Brindavan Darshan - 8th May, 2005

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fw:Deepak Arjandas Bharwani <saienterprises Sun May 8, 2005

5:46 am Brindavan Darshan - 8th May, 2005

Brindavan Darshan - 8th May, 2005

It is a very quenching darshan, this, coming after a long wait. The crowd there

was always gathering. By 6.30 am Ramesh hall was full and there were more

people coming towards the Ashram. After a long wait SWAMI's arrival was

heralded initially by nadaswaram and later by the music with a jazzy sort of a

beat. Soon there was din all over the place and people stood to have a glimpse

of the Lord even as hair stands on end for a person in a blissful state.The

best part of the darshan was to see SWAMI walking down from Trayee Brindavan

to the ladies-side entrance of Sai Ramesh hall. Infact he walked up to the

elevator and went up the stage. After some time he came down by the gents side

elevator and boarded his old Golf car which was often the 'chariot' the year

before the last. He took the lane in front of the students' block and took left

near the Ganesh idol and went straight down the central

aisle till the 'erstwhile end' of the Ramesh hall (not the extension). There He

took left and turned again to come straight and turn left again in a position

to exit through the passage He had entered. Earlier, He was welcomed with a

'Swaagatam' song by the Bangalore devotees which was followed by bhajans.

Brindavan Darshan - Afternoon - 8th May, 2005

 

SaiRam All!Failed to make myself ready for the Sunday morning darshan. Sundays

are beautiful in Brindavan. A sea of humanity in silent anticipation is a rare

thing in this world. Only Swamy could make it possible! I didn't want to miss

such a beautiful day and reached Brindavan by 2:30PM for the evening darshan.I

surrender my 'luggage' of mobile phone in the cloak room. Free now, I think and

reach the entrance. There is a beautiful arch made of flowers that said 'Welcome

to the Lord of Brindavan'! How sweet!! I pass through the security and get into

the Ramesh hall to find it completely full by then. Bhajans are going on without

the speakers. Despite the fact that they have been on since morning, there is

quite a tempo in the Bhajans.

Devotees start sitting in the extension. We reckon that Swamy might not come for

rounds in the afternoon and take vantage positions from where we could

comfortably see the Lord when HE is seated on the stage.

Following the bhajans that I know and chanting HIS name while I can't make out

some of the bhajans. I cast my eyes around. It really looks festive.

'Thoranams' all around, marigold garlands spiralling round the pillars, banners

that read '80 years of Love in Action, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba', Saraswathi

idol painted, hostel gets a facelift..... my eyes slowly move towards the stage.

The Muralidhara idol has been decorated with arches of flowers and the stage

bedecked breathtakingly with flowers. All this coupled with the Bhajans

reaching their crescendo and the eager anticipation for the Lord of Brindavan,

altogether elevated the mind to a different (higher) state!3:30PM, the wait

continues.....4:00PM, no luck yet. But by now the hall looks completely full

even on ladies' side. Bhajans are on in full swing. I couldn't help noticing

the Bhajans that beseeched the Lord to appear soon, such Aao aao Sainatha,

Mandir mein

Aao madhava and many more, the whole Aao series was there! I tell myself this is

the tapas that we need to do in this age to have a glimpse of HIM.4:30PM,

suddenly the audio speakers go live and resting backs get erect, necks

craned... I focus on the Trayee gate. I could see two boys carrying buckets,

presumably containing prasadam, going towards Trayee.

I think, they are going to get blessed, the Lord must be on HIS way... The boys

go back and before long, the curly hair, the red robe is seen....The Lord is

here! HE is coming by walk!! The golf cart following at a distance feels left

out... As Swamy comes near, I see HIM more clearly... holding Dr. Jain's hand

for some support, HE is coming, it looks from this distance of about 50m, as

floating.... HE enters the hall from the ladies' side. And keeps walking

towards the stage..... on the way, HE speaks to someone briefly. Soon HE is on

the elevator. Swamy is on the stage and soon assumes HIS throne. Devotees

express their happiness by loud claps. All eyes focussing on HIM, the Bhajans

are stepping up tempo. Swamy listens to all Bhajans and timing them. HE must

have sat for 5/6 Bhajans. At 5:05PM, HE signals it is time for Arati and gets

up from the chair and stands holding the railing. Beautiful!!

Immediately Arati comes and we sing 'Om jai Jagadeesha hare...'. Arati over and

an army of youngmen in whites are trooping out from behind the stage. They are

holding prasadam in bucketfuls. Swamy stands holding the railing and watches

devotees receiving the prasadam. And then slowly walks out, this time through

the backdoor on the stage.I thank the Lord for HIS darshan and the prasadam.

Very happy at having spent a wonderful afternoon at the Brindavan. I just

prayed, oh Lord please compensate for your late arrival this year and bless us

with extended rain of your grace in this Summer!Jai Sai Ram