Birthday Celebrations - A Report

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Namaste

 

Events at Prashanthi Nilayam - 23 NOV 2004

 

Birthday Celebrations - A Report

 

Sai Kulwant Hall was full. Devotees were even sitting in the vacant

space near the Gopuram. The Bands from Primary School Boys, Girls

School, Anantapur Girls and The Boys band from Prasanthililayam

campus had assembled in front of the door in Poornachandra Hall.

Swami came in white dress at 6:55 am. There was a professional group

playing Nadaswaram and another group of Anantapur Girls were seated

near the end of the ladies area near the sitting lion statue and

playing on Nadaswaram. Swami came in the other cart in which His

seat is in the front and the driver's seat is at the back. Satyajit

was driving the cart from behind. The order of the procession was

Anantapur Girls, School Girls from PSN Campus, primary school boys

and the Men's band followed by Swami's cart. Along the cart some

senior devotees like Chakravarthi, V.Srinivasan, Indulal Shah,

C.Srinivas and Balaram were walking along. Swami went round the

gents' side too, blessing the devotees and entered the veranda from

the eastern side and came to the lobby. He sat down on the sofa and

asked Sanjay Sahney to introduce the morning speakers. Dr. Goldstein

and Prof G.Venkataraman were the two speakers from 7:20 am to 8:10

am. Swami started His Birthday Message at 8:10 am and spoke till

9:20 am and concluded the Discourse with the Bhajan "Prema Mudhita

Manase Kaho". He said the one should know where he came from, where

he is and where he is going. To illustrate the point, Swami narrated

a story and a real experience of Dr. Goldstein. The story is about a

person who crosses Godavari in a boat . He asks the boatman whether

he knows this, that etc and gets a reply in the negative. He says

that the boatman is wasting his life in not trying to know such

things. There is turbulence in the river and the boatman asks this

person whether he know swimming and gets a negative reply. The

boatman says that his entire life is going to be wasted by drowning!

The swami narrated how against the advice of Him, once Dr. Goldstein

left Puttaparthi and his plane was hijacked. Swami said that when

the plane was hijacked, Dr. Goldstein also did not know where he was

and where he was to go. Swami said only the prayers of Mrs.

Goldstein, who is an ardent devotee, saved their lives. Swami

concluded the Discourse by stressing the need of 'Love All, Serve

All' and not attaching too much importance to body. Swami said He is

in perfect health and He will be like this even after His ninetieth

year. He said He had taken this fracture to illustrate to His

devotees the need to get over the body consciousness. After the

speech, Aarathi was performed and apples and sweets were distributed

to the devotees. Swami called Sri Rasgotra, materialised Vibhuthi

and gave him. He then materialised a ring and after trying to put it

in his finger, put it in his pocket instead ! Swami went inside the

interview room. He came out at 10:15 am and cut the cake which was

kept in the veranda. and left Sai Kulwant Hall at 10:30 am, again

the Nadaswaram and Bands following His cart. Anil Kumar announced

that there will be a music recital by Smt Parveen Sultana at 4:30 pm

 

Swami came in the usual buggy cart in the afternoon, in the usual

dress and got down in the lobby after going through the entire

Darshan route. He walked slowly across the lobby and went to the

Interview room and granted interview to Mr.Shinde (Governor of A.P)

and his wife. Swami came out at 4:10 pm and asked a small dais to be

put up in the lobby for the music program. After dais was made,

Swami came at 4:20 pm and sat on the sofa. Smt Parveen Sultana gave

a hindusthani music program from 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm. Aarathi was

performed and Swami left the hall at 5:35 pm.

 

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