Bheema Ratha Shanthi: 10th February 2005

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Indian culture has at its heart the noble feelings of reverence and gratitude.

The many festivals that dot the Indian calendar are all expressions of

gratitude to the various elements of the world around us that make our lives

pleasant and harmonious, and above all to God whose grace constantly surrounds

His devotees protecting them and guiding them. The day of Ayudha Puja during

the ten-day Dasara festival, for instance, is dedicated to the worship of the

tools, machines and implements that are used in our daily lives. The Vedas too

pay homage to Nature in its myriad forms. Reverence to one's elders is given

utmost importance in the scriptures, which declare that one's parents are equal

to God. The scriptures enjoin various ceremonies to be performed to honour one's

parents at various stages in their life. The Bheema Ratha Shanthi is one such

ritual worship that is performed when the husband crosses his 70th year. The

ritual involves formally reenacting their marriage ceremony and praying for good

health and happiness in their lives.

The procession proceeding towards Sai Kulwant Hall

On 10th February, Bhagawan conducted the Bheema Ratha Shanthi for 275 elderly

couples from Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi and surrounding villages in a grand

function held at the Sai Kulwant Hall. The procession of the couples started

from the Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyana Mantapam in Puttaparthi at 7.00 a.m. led by

the brass band and Nadasawaram troupe from the Anantapur campus of Sri Sathya

Sai Institute of Higher Learning, and a group of Banjara dancers with

traditional musical instruments.

The beautifully decorated pandals

In Sai Kulwant Hall, where the procession culminated, a small enclosure had been

made for every couple with elegant brass railings, and chairs were placed within

the enclosure for the couples to sit. This enclosure had been traditionally

decorated with plantain and mango leaves. The entire hall seemed awash with

brilliant colours, with banners and decorations wherever one turned.

All set

After the couples were seated, the officiating priests began the proceedings by

directing them to worship Lord Ganesha. The couples were helped in performing

the various rituals by girl students from the Anantapur campus of the

University who had been assigned with this duty. The previous evening, these

students had received instructions from Bhagawan Himself regarding their duties

during the function. The rituals were conducted in the traditional manner as

prescribed in the scriptures. On the eve of the grand ceremony, on 9th February

2005, Bhagawan had blessed the couples with ornaments such as gold earrings

studded with diamonds, gold bangles, silver anklets along with dhotis, silk

saris and glittering garlands to be worn by the couple.

Bhagawan distributing the Mangalasutra to the couples

Bhagawan then went around the hall to each couple and with His own hands

presented them with a gold Mangalasutra (necklace to be placed by the husband

around the wife's neck), gold rings and silver toe-rings. The couples were also

presented watches and silver idols of Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi. One

could see tears in their eyes, overwhelmed by the bountiful blessings the Lord

had bestowed on them that day. Bhagawan's face too was radiant with joy

reflecting the bliss His devotees were experiencing at witnessing the grand

function. Even as Bhagawan was blessing each couple thus, the priests explained

the significance of this function to the gathering and declared that is was the

greatest fortune of these couples to have it conducted by none other than the

Poornavatar Himself.

Mangalasutra being tied to the bride

The auspicious moment arrived for the Mangalasutra to be placed round the wife's

neck. To the rousing sounds of the Nadaswaram and the intoning of Vedic mantras,

the couples reaffirmed their vows to each other and exchanged garlands. Bhagawan

sprinkled sacred yellow rice grains on the couples thus sanctifying their

marriage. After the ceremony, the couples were provided with a special banquet

along with their family members, friends, relatives and all devotees who were

fortunate to attend this grand function in the Divine Presence of Bhagawan, in

the South Indian Canteen of the Ashram.

Bhagawan granting His Divine Discourse

In the afternoon, Bhagawan blessed the gathering with His Divine Discourse in

which He explained the significance of the Bheema Ratha Shanthi. He said that

the word Bheema normally signified strength and valour. It does not refer to

physical strength but to the enormous will power and the wealth of wisdom that

elders possess. He said that the younger generation should pay heed to the

words of their elders and pay them their due respect to achieve success in

their endeavours.

Ms. Sudha Raghunathan seeking Bhagawans blessings before the concert

Bhagawan's discourse was followed by a music concert by Ms. Sudha Raghunathan, a

renowned singer in the Carnatic style of music. Ms. Raghunathan has been a long

standing devotee of Bhagawan. In fact, she was saved from a life threatening

epileptic fit by Bhagawan when she was a two year old child. Bhagawan appeared

in the form of a villager to the sorrowful couple, who were stranded on their

way to Bangalore after Bhagawan's birthday celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam,

and revived their child whom they had given up as dead. When they asked the

mysterious man his name, he replied that it was Jodi Adipalli Somappa. This

name is now recited as one of the 108 names in praise of our Lord Sai. Before

the commencement of the programme, Bhagawan materialised a gold chain for the

artiste and blessed her. Ms. Sudha Raghunathan delighted the audience with her

melodious rendition of kirtanas by Thyagaraja

(Brochevarevaru ra…) and Purandaradasa (Jagaddodharana …) and then went on to

sing devotional compositions in Hindi and Tamil and concluded with a Sai

Bhajan. At the end of the programme, Bhagawan blessed all the artistes and

accepted Arati before retiring to His residence. Thus the curtain came to a

close for the grand ceremony. At a time when society has all but ignored the

older generation, Bhagawan is reminding youngsters of the duties and

responsibilities they have towards their elders. This was clearly evident from

the way the programme was organised under the Divine guidance of Bhagawan.

Bhagawan out of His immense love for the welfare of these elderly couples from

the villages had taken extra care to depute a team of doctors to conduct

medical check up, well in advance of the function, and thus ensuring their

participation. Arrangements were also made for their to and fro transportation

to make it to the function. Those elderly couples who

would find it difficult to walk were provided with wheelchairs for free movement

and there were students and sevadals around throughout to take care of them.

Indeed, the loving care and the meticulousness with which Bhagawan supervised

the arrangements and the unparalleled grandeur of the ceremony are an

indication of the reverence and honour that is due to the older generation. It

is now for us, His devotees, to carry the mantle of disseminating His message

to the world by living our lives by His Word. Jai Sai Ram!

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

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