Prashanthi Bulletin: November 18th - 19th, 2005

[Guest guest]

sweet. At times she may use harsh words, but they are meant only to correct you,

not to hurt you. There may be a wicked son, but there can never be a wicked

mother in this world. Today is declared as mother's day only to make you

understand the value of mother's love and her concern for you. Among mother,

father, teacher and God, mother is given the topmost priority. The modern youth

do not care for the mother. They think they are highly educated and that the

mother does not know anything. It is a great mistake to think so. Never look

down upon the mother." Therefore, let us begin by offering our sincere Pranaams

and respects to all the five mothers. The Deha Maata (physical Mother), the Go

Maata (the holy cow), the Veda Maata (the Holy Scriptures), Bhu Maata (Mother

Earth) and above all the Supreme Divine Mother of the world - our Sai Maata.

Let us also pay our homage to Mother Eswaramma who gave humanity this most

precious gift of Sai. This morning, the

Kulwant Hall is decorated very well. A new set of decorations, different from

yesterday. On the wall above the car shed, near the Krishna statue are huge

posters hailing the 80th Year of Love in Action. All along the front part of

the Kulwant Hall, at regular intervals, long vertical banners are suspended

with beautiful pictures of our Lord accompanied with valuable messages. The

stage looks gorgeous. The ten Avataaras sculpted in some new form of artwork

are fixed on all pillars in the Portico. They look like big brown oval dishes

with the idol sculpted in it and lights illuminating the idol. Long red

tapestry hangs from the top balcony of the Mandir until the lower balcony.

Shorter ones are suspended from the lower balcony. A huge red umbrella is

erected in the centre. Right opposite, at the rear end of the Kulwant Hall, on

top of the huge gateway, is Mother Eswaramma's portrait held by two heavenly

angels on either side. On it is written, "Viswa Janani Eswaramma". The

entrance to the Ashram at the Ganesha gate and even the entrance to the Kulwant

Hall from the Poornachandra are all decked with big floral gateways that add a

generous splash of festivity to the whole place. The multi layered steps that

is normally placed on the Gents side of the Hall next to the gateway, for the

press people on November 22nd during Convocation, is already set up there today

itself. Close Circuit Television sets to telecast the celebrations are already

in place in the Kulwant Hall right from the 17th. The passage leading from the

read end gateway of the Hall to the extreme end where the Rama statue is

located is having a beautiful colourful roof, strung with layers and layers of

Zari garlands. Looks great! At 8.30 a.m. Bhagawan comes out for Darshan amidst

Veda chanting and Naadaswaram. He is led by a long procession of young girls

and Ladies chanting Vedam and other Stotrams. Two rows of young girls on either

side of the pathway offer flowers to Swami as

the car passes by. As Swami's car enters the Kulwant Hall a beautiful classical

welcome song fills the air that goes on until Swami reaches the dais. By 8.35

a.m. Swami alights from the car and lights the ceremonial lamp. The candle to

light the lamp is offered to Swami by Smt. Sarla Shah and Smt. Chetana Raju.

The programme for the morning is announced by Smt. Chetana Raju. It begins with

a band display by the young girls of the Primary School. Subsequently, Bhagawan

releases the Bi-annual Journal - 'Mother Sri Sathya Sai' and a Souvenir brought

out by the Eswaramma Women's Welfare Trust marking the 80th Birthday of

Bhagawan. This is followed by three speakers sharing their thoughts with all of

us, on this holy occasion. The first speaker is Mrs. Mallika Srinivasan, an

alumnus of the Wharton Business School. She talks about the Eswaramma Women's

Welfare Trust and the recently started Mother & Child programme giving all its

details and significance. She also

mentions about the mobile medical camps that have been started recently

providing help at the doorstep of the villagers, especially in cases of

expecting mothers and delivery cases. All this has been possible only by His

Grace. The second speaker is Mrs. Gita Ram, the daughter of Dr. Padmanabhan

whom we know very well as the person who walks behind Swami during Darshan in

Brindavan. She shares two wonderful experiences with the audience. She comes

from a family that has great proximity to Swami. Bhagawan had Blessed her twin

children saying that He would always take care of them. 23 years later she

recalls a wonderful incident that had occurred when her twin children were just

3 months old. During this period, suddenly, due to some reason, the Glaxo

Company (popular as manufacturers of Baby's food products) went on a strike and

therefore she was unable to procure Glaxo milk food for her babies, which was

very essential for them. Not knowing what to do, she prayed

fervently to Bhagawan. Once her husband had gone out to other areas of

Bangalore, to try and see whether the items were available in some other

stores, but he could get just two cans. As he was returning home, at a signal

point, a car stopped next to his scooter. When the green signal went on, he

wished to move forward but the car could not. It needed some pushing and

therefore at the request of the driver he got down to push the car aside. At

that time the gentleman in the car asked him whether he could deliver an urgent

parcel to a particular address as he would be unable to do the same on account

of the car breakdown. Mrs. Gita's husband agreed to help and the gentleman gave

him a parcel and a slip with the address. Unable to interact any further as the

police came onto the scene to clear the way, the husband returned home. He then

opened the slip of paper to see the address where he was supposed to deliver

this parcel. To his amazement he found his wife's name written on

it with their own house address. He immediately called for his wife and checked

about this. She too was perplexed. When they finally opened the parcel, they

found 24 cans of Glaxo Baby Food in it. Later when they came to Parthi, Swami

enquired whether the milk food had reached her children. That is Divine

Protection. In another incident, Swami had given Mrs. Gita Ram a packet of

Vibhuti in the interview room. She tucked it away in her purse and somehow

forgot about it. A few months later, when she and her husband visited New York

to celebrate their Marriage Anniversary, they went to a temple over there.

After this, they attended a Music Concert in a theater. During the

intermission, she went to the Ladies Room. There, a Hispanic Woman who was

cleaning the bathroom, came forward and asked Mrs. Gita whether she was an

Indian. Then she asked her whether she knew about Sai Baba. On getting a 'Yes'

for both these questions, she asked her whether she had any white powder with

her.

Upon enquiring her about the details and the reason for these questions, the

Hispanic woman said that she had an eight year old daughter who was seriously

sick. Both her kidneys had failed and chances of survival were slim. Transplant

of the kidneys would mean a lot of money which she could never afford. All she

did was pray to her Lord Jesus. After a few hopeless days, suddenly three days

before, in her dream she saw this man with an orange robe and afro type hair

style who called himself Sai Baba and told her - I am Sai Baba. You will meet

an Indian in your work place, ask her for Vibhuti - white powder. Give it to

your daughter. She will become better. Hearing this, Mrs. Gita Ram opened her

purse and the silently tucked away Vibhuti packet suddenly revealed itself. She

handed over the same to the woman, thrilled with the mysterious ways of

Bhagawan. Months later when the couple arrived at Parthi and Swami gave them an

interview, He told them, "The girl is fine.

Both her kidneys are OK. No surgery!" These narrations struck a special cord in

all our hearts. This talk is followed by the talk by Mrs. Chetana Raju. She

speaks of Swami as beyond time and space and highlights the quantum jump in

Universal Consciousness that is being brought about by the Avataar. After her

erudite and insightful talk, she fervently prays to Swami to deliver His Divine

Message. Swami smiles and concedes. Swami stands up amidst loud applause and

begins His Discourse. The highlights: The same Love exists in all. It is only

the vesture that differentiates Man and Woman. Sarvam Kalvidam Brahma. All

people aspire to attain Divinity. Where is God? Daivam Manusha Rupena. God

takes upon a human form to protect humanity. God has no specific attribute or

form. He has infinite Forms. God is not merely Divine. He is Human too. If one

turns inwards, then one can experience the Divinity within. Iswara Sarva

Bhutaanaam. If you call upon

Him as the Master, He will appear as a Master. If you consider Him as your son,

He will appear as the son. God has no one single form or name. Name and Form

are limited only to human beings. These small sparrows sitting here are also

Divine. God takes upon the Form according to our prayers. There is no place or

form without God. Whoever speaks to us, we must consider that it is God

speaking to us. Man only utters the word, the word comes from God. Be it praise

or blame, it all comes from God. Never consider any person as a mere person. All

are God only. If you consider a person as a mere human being, then all ill

feelings will come forth, such as hatred, jealousy, anger. Only when we

consider others as different, these bad qualities manifest in us. We will be

redeemed only when we understand Unity in Diversity. Know Thyself, that is

enough. We ask others, who are you. But we never ask ourselves - Who am I? This

is the real message of God. Body is the gift of God. He

the true doer, the real speaker. All happens as per His command. Then Swami

spoke about Mother Eswaramma and about the three prayers that she had made.

Prayers that were so selfless - one for a school, the second for a hospital and

the third for a well to be dug in the village. These three prayers have taken

such gigantic shape now as the University, the Super Specialty Hospital and the

Water Project. Whatever desires she had, Swami has amplified it and made it so

gigantic. I do not do what I like, but I do everything to fulfill the likes and

noble wishes of others. This Hall where you all are sitting is not for Me. It is

for all of you. Help ever, Hurt never. Never be selfish. Fish is better than

Selfish. Politics have perverted the thinking in he whole world. Without these

politics all will prosper. Without understanding anything about it, everybody

just gets into politics. Even a simple man selling cigarettes gets into

politics.

Never get into politics. Always depend on God. You cannot manage this life on

your own. Therefore, depend on God. Bhagawan wishes that all people must

develop and progress. Make every effort to broaden your heart, not the physical

heart but the spiritual heart. Sing the name of the Lord with Vishaala Bhaavam.

It is very wrong to think merely of our family. Whatever desires we have,

others too have similar desires. Therefore Love them. Love can never be narrow

minded. Hence never give rise to thoughts like my son, my wife and so on. All

should be one. Swami is present in all. You must understand that just as I feel

sad when I am hurt, so too, will others feel sad when they are hurt. Hence,

develop Love, not selfish but broad Love. Everyone should be happy. Once you

foster such Love you will never tend to be narrow minded. Bhagawan concludes

His Divine Discourse with 'Prema Mudita Mana Se Kaho Ram Ram Ram'. He receives

Aarti at 10.10 a.m. and Prasadam

distribution takes place. To the greatest delight of all assembled in the Hall,

Bhagawan stands up from the chair again and with the help of the students who

attend to Him, He walks all the way from the dais to the car parked near the

interview room. There is loud applause. After a while He retires and Prof. Anil

Kumar announces that the world famous singer Smt. Kavita Krishnamurthy will

present a bouquet of songs in the Divine Presence in the evening at 4.30 p.m.

In the evening, Swami makes His entry at 4.15 p.m. As He passes through the

Hall making His usual round, He sees the Mobile Clinic Bus, decorated with

flowers, parked in front of the backside gateway of the Hall adjacent to the

pathway. He proceeds towards the stage, moves out from the car and sits on the

dais. Vedam and band goes on. Band is played by the Primary School children and

the women students of the Anantapur campus of the Sai University. At 4.30 p.m.

Swami gives the green signal for the Music Programme

to commence. Smt. Kavita Krishnamurthy along with her husband Dr. L.

Subramanian, the violin exponent and other members of the family and

accompanying artistes are seated on the right side of the dais while Swami is

seated as usual on the left side (gents side). The next one hour and twenty

minutes takes us away to the world of soul stirring music and melody. The

scintillating voice of Smt. Kavita Krishnamurthy accompanied with the violin of

Dr. L. Subramanian fills the Sai Kulwant Hall. All are spellbound and listen

with rapt attention. She delivers one hit after another and the devotees

respond with loud applause. She begins with the well known and relevant for

this occasion - 'Janam Diya Tune Sai Ko'. This is followed by 'Om Namah

Shiyaya', 'Mein Ayi Thi Darashana Pane', 'Mene Prema Se Jyoti Jalai' (all from

her album Sai Darshan), 'Sri Rama Chandra Krupalu Bhajamana', 'Raghupati

Raghava Raja Ram', 'Dhanya Bhaaga Seva Ka Avasara Paaya', and 'Mere Ranaji

Meine Govinda Ke

Guna Gaana'. She also intersperses these songs with wonderful Bhajans rendered

with such finesse. She leads with 'Nandaa Nandana Hari Govinda Gopaala' and

'Antaranga Sai Anaatha Naatha Sai', with all the devotees following her. In the

course of her rendering the pieces, Swami goes in for a short while and spends

some time interacting with devotees in the inner portico and the bhajan hall.

He again comes out at 5.45 p.m. and finds the Primary School young girls

standing all dressed with dance costumes. A dance is slotted after the music

programme. Swami interacts with the coordinators and after a while gives His

consent. The children immediately spring forth into their dance accompanied by

a very catchy song of a folk music type giving a beautiful narration of Swami's

life. There are several groups of girls marked by different costumes and

performing different parts of the dance. It appeals to everybody and is

received with very loud applause. It is already

6.05 p.m. but our Lord wishes to shower all His Love on them. He agrees for a

photograph and all the girls come in groups according to their costumes and

pose for the photographs. The band girls too take this opportunity and come

forward. Finally, Smt. Kavita Krishnamurthy, Dr. L. Subramanian and the others

also hurry forward not wanting to miss this lifetime opportunity. Swami gives

them group photographs and interacts with them for a long time. He Blesses Dr.

L. Subramanian with a ring. Having saturated all hearts with immense joy and

Bliss, He turns to move towards the car. Meanwhile Prof. Anil Kumar jubilantly

moves towards the mike ready to commence his announcement. The first

announcement is about the Sri Sathya Sai Mobile Clinic inaugurated by Bhagawan

today. This is an air-conditioned mobile clinic equipped with the latest

gadgets like the Ultrasound Scanner, Auto Film Processor, Chemical Analyzer,

Retinoscope, Ophthalmoscope, X-Ray machine, Public Address

System, a Screen and even a Video Projector. This mobile clinic is offered for

the service of the villages by Bhagawan on this day marking the beginning of

yet another noble initiative for Loka Kalyanam (global welfare). The second

announcement is about the 8th World Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organizations which will commence tomorrow in the Divine Presence at 8.00 a.m.

It is 6.20 p.m. as the Porte car glides towards PC amidst the chanting of the

Aarti. November 18th, 2005 Five sunsets to go. The official celebration of the

80th Birthday of Bhagawan Baba continues 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 are brought out in a procession. Decked with

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

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 the senior boys' 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. 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 here 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. There are fifteen such tents, and delegates are divided

statewise in them. 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 full 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 very elegant. They

are made up of just poles, plastic sheets and straw mats that serve as doors. A

number of them are set up side by side. 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 etc 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. And then we witness a very huge hall behind the North residential

Blocks, almost three fourth of Porrnachandra 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 planned as the venue for the 8th Sri Sathya Sai

Seva Organizations - World Conference that commences on the 20th. 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!

In the evening, Swami was already out in the Shanti Vedika grounds at 3.15 p.m.

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, a small boy wearing a

Chinese cap with a long pony tail and 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! Sweet Prasadam 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. 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:

Radio Sai Website:http://radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm