Prashanti Nilayam
BHAGAVAN SRI SATYA SAI
PADHUGA PRATHISHTA MAHOTSAVAM
28th Sept. to 2nd Oct. 1999
Five days of worship and adoration to Bhagavan
Baba and the sanctified Padhugas gave a new fillip to the various
functions being conducted in Prashanthi Nilayam every year.
Poojas, Rituals, Homams, Prasthishta of Idols of Sri Rama, Sita,
Lakshmanan and Hanuma were conducted very meticulously during the
functions starting from 28th September to 2nd October 1999.
Six years ago, the grand old devotee, Late Sri
P.S.A.Subramania Chettiar from Madurai, founder, President of Sri
Sai Padhuga Trust, pioneered the Padhuga Pooja rituals in
Prashanthi Nilayam. There were only about 108 Padhugas on that day
for the worship. This year the number had swelled to 4005. Sri
Srinivasan Chettiar, the illustrous son of late Subramania
Chettiar, conceeded that it was nothing but the sheer Grace of
Beloved Bhagavan Sri Sri Sri Sai Baba Vaaru, who inspires, guides
and makes it possible for this grand event happen year after year
in Prashanthi Nilayam.
Sri Subramania Chettiar is no more living with
us, having merged with Bhagavan Baba recently. The son carries on
with the mission with his dedicated service, drawing inspiration
from the memories of his father and with an attitude of surrender
unto Bhagavan. He had drawn up five days of Holi rituals and
festivals. Motivating a team of dedicated sadhaks who are
assisting him, Sri Sinivasan chettiar had left nothing to chance
to come in the way of successful completion of the various
programes. This year too a detailed 5-day programe had been
accomploished. The high light being the Pooja to 4005 Divine
Padukas, offering and installation of Sri Sai Shiva Sakthi
Padhuka, the Installation of Idols of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana
and Hanuman, Sri Padmavathi Sametha Venkateswara Pooja. There were
music programes too.
The five day long Padhuga Pooja celebrations
commenced on the 28th September, with the four time Yagasala
Poojas and Homams. The rituals starting with Vigneswara Pooja, and
followed by veda parayanams and various homams went on for another
day. The Poorna Ahuthi was performed on the 29th evening. The same
day special programmes of Rama Sita Kalyanam and Sri Rama
Pattabhishekam were also conducted.
The various homams were in fact a prelude to the
Installation of Idols of SRI RAMA, Sita, LAKSMANA, and HANUMAN.
Bhagavan Baba installed these idols, on the 30th Sept. on a
specially erected temple mandap which had come up near the main
entrance inside the Sai Kulwat Hall. Years ago, Swami had interred
into an underground vault, thousands of books which are inscribed
with 108 crores of Rama Nama written by scores of devotees. This
new Rama temple has come up exactly on the top of these 108 crores
of Rama Nama which would constantly activate the vibrations and
energy into the idols. Before installing the idols, Swami, by
waving His Divine hands, materialized a small Siva Linga, which he
mentioned as "Rama Lingam' and inferred the same at the spot of
installation.
Later while addressing the devotees, Sri
Srinivasan Chettiar said that the previous day swami had most
mercifully installed the Ram, Sita, Laxman & Hanuman idols at this
divine place of supreme peace. Sri Sathya Sai Ram had installed
his own pattabhishekam idols. In Thretha Yuga people under
Ramarajya enjoyed abundant peace & prosperity health & wealth.
Prasanthi Nilayam after the installation of these divine idols had
once again become Ayodhya, bestowing the same degree of divinity
in this Kaliyuga . It was the long cherished desire of his father
that a small Rama Pattabhisheka temple should find a place in this
Prasanthi Nilayam. After he merged with Bhagavan, He had placed
the same prayer at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Baba. It appeared
that swami was a bit reluctant accept the prayer. For some days
this state of divine suspense continued and his agony also
continued. Ultimately Swami graciously unfolded His divine
suspense and accepted the prayer. It was expected that Swami would
construct a small temple for Rama at Prasanthi Nilayam but to the
surprise of everybody Swami had given the biggest temple for Rama
in the latest and extended Sai Kulwanth Hall itself.
The next day, the 1st October, 1999 the grant
event of Padhuga Pooja was conducted in the very Divine Presence.
The number of Paduga Holder devotees are increasing year after
year. This year, about 4005 padhugas were worshipped in the Divine
presence of Bhagavan Baba. The commemorate the completion of the
Prathishta of 4005 Sri Sai Padugas all over the world, a special
pooja, namely SRI PADMAVATHI SAMETA VENKATESWARA POOJA was offered
in the Divine presence. This was followed by Abhishekam snd other
rituals to the sacred and sanctified Sai padhukas by over 4500
couples in the Divine presence. It was a sight to see; thousands
of devotees offering Ahishekam and pooja simultaneously and
ringing their individual Pooja bells, when Aarathi was offered.
Every year a newly designed Paduga of different
style is being installed in the mandir, after adoring the same on
the Divine Lotus Feet. This year also a specially designed pair of
Divine Padhukas, named "SRI SAI SHIVA SHAKTHI PADUGA" was offered
at His Lotus Feet, and was installed at Prahsanthi Nilayam, after
doing Swarna Padha Pooja on Saturday, the 2nd October 1999 at Sai
Kulwant Hall. Earlier, Earlier in the moring there was huge
procession of Padhuga Holders. All the devotees had special
uniformed dress to wear. Ladies were given a specially designed
sari of the same design and gents with Dhothies of coloured
borders. 4005 pairs of Padhugas entered Sai Kulwant Hall, carried
by the devotees on their heads. The devotee couples were holding
the Divine Padhugas over their heads. They were chanting aloud the
name of Sai Ram all along and they had no other thoughts in their
minds than that of Holy names. As they arrived in the Sai Kulwant
Hall, Bhagavan Baba was personally available to receive them.
Swami blessed the devotees by His Divine
Discourse, later in the evening. During the divine discourse,
Bhagavan said that "You have all come from different places for
worshiping the Padhukas and deriving the bliss therefrom. It is
indeed a good act. It is not sufficient if you merely worship the
Padhugas. Concentrate on them. Without concentration what is the
point in worshipping Padhugas?" (The text of Divine discourse is
appearing separately).
Before the Divine discourse two other devotees
addressed the gathering. Sri.Srinivasan Chettiar, President of the
the Sri Sai Padhuga Trust spoke at length about the efficacy of
Padhuga worship. He mentioned that till last year Padhuga
Function, his beloved father Sri Subramania Chettiar was with us
to give his able guidance for the successful conduct of Padhuga
Function here. By the Divine Grace of Bhagavan and also by the
untiring efforts of his beloved father Sri Chettiar, the Divine
Message of Sri Sai Padhuga Worship reached the nook and corner of
the world and in 1998 Padhuga Function, as many as 3006 duly
sanctified Padhugas were blessed by our beloved Bhagwan. "Such a
great man is not with us this year. He has merged with Paramatma
of our Bhagwan Baba on 13th April 1999. His Jeevatma is resting at
Eternal peace at the Lotus Feet of our Bhagavan", he said. He
announced that this year by the Grace of Bhagavan Baba, as many as
4005 divined Padhugas from 40 countries are being blessed. More
and more number of devotees wish to have Sri Sai Padhugas in their
homes. Why? Bhagavan, in His 1996 Padhuga Mahotsav had given a
divine Proclamation that wherever Sai Padhugas are worshipped,
Swami Himself would be there, in their homes. The Sai Padhuga
Family members feel the divine presence of Bhagavan Baba in their
Pooja room blessing them!
Sri.Srinivasan Chettiar narrated a miraculous
incident happened signifying the glory of Padhuga, which he
claimed to have told Bhagavan Baba personally. One lady from
Austria, was pregnant. But she was feeling uneasiness in her
abdomen and consulted her doctors. On examination the doctors told
her that she was bearing two children but the children were
disproportionately grown and they were not equal in size, One
child was very big and the other child very small! In the
circumstances, normal delivery was impossible. The only remedy
available was to take away the two children, terminating the
pregnancy as otherwise the lives of children and as well as the
lady were at stake. All the expert doctors gave the same opinion.
But the lady wanted to have her children alive in good shape and
the doctors reiterated that it was absolutely impossible. She
developed an urge in herself to rush to Puttaparthy to touch the
Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Baba and place her Prayer. But her health
did not permit her to do so. Now she remembered that one of her
friends was having Sri Sai Padhuga in her home given by Sri
Chettiar. She requested her friend and brought the Sai Padhugas to
her home. She did some thing strange. She tied both the divine Sai
Padhugas on her Abdomen and constantly Prayed Bhagavan to give her
children intact, healthy and equal in size. Her prayers continued
for 20 days. Her prayers were deep from her heart. and sincere.
After some time, she had a comfortable feeling in her abdomen; her
breath was uniform and comfortable. She immediately consulted her
doctors. The doctors were taken aback with unbound surprise (with
a trace of confusion also ) and informed her that the children are
now safe, equal in size and in good shape. Ultimately the delivery
of the twin kids was safe and normal delivery was possible. Both
the children are now healthy, cheerful and proportionate in size;
He further announced the lady showed her twin children to his
beloved father when she had visited Prasanthi Nilayam during the
last year Sri Sai Padhuga Pooja! His father very glad and informed
the lady that her deep devotion and sincere faith in Sai Padhugas
had saved the lives of the mother and children.
Dr. Gadia, a physician from U.K. also spoke on
that occasion. He urged the devotees to develop detacment, and
devotion and offer service to humanity following the tachings of
Bhagavan Baba. He mentioned that during his lecture tour to
various countries, he had witnessed various Divine manifestations,
especially in Fiji, where he could find manifestation of Divine
Vibhoothi and nector, from the Padhuga installed in a devotee's
house. He said that there are incidents of Swami's presence in
some places such as automatic switching on and off of electric
lights duriing Bhajan sessions etc. He said that Swami had taken
Avatar for bring peace for the entire world. Some persons are
having graduate degrees appended to their names. Here, Swami is
much more that the normal, degree. He is B.A,B.A, M.A i.e. Babama
(father and mother). He recalled the first song of Bhgavan Baba
"Manasa Bhajare Gurucharanam" and that the implication of that
song comes to reality with this mass Padhuga Movement. He said
that he was given a new lease of life by Baba after surviving a
severe accident, and he recited a poem which had come to him as an
intuition after the miraculous saving.
There are a few musical programes planned during
the celebrations. There was a Saxophone Concert by famous Sri.
Kadri Gopalnath, by 6.00 PM on the 30th sept., followed by a Flute
and Gottu Vadhyam Duet by Sr. B.V.Bala Sai, and Sri Durgaprasad
and Party. Swami created golden Bracelet to Mr.Kadri Gopinath and
beautiful ring to Sri. Bala Sai. On the 1st October there was yet
another programme, "VADHYA LAHARI" by Kumari A. Kanyakumari and
Party.
