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Prashanthi Bulletin - 1st
and 2nd January 2005
January 1st 2005
It was the dawn of the New Year marking the beginning of the
celebrations of the 80th year of the advent of the Sathya Sai
Avatar. The Sai Kulwant Hall was beautifully decorated with
floral buntings and banners on the pillars, windows and the
Mandir walls, marked with the slogan "80 Years of LOVE IN ACTION
- BHAGAWAN SRI SATYA SAI BABA". The banner had a lemon yellow
background with bright red and deep blue coloured letters on it.
It looked very attractive and elegant. And there came the Lord
at 7.15 am in the new Golf Cart. He came and took his seat on
the center of the dais.
The programme began with a talk by Sri Indulal Shah, Former
Chairman, World Council, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations and
currently International Advisor of the Organisation and Member
of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. He began his talk saying
that the devotees should be what Hanuman was to Lord Rama and
the Gopikas to Lord Krishna. The life of the devotees should be
an ideal to carry the message of Sai. He also said that the
devotees should not lose any opportunity to share their Love
with fellow men. They need to understand, practice and propagate
Sri Sathya Sai Educare. They must undertake the Grama Seva
activities with added fervour and above all incessantly indulge
in Namasmarana of the Lord. He said that over the next 365 days,
hundreds of districts from India and over 2000 Centres across
the globe, will be a part of the festive celebrations at
Prasanthinilayam.
He then prayed to Bhagawan to permit the presentation of two
programmes at the Divine Feet.
The first programme which started at 7.30 am - National Music
Presentation, was a set of group songs by Indians from all over
the country who had specially gathered at Prasanthinilayam for
the occasion. They sang 6 songs - 3 in Hindi and 3 in Telugu on
the theme - "Sai Our Divine Destiny". This was followed at 8.00
am by an International Choir presented by the overseas devotees.
Devotees from many countries had gathered and sang 8 songs in
English and other foreign languages. All the while, Swami was
giving a Blissful smile and waving His hands in the air,
seemingly looking into eternity, often closing His eyes and then
reopening them! All of us gathered there were literally
transported to another world on the auspicious New Year day.
Thereafter, Swami blessed a group of youth from the USA to sing
some songs. They sang a few songs and Bhajans. The morning
programme came to a close at 9.30 am with Prasadam Distribution
and Aarti to Bhagawan.
The evening programme commenced at 3.10 p.m. with the arrival of
Bhagawan once again in the new Golf Cart. Swami came and sat on
the sofa at the centre of the dais. The old students of the Sri
Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthinilayam and
Brindavan Campus, were blessed by Swami to put up their
programme in the Divine Presence. A group of the senior old
students presented Bhagawan with flowers and the programme card.
Swami also released some audio cassettes of the Bhajans recorded
by the old students.
Bhagawan Blessed the Vice Chancellor to introduce the programme.
The VC said that the Bhakti Marga through Bhajans, the Karma
Marga through Grama Seva and other allied service activities and
the Jnana Marga through the chanting of the Vedam - all three
found their fulfillment at the abode of the Lord at His Lotus
Feet.
At around 3.20 pm the programme commenced. There were 18 songs
in Hindi, Sanskrit and Telugu. Students from very senior batches
had come and participated in the programme. To name a few
stalwart singers - - Sonam, V. Kumar, Kote, Ajnish, Vijay Sai
and many others who sang their hearts out, filled with devotion
to their dearest Mother Sai. When Bhagawan Blessed them before
starting the programme, He remarked that with Him there are no
old or current students. All are just students!! (forever!!)
Bhagawan once again was full of ethereal smiles!! Closing His
eyes and waving His hands, sometimes giving the beat with His
fingers, He reciprocated to the devotion pregnant in their
songs!
Thereafter, our brothers from the Institute Band got an
opportunity to play their tunes for Swami. They were praying
since morning for this chance and finally Swami blessed them to
go ahead. They had totally lost the hope that Swami would permit
them. But when one leaves the expectation and learns to accept,
the Lord rewards and so did He! They played 8 tunes - some
Bhajan tunes and the other typical and popular band tunes. Swami
called the band leader and materialized a gold bracelet for him.
While the band boys played their tunes, Prasadam and New Year
Diaries were distributed to the students and staff.
At 5.15 pm, Swami blessed Mr. Ajit Popat from London to address
the gathering. Mr. Popat spoke for half an hour. He spoke about
the inner significance of the word "Happy" in the term "Happy
New Year" that Bhagawan had explained to him.
H - Holy
A - Awareness
P - Patience
P - Purity
Y - Yogi.
He said that only when we put this meaning of the word Happy and
Swami's teachings into practice can we really call it a Happy
New Year. He also mentioned that people feel that so many
thousands of people have died in the Tsunami disaster, but what
is Swami doing about it. However, we must understand that had it
not been for Swami's Grace, instead of mere thousands, lakhs
would have perished. We always see what has happened but we
never know what could have happened but was averted. The Lord
works quietly; taking no credit for all that He has done and is
doing since time immemorial! It is only man who is not
discharging his duties appropriately and creating chaos,
confusion and corruption. Consequently, Nature is getting
imbalanced, thereby resulting in such catastrophes.
The programme came to a close with Aarti to Bhagawan at 5.50 pm.
Thus ended the first day of this very eventful and epoch making
year.
We wish you all a very Happy and a Holy New year. Come, be a
part of the celebrations of the 80th year of the advent of the
Avatar -in person or in spirit, for such an opportunity will not
come again in aeons to come...
January 2nd 2005
This morning, Bhagawan came out for Darshan at 7.40 a.m. in the
new Golf Cart. Meanwhile, at 7.30 a.m., the Chief Minister of
Andhra Pradesh, Sri Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy arrived with his big
team. They had arrived at Parthi last night itself for some
inauguration associated with the Tourism Ministry of A.P. Their
cars halted at the main gate of the Mandir near the Rama Statue.
From there, Sri Y. S. R. Reddy and the other dignitaries came
walking into the Mandir and proceeded straight towards the main
Portico.
Ten minutes later, Bhagawan came into the Hall for Darshan. He
took a full round and proceeded towards the interview room. The
Chief Minister was taken in for an interview by the Lord. The
interview went on for about half an hour. This was the first
visit of Sri Y. S. R. Reddy to Swami.
In the evening, Bhagawan came out for Darshan at 3.40 p.m. He
took a full round of the Kulwant Hall in the Golf Cart, and came
and settled down on the Sofa. Most of our old students were
seated next to the Vedam group as Swami had given an indication
that He would possibly interact with them. Many others who were
scheduled to leave by 4.00 p.m. were seated near the Krishna
Statue.
Swami asked for the programme to be put up by the old students.
We do not know whether they were prepared for this or not, but
they all positioned themselves behind the mikes and for the next
one hour we had soul stirring and mellifluous music soothing our
ears. All the stalwarts who sang yesterday were present again
and some who came late squeezed in 'stealthily' as Swami was
closing His 'eyes' lost in Bliss!!
Andari Baduvvaiyya Bhadrachala Ramaiyya, Tana Ke Tambure Me Jo
Sason Ke Tar Bole, O Ma Sai Ma Tu Kitni Achhi Hai, Om Namah
Sivaya...Teen Shabdo Mein Shrushti Sare Samaye, Enta Hai Enta
Hai Ee Naadu, Radhika Krishna Radhika Tava Hrudaye Keshava, Tera
Ramji Karenge Beda Paar, Krishna Nee Begane Baro and many more
scintillating Ragas and Taalas filled the air with elevating
feelings. This was followed by a number of Bhajans. Throughout,
Swami was lost in the songs! We drank in the ecstasy overflowing
from His Blissful smile and swayed to the beats of His Divine
Hands!!
At 5.10 p.m., Bhagawan instructed the Vice Chancellor about
something. A little while later, watches were distributed by the
Vice Chancellor to the group of singers! Prasadam was
distributed to all in the Kulwant Hall. The Prasadam was a
delicious Laddu packed inside a beautiful, attractive box with
the same print of "80 Years of Love in Action' on it. This was
organized and arranged by the Sai Students.
Bhagawan took Aarti at 5.20 p.m. and retired for the day filling
the hearts of the Sai Students to the brim and even spilling
over! When He gives it is much much more than what one could
possibly expect!! That is the compassion and Love of our Beloved
Mother Sai. Can He withhold Himself when His children come back
to Him? His Love was just pouring out!!
We'll get back to you with reports on the Annual Sports and
Cultural Meet Celebrations on the 11th of January.
Source:
http://www.radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm
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