Brindavan Update - Detailed Reports

[Guest guest]

Brindavan In the morning, Swami came out at around 9:45 AM. He walked up to the

front of the stage, where he stood holding the railings for support enjoying

the bhajans for a few minutes. He continually indicated that the naal wasn’t

being played all that loud. He also asked by gesturing whether the boys didn’t

have breakfast or not. At this slightest cue, the whole hall resounded with

rejuvenated clapping and loud singing. At

Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">10:30 AM, He got up for aarathi. It

was an interesting sight to see the boy who climbed up to offer a rose to

Swami, at first very happy that he could be so close to Swami, gazing at Him

for a long time, because Swami looked everywhere except at him and the rose

which he was holding in front of Him, and then later, rapidly getting anxious

as it dawned on him that Swami may not take the rose after all! After the

aarathi, Swami turned the other way to go back; the poor boy had to run over to

the other side and offer the rose to Swami, which of course, He took with a

mingled expression of surprise and

mischief. In the evening as we assembled in the Sai Ramesh Hall, we noticed that

a nice chair was placed behind where the aarathi boys sit. This place is used to

seat VIPs only on function days generally when Bhagawan gives a discourse.

Enquiries revealed that it was meant for His holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who

was coming for Swami's darshan. The bhajans started at 5:00 PM

#cf3f09; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">. At

around 5:15 PM, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation arrived along with

five to six disciples. They carried a huge basket of fruits and had in their

hand invitations to the Art of living Silver Jubilee celebrations. All of them

were clad in white. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had his head covered and was wearing a

simple white dhoti and a long white cloth with red jarri border wrapped around

his body. As they came to the place where the chair was kept, one of the

disciples took out a long cloth like a bed spread and covered the chair. Sri

Sri Ravishankar then sat on the chair.

0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">After a few minutes, Swami arrived, on the

stage, walking. He stood near the front railing and smiled at the boys and

indicating the throat and signaled 'is nice'. In the morning Swami had

indicated that the bhajans following was anemic. So boys were singing with

greater fervor and this was recognition of the effort! Swami stood for a

couple of bhajans and then sat down on Porte chair. As the bhajans continued

Swami indicated a couple of times that the tabla shruthi was not okay. On being

changed He signaled that it was alright. Then He indicated that the naal was not

being heard…. At 5:45 PM, Swami got up. Aarathi was offered and Swami went in

walking.All this while, Swami had not even glanced towards the place where the

aarathi boys sat. After aarathi was over, Seva Dal elder Sri Venkatraman and

others led Sri Sri Ravi Shankar inside through the main gate.As Swami walked

towards the door inside, one of the AVC brothers prayed to Swami to sit down.

"Where?", "Swami the chair is behind you please sit down". Swami lovingly told

him "No, that is not my place. My place is in your heart!” Meanwhile

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was approaching Swami with his head covered and hands

folded. Swami held his hand and spoke a couple of words. Swami then walked all

the way to the interview room flanked by Sri Sri Ravishankar and the

brahmacharis accompanying him on one side and our brothers and elders on the

other side. As Swami went inside the interview room He called two Italian

devotees for interview. Swami took them inside the personal interview room and

spoke to them for one hour as Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji and his followers waited,

patiently. Bhagawan then called the Swamiji and his group into the drawing

room. He also called Mr.Parida (and his family), Chairman AP Electricity Power

Transmission Corporation and Mr. Kandaswamy and his family. Swami gave all of

them a long group

interview. When finally the Swamiji and his group came out at 7.45 PM, there

were visibly happy. The Swamiji had come to personally invite Swami for the

silver jubilee celebration of the Art of living foundation which is being

celebrated on a very grand scale in Jakkur air field from the 17-19 of

February. Newspaper reports also say that the 50th birthday of the holiness is

being celebrated concurrently. After giving interviews to all those called,

Swami went upstairs only at 7:55 PM

Arial">! 6th February 2006, Monday – Chinese New Year is celebrated It was

only late yesterday evening that Swami permitted

the Chinese devotees to celebrate their new year in His presence. Overnight the

stage has been tastefully decorated with Chinese lanterns and other things

distinct to their culture. Hanging from the front of the stage were red

pineapples which signify prosperity. In front of Lord Ganesha were placed a

basket of mandarin oranges. There was a table in front of the gents block with

eatables and other items like tea cups elegantly arranged. There were red

packets with some gold embossed figures which signify good luck. There were

fire crackers tied like poppins which were placed to remind one of the evil

qualities which need to be destroyed completely. The idol of Lord Krishna is

today draped in a green saree! On the wooden panel next to the Lord are two

hangings with

Chinese characters which when translated read ‘In four seasons all dreams are

fulfilled’ on one side and ‘Throughout the hundred years luck and prosperity

are with us’ on the other. A bunch of mei Hua flowers are found in a vase.

These flowers blossom even when the landscape is snow covered and hence these

are to remind one that however bleak the prospects, in God’s creation, there is

always room for hope and joy. The Chinese devotees are in the first block as it

is their day. All the men sport a rose pink, red or yellow on their shirts… At

9.30 AM bhajan starts with Vignavinashaka Gananatha…probably the only place

where Chinese new year starts thus! At 9.35 AM the sound of drums is heard and

the chandelier on the stage comes on indicating that Bhagawan has come out. A

procession consisting of two lions and two men dressed in Mongolian masks with

their characteristic fans lead the way and Bhagawan follows on the wheel chair.

 

#cf3f09; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">After

coming into the hall Swami turns north and goes along the central aisle till

the very end. He then comes to the front, turns along the first ladies block

where all the devotees are sitting, going round the entire block Swami comes to

the front where a row of lady devotees are sitting with various items in their

trays. Swami goes to them takes the red rose offered and keenly looks at all

the items on the tray. Then coming over to the gent’s side Swami goes round the

entire block blessing all devotees with close darshan, takes letters and even

pats a small child on its cheek. After a full round He comes to the gents side

lift and goes up.When Swami comes to the middle of the stage, the lions dance

perform their final steps.. these lions look like poor cousins of the well fed

ones we encounter during our sports meet at Parthi! The devotees performing

remove the mask and offer their pranams. Next all the assembled Chinese

devotees chant some short slokam repeatedly for a few times. Now it is the turn

of the devotees to sing Chinese bhajans in tunes familiar to us like Sai

Jagannatha and Jai hari bol jai.. After this, the devotees go up in pairs – a

lady and a gent and offer Swami tea, candies, mandarin oranges.. Swami picks up

one item from each person. There is a person explaining the significance. Now

one lady and gentleman go up and open two scrolls for Swami to read. Swami

blesses the scroll by caressing it. They then show some photo album. Swami

looks at all the photos leisurely asking questions and in short getting fully

involved. Swami even releases two books and goes through them. A huge photo is

opened and He sees it. Even as

He is asking questions, one can see that Swami casually passes a remark making

them smile at His Omniscience. Swami has spent more than ten minutes with this

pair! Others follow and Swami takes the items from them also. This is followed

by a skit in which the customs and traditions observed in Chinese on the lunar

New Year day are highlighted. These are also aptly punctuated with Swami’s

quotations.The spoken English diction by the Chinese devotees who compeered is

very good and clear. Bhajans continue and it is 11:30 AM when the aarathi is

waved to the lord and the Lord retires.

FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">In the evening

Swami comes out at 5:30 PM. Swami comes walking and stands in the front

keeping time. He even leaves both His hands on occasions. Swami sits down and

listens to almost fifteen bhajans. It is 6:15 PM.

Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> Swami gets up. The boy offering rose does

not miss the opportunity. He kisses Swami’s hand. Swami sits down on the wheel

chair and retires to Trayee. 5th February 2006, Sunday – Deve Gowda and Vice

President of

'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">India visit Brindavan Today

being Sunday, the Seva Dal were in the first block, ready for the day-long

Bhajan session. The Bhajans started at 9:30 AM. At 10:15 AM

#cf3f09; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">, the

usual hustle started on-stage, heralding Swami’s arrival. In a few minutes the

screen next to the Krishna statue parted and there Swami was, giving the most

benign of His smiles. He came walking to the railing near the end of the stage

and stood for a while. The Porte’s sofa chair was trailing him. Swami sat down

on the chair for a few Bhajans.After a little while, Swami got up from the

chair and indicated that he wanted to go down amongst the devotees. Swami made

His way towards the lift, came down, walked a few steps to where Sri H.D. Deve

Gowda was standing, blessed him, and started walking amidst His students.

Watching Swami Walk was thrilling, as this was

the first session when Swami actually walked amidst the devotees during this

visit.Swami crossed the first block, then turned left and crossed over on to

the ladies’ side, all the while accepting letters from the devotees. Two

brothers had the blessed opportunity to support Swami throughout. Once He

reached the end of the first block on the ladies’ side He turned to the left

and made His way back onto the stage. Only when He reached on-stage did He sit

down on the chair. There were few more Bhajans after which Swami asked for the

aarathi to be performed and then retired to Trayee Brindavan. The whole session

lasted almost an hour and there was so much of Love radiating from Him and the

whole audience was reverberating with joy.In the evening, the Seva Dal

Bhajans were going on and Swami arrived at 5:30 PM. He came walking onto the

stage and sat down on the chair. The Brindavan Hostel boys had prepared a

cultural programme. As soon as He sat down, He indicated to the students

assembled in the front that they could begin. As soon as Swami gave them the

permission, two boys ran up the stage with a huge card, seeking His

blessings.The programme titled “Ocean of

FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Devotion” was

based on the nine types of devotion: Shravanam, Keertanam, Vishnusmaranam,

Padasevanam, Vandanam, Archanam, Dasyam, Sneham, Atmanivedanam; and how the

great devotees of all times had used these different types of devotion to merge

with the Lord. Parikshit had used Shravanam to reach the Lord, whereas Meera Bai

and Thyagaraja had used Kirtanam and so on.There were anchors for each form of

devotion and they explained the significance of each type of devotion, and gave

examples of the devotees of the Lord who followed that form of Bhakthi. The

presentation was interspersed with beautiful songs, all chosen appropriately to

that form of devotion. During the programme, the Hon’ble Vice-President Sri

Bhairon Singh Shekawat and the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka Sri T.N.

Chaturvedi arrived. They were seated near the stage and sat through the

remainder of the programme. There was so much feeling in the songs being sung

that Swami appeared moved by the programme. After the programme Swami took

Arati, got up, walked behind the stage and retired to Trayee Brindavan.

Arial"> 4th February 2006, Saturday – Swami visits Sri Adikesavulu’s homeIn the

morning, Swami came at 10:25 AM. Even as He came in, sitting on the Porte’s sofa

chair, Swami was reading some letter given by some one

back stage. Today, Swami was in a contemplative mood. He kept his eyes closed

even as His fingers kept time. At 11:10 AM. Swami leaned forward to get up and

the student offering rose and aarathi went up. Swami blessed them and stood up.

He then walked inside…Inside the youth from U.K were called for an interview.

Around 12:20 PM the group came out and Swami went out for a drive – to

Mr.Adikesavalu’s home. So, when Swami returned around 2:20 PM the students had

a nice darshan. In the evening more than 1200 children had come from the city

from a school (class I –VII) in Bangalore

FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">. Bhagawan came

out for darshan at 5:25 PM. Bhajans continued till 6:00 PM. Aarathi was offered

and Swami went walking behind the curtain. 3rd February

2006, Friday – UK Youth are blessed in BrindavanMorning bhajans started at 9:30AM. At

Arial">9:50 AM Swami sent word asking us to give aarathi. There was thus no

morning darshan today.In the evening, Swami had blessed the youth who had come

from U.K to sing bhajans. After they had finished all the bhajans they had

prepared, our students continued the bhajans. They were even ready to chant

Vedas and a couple of them were ready to speak. One of them was a Ph.D. from

Oxford University

mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">, but their chance did not come today. Around 5:35

PM Swami walked into the stage gracefully, stood near the railing for some tune

and then sat down. The bhajans went on till 6:15 PM. After accepting the rose,

Swami stood full the end of aarathi and blessed all the devotees, gents and

ladies separately with His abhayahasta. He then blessed prasadam, which was

distributed to all those assembled.

Style'"> 2nd February 2006, Thursday – Future leaders Kumaraswamy and

Yediurrappa visit This morning it was the turn of the Sevadal brothers and

sisters to sing bhajans. At

9:35 AM Swami came to the stage walking. Even as the bhajans were going on,

there was a slight stir and guess who came visiting?! In walked the Chief

Minister designate Mr. H.D. Kumaraswamy along with the deputy CM Mr.

Yediyurappa in a white safari, lots of security men and other members. The

bhajans continued for another half an hour. Swami then stood up, blessed the

student who; offered the rose (pushed the rose gently into his shirt pocket)

and the one who took

aarathi. Swami walked to the back curtain. Within a couple of minutes the CM (to

be) and deputy CM (to be) asking the rest of their retinue to stay behind,

slowly tip toed up the stage and went behind. Swami held onto the CM’s hand and

talking to Sri Yediyurappa went walking till the drawing room in Trayee! Swami

spoke to both of them and blessed them. This photo of their sitting at Swami’

feet in the Trayee was splashed in newspapers the next day. It is exam time.

So students had just finished lunch and were opening their books around 2:15 PM

when there was a rumbling noise and sound of running feet. Swami was going out

for a drive. After about 15 minutes swami returned and all of us stood in front

of the hostel. Swami looked at each of us. All the students went back delighted

at this ‘bonus’ darshan.In the afternoon Swami came out at 4:15 PM. We had

bhajans as usual. As bhajans were going on, the Governor of Karnataka H.E.

Chaturvedi came for darshan. This is his third visit within a week! By 5:00 PM

Swami accepted aarathi and went in. The Governor went near the gate and Swami

blessed him there itself before retiring into Trayee. 1st February 2006

Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">, Wednesday – An unabridged encore of

The Puppet show There was no morning darshan today. Bhajans were sung by

students from 9:30 AM and aarathi at 10 AM. In the evening Bhagawan arrived at

5:20 PM. He walked briskly and

covered the distance from the curtain to the railing in one go. After standing

for sometime looking at all the devotees, Swami sat down. After a few bhajans

Swami asked Mr. Poppat to speak. As he got up to speak instead of the customary

rose, he offered Swami some cloves. Swami took one and as he was speaking put it

into his mouth. Today Mr. Poppat spoke for around twenty five minutes. Mr.

Poppat reminded us that the buddhi is closest to the Atma and reflects its

light, so too all of us near Sai – the paramatma, should develop sukshma

buddhi, sthira buddhi, paripakkura buddhi, viveka buddhi and vishala buddhi. We

then had three bhajans and Swami looked towards the aarathi boy. Swami accepted

aarathi and went inside.

mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 31st January 2006, Tuesday – A mini Puppet ShowIn

the morning Swami came out at 10 AM. Bhajans had started at 9:30 AM (as per

instructions). Swami walked to the front railing with the minimum of support

and then sat down. At 10:20 AM aarathi was offered and Swami returned to

Trayee. The first lady of Kazhakstan has come to Brindavan for two days stay

and a group of 15 youth have come from

#cf3f09; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">England

with Mr. Ajit Poppat. These young men have been blessed by Swami to join the

Institute students during the Gramaseva last Dussera and their enthusiasm was

infectious.In the evening bhajans started at 5 PM. At 6 PM the chandeliers came

on and one could sense

(hear!) the excitement of the assembled devotees and students as the bhajans

picked up tempo. Swami came walking briskly and stood holding the railing.

After sitting down and listening to a couple of bhajans, Swami asked Mr. Poppat

to speak. In his inimitable style Mr.Poppat spoke reminding all of us of how

much Swami has done for all of us and what the responsibility on a Sai

devotee’s shoulder is. This speech was quite brief and when he sat down, Swami

remarked that he had not spoken long enough. ‘You can do so tomorrow ‘. Swami

then asked students to continue bhajans. After bhajans Aarathi – Swami stood

up. Aarathi and Swami went in walking. 30th January 2006, Monday – Swami

visit’s Brother C Srinivas’ homeIn the morning, bhajans started at 9:30 AM

FONT-FAMILY: 'Bookman Old Style'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">. At 9:55 AM, the

chandeliers on the stage came on indicating that Swami was coming out to bless

us all with His darshan. Swami entered the Shanthi Vedika at Sai Ramesh Hall

waking from the screen at the back of the stage to the railing in front with

the help of one of the student aides. Swami then walked towards the gents and

ladies sides - a few steps, holding the railing. Swami stood for three full

Bhajans and kept time with His hands just like in the olden days. At one

point, he left the railing support completely and kept time with both His hands!

Swami then sat on the Toyota Porte's sofa chair for some time and then indicated

that Aarathi be given. Swami lovingly put the rose offered by the student and

blessed the boy taking aarathi.He asked the boys as to what time the

examinations (mid term which commence today) begin. He then asked what paper

they had today and asked them to write their exam well. Swami then returned

walking till the door behind. At around 11:45 AM, Swami

went out to Brother C.Srinivas's home and returned at 1:30 PM. One of the alumni

who waited hopefully for Swami near “Hope Farm” was blessed to hand over a

letter to Swami as He stopped the car on the road and asked for it to be given!

What grace!In the evening, bhajans commenced at 5:00 PM. Swami gave darshan at

5:20 PM. He came walking just holding the hand of Brother Siddharth. He did not

allow anyone to even support His back. Swami sat down and time with both His

hands. The

clock had turned back and Swami was His old self. After some ten bhajans, Swami

accepted aarathi and returned. Sairam A Anantha VijayaH.No.247Nizarapar

RoadChandmari ColonyGUWAHATI - 781 003Mob: 9954206469 / 9954037252