Sai Kingdom (UK) Grama Seva Group 2005 – 10th-13th October

[Guest guest]

bhajan “Rama Rama Rama Sita”. The students then sang bhajans whilst prasadam

was being distributed to all.Sai Kingdom (UK) Grama Seva Group 2005 – 11th

OctoberMorning Darshan: Prasanthi Nilayam is now very busy with thousands of

devotees having arrived for the Dasara festival. Each day there are more and

more devotees coming. Swami came and gave darshan to one and all in the Sai

Kulwant Hall. Immediately after darshan was over, everyone headed towards

Poornachandra Hall. It seemed like a very long wait in Poornachandra Hall as

Swami had not arrived there until almost 10am. Swami arrived and sat on the

stage for a while and then blessed the priest performing the Yagna. Soon after

that, Swami went back to His Divine Abode and instructions were sent from

inside by Swami to start the day’s Grama Seva. Today was the last day for Grama

Seva outside of Puttaparthi,

and on this special day the UK Group was to split into three different teams and

went in different directions. One of the villages visited was called

Bandlapalli, which had around 150 houses. Some time after that village was

completed, it was almost 12:45pm and the Group moved on to another village.

Finally, everyone arrived at the second village called Gownukantapalli, which

consisted of just over 100 houses. The distribution task was completed as

quickly as possible and everyone headed back to Prasanthi Nilayam.En route, the

vehicles had to pass through another village. There, the roads were blocked by

women devotees who had placed Swami’s picture on a chair in the middle of the

road and all the while they were singing and dancing around Swami’s picture.

The only way forward was to offer Swami’s prasadam to the villagers.The last

team to arrive back to Prasanthi Nilayam was at 3:20pm. Everyone got changed

very

quickly and headed for afternoon darshan. During darshan, we were informed that

Swami had inquired with Sri Sanjay Sahni, Principal of Brindavan Campus, about

the Grama Seva today. The omnipresent Swami asked “How were the women in the

villages today?”!!!! Afternoon Darshan:Swami is embodiment of compassion, as

He arrived for the afternoon darshan at 4:10pm, just enough time for the UK

boys to get ready after coming late from Grama Seva.Swami sat on the portico

listening to Vedam being chanted. He then instructed the vice-chancellor,

Professor A.V. Gokak, started the introduction of the speakers for the day at

4:25pm.The first speaker was Dr. G. Venkataraman, who spoke for 30 minutes

about his experiences about Swami. He was followed by Sri S.V. Giri, former

vice-chancellor of the Swami’s Institute, who spoke for about 15 minutes about

his experiences with Swami.

Finally, Professor B.N. Narasimha Murthy, Warden of Brindavan Campus, spoke for

20 minutes. Swami started His Divine Discourse at 5:40pm. He spoke about the

nine-fold path of devotion practised by devotees in the past and at present.

Swami said, “Only God who can change the Mind”. Swami spoke about the time he

spent two days with Purshottamanand in the Vashishta caves near Rishikesh.

Swami sat down on His chair at 6:15pm and continued speaking about the Love

between him and Purshottamanand. Swami suddenly called for Aarti at 6:45pm and

thereafter returned to His Divine Abode.Sai Kingdom (UK) Grama Seva Group 2005

– 12th OctoberMorning Darshan:Today is the holy day of Dasara. As usual there

was an atmosphere of holiness in the Sai Kulwant Hall. There was live music as

is the case on such occasion. Sai Geeta also graced the place with her

presence. Our Lord Sai

arrived at 9:20am for darshan, followed by a number of priests. Immediately Sai

Geeta moved forward to greet her beloved Master. She put her trunk inside the

car window as Swami patted her and gave a fruit as prasadam. Swami continued to

give darshan to everyone and stopped His car on the Portico to speak to Sri Ajit

Poppat. Swami took a card from Sri Poppat’s hand and spoke to him for about five

minutes. The card was to express the Group’s immense gratitude to Swami for

allowing them to participate in the Grama Seva with the Students.Swami got out

of the car and went inside the interview. Instructions were given for everyone

to go to Poornachandra Hall for the “Poornahuti” of the Yagna, the final

ceremony to mark the end of the Yagna. Everyone was eagerly awaiting Swami’s

arrival in the Poornachandra Hall. As He entered onto the stage from behind the

curtains, the volume of the Vedic chanting increased to announce His

arrival. Swami sat next to the Yagna (holy sacrificial fire) and put various

kinds of offerings into the fire. Swami materialised a gold ring for one of the

priests, at which point there was thunderous applause. Swami blessed all the

priests as the Yagna came to end and went behind the curtains to His residence.

After about 5-10 minutes, Swami came back to the stage and signalled to go down

to the ground where everyone was sitting. Swami sprinkled holy water on the

ladies sitting at the front from His chair. The fortunate people at the front

on the gents’ side also received His blessings i! n the form of droplets of

holy water. Swami was then taken up onto the stage. However, he again signalled

to go down and this time sprinkled water on the ladies standing outside the

Hall! Everyone was thrilled as their prayers had come true and Swami took the

trouble of going out to bless them. At 10:30am, Swami returned to His Divine

Abode, at which point Professor Anil Kumar made the announcement that the

Anantapur sisters will distribute prasadam to all the residents of Prasanti

Nilayam and everyone should return to their rooms to receive this. The

Anantapur students visited every room in the Ashram and gave the same prasadam

that the Grama Seva groups had given to the villages.Afternoon Darshan:Swami

arrived for darshan in the afternoon just before 4:00pm. Swami went around the

entire Sai Kulwant Hall in His car to bless the devotees. Thereafter Swami sat

on the Portico and listened to the Vedam chanting.Swami’s signalled to make the

announcement for the afternoon, programme which consisted of a drama entitled

Bhakta Soordas. The drama was enacted by the Students of Brindavan Campus. It

was a very beautiful play describing the life of Soordas with dance, music and

narration. Swami blessed all the Students

who took part in the drama and returned to the Divine abode. Sai Kingdom (UK)

Grama Seva Group 2005 – 13th OctoberAfternoon Darshan:Swami did not come for

darshan in the morning. In the afternoon, devotees were waiting patiently for

Swami to come for the afternoon darshan. There were smiles on everyone’s faces

as Swami arrived for darshan at 4.00pm. Swami got out of the car and sat on the

Protico till the bhajans started at 5.00pm. Swami spoke to Sri Ajit Poppat for

few mintues as He entered the Mandir. Swami listened to a few bhajans and

returned to the Divine Abode.

 

Lovingly sent to http://www.saibabalinks.org

by Arvind Tank on October 11, 2005