Krishna Janmashtami celebrations in Parthi

08-26-2005, 08:10 PM

Jai Sri Krishna

Sai Ram,

Wishing all a very Happy, Blessed and Blissful Sri Krishna Janmashtami.

Yesterday (26 Aug) being Gokula Ashtami, both morning and evening bhajans were
filled with Krishna bhajans. The whole Sai Kulwant Hall was resounding with
Krishna, Madhava, Gopala, Govinda, Madhusudhana, Keshava, Narayana, Sai Hari,
etc.

When we went in for afternoon Darshan, the Sai Kulwant hall was half decorated
with colourful flags, buntings, Chinese lanterns, flowers, etc. In the
afternoon, Swami distributed prasadam – paalgoa to all devotees. What a sweet
treat! Then after bhajans, Prof Anil Kumar announced that tomorrow on the
auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami Swami would be granting us His
Darshan at 8.30am.

This morning (27 August) when we entered the Sai Kulwant Hall at 6.30am, it
looked so magnificent and beautiful, being fully decorated. Every pillar,
ceiling, dais, interview room, driveway, etc was decorated. We were in
Gokulam! We were just awaiting the arrival of our Sai Krishna. The Mangala
Vadhyam, Thavil, Nadaswaram and veda chanting started at 7.35 am and we knew
our Swami was coming. We chanted the Narayana Upanishad, Shivopasana, Durga
Suktam, Purusha Suktam, Narayana Suktam, Surya Upanishad, Rudram, etc.
yes"> Swami was in His orange robe and He was seated in the Toyota Porte. The
car drove past slowly and we had excellent Darshan of our Sai Gopala. Swami
looked beautiful and sweet. The car then drove past Swami’s students, the male
side and again towards His students. We all had excellent Darshan. The Sai
Kulwant Hall was packed to the brim with devotees waiting outside to have a
glimpse of their Sai Narayana. Swami, the Omniscient and Compassionate Lord
instructed Sathyajit, His driver to drive our through the Hall’s driveway so
that the devotees outside could also get His Darshan. You should have heard
them gasp, clap and scream. Outside the driveway,
Swami’s elephant Sai Gita, His cows and calves from Gokulam were waiting for him.

After being outside giving Darshan for half an hour, we heard the saxophone,
mangala vadhyam, Nadaswaram and Thavil being played and the musicians were
walking up the driveway. Swami students clad in red dhothis were reciting
Vedas and Krishna bhajans were also being led by His students. They were
leading Sai Gita, the cows and the calves into the Sai Kulwant Hall. Sai Gita
was decorated from back to her feet. She had a beautiful silk red cloth on her
back. She wore large silver anklets. Her tusk and trunk were also decorated.
She is really getting old. You can see the skin around her ears, face and mouth
have gone whitish pink – a sign of old age. Every few seconds, she was putting
her trunk up and trumpeting. She wanted to see her Lord!

The cows and calves from Gokulam were also decorated in red blue silk cloth and
had their horns painted green and red. They were also mooing away as they
wanted to see their cowherd boy – Sai Gopala.

After about 10 minutes, Swami’s car came up the driveway. Sai Gita had her
trunk up as a sign of welcoming Swami into the hall. Swami’s car drove to the
verandah. Once on the verandah, Swami came out in His “car seat cum sofa” and
He was pushed to the dais where we all got a head to leg glimpse cum Darshan of
our Dear Sai Krishna. We were all gopees and gopikas in Gokulam having Darshan
of our Sai Krishna on this blessed Krishna Janmashtami Day. To make all of us
happy, Swami sat on His car seat on the dais for a good 30 minutes.

While Swami was seated on the dais, two of His male students dressed as Krishna
and Balarama went up to Swami to get His blessings and talk to him. It was a
good 5 minutes conversation. Then a few of His male students dressed as
Gopikaas – cowherds came up to Swami and they had 2 rabbits, 2 white doves, a
peacock and a brown calf in their hands. Swami blessed all of them and Swami
let the 2 white doves fly free into the hall. We all clapped and gasped!

Then Swami’s students carried prasadam – seedai vadai, in big silver basins for
Swami to bless. Swami blessed the prasadam and it was distributed to all of
us. As usual, on the ladies’ side everyone clamoured for prasadam.

Sai Gita was then led to the dais where Her Lord Sri Hari fed her with apples
with His own hands! What a lucky elephant! We all clapped as we were happy
for Sai Gita. How gifted she is! Then, we burst out laughing, while some
gasped, as Sai Gita urinated right in front of Swami – with her back turned
against Swami of course! Man, she had a full bladder – i mean buckets and
buckets! Sevadals were hurrying here and there trying to find rugs, cloth,
mops, etc. to wipe the wading pool! If they could, they would have brought a
carpet! We were amused. Sai Gita, though a great devotee of the Lord, sure
had some lessons to learn in toilet etiquette! Then, Sai Gita, the Gokulam
cows and calves were led back by the Gopikas (students) to their sheds through
the driveway. Aarathi was then sung while Swami was on the dais. No bhajans!

Just then, a sheikh and his entourage of about 10 male VIPs from the middle east
with his very curious always clicking away camera man walked up the driveway and
were then lead into the interview room, where Swami granted them a long 45
minutes interview.

After the interview, we thought there would be bhajans, but no. At 10.30am, the
Toyota Porte was driven to the verandah where Swami was led from the interview
room to the car. Aarathi was sung again and Swami’s car headed for His
residence.

It was quite a low key Krishna Janmashtami celebrations this year. We are
praying that Swami was bless us with His Divine Discourse this afternoon. Will
keep all of you posted

With Krishna,
saras
in Krishna always,saras

08-27-2005, 12:35 AM

Sai Ram Sai Ram Sai Ram

You really made our Janamastami Special - very special with Sai Gita letting loose......

Sai Ram - Be Happy

JP

~~~~~~~~~~~Saras Suppiah wrote:
Jai Sri Krishna

Sai Ram,

Wishing all a very Happy, Blessed and Blissful Sri Krishna Janmashtami.

Yesterday (26 Aug) being Gokula Ashtami,

For devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba - Important Announcement.

SAI AT - project, to comemmorate Bhagwan Baba's 80th Year of Advent, has been
launched. For details
http://www.sailopics.com/80th_Year_o..._of_advent.htm
You can become project members of this memorable project if you have a SAILOGRAM
or SAI SILVER or SAI GOLD or procure one after reading this.

Sai Ram - Be Happy