Prashanthi Bulletin - 7th-9th September, 2005

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September 9th, 2005 Bhagawan had permitted the Ganesha immersion ceremony to

take place today. The main Senior Students' Hostel Chariot was a huge platform

with Ganesha seated on it and surrounding Him were music instruments of all

types - the Gaana Priya Ganesha. The II PG had a well decorated chariot. The I

PG had a huge pigeon flying towards its nest as the backdrop and right inside

the nest was seated our dear Ganesha! The III UG students had two swans

decorating the front of their chariot and at the back were two butterfly wings

- huge in size - going flip flap as the chariot moved. The main chariot of the

School had a Tirupati touch, with a huge Shankha and Chakra on either side of

the Lord. The procession began at 2.00 p.m. from the Hostels and by 3.00 p.m.

all were inside the Kulwant Hall. The chariots and palanquins were slotted in

their respective places with core groups seated around them. It looked like a

Republic Day Parade, with all squads standing in a straight line, from the

Poornachandra entry along the ladies side right until the East entrance of the

Mandir on the Gents side. Bhagawan came in at around 3.15 p.m. The car went

slowly in front of the chariots. As the car moved in front of each group, the

Pujaris came forward and received Blessings on behalf of the others. Swami

looked at each piece of art with an appreciative smile. This went on until He

had crossed all the two dozen and odd groups which included General Hospital,

Super Specialty Hospital, Airport, Ashram, Primary School, Eswaramma School,

etc. Swami then came and sat down on the dais. All this time Vedam and Bhajans

were going on in the background. Mr. Chakravarthi received some instructions

from Swami and spoke to the Warden. The two Wardens then came running to pass

on the instructions to all the groups. Swami had permitted all to go for a

Pradakshina (circumambulation) around the Mandir. One by

one all the students and staff went in a single line for the Pradakshina. The

line would move close to the dais, cross Swami with Pranaams and then move on

to complete the circle around the Mandir. Swami was keenly watching every

student and staff member who passed Him with a loving smile. The whole process

took quite some time. It was a wonderful event to watch as a spectator. Huge

lines of people moving in and another moving out after the Pradakshina, with

all criss-crosses, and loud Vedic Chants and Bhajans... This is typical of any

celebration in the Divine Presence. It gives so much joy and happiness to one

and all. After this, the Pujari, Sri Bhatt Garu was asked to give Aarti to all

the Ganeshas. He lit the camphor, started with Swami and then went to the

middle of the Hall and started giving Aarti to each chariot. One by one, each

group came to the centre with its chariot / palanquin, placed it in front of

Swami for a while, offered Pranaams and then moved

out through the Eastern Gate of the Mandir. The Aarti went on and on, with

camphor supply coming in from behind until all the Ganeshas had moved out! Some

students accompanied the procession while others stayed back in the Mandir.

Swami sat outside with the Vedam chanting going on for a long time. After a

while, at around 4.30 p.m. Bhagawan asked whether the immersion was over and

the boys were back. Soon, all the students started returning. As they came and

sat down in front of Swami, He looked at each and every student, without

exception, and smiled at them; literally energizing all of them. Surely, all

the exhaustion that the students would have had in preparing for the occasion

would have disappeared in a trice! At 5.55 p.m. when most of the students had

returned to the Mandir, our dear Mother was satisfied and signaled for Aarti to

be given. He retired early so that all could rest for the day. We remembered how

last year, Swami had asked the Vice Chancellor to make an

announcement stating that all students are very tired and Swami wants them to

have an early dinner and go to sleep! That is the Love of a thousand Mothers!!

September 8th, 2005 This evening was a very special day for all the Ashram,

Institute and Administrative Block workers. All of them were invited to Sai

Kulwant Hall to receive Blessings from Bhagawan. This included the sweepers,

gardeners, electricians, plumbers, attenders, etc. All of them were seated in

the 4th block of the Hall. There were nearly 250 of them. Around 80 ladies were

also present, seated in the adjacent ladies' side block. When Swami finished His

Darshan taking a round in His car, instead of stopping at the inner Portico, He

asked for the car to be taken near the group. The car was taken there and

turned around so that Swami, seated on the left side of the car, was facing

them. Then He got down, went around all of them till the very end, speaking

words of love and encouragement to all. It was something very new to all of us -

Swami moving so freely amidst all of them, as though He knew each one of them

personally. That is Heart to Heart!! A mike had been placed nearby for some of

them to speak a few words. At 3.30 pm, this extempore programme commenced at

Bhagawan's command, with one of the longest serving members, Kashiappa (working

for the past 30 years in the Ashram) of the Accommodation office speaking in

Telugu, expressing his love for Swami, describing how the Ashram has evolved

over the years, and how Bhagawan has been with him every moment of his life.

Next to speak was Sakharam, in Hindi. He has been an employee for the past 25

years. After him, Swami granted the chance of speaking to some more members.

One of them narrated how by Swami's Grace he could join the Pathashala at

Prashanti Nilayam many years ago, how he was crippled and Swami had made him

walk, how doctors told him that he could not have

children, but Swami had granted him children and named them too! Subsequently,

all of them requested for an opportunity to sing some songs. Swami gave His

consent. They started with 'Rama Kodanda Rama', and continued with Bhajans like

'Rama Rama Sai Rama', and 'Deenadayalu Sai Rama Ram'. Bhagawan then distributed

clothes and watches to all of them. As He remained seated there amidst them,

the workers came up and received the bounty from His hands. After the

distribution to the gents was completed, Bhagawan moved over to the ladies'

side and once again individually gave each of them saris and watches with His

own Hands. He also asked for apples to be distributed to all of them. It was a

sight to see Swami showering so much Love on people whom we generally take for

granted. But for their sincere and dedicated service, a comfortable life for us

would never be possible. Even when Bhagawan came to the Bhajan hall before the

Bhajans, He lovingly recollected some of

the points mentioned by the speakers. Bhajans commenced at 5.10 pm and Bhagawan

left at 5.40 p.m. after Aarti. September 7th, 2005 Sairam. First of all, we

wish you a very happy Ganesha Chaturthi. The entire Parthi is full of joy and

cheer celebrating the festival of our most dear Lord Ganesha. Most of the roads

are decorated with buntings and flowers. Altars of Ganesha are seen almost

everywhere. At the Hostels too, students worked hard the whole night,

decorating the Main altar and altars in every floor of the Hostels. This

morning all of us were seated in the Kulwant Hall by 7.15 a.m. Bhagawan came

out for Darshan at 7.55 a.m. After taking a full round of the Kulwant Hall,

Swami sat on the dais in the centre, amidst loud Vedic Chants. Obviously 'Om

Namaste Ganapataye' was the first Vedic Mantram to be chanted. At 8.25 a.m.

Swami went inside into the Bhajan Hall and asked the Pujari Bhat Garu for the

Ganapati.

Bhat Garu went outside and brought a medium sized Ganesha idol which Swami

blessed and asked to place near the altar. Then the Vice Chancellor interceded

praying to Swami about the boys program etc. To this Swami said, "Cheskondi" -

"Go Ahead". Students started chanting the Ganesha Stotrams. Surprisingly, Swami

chose to remain inside as the Stotrams were sung. Vakratunda Mahakaya, Jai

Ganesha Jai Ganesha Deva, Sai Mahadeva Mammu Kaapaadaga Raava, Panduranga

Naamam... were some of the Stotrams that were chanted. At 8.55 a.m. all ran

into the Bhajan Hall for the Bhajans. At 9.20 a.m. Swami retired while Bhajans

concluded at 9.40 a.m. with Aarti In the evening, Swami was out by 3.15 p.m.

After the car had parked inside the inner portico as it usually does, the chair

rolled out and then Swami came on His chair along the Gents side of the Kulwant

Hall. It has been a long time since we had this type of Darshan. Swami in the

Chair without the car. Brother Divij Desai, who

wheels Swami's Chair, moved the sofa slowly amidst the devotees and as Swami

came to the centre of the Hall, He indicated to be taken to the Rama Statue

Block towards the Gopuram Gate. As He moved further towards the Gopuram Gate,

the car was summoned and off went Swami outside the Mandir. We all sat

ignorantly, inside the Kulwant Hall without the least idea about what our dear

Lord was up to. Out there, Bhagawan went past the Institute and the School and

approached the Senior Hostel. The Warden somehow managed to reach the Hostel in

time. He prayed to Swami to Bless the Hostel. Afew of the students by now had

managed to reach the Hostel and some who were delayed in coming to the Mandir

were also there. To their great delight, Swami entered the Hostel and the car

drove straight into the Hostel on the ramp specially built at the entrance.

>From there, the car moved straight forward into the Hostel Dining Hall. Sitting

in the car itself, Swami had a look at the Dining

Hall. A model of the newly built Hall that was prepared earlier was brought to

be Blessed by Bhagawan. A plate of Akshatas (yellow rice) was held out. Swami

took some Akshatas and Blessed the model and the Dining Hall. Vedam chanting

went on in the background. Later Swami also lit a lamp marking the inauguration

of the Hostel Dining Hall. Aarti was offered and Swami left the Hostel and moved

towards the Mandir. Bhagawan returned to the Mandir at 4.05 p.m. Around 4.30

p.m. Swami came out and sat on the dais giving beautiful Darshan to all of the

devotees and students. At 4.55 p.m. Bhajans started and went on till 5.35 p.m.

Prasadam was distributed to all. Swami took Aarti and retired to the

Poornachandra Auditorium.

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:

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