Media News - Shivarathri

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Media News - Shivarathri

 

Satya Saibaba produces `atma lingas'

THE HINDU (19th February, 2004)

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, FEB. 18. `Maha Shivaratri' was celebrated with religious

fervour at all important Shiva temples in the district and at

Puttaparthi. Sri Satya Saibaba produced three `atma lingas' as part

of `lingodbhava' this evening. Devotees from across the country

gathered in large numbers at Puttaparthi to witness the lingodbhava

programme. The rush was heavy as media carried the report that Satya

Saibaba is likely to produce the `atma lingas' on the day of Maha

Shivaratri.

Those who were present on the occasion were the Karnataka Governor,

T.V. Chaturvedi, the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, the Union Minister

of State for Home, I.D. Swamy, the former Chief Minister of

Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Sri Lankan MP, Bandarunayake, the

District Collector, Y.V. Anuradha, the Superintendent of Police, Anil

Kumar, and other officials.

Sri Satya Saibaba produced one `atma linga' at 5.15 p.m. and two more

at 6.15 p.m. amidst the packed Sai Kulwanth Hall in Prashanti

Nilayam. The atma lingas came out of Sri Saibaba's mouth.

A large congregation of devotees from the district and the

neighbouring Karnataka gathered at Hemavati and Lepakshi.

sourced: http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/19/stories/2004021902620500.htm

`Lingodbhavam' at Puttaparthi

Deccan Herald (19th February, 2004)

 

Bhagawan Satya Sai Baba performed the annual miracle of Lingodbhavam--

pulling out a golden Linga from his mouth--this year too

 

By SRIKANTH SRINIVASA

DH News Service, PUTTAPARTHI

 

Sri Satya Sai Baba performed the `Lingodbhavam' miracle thrice at

about 6 pm on Wednesday evening . The spectacle was telecast live on

the spiritual television channel Sanskaar TV. `Lingodbhavam' is an

annual miracle performed by Sri Satya Sai Baba to mark the festive

occasion of Mahashivaratri. This evening, Sai Baba brought out the

Linga from his mouth after consuming a lot of water. He left the dais

and performed the miracle twice again, but away from the glare of

television cameras.

 

Incidentally, mediapersons were denied entry to witness the

spectacle. When this reporter and the photographer sought entry into

Prashanti Nilayam, (the ashram of Sri Satya Sai Baba) early this

morning, security personnel refused entry and a senior security

personnel curtly said, "The ashram is not a public place. No one is

admitted into the ashram without permission. This includes even the

media. No cameras and bags are allowed inside. Pictures of the

Lingodbhavam will be provided by the ashram authorities."

 

Despite a formal request sent to the ashram secretary by fax a day

early, the ashram authorities did not permit the media team to enter

the premises. Efforts to meet the secretary of the ashram (Mr

Chakravarthy) proved futile. Though he (Mr Chakravarthy) was very

much present in his office, he refused to meet the reporters.

 

Last year, Sri Satya Sai Baba had brought out a golden Linga from his

mouth measuring about three inches in length by waving his hand in

full view of his devotees. The crowd was surprised to witness the

second Linga from his mouth barely three minutes after producing the

first one.

 

It is believed that the Linga is a symbol, a sign and an illustration

of the endless and the limitless. Sai Baba's devotees have been

imploring him not to suffer the ordeal of bringing out the Linga

every year at the cost of the god man's health.

Governor T N Chaturvedi and Chief Minister S M Krishna were among the

VIPs who visited the ashram for Sri Satya Sai Baba's darshan.

 

Long queues of devotees were seen since morning with men and women

waiting for their turn to have a darshan of their Bhagwan.

sourced: http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb192004/s5.asp

 

Sai Ram

 

Deepak Bharwani

http://web1.mtnl.net.in/~sairam