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Prashanthi Bullettin -
September 1st, 2005
September 1st, 2005
Living with the Lord is an experience filled with
significant uncertainties and surprises. Chitrambulu -
Vichitrambulu, as Swami says. This morning, all the students
assembled in the Institute Auditorium for the Moral Class
session which is a weekly feature wherein talks are
delivered by eminent speakers - both internal and external
on lofty and noble themes.
This morning, it was the turn of Dr. C.L.N. Moorthy, a
Professor in Sanskrit. He has been teaching Sanskrit to the
undergraduate students since the inception of the Institute.
This morning, he was scheduled to speak on a very pertinent
topic - Varna System - a boon or a bane. There is no concept
more distorted today than the Varna System. The purpose with
which the scriptures laid out these guidelines, the purpose
with which the Lord ordained it, is completely ignored or
forgotten and scholars have given it a stamp of casteism and
divisiveness.
We had the initial Bhajans and Aarti as is the practice.
Just as the Vice Chancellor was about to welcome Dr. Moorthy
to deliver his talk, we heard the siren of Swami's escort
car. We thought that Swami must be going to visit the
Hospital or somewhere else and continued with the
proceedings. But to our greatest surprise and delight,
Swami's car entered the College Campus and drove right next
to the Auditorium door. Immediately, the students rushed and
placed the ramp for Swami's chair to enter the Auditorium.
All of us rose to welcome Bhagawan. Swami took His normal
place in between the first rows at the center of the
Auditorium. After a brief interaction with the Vice
Chancellor, Bhagawan asked the speaker to commence his talk.
Dr. Moorthy was infinitely Blessed! Least did he expect that
Swami Himself would physically come and attend his talk.
The next 45 minutes witnessed an erudite talk on the Varna
system. Dr. Moorthy had compiled from various scriptures and
ancient texts different writings on the Varna system. He
explained how this system evolved and what it was truly
meant for. He also elaborated on how, gradually, there was a
distortion in its content and intent. Finally he concluded
describing how the ten Avatars are themselves symbolic of
the evolution of the Varna system, culminating in the Sai
Avatar which transcends all these differences and advocates
the eternal Truth of Oneness.
The talk concluded at 9.40 a.m. and Swami called Dr. Moorthy
and spoke to him. Subsequently, there was a song by the
students after which Swami moved out, got into the car and
left for the Mandir. It was truly a great day for all of us.
This was something unimaginable. In the past decade, we do
not remember anything like this happening. That is our
Swami. Ever new, ever fresh!!
In the evening, Bhagawan came out at 2.45 p.m. This evening,
the First Year Post Graduate students were ready with a
drama on the Leelas of Lord Krishna. All 60 plus students
were involved and were getting ready with their costumes in
the Bhajan Hall. Swami came straight into the Bhajan Hall
much to their amusement. He spoke to some of the characters
who were still half way through their makeup. He called one
student who had a white beard on, but the hair was still
black. The wig had not been worn! Swami laughed and asked
who he was. The student replied that he was playing the role
of Roma Rishi. Swami asked him "Where is your roma (hair)?"
Swami asked him to wear the wig and pin it properly so that
it may not slip down!
After speaking to a few more characters, Swami went into the
Interview Room. He came out at 3.25 p.m. All the drama boys
were ready. At 3.30 p.m. Swami commanded them to come out
and take their places. The center block of Sai Kulwant Hall
was left empty for the play. A red satin cloth covered
backdrop served as the setting. A stage was raised just in
front of the backdrop for enacting some of the scenes.
The programme commenced at 3.40 p.m. It started with two
Krishnas - one big and one small offering a card to
Bhagawan. Swami Blessed the Card and the roses offered by
them. The first scene depicts a Pujari offering worship to
Lord Krishna. It is the occasion of anniversary of the
inauguration of a Krishna mandir and they recall various
Leelas of Krishna, especially the lifting of the Govardana
Giri. A very vigorous dance celebrating the occasion is
performed by the village people.
The drama shifts to the next scene where Nanda and the other
village heads are preparing for Indrotsavam. This is a
festival where Lord Indra is worshipped with all grandeur,
praying to him to bestow bountiful rain. The young Krishna
knew that this worship was offered more out of fear than out
of love. Therefore, He intervenes and appeals to His father
Nanda and the other village heads to worship the Govardana
Giri instead, for it was the mountain that gave them grazing
lands, streams and rivulets.
Agreeing to Krishna's plea, all of them start worshipping
the Givardana Giri. Suddenly, there is loud thunder and
lightning followed by heavy rains. Then the little Krishna
runs and lifts the mountain. The effect was beautiful. From
front you see Krishna lifting the mountain and all the
Gopalas taking shelter under the same. The song, Govardana
Giridhari Murari.... fills the air.
The next scene is a dialogue between a grandfather, father
and son. The son has a doubt. Lord Krishna came to the
rescue of the villagers because the whole village prayed to
Him. What if just one individual would have prayed to Him?
Would He still come to the individual's rescue? The
grandfather explains that it is not the question of quantity
but quality. God sees only the intensity of the prayer. One
intense sacred prayer from the heart is enough to attract
His Grace. The grandson then enquires as to how one could
win His Grace.
The father explains that the prerequisite for this is to
choose God above all. He gives the example of Arjuna
choosing Lord Krishna instead of asking for his mighty army.
The next scene depicts this episode. Lord Krishna, sleeping
on His bed, Duryodhana coming first and sitting next to
Krishna's head while Arjuna coming in next and sitting close
to Krishna's feet. When Krishna gets up, He sees Arjuna
first and grants him the first boon. Arjuna without
hesitation chooses Krishna. Feeing elated, Duryodhana grabs
the mighty army and the rest is history.
The dialogue between the grandson and grandfather continues
and he explains how once we choose the Lord, He goes to any
extent to save and protect us. It becomes His duty to
protect His devotees. This was depicted through the episode
of sage Roma Rishi. The well known story of how the Pandavas
in hunger and out of ignorance pluck the Amrita fruit which
was the result of years of penance of sage Roma Rishi. This
was not an ordinary fruit but that which conferred
immortality.
Roma Rishi is enraged and looks out for the thief to curse
him. Lord Krishna lovingly intervenes and guides the
Pandavas to do as told by Him. Lord Krishna goes to Roma
Rishi and as He speaks to Him, He signals to the Pandavas to
come in. As soon as the Pandavas come in, Lord Krishna falls
at their feet much to their amazement. Seeing this, sage
Roma Rishi follows suit. If Lord Krishna Himself has fallen
at their feet, they must be somebody very great.Later,
Krishna tells Roma Rishi about the actual happenings. By
then Roma Rishi is calm and he in fact hands over the fruit
to the Pandavas.
The next scene is of Lord Krishna delivering the Gita to
Arjuna. This is depicted on the stage in front of the
backdrop and gives a very good ending to the drama. This
scene is then followed by the final conversation in which
Sai Krishna is extolled as the very same Lord Krishna come
in the Kali age.
The presentation concludes with a Dandiya dance to the tune
of the very popular Mahabharata song - Mohana Ke Mukha Par
Bansuri....At the end of the song all the dancers form a
pyramid with little Krishna standing on the top playing the
flute. The sets boys form another pyramid in the background,
while all the other participants come forward into the
V-shaped final formation.
Little Krishna is then carried on the shoulders of two
Gopalas and brought forward to our Sai Krishna. All
participants gather in a semicircle with folded hands
awaiting Swami's response. Little Krishna gets down from the
shoulders of the Gopalas and moves forward to Swami with a
pot full of chocolates.
Bhagawan was very pleased. He smiled and put His Hand into
the pot. Taking a handful of chocolates, Swami started
throwing them towards the boys. All the actors rushed
forward to receive Prasadam from Sai Krishna's Hand.
Bhagawan observed all the participants and after a while, He
asked them to stand as a group. He said that He Himself
would come down. The all merciful Lord signaled the student
next to Him to take His Chair along the Ladies side to the
central block.
Bhagawan came down all the way and Blessed the boys with
wonderful photographs. He then went into the interview room.
Prasadam distribution and Bhajans followed. At 5.20 p.m.
Swami retired to Poornachandra Hall. Though Krishnashtami
was over last week, all of us once again lost ourselves in
the Leelas and miracles of our dear Krishna.
Source:
http://radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm
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