Guest guest Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 Namaste Events at Prashanthi Nilayam - 18 NOV 2004 Today is the Ratothsavam day. Sai Geetha (elephant)entered the Ganesh Gate at 6:20 am and was brought to her usual place near the sitting lion statue near the ladies side. Nadaswaram was played by the local group. The idols of Rama,Seetha and Lakshmana and Hanuman were kept in a palanquin and the idol of Krishna on another palanquin, inside the Bhajan hall. Swami came at 7:00 am and stopped the buggy near Sai Geetha and after a brief halt, started towards the gents side. One could see the disappointment on the face of Sai Geetha that Swami spent only a little time with her. Swami entered the veranda from the eastern side after giving Darshan to the Gents side also and drove through the veranda and came out from the western side. Meanwhile, Sai Geetha was lifting her trunk and in her own language, beckoning Swami to come near her. Swami drove near Sai Geetha again making her happy. She expressed her happiness by lifting her trunk very high and dropping down. Swami fed her with fruits while she was trying to caress Swami with her trunk. This lasted for about 10 minutes and Swami went out of Sai Kulwant Hall for a while and came back to the front of the lobby and got down in the front and climbed up to the lobby. While swami was standing, one group of students chanting Vedas dressed in red silk dhoti came out of the Bhajan Hall followed by another group singing Bhajans. The palanquin carrying the idols of Rama/Seetha/Lakshmana/Hanuman followed the Bhajan group and the palanquin carrying the idol of Krishna came last and the procession started in the above order being led by Sai Geetha and went out through the Gopuram Gate. Swami sat on the sofa near the ladies side and listened to the Veda chanting by the remaining members of the group and the primary school students till 7:55 am. Swami then got up and went inside the interview room. The palanquin carrying the idols of Rama, Seetha etc returned in a procession to Sai Kulwant Hall through the Gopuram gate at 8:40 am. Bhajans started almost immediately and Swami left Sai Kulwant Hall after Aarathi at 8:55 am. Afternoon In the afternoon, Swami came at 3:00 pm and after crossing the students, turned towards the lobby and entered the veranda and got down. He came to the lobby and sat down on the sofa. swami listened to the Vedic Chants till 4:00 pm and got up and went inside the interview room. Bhajans were held from 5:00 pm to 5:25 pm and Swami left at 5:30 pm after Aarathi. http://www.kingdomofsai.org/modules.php?ame=News&file=article&sid=242 Events at Prashanthi Nilayam - 19 NOV 2004 Ladies Day Celebration Today is the Ladies Day. The lobby was decorated with flowers and there was a tableau covered with a screen. The Veda chanting after the Omkaram was done by a group of girls from Anantapur Campus. In front of the door in the Poornachandra Hall, through which swami usually comes out, the girls band groups from the primary school and the Anantapur campus were waiting. A group of primary school children were waiting with lighted candles in their hand. Swami came out at 6.30 am and the Girls with the lamps started the procession with the primary school girls' band following them. They were followed by the Anantapur campus Band. A group of Anantapur girls were playing Nadaswaram and the Veda chanting group started the Veda Chanting. Darshan music was played over the loudspeakers. Swami entered Sai Kulwant Hall in the buggy and turned in front of the lobby straight to the lobby and got down in front of the lobby. He climbed up the steps and went towards the lamp where Smt Chetna was waiting. Swami lit the lamp and came to the sofa and sat down. The primary school girls' band played in front of Swami and withdrew to their place in the passage after the sitting lion statues. *Smt Chetna then requested Swami to open the tableau marking the inauguration of "Easwaramma Women's Welfare Project " for the upliftment of destitute women. Swami pressed a remote to open the Tableau.* She then announced the program and introduced the two speakers who would speak. This was to be followed by a dance program by the primary school children and a Violin Recital by Smt Lalitha and Smt Nandini. First speaker was Smt Geetha Reddy, a congress politician and at present Minister for Tourism in Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. The second was Smt Helen from the "Heart Doctors" group. Smt Helen narrated how they went to Iraq for service with 100 tons of wheat powder and when they reached there, she was told that they have plenty of wheat powder and what they wanted badly was milk powder. Meanwhile, one boy opened a bag and started eating the `wheat powder'. Smt Helen told him that it is not good to eat raw wheat powder. She was told that it was not wheat but milk! She said when they ordered clearly wheat powder, Swami converted it into milk powder! After the two speeches which were over at 7.30 am, the primary school children staged a dance presentation entitled ` Rasa Leela'. After this, the Violin Recital started at 8 am. After a couple of songs, Swami started distributing sarees to many ladies and the volunteers took over. Swami gave gifts to the primary school girls who performed the dance drama. Sweets were distributed to the devotees. The violin Recital went on till 9.20 am. During this period, one primary school girl who was in the lamp procession was called by Swami as she was crying. Looks like, the molten candle has spilled over hand. Swami took His kerchief and wiped her hand as well as her tears! The girl returned with a big smile ! Swami then distributed gifts to the violinists and left Sai Kulwant Hall after Aarathi. Afternoon In the afternoon, Swami came at 2:55 pm. There was a program by the UK choir group of Ladies from 3:00 pm to 3:15 pm. This was followed by the Vocal recital by Smt. Anuradha Paudwal and her party till 4:30 pm. Swami materialized a ring for Smt. Anuradha Paudwal after spending some time left Sai Kulwant Hall at 5:00 pm after Mangala Aarathi. http://www.kingdomofsai.org/modules.php?ame=News&file=article&sid=243 Events at Prashanthi Nilayam - 20 NOV 2004 Swami came in the morning at 6:45 am and after going round the gents' side too, came to the lobby and sat on the sofa listening to the Veda Chants till 8:00 am. He got up and went inside the interview room at 8:05 am. Bhajans were held from 9:00 am till 9:30 am. Afternoon In the afternoon, Swami came at 2:30 pm. This made many devotees run to get into the Hall in time. Still many missed the Darshan round. Swami went through the full Darshan round and came to the lobby. At 3:00 pm, Swami permitted the Yakshagana presentation of `Sri Rama Darshanam' by the students of Sri Sathya Sai educational institutions from "Alike". Swami materialized a chain for the boy who acted as Rama and a ring for Sri Jayarama Padyana who rendered the vocal music for the Yakshagana. The program lasted till 4:15 pm. Though the sequences are from Ramayana, the presentation and costumes were absorbing and the dance by the boys were very good and interesting. Swami distributed gifts to the participants and left at 4:30 pm after Aarathi. http://www.kingdomofsai.org/modules.php?ame=News&file=article&sid=244 Events at Prashanthi Nilayam - 21 NOV 2004 Morning Swami came in the morning at 7:10 am and gave Darshan by going round the full route including the Gents' side. He sat in the sofa and listened to the Veda Chanting till 8:10 am. He got up and went to the interview room. He left Sai Kulwant Hall before the Bhajans started and Bhajans were held from 9:00 am to 9:30 am. Afternoon In the afternoon, Swami came at 3:00 pm. Again Swami went round the entire route and got down near the interview room and walked through the veranda and came to the lobby and sat on the sofa. The first program was speech by two British Devotees, ( one is the chairman of Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, UK). The chairman of Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, UK gave an account of the service rendered in the past four days by the UK Group. The second one narrated how his life has got transformed after coming to Swami. Then, there was a Bhajan Session by the Devotees from Brazil which was over at 4:30 pm. This was followed by a Hindusthani Music Clarinet recital. Swami was so pleased with the recital, that he first called the vidwan to the lobby at the end of a song and meterialised a ring and gave him. After the next song, He called him again and gave a silk Dhoti which swami put it around his neck. Again He called his wife and gave her a Saree. After that, Swami called the Brazilian Bhajan group and gave sarees to the ladies and Safari suit material to the men. Mangala Aarathi was performed at 5:05 pm. Swami got into the buggy near the interview room and asked Prof. Anil Kumar to announce that the Convocation program would start at 3:00 pm at Sai Kulwant Hall tomorrow. Swami again got down from the buggy and went inside the interview room with Sri Narasimhamurthy, Brindavan Campus warden. Finally, Swami left at 6:00 pm. http://www.kingdomofsai.org/modules.php?ame=News&file=article&sid=245 Events at Prashanthi Nilayam - 22 NOV 2004 Convocaiton of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Morning Swami came in the morning at 6:50 am and came round the Gents' side and entered the veranda from the western side. He got down at the eastern end of the veranda.and walked to the lobby, spending quite sometime talking to a few devotees seated in the lobby. He came to the lobby and walked towards the ladies side and stood sometime watching the primary school boys chanting Veda. He turned and came back to the sofa and sat down. He got up at 7:55 am and walked towards the interview room and went inside. Prof. Anil Kumar announced that the convocation of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning will take place at Sai Kulwant Hall will take place at 3:00 pm. Afternoon Swami came at 2:55 pm in the open Saab car standing, with the Chief Guest Sri Rasgotra, Retired Foreign Secretary of Govt of India, also standing beside Him. The Band Group led the procession with Swami's car following the band group. The other dignitaries which included Former Chief Justice of India, Sri Bhagavathi, also dressed in the convocation dress followed the car . Swami got down from the car in front of the lobby which was decorated in the usual convocation style, and climbed up the stairs and sat in His chair with the Chief Guest and Vice Chancellor sitting on either side of Him. The program started at 3:00 pm sharp with the chanting of Vedas by a group of students. Then, Dr. Giri (Vice Chancellor) welcomed the Chief Guest and read out the pledge which the students repeated. Prof. U.S.Rao read out the students who were awarded the medals for their performance. The overall performance medal was awarded to Kumari Dipti Bhagya of Anantapur Campus. Swami materialised a golden chain and put it around her neck, apart from the gold medal which was awarded to her. After that, Dr. Giri requested Sri Rasgotra to speak. Sri Rasgotra spoke from 3:40 pm to 4:15 pm. Dr. Giri requested Swami to give His message to the students. Swami started the Discourse at 4:15 pm and spoke till 5:05 pm. Swami spoke about "Love" and said that He does not know any other way to reach God except through Love. The entire talk was about Love and concluded the Discourse with " Prema Mudhita Manase Kaho". After that swami made a special mention about Kumari Dipti who won the best student award. He said that she is diabetic and even if you check now, her sugar level will be high. But she does not worry about her health and tells her parents also not to worry, as swami is there to protect her. Her father was called to the podium and he literally broke down when Swami was talking about her. Her father is Prof. Bhagya, Professor in Management Studies in the Institute. Swami blessed him. Swami said that he is telling about her so that other students take her as example and emulate her in the single pointed pursuit of her goals in spite of her health. The convocation ended with the National Anthem and swami left in the buggy with Sri Bhagavathi and Sri Rasgotra also sitting in the buggy along with Swami. Prof. Anil Kumar announced that there will be a play staged by students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning at 6:00 pm at Poornachandra Hall entitled "Chal Re Man Apne Dhaam" Swami came to Poornachandra Hall Auditorium at 5:55 pm and the play Started at 6 pm. In the play, a young and ambitious research scholar in English Literature from Pragathi Viswavidyalaya - Kaushik goes in search of a real story that highlights the hidden goodness in society. In his quest, he comes across a talented and devoted idealist - Avinash, who saves the life of the son of a poor father spending from the money that was given officially . In the process he gets dismissed by his MD (his employer), though his work was appreciated earlier. He gets guided by the teachings of Vivekananda and devotes his life for the service. The boy whom he saved was none other than Kaushik and in the end, kaushik attributes his behaviour to the teachings of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba as he was a student from Swami's college. The institution Avinash runs called " Karunalayam" has students. The noteworthy point in that the boys who acted as students of Karunalayam were actually from the Swami's Deenodhdharana Village ! At the end ( 7:15 pm) Swami distributed watches to all the actors of the play including the small boys from Deenodhdharana Village and the boys and staff who worked behind the stage. Swami posed for photographs with the participants of the play and left the dais at 7:45 pm after Aarathi. Prof. Anil Kumar announced that the Birthday Celebrations will start at 7:00 am tomorrow morning at Sai Kulwant Hall. http://www.kingdomofsai.org/modules.php?ame=News&file=article&sid=246 Copyright Kingdom of Sai © 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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