Krishna Janmashtami celebrations in Parthi

[Guest guest]

Jai Sri Krishna

 

Sai Ram,

 

Wishing all a very Happy, Blessed and Blissful Sri Krishna Janmashtami.

 

Yesterday (26 Aug) being Gokula Ashtami, both morning and evening bhajans were

filled with Krishna bhajans. The whole Sai Kulwant Hall was resounding with

Krishna, Madhava, Gopala, Govinda, Madhusudhana, Keshava, Narayana, Sai Hari,

etc.

 

When we went in for afternoon Darshan, the Sai Kulwant hall was half decorated

with colourful flags, buntings, Chinese lanterns, flowers, etc. In the

afternoon, Swami distributed prasadam – paalgoa to all devotees. What a sweet

treat! Then after bhajans, Prof Anil Kumar announced that tomorrow on the

auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami Swami would be granting us His

Darshan at 8.30am.

 

This morning (27 August) when we entered the Sai Kulwant Hall at 6.30am, it

looked so magnificent and beautiful, being fully decorated. Every pillar,

ceiling, dais, interview room, driveway, etc was decorated. We were in

Gokulam! We were just awaiting the arrival of our Sai Krishna. The Mangala

Vadhyam, Thavil, Nadaswaram and veda chanting started at 7.35 am and we knew

our Swami was coming. We chanted the Narayana Upanishad, Shivopasana, Durga

Suktam, Purusha Suktam, Narayana Suktam, Surya Upanishad, Rudram, etc.

yes"> Swami was in His orange robe and He was seated in the Toyota Porte. The

car drove past slowly and we had excellent Darshan of our Sai Gopala. Swami

looked beautiful and sweet. The car then drove past Swami’s students, the male

side and again towards His students. We all had excellent Darshan. The Sai

Kulwant Hall was packed to the brim with devotees waiting outside to have a

glimpse of their Sai Narayana. Swami, the Omniscient and Compassionate Lord

instructed Sathyajit, His driver to drive our through the Hall’s driveway so

that the devotees outside could also get His Darshan. You should have heard

them gasp, clap and scream. Outside the driveway,

Swami’s elephant Sai Gita, His cows and calves from Gokulam were waiting for him.

 

After being outside giving Darshan for half an hour, we heard the saxophone,

mangala vadhyam, Nadaswaram and Thavil being played and the musicians were

walking up the driveway. Swami students clad in red dhothis were reciting

Vedas and Krishna bhajans were also being led by His students. They were

leading Sai Gita, the cows and the calves into the Sai Kulwant Hall. Sai Gita

was decorated from back to her feet. She had a beautiful silk red cloth on her

back. She wore large silver anklets. Her tusk and trunk were also decorated.

She is really getting old. You can see the skin around her ears, face and mouth

have gone whitish pink – a sign of old age. Every few seconds, she was putting

her trunk up and trumpeting. She wanted to see her Lord!

 

The cows and calves from Gokulam were also decorated in red blue silk cloth and

had their horns painted green and red. They were also mooing away as they

wanted to see their cowherd boy – Sai Gopala.

 

After about 10 minutes, Swami’s car came up the driveway. Sai Gita had her

trunk up as a sign of welcoming Swami into the hall. Swami’s car drove to the

verandah. Once on the verandah, Swami came out in His “car seat cum sofa” and

He was pushed to the dais where we all got a head to leg glimpse cum Darshan of

our Dear Sai Krishna. We were all gopees and gopikas in Gokulam having Darshan

of our Sai Krishna on this blessed Krishna Janmashtami Day. To make all of us

happy, Swami sat on His car seat on the dais for a good 30 minutes.

 

While Swami was seated on the dais, two of His male students dressed as Krishna

and Balarama went up to Swami to get His blessings and talk to him. It was a

good 5 minutes conversation. Then a few of His male students dressed as

Gopikaas – cowherds came up to Swami and they had 2 rabbits, 2 white doves, a

peacock and a brown calf in their hands. Swami blessed all of them and Swami

let the 2 white doves fly free into the hall. We all clapped and gasped!

 

Then Swami’s students carried prasadam – seedai vadai, in big silver basins for

Swami to bless. Swami blessed the prasadam and it was distributed to all of

us. As usual, on the ladies’ side everyone clamoured for prasadam.

 

Sai Gita was then led to the dais where Her Lord Sri Hari fed her with apples

with His own hands! What a lucky elephant! We all clapped as we were happy

for Sai Gita. How gifted she is! Then, we burst out laughing, while some

gasped, as Sai Gita urinated right in front of Swami – with her back turned

against Swami of course! Man, she had a full bladder – i mean buckets and

buckets! Sevadals were hurrying here and there trying to find rugs, cloth,

mops, etc. to wipe the wading pool! If they could, they would have brought a

carpet! We were amused. Sai Gita, though a great devotee of the Lord, sure

had some lessons to learn in toilet etiquette! Then, Sai Gita, the Gokulam

cows and calves were led back by the Gopikas (students) to their sheds through

the driveway. Aarathi was then sung while Swami was on the dais. No bhajans!

 

Just then, a sheikh and his entourage of about 10 male VIPs from the middle east

with his very curious always clicking away camera man walked up the driveway and

were then lead into the interview room, where Swami granted them a long 45

minutes interview.

 

After the interview, we thought there would be bhajans, but no. At 10.30am, the

Toyota Porte was driven to the verandah where Swami was led from the interview

room to the car. Aarathi was sung again and Swami’s car headed for His

residence.

 

It was quite a low key Krishna Janmashtami celebrations this year. We are

praying that Swami was bless us with His Divine Discourse this afternoon. Will

keep all of you posted

 

With Krishna,

saras

in Krishna always,saras

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram Sai Ram Sai Ram

 

You really made our Janamastami Special - very special with Sai Gita letting loose......

 

Sai Ram - Be Happy

 

JP

 

~~~~~~~~~~~Saras Suppiah <saikrsna9 .sg> wrote:

Jai Sri Krishna

 

Sai Ram,

 

Wishing all a very Happy, Blessed and Blissful Sri Krishna Janmashtami.

 

Yesterday (26 Aug) being Gokula Ashtami,

 

 

For devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba - Important Announcement.

 

SAI AT - project, to comemmorate Bhagwan Baba's 80th Year of Advent, has been

launched. For details

http://www.sailopics.com/80th_Year_of_Advent/80th_year_of_advent.htm

You can become project members of this memorable project if you have a SAILOGRAM

or SAI SILVER or SAI GOLD or procure one after reading this.

 

Sai Ram - Be Happy