Report on Ashadi Ekadashi Celebrations 2004

[Guest guest]

http://saibabalinks.org/news/others/2004/ekadashi_1.jpgThe Divine Padukas being

brought in the palanquin

Bhagawan arrived at the colourfully decorated mandir at 7.30 a.m. amidst Vedic

chants. The morning programme commenced with a welcome song, followed by the

traditional ‘Dhindi’ procession lead by a palanquin carrying the Padukas

(sandals) of Lord Sai and with men donning saffron-coloured turbans dancing to

the mesmerizing rhythm of cymbals. The devotees placed a garland strung of

tulsi (basil) leaves, which is believed to be pleasing to Lord Vitthala, at the

Lotus feet of Bhagawan.

http://saibabalinks.org/news/others/2004/ekadashi_2.jpgA scene from the play The Supreme Verdict

The Bal-Vikas children and the Youth of the city of Mumbai then presented a

musical drama entitled – ‘The Supreme Verdict.’ The presentation attempted to

provide an answer to a question that has been baffling the minds of devotees of

God for a long time: “Should one be content with worshipping the physical form

of the Lord or should one go further and realize God’s omnipresence through the

Form. The first scene opens with a lawyer who builds his case in support of both

the modes of worship by drawing instances from the epic Ramayana. He cites the

example of Lakshmana who served his brother Sri Rama in person and thereby

followed ‘Sagunopasana’ or worship to the physical form of the Lord. On the

other hand, Bharata worshipped Sri Rama as ‘Atmarama’ or the soul that

permeates everything and every being, and thus demonstrated ‘Nirgunopasana’ or

worship to the Formless God. He then pleads on behalf of two devotees of the

Lord - Swaroop and Sarvesh, who follow the

‘Sagunopasana’ and ‘Nirgunopasana’ respectively, in the Divine court where they

are being tried for ‘cheating’ God. Swaroop is charged with neglecting God who

is present in all living beings and restricting himself only to the worship of

the stone idol and not surrendering his ego to the Lord, thereby digressing

from the example set by Lakshmana. Sarvesh, on the other hand, is charged with

the crime of showing disrespect to the physical Form of God and also taking the

credit for the acts of seva done by him instead of surrendering them to God,

which goes against the rules of worship of God as practiced by Bharata. In the

Divine court with a panel of jury consisting of great saints and devotees of

God from various schools of philosophy and religion, it is decided that only

God can deliver ‘The Supreme Verdict’ for this case and they decide to approach

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, God-incarnate in the Kali Yuga. Then, they played

a discourse of Bhagawan where Bhagawan declares that

it is foolish to search for God when you are God yourself; the end of Sadhana

lies in realizing the supreme truth – “I am I,” thus bringing the dispute to a

conclusive end.

After the play, Bhagawan posed with the group of participants for photographs

and distributed prasadam to each one of them and brought joy to everyone.

Thereafter, Bhagawan sat listening to Bhajans as all the devotees assembled in

the Sai Kulwant Hall feasted on the Divine Name and Form of their Lord to their

heart’s content. After the arati, Bhagawan got on to the golf cart and proceeded

to Poornachandra.

http://saibabalinks.org/news/others/2004/ekadashi_3.jpgA scene from the musical-

Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Chisti

The evening programme started at 3.30 p.m. when Bhagawan came out for darshan to

the accompaniment of Vedic hymns, followed by rendition of melodious devotional

songs by the devotees from Maharashtra and Goa. Then, the Bal-Vikas students

presented a play on the life of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the Sufi saint

of Ajmer, popularly referred to as Garib-Un Nawaz. Sufism, as a movement, was

inspired by the mystic love of God and the need to realize the innate harmony

between all the faiths of the world. Among all the Sufi saints, Hazrat Khwaja

Moinuddin Hassan Chisti stands out as a Saviour of the Suffering and Supporter

of Peace. Born in 1143 A.D. Born in Sanjaristan in East Persia, he was

initiated in to the path of Divine Love by an unknown mystic very early in life

and later received formal spiritual training under another mystic saint for more

than 20 years. Afterwards while on a pilgrimage to Mecca, as per the bidding of

an angel, he migrates to Ajmer in

India to spread the Love of God in that war-ravaged region. Though initially he

is met with opposition from the locals, he wins them over with his stupendous

faith in God and his pure, selfless love. Khwaja Saheb left for his heavenly

abode in 1233 A.D., but the heart-stirring story of his life and his teachings

continue to inspire many people from all faiths and walks of life even today.

http://saibabalinks.org/news/others/2004/ekadashi_4.jpgBhagawan poses with the

participants of the evening programme

After the play, Bhagawan graciously granted photographs to all the participants

and the programme concluded at 5.00 p.m. with arati to our dear Lord Sai

Vitthala.

Jai Sai Ram!

Source: http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/Ashadi_04_report.htm

 

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