23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 Five Days to Go - Parthi Update Nov 17th & 18th 2005

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FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'"> PARTHI UPDATE 18-11-2005 Sairam. The

countdown

begins. Five sunsets to go. The official celebration of the 80th Birthday of

Bhagawan Baba commences today with the Rathotsavam festival. As we all know

this is the day when the idols of Lord Krishna and those of Lord Rama, Sita,

Lakshmana and Hanuman, which used to be worshipped in Swami’s childhood house

by the family members (that is what we hear); are brought out in a procession.

Decked with wonderful silk clothes and with flowers all around, these idols are

taken in two open palanquins from the Mandir Bhajan Hall to the Old Mandir

(which is now the Kalyana Mantapam). This morning, Swami was again out by

7.30 a.m. As He was

taking a round of the Kulwant Hall, dear Sai Gita irresistibly came forward to

seek Swami’s Blessings. The merciful Lord fed her with some apples and moved

on. He came right onto the stage, came out of the car and sat on the dais for

quite some time. The core Vedam group along with many other Vedam students in

red Dhotis and Angavastrams were seated inside the Bhajan Hall facing the idols

of Rama and Krishna that were kept ready for the procession. Swami sat outside

until 8.00 a.m. and then went into the Bhajan Hall.

After a few minutes, we guess that Swami would have given the signal, for the

palanquins were brought out. Out came the long line of Vedam chanters and

Bhajan singers. Led by Sai Gita the entire troupe went along towards the

Gopuram gate of the Mandir to proceed to the Kalyana Mantapam. As this was

going on, Swami was sitting near the Primary School end of the dais and hearing

very joyously the loud chanting of His young children. The children were

chanting with all gusto. Accompanying the procession were the Naadaswaram group

and also the Panchavadyam team from our Hostel. A few minutes after their exit,

Bhagawan most

surprisingly asked His chair to be moved towards the devotees. To everyone’s

amazement, He went right towards the Gopuram gate Blessing all devotees on the

way. Around 8.30 a.m., He returned into the Kulwant Hall again. Passing along

the centre of the Hall, He came right till the front and then turned towards

the Gents side. All the students seated along the path had a fantastic chance

of His close Darshan. Swami even spoke to a few boys. Having showered His

Love and joy thus, Swami moved into the interview room. Boys in the Vedam block

were chanting Vedam though the mikes were now switched off. All were awaiting

the return of the

procession. They came back at around 9.30 a.m. Immediately, Bhajans began and

even before the first Bhajan could get over, Aarti was given. Many students

rushed to the Portico entrance to see Swami getting into the car. But we were

in for another surprise. Swami asked the Vedam students inside the Bhajan Hall

to chant Vedam. As they chanted the Rudram, Swami moved in His chair along the

central path of the Bhajan Hall, Blessing all along the path. Then He came out

from the rear door and went along the upper VIP Portico talking to all the

gentlemen seated over there. By 9.50 a.m. He got into the car and retired for

the

morning. Just before entering the car, He had given some instructions to Prof.

Anil Kumar. Prof. Anil Kumar came over to the mike and as Swami’s car glided

towards PC, he made the announcement that from today onwards free food

(Prasadam) will be distributed to all devotees – Breakfast, Lunch, Tea and

Dinner – till the 24th of November. The doors of Mother Sai Annapoorneshwari

have opened and it is just Akshayam for all. This morning, we tasted the first

Prasadam for breakfast. It was Semiya Upma and Chutney. As the front end

looks so fantastic and wonderful, the back end is equally amazing! There is so

much of effort being put in, back-stage, to make all this happen. And the

uniqueness of it is that all this goes on so silently – no noise, no chaos.

Silent service for the Lord! Let us take you through a virtual tour of the

Ashram premises. So there we go……. As soon as you enter the Ganesha gate, you

come face to face with a giant size poster of Swami in His white robe in a

Abhaya Hasta pose. It’s just too good. What a welcome! You are literally

overpowered with those Blessing Hands. You know you have come Home – to your

Mother! On the lawns near the Shanmukha temple,

there is a Shamiyana for the press. At the beginning of the road leading to the

South Blocks we have a Registration Counter for the World Conference delegates.

Keep moving on – of course that is also tough as there are so many devotees

filling up the road. You just have to go at a snails pace. Well, as you move

along, you find Sevadals moving in a hectic fashion attending to so many tasks.

You reach the Bakery and the Super Market and the place is crowded with

devotees. Next to the Books and Publications we find an overseas group

practicing some songs – maybe for some programme. There is another practice

session of a choir going

on in the first floor of the North Indian Canteen. Assuming we have reached the

end of the Ashram we turn to go away, but we find a board that reads – Way to

accommodation for Indian Delegates – Gents. As we move forward, a whole new

world emerges. A world of love, sharing and caring! A world so full of harmony

and peace! There are so many tents that have been set up and it goes on until

the hills. Most of the Indian states have one tent or more, while some share

tents with the other states. The tent is so beautifully set up. Outside, we

find colorful cloth with so many frills covering the sides and the front. On

the top are tin

sheets. Inside, the floor is completely covered with plastic sheets and on the

poles that support the tent are fixed tube lights to light up the place. The

cool weather makes fans unnecessary. Most of the tents are already full and

the others are getting filled even as we walk by. Many tents have registration

counters opened right in front for enabling the delegates’ easy entry. They

have been numbered as G1, G2 and so on. At the rear of the tents are temporary

bathrooms and toilets which look so elegant. They are made up of just poles,

plastic sheets and straw mats that serve as doors. They are all stacked

adjacent to each

other much like row houses. Water is sourced from two huge tanks that have been

built at the central point of the complex which are kept filled always. The

bathroom has a Cuddapah slab that serves as the floor, fixed with a drain that

carries out the water while the toilets have water closets fixed onto the

floor. As we walk along and take a turn at the end of the road, we come

across another huge array of tents numbered L1, L2…for the Lady delegates that

are set up in a similar fashion. There are so many people but there is not much

noise. Everyone one seem to be busy in their own way doing their little bit for

the Lord. It seems

as though everyone one is lost in making their offering that they are oblivious

to any inconveniences. That is Divine inspiration! Now we come across the

sheds that form part of the regular Ashram premises. These are full of

devotees. So many of them in non-stop queues…. Some have just settled down

along the pathway for every bit of the land feels like a home in the Divine

Presence. The Sevadals are continuously guiding the devotees to the sheds. The

Orissa team has its own setup to carry out the task which they always consider

a great privilege to undertake. The sanitation and the maintenance tasks… A

number of members are

seated, ready with all implements and tools. Amidst these tents we also have a

huge Shamiyana that houses the Dining Halls for the delegates. The food counters

for the devotees is set up adjacent to the North Indian Canteen in the area

which is normally an open space. Behind the North Blocks towards the North West

side, we have some more Shamiyanas – one reads as Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organization Medical Camp – Gents and the other one is for Ladies.

Style'"> And then from nowhere, we witness a very huge hall, almost three

fourth of PC Hall, set up as a tent, but with a difference. It is beautifully

decorated both outside and inside with colourful frill cloth. There is a

massive stage at one end and hundreds of chairs are placed inside. This we

learn is the venue for the 8th Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations - World

Conference that commences tomorrow. This is located behind North Block 5 and 6

where there is a large empty area that is also used to park all the Lorries and

Tractors during the Grama Seva time. There is intense activity everywhere. So

much of work going on... There is a big shed where all the groceries are stored

and volunteers are singing Bhajans and cleaning the rice and other grains. From

here we move on to the core of all activities – the hub; and that is the

kitchen. The kitchens are set up behind the North Blocks towards the Northern

side. This is the place where cooking is done even during the Grama Seva. But

now we have many more temporary kitchens. The food committee is a

highly responsible and dedicated team that coordinates the activities of more

than a dozen sub-committees – Cooking, Distribution, Inventory, Storing, and so

on. The cooking of the free Prasadam is basically split into four locations with

four solid teams managing each one. The first one is the Punjabi Kitchen that is

located next to the Grama Seva Kitchen. This takes care of making Chapatis,

Rotis and Vegetable curry everyday. There are around 100 cooks working here.

The Grama Seva Kitchen prepares breakfast and the rice items everyday, such as

Coconut rice, Puliyora etc. Here we have around 1300 volunteers offering their

labour of

love. The curd rice is prepared in the South Indian Canteen by more than 150

cooks while all the sweets are prepared in the North Indian Canteen by around

150 cook volunteers. Watching all this, we were just amazed at how Divine

Love can set so many heads and hands into action without any clashes or

disorder – manifesting a synergy of its own kind. The vibrations of Love just

envelope you wherever you go. It’s all like one big Home of the Lord and His

family members have come together for a Home Coming!!

fuchsia; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'"> One can go on and on but then we

decided to leave for the Hostel for we did not want to miss the delicious lunch

Prasadam awaiting us there. In the evening, even as were proceeding to the

Mandir at 3.15 p.m., Swami was already out in the Shanti Vedika grounds. He

returned to the Mandir by 3.30 p.m. and arrived straight on the dais. The chair

rolled out and Swami sat on the stage. He signaled the

Vedam group to stop the chanting. In font of the dais, on seven chairs, artistes

from China were seated – all adept at playing musical instruments of Chinese

origin. Swami asked them to begin the programme. Two young children, one - a

boy wearing a Chinese cap with a long pony tail and another a young girl

compered the show. They presented some of the popular Chinese rituals to

Bhagawan. It started with the typical Tea ceremony followed by offering of

prayers for welfare of parents, for longevity and culminating with offering

baskets of gifts to

the Lord. Swami was very kind and put His Hand into the basket and picked up an

item. All of them were overjoyed. The next item was a musical offering by the

artistes. There were 7 in all, four of them playing string instruments and the

other three playing wind instruments. The next one hour, was a treat to our

ears. The Chinese instruments produce very melodious music that is so soothing.

They played a number of Bhajans like Hara Shiva Shankara, Murali Krishna Mukunda

Krishna….and many others. All pieces were received with loud applause. The

Ladies also participated and sang a few Bhajans both in Chinese and Sanskrit /

Hindi. At 4.30 p.m. Swami Blessed them with photographs. After the gents and

the ladies had their turn, Swami called the artistes again and asked them to

pose with their musical instruments. How thoughtful of Swami! After all it was

those instruments that brought them so close to Swami. Therefore, the

instruments also deserved a snap with the Lord! Prasadam (Halva – sweet) was

distributed to all. Swami went into the interview room. At around 5.00 p.m.

Swami went out in the Chair towards the ladies side. From what we could see He

was getting saris distributed to all the ladies for their Ladies Day

celebrations tomorrow. This went on for quite some time and Bhajans began only

at 5.25 p.m. At 5.45 p.m. Swami received Aarti and retired for the day. Prof.

Anil Kumar announced that the Ladies Day celebrations would begin tomorrow in

the Divine Presence at 8.00 a.m. Visit us at this site again tomorrow for

details on the Ladies Day celebrations. Sairam. PARTHI UPDATE 17-11-2005

Mass Marriage Celebrations 80 lucky couples will get married in the Divine

Presence this morning at Sai Kulwant Hall as part of the 80th Birthday

celebrations. It is 7.00 a.m. Let’s proceed to the Sai Kulwant Hall and witness

the happenings. The Sai Kulwant Hall is decorated like a wedding hall with

colourful flowers. It is a very unique decoration that we are seeing for the

first time in Kulwant Hall and it looks gorgeous. Using merely wooden poles and

bamboos, the front part of the Kulwant Hall is divided into three huge Kalayana

Mandapams. The poles and bamboos are fully wrapped with matted coconut leaves

and erected a few feet apart from each other. At the corners are the main

pillars of the Kulwant Hall decked with Plantain leaves. All along the

boundaries of this structure are colourful flower decorations. The top is lest

open. It provides a perfect environment for a wedding ceremony. The 80

marriage parties are seated in the front part of the Hall where usually the

Primary School, Higher Secondary School and the Institute students sit.

Incidentally, the students are not present for this occasion as they are having

their classes. The stage area is also decorated very lavishly with floral

buntings and bouquets. Portraits of Rama and Sita, the Divine couple, are seen

amidst a colourful framework resting against each of the two main pillars on

the stage. Lord Rama on one side and Mother Sita on the other pillar. The

central part is decorated like a giant Kalasham, with flowers again.

TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> Bhagawan arrives in the Hall amidst Nadaswaram music and

Vedam chanting at 7.30 am. He proceeds to the dais in the car and sits there in

the car itself for nearly half an hour. Young boys are vigorously doing

Chakkabhajan dance just outside the Lotus gates of the Sai Kulwant Hall. The

Vedam group is seated adjacent to the car. Then Bhagawan comes out of the car

in the detachable chair and proceeds to go around the Hall, up to the very end

of the area where the couples are seated. No doubt, there is great excitement

and thrill all around. While He is going around, He asks for the sacred

Mangalasutras to be brought to Him, and starts distributing them to the grooms

personally. After some twenty minutes of this,

Bhagawan comes onstage, and then proceeds to distribute some more items, to the

brides now. This time, the brides come up to Him, take Padanamaskar (a lifetime

chance for them) and receive the packets (full of gifts) from His hands. This

distribution goes on till 8.50 a.m., and then the priests start the chants for

the sacred occasion after a sentence or two of introductory remarks. The

next half an hour witnesses the actual ceremonies - first the sacred vows by

the couples, the "Kanyadanam", the tying of the Mangalasutras, the 'Talambralu'

ceremony where the bride and groom pour sacred yellow rice over each other's

head, the

wearing of the 'Kankanam' or symbolic bangle, exchanging of garlands and finally

the tying of the knot on the couples' garments. As all this goes on, Bhagawan is

watching with keen interest and claps enthusiastically at the tying of the

Mangalasutras which He has given with His own hands. The 'Talambralu' ceremony

also provides some comic relief, with some of the couples emptying the entire

platter of rice on each others' heads! After the ceremonies are over, the

priests continue to chant along with the Nadaswaram music, and the distribution

of articles begins. The Love of the Lord has no bounds and when the Lord plays

the role

of the Mother, one can imagine how it would be!! Item after item is brought to

Bhagawan for Blessings, and is then distributed to the couples. Watches, Steel

Vessels, Puja items, what not! And to crown it all, Bhagawan goes around the

couples in the Hall once again! His chair is manoeuvred amidst all the couples

enabling Him to Bless them with Akshatas - sacred yellow rice - with His own

hands,. After Bhagawan comes back onstage, He asks Prof Anil Kumar to announce

that the wedding feast will be served in the Canteen, for the couple and their

immediate family. Thus, making the occasion a truly memorable one, Bhagawan

returns to His Poornachandra residence at 10.10 am.

FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'">In the evening, Swami comes out at 3.30 p.m.

We are very lucky as unlike every evening, He does not stop to get down at the

interview room, but comes forward and moves onto the dais. The car halts on the

dais. Oh! is it going to be car Darshan again, we wonder! But to our delight,

after a while the most awaited moment arrives. The door of the car on Swami’s

slide slides open with the press of a button. The chair moves out and the

Lovely Form of our Lord fills all thirsty eyes in the Kulwant Hall. The Hall

is crowded and all sit drinking in the Divine Love and Grace. Swami sits for a

long time. At 4.30 p.m. He signals to Dr. Goldstein – the Chairman of the

Prashanti Council that manages the International Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organizations, to come closer. Dr. Goldstein runs and kneels down next to

Swami’s chair. For the next 20 to 25 minutes, we witness a very wonderful

interaction between the Lord and His devotee. Swami asks him so many questions

and Dr. Goldstein answers with so many words and gestures. Then Dr. Goldstein

asks something and Swami answers. Wow! Nobody knows what the dialogue is, but

still it gives so much joy to just observe our Lord interacting in such an

involved way. Whatever He does is beautiful. Is it not said – Adharam Madhuram,

Vadanam Madhuram….Madhuradhipate Akhilam Madhuram.

TEXT-ALIGN: justify">At 4.50 p.m. Swami asks for Bhajans to commence. The Bhajan

boys come jumping in from different corners and within seconds the Ganesha

Bhajan begins. Swami continues to sit through the Bhajans. At 5.25 p.m. He

takes Aarti and retires. Well, coming to some developments around Prashanti

Nilayam. Beautiful decorative entrances are being set up at both the gates of

Eswaramma School, which we presume will be the entry points for

the devotees to go inside the Shanti Vedika stadium on 23rd. At almost all the

gates across the road, on the inside, cute shelters have been erected. Some are

small ones like the beach umbrellas, except that here we have a blue canvas on

the top which is squarish and supported by a well structured metal framework.

It can provide shade to two seated people. The other type of shelter is like

the buffet counters that are set up – all with those colourful frills at the

bottom and beautiful coverings on the top. This possibly could again serve as

enquiry counters or maybe Prasadam distribution counters. Wires running all

along the road

from the Mandir towards the Hostel connect several horns that provide a good

audio service to all public on the road. They may be planning to use it for

announcements. Right now, devotional songs on Swami are being played on it.

Tomorrow is the Rathotsavam festival. No announcements were made this evening,

but we presume it will begin sometime after 8.00 a.m. FYI, the Indian delegates

of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations - World Conference are being hosted in

the Institute Building, at least some of them. The musicians and other artistes

are being hosted in the Music College building. For the students being awarded

their degree this Convocation, two sheds are being allotted. One for boys and

the fathers of the students. Another for girls and mothers of the students. The

crowd is swelling exponentially and accommodation is out of question inside the

Ashram.

Another interesting development is that, since the day of the Akhanda

Bhajans, a cold wave has swept over Parthi. It is very chilly and almost feels

like Iceland!! A Anantha

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