Prashanthi Bulletin - July 12th to 15th, 2005

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Prashanthi Bulletin

July 14th and 15th, 2005 14th morning was a break for the Music Group. However,

in the evening, Swami came to the Institute Auditorium at around 2.30 p.m. and

was present there watching the rehearsal till 4.00 p.m. 15th morning, we were

again lucky to witness Swami's arrival to the College. However, He came at 9.00

a.m. when the students, except the singers, were busy in their classrooms. He

sat in the Auditorium conducting a Divine quality audit and fine-tuning the

Music Programme to perfection. He Blessed the singers with a light brown Kurta

and Pyjama which they were asked to wear immediately. The singers went to the

backstage, wore the new dresses and returned to the Hall. Swami Blessed them.

Looking like modern Lava-Kusha, they went on to the stage for another round of

the songs. In the evening, the venue for the Music Programme rehearsal got

shifted to the Sai Kulwant Hall. At 4.00 p.m. the Vice

Chancellor, Prof. Gokak was commanded by Bhagawan to give an introduction to the

programme. He said that all these days we have been hearing the Veda Chanting,

but Swami wishes that we put into practice the sacred teachings of the Vedas.

He then stated that we would hear a Music Programme by the students of Swami.

All the songs were rendered in the planned sequence. The rehearsal concluded at

5.00 p.m. Bhajans and Prasadam distribution followed, concluding with Aarti.

July 13th, 2005 This seems to be an 80th year Bonanza for the Institute.

Yesterday was the first time, as far as we can recall, when Bhagawan has

visited the Institute twice on a single day. We could never imagine that we

would get such wonderful chances again. This morning was another golden day for

the College. The Music Group boys were ready for Swami's visit. They had

prepared and rehearsed yesterday evening and late into the night to put up a

perfect

presentation this morning. Bhagawan has been preparing this team for making a

grand presentation. Though Swami has not clearly revealed as to which occasion

this programme is being prepared for, one could guess that it could be for the

oncoming Gurupoornima Celebrations. 21st of July is Gurupoornima day - The day

of the Jagath Guru, in the 80th year of His Advent. What an unique occasion!

This day also happens to be the anniversary of the Anantapur Campus of the Sri

Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Following Gurupoornima, the next two

days, July 22nd and July 23rd, will witness a grand conference on the theme:

'Sai Interfaith Conference - The Religion of Love.' Eminent speakers from the

five major religions of the world: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, and

Jewish faiths, will be making their presentations during this conference.

Therefore, the third week of July will be a very significant and busy week in

Prasanthinilayam. Coming back to Swami's visit,

Swami entered the College premises at 8.45 a.m. just after the Foyer Prayers

were over. Even as students were exiting from the Foyer, Swami's car turned

into the gate. All the students stood in neat rows to welcome Bhagawan and have

His Divine Darshan before starting their classes. Swami went into the Auditorium

and had a long session till 10.00 a.m. along with the Music Team. They sang all

the songs that had been handpicked by Bhagawan. Towards the end some more songs

were added. Two of our Telugu speaking brothers and very good poets, Sri

Ranganatha Raju and Sri Uday Girish, both from the I Year MBA class, had been

selected for writing Telugu commentary as an introduction to each of the songs.

Both of them presented the intro verses and Swami was very happy. Towards the

end, all the boys and the Warden prayed to Swami to have the evening practice

session in the Hostel Dining Hall. The new Dining Hall in the senior student's

Hostel awaits Blessings of Bhagawan. Swami smiled

and said that He would see... All preparations were made in the Hostel to

receive Swami in the evening. However, Bhagawan chose to have the practice in

the Institute Auditorium itself. He reached the Auditorium at 3.15 p.m. All the

students proceeded to the College from the Hostel and occupied their seats in

the Auditorium. A full fledged rehearsal commenced in the Divine Presence. The

Vice Chancellor, Principal and several other professors were also present. A

commentary in Telugu preceded each song, rendered by brothers Raju and Girish.

The lead singers Om Prasad and Sai Krishna filled the Auditorium with their

melodious voice and soul stirring tunes. It was 4.25 p.m. Swami was about to

leave the Hall when the dance group prayed to Swami to Bless them with an

opportunity to present before Him. Swami gave His consent. A team of 8 dancers

then danced to vigourous music... At 4.30 p.m. Swami left the Auditorium and

proceeded to the Mandir. All of us

followed suit. In the Mandir, the car parked near the interview room. Swami's

sofa came out of the car. He asked the boys with Him to wheel the sofa towards

the Ladies side. To their delight, Swami's sofa was wheeled all the way between

the Lady devotees and from there He proceeded in the same way right until the

Poornachandra Auditorium and retired for the day. It was very amusing to see

the empty car starting subsequently and making its way towards the

Poornachandra. Bhajans went on from 5.00 p.m. to 5.20 p.m. July 12th, 2005

Today was yet another memorable day for the Institute. Bhagawan had given a

clue yesterday evening to the Music Group students that He may come to the

Institute Auditorium for a practice session. All preparations were made for

Bhagawan's arrival. However, since the agenda was restricted only to the Music

Programme practice, all other classes were expected to go on as usual. Only the

Music Group

boys would be seated in the Auditorium awaiting Swami's arrival. After the Foyer

session, all students went to their respective rooms for their classes. The

Management Workshop was in progress. At 8.40 a.m. our dear Lord makes His

silent entry into the College Campus. He drives down straight to the Auditorium

side entrance and enters. His sofa was placed in line with the first row of

chairs at the centre. Initially all the Music Group members were seated down in

front of Swami. There were no mikes. The practice session began. Bhagawan was

directing the whole programme, selecting the songs, giving them some tips,

sequencing the pieces, etc. Later, He asked the singers to move over to the

stage and make their presentation. Immediately the P.A. System boys arranged

the mikes. The latter half was heard loudly even in the Foyer on account of the

mikes. Swami was so concerned about the singers' throats that He asked for warm

water to be served to them. He sat

watching the practice session until 9.45 a.m. Then He went to the Mandir where

the Bhajans had already started. He took Aarti and retired to PC. Come evening

and what a pleasant surprise. Is it true or a dream? As we were proceeding to

the Mandir at quarter past three, we find our Lord proceeding to the Institute

Auditorium. He was there in the College from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Another

hour of Blissful Darshan! Many students ran from the Mandir and made their way

into the Auditorium. Swami sat in the same place. The singers were seated in

front of Swami with mikes. Two teams of instrumentalists were seated on the

stage providing music support. Bhagawan was so involved that it appeared as if

it were the first time He was watching the rehearsal. That is Bhagawan. Each

session is a fresh one for Him! The Omnipresent Lord is ever in the Present! It

was wonderful to have such an informal session after so many months. The singers

were truly very lucky to sing His Glory

sitting right in front of Him, looking into His Divine Eyes and He looking at

them. Can there be a better moment in life? At the end of the presentation,

Swami spoke to the singers. He asked the Vice Chancellor for his feedback.

Other authorities, the Principal and some Professors were also seated. Crowded

by students on all sides, Swami made His exit from the Auditorium and proceeded

to the Mandir. He went into the interview room. Bhajans began at 5.00 p.m. Swami

retired soon after. Bhajans continued and Aarti was offered at 5.20 p.m.

You can see an illustrated version of happenings at Prashanthi Nilayam in the

Prashanthi Diary of our monthly e-Journal Heart to Heart. The previous issue of

Prashanthi Bulletin is available here. The Photo album contains photos of events

of past Prashanthi Bulletins. Index of past Prashanthi Bulletins... Source:

http://www.radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm