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Mass Marriage at Prasanthi
Nilayam
Posted on 17th
November 2005
MASS MARRIAGE AT
PRASANTHI NILAYAM
17th November 2005,
Thursday
Of the four ashramas or
stages of life, Grihastha is the stage of the householder,
when a student is ready to take up duties of family life
after the completion of his studentship. This is supposed to
be the most important of the four ashramas, as all the other
orders exist with the support of Grihastha order.
Marriage is a sacrament for
all and it does signify a lot in the life of a couple. The
wife is his partner or Ardhangini. The husband cannot do any
religious ritual without wife as she stands by his left side
when he performs any religious performance. In spiritual
parlance husband and wife keep Rama and Sita as their ideal
for their life ahead after tying the knot.
It is at a time when
performing marriages is a costly affair and beyond the reach
of common man, all merciful Bhagawan, in a gesture of His
Divine benevolence, decided to bless eighty selected couples
from the downtrodden families in and around Puttaparthi, in
a function organized in Sai Kulwant Hall marking the
beginning of the celebrations of 80th birthday of Bhagawan.
Here is an instant report
on the function held this morning in Sai Kulwant Hall.
Bhagawan arrived in the
ornately decorated Sai Kulwant Hall with a makeshift
Marriage Pandal - a virtual bower of flowers at 7.30 a.m. to
the accompaniment of Veda chanting by students and
Nadaswaram recital by the special troupe. Soon the couples
were accorded a grand welcome into the Hall preceded by Veda
chanting priests and followed by a dance group. One could
see serpentine, long-winding queues of devotees, waiting to
enter the Hall, even long after the function started. One
can very well imagine the coming days when such sights will
become a common feature since Prasanthi Nilayam is
witnessing an ever increasing number of devotees.
The fortunate couples were
in for a shower of divine grace, when Bhagawan in His
infinite compassion distributed various items for the
couples. It all started on the 16th evening, when Bhagawan
personally gave saris, shirts and silk dhotis to the
would-be brides and grooms.
On the day of the function,
i.e., 17th, Bhagawan went round the Hall distributing Mangal
Sutra. Oh! What a great fortune, even the wealthiest would
pine for such an opportunity. The showers of grace did not
stop with that, Bhagawan instructed the organizers to bring
the brides to receive a silver lamp from His Divine Hands.
Then the couples went through the rituals performed during a
marriage function. With Bhagawan, every moment is a
surprise! He distributed watches to both the brides and
grooms, utensils for running the household and blankets.
When Bhagawan gives, it does not come in droplets, but in
torrents. After the tying of the nuptial knot, Bhagawan
again went round the couples, not once, but twice and
blessed them with Akshata (yellow rice). Like a doting
mother, Bhagawan made it sure whether all the couples
received all the items. After the grand function, the
couples with their parents were treated to a sumptuous feast
in the South Indian Canteen.
It is said, marriages are
made in Heaven. Indeed, this mass marriage function that
Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed, officiated by the Eternal
Divine Himself, is indeed heavenly for those lucky couples
as they enter the wedlock, a new life, with the Divine
Blessings of none other than the Ultimate Lord. Yes,
Prasanthi Nilayam is verily Heaven and everything that
happens in His Divine Presence in this holy land is not by
coincidence ?but, at His Divine Will?and thus heavenly
indeed ?and beyond all a Wonderful Act by the Divine for
everyone to emulate ?to serve the society.
Posted on 13th
November
With the Global Akhanda
Bhajan on 12th and 13th and proposed mass marriage of eighty
couples scheduled on the 17th in the Divine presence the
spiritual town is all agog and is literally gearing up for
the big occasion of Bhagawan?s 80th Birthday. The entire
town is agog with activity, making preparations for the 80th
Birthday celebrations of Bhagawan. Vidyagiri stadium, the
venue of the function is being spruced up. Flags of
different countries are being put up and elaborate
decorations are being done in the Stadium. Scores of Seva
Dals are engaged in this task. The local district
administration is also not lagging behind in the
preparations, roads are being re-laid and the entire town is
being tidied up. Please read on for details ?
8th and 9th November
2005
On 8th and 9th
November 2005, Bhagawan visited the Vidyagiri stadium at around
11.30 a.m. He spent more than half an hour in the stadium,
supervising all the Seva going on there. A lot of decoration and
other arrangements are being made in the stadium.
Flags of
different countries have been fixed vertically on poles along
the railings on top of the stadium. Bhagawan has been entering
the stadium through the huge entrance on the Primary School
side. A wide space has been marked on the grounds on which
Bhagawan?s car can move straight towards the Santhi Vedika in
the stadium. It just passes by the pitch on the cricket ground.
Subsequently, Bhagawan went up to the Hanuman statue and as He
returned, all the students stood along the road had a beautiful
Darshan.
The Santhi
Vedika stage has been completely tiled now. All the sports meet
structures that had been fixed on the ground earlier have been
removed and this makes the ground appear very spacious.
Slowly,
devotees in large numbers are coming to Puttaparthi. Very soon a
huge group of Seva Dal Volunteers and a large number of police
teams (for crowd control and maintaining order) are scheduled to
arrive at Puttaparthi.
12th
November 2005
Being the
second Saturday of the month of November, Akhanda Bhajans began
at 6 p.m. in the Prasanthi Mandir. The family of Dr.
Padmanabhan, whom we often find walking behind Bhagawan at
Brindavan Ashram, came into the Divine fold of Bhagawan way back
in 1944. A year later, to commemorate their entry under the
Divine umbrella, they had planned to have a long, non-stop
Bhajan at their house in Bangalore. When they informed Swami
about this, Bhagawan immediately responded saying that He would
come over there to bless the occasion.
The family was
taken by surprise. They had hardly made any arrangements and it
was meant to be just a small family affair! They sent back a
message informing Swami about this, but even before their
message could reach Bhagawan, they received a telegram stating
that Bhagawan had already started for Bangalore!! Rest is
history?This is how the concept of Akhanda Bhajans began.
Years later,
when the International Sri Sathya Sai Organisation came into
existence, the Akhanda Bhajans became a global affair. On the
12th at 6.00 p.m. Bhajans commenced at Prasanthi Mandir.
Samithis in respective nations start the Bhajans at 6.00 p.m.
according to their local time. Therefore, at some point, the
sacred vibrations of Bhajans will envelope the entire globe,
initiating a massive cleansing of the minds.
This evening,
Swami came out at around 3.30 and proceeded to the grounds. He
returned at 4.10 p.m. and went to His abode. The Bhajan Hall was
packed to its full. At 5.45 p.m. Swami?s car glided into Sai
Kulwant Hall. All the lights came on instantly, including the
chandeliers and the series lighting across the roof of the Hall.
The entire place was shining brilliantly welcoming the Lord.
Swami went
straight into the Bhajan Hall. Swami stood up from His chair and
took a few steps to light the ceremonial lamp. A few minutes
later, the Omkar began marking the commencement of Akhanda
Bhajans. Swami sat in the Bhajan Hall until 7.00 p.m.
13th
November 2005
This morning,
Bhagawan came out for Darshan at 7.20 a.m. Bhagawan sat inside
the Bhajan Hall for some time and then went into the interview
room. At 8.30 a.m. Bhagawan retired to His abode.
The Hall was
packed to its capacity in the evening. Bhagawan came out for
Darshan by 3.30 p.m. Swami sat inside the Bhajan Hall for most
of the time and at sharp 6.00 p.m. Arati was offered to
Bhagawan.
Few minutes
later, Prasadam distribution began. Large number of students
spread themselves across the neatly arranged rows of devotees in
Sai Kulwant Hall, distributing Prasadam. As the distribution was
taking place, Bhagawan came out, moved across the portico and
proceeded towards the gents? side of the Hall. He moved along
the rows of students who were seated in the Hall receiving
Prasadam. As He approached the Primary School boys, the young
children who were waiting for His Presence, spontaneously
started chanting Brahmarpanam Brahamahavir Mantra? Following
this, they partook of the Prasadam. Watching this, Swami was
overjoyed!!
We will be back
with more updates.
Source:
http://www.srisathyasaipublications.org/PrasanthiNews.htm
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