to day chores and engaged in the task of earning a livelihood. It
is also the plight of the sick, the old, the infirm, and not so
able, who are unable to brave the crowds and come to Sai Kulwant
Hall for His darshan, that perhaps prompts Him to go out Himself
and bring ananda to all.
In
a sense it is reminiscent of His Krishna
Avatar days during the Dwaraka Yuga.
Only then, it was the melodious sound of His flute, wafting gently
through the village that would draw all the
gopikas to Him.
The setting is the same, but the props in
Kali Yuga are more contemporary. Now it is
the strident high pitch tone of the police escort vehicle that
acts as the clarion call and gives an advance warning of the
imminent arrival of the Avatar.
Housewives quickly shut off their stoves, have a quick peek in the
mirror to make sure they are presentable and rush out. Teachers
and village kids abandon their class-rooms; roadside barbers and
their clients rush to the street; patrons of tea-stalls, curious
passersby, passengers in public transport vehicles, farmers in the
fields, almost everyone who has heard the siren, stop whatever
they are doing and line up on both sides of the road, hands folded
in supplication, anticipating eagerly the brief but glorious
glimpse of the Avatar.
Soon
the small red Maruti car comes into view. Cries of “Jai”
(Victory) rent the air. Roadside flower girls do a roaring
business, as many villagers buy flower garlands to toss onto His
passing car. A few devout ones even break coconuts in front of His
slow moving vehicle, as a mark of auspiciousness.
And Swami. He is calmness itself. The embodiment
of Bliss providing bliss to one and all. His eyes dart quickly to
all sides viewing everything and blessing everyone by His
benevolent gaze. Occasionally, He raises His Hand, in the
time-honored way, to bless a bystander. And slowly the caravan
wends its way, right up to Brahmanapalli village, just past the
Music College and Gokulam. At the end of the road, at a convenient
point, He directs the car to make a U-turn to return.
Stragglers
and latecomers who did not come out in a timely manner the first
time around, have now joined the crowd to at least get His
darshan on the return trip. Usually
the return trip is much slower due to the augmented crowd size. As
the car approaches the Ganesh gate, there is now a crush of people
waiting to catch His glimpse. Security is tight and the police
have a tough time keeping the crowd away from the road. And soon
He enters Sai Kulwant Hall. The car is covered with flowers and
His face is wreathed in a big smile. He is now happy, as He has
brought happiness to all.
Heart to Heart has captured for you in pictures
this captivating story. Enjoy!
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, February 1, 2004
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/03Feb01/07_Prashanti_Diary/01_The_drive_by_Darshan/darshan.htm
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