Akhanda Bhajan

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Akhanda Bhajan

 

Even as a child Swami sang devotional songs about God, making them up for his

friends and teaching them to classmates, who then took them home to teach their

parents. When he announced his true identity as avatar of Sai Baba, in 1940, he

sang to those who had gathered about him `Manase bhajare, guru charanam-

dusthara bhava sagara tharanam...'

 

Since the beginning of his work, Swami has made bhajan an important aspect of

sadhana for his bhakthas. In 1942 there were no large crowds around Swami as

there are now, and every Thursday those present would join together for bhajans

under his leadership. There is a story told about those days, and while I don't

know if it is true in every detail, I find it plausible, for the people are

real, and they say the story goes like this.

 

At that time when Swami was still a young boy, Sri Seshagiri Rao, his daughter

Sunderamma and her mother-in-law and her six-year old daughter went to

Puttaparthi to visit a relative named Karnam Subbamma. This lady had figured

prominently in Sri Sathya Sai Baba's early life since it was she who had first

helped to organize bhajans when Swami first announced himself at the age of 14.

The family was called in for interview and after materializing vibhuti for the

ladies, and sweets for the gents, Swami asked what Sundaramma wanted. She was

very shy, but Swami knew her heart, and said `Ah, so you yet want a son? Yes, a

son is coming. Be happy.'

 

That prediction soon came to pass, and the family became frequent visitors to

Parthi. On one of those trips to Puttaparthi, Sunderamma was alone in her room

with her baby boy who had a slight tempearture. After the thermometer was

inserted in his mouth, she sat for a moment looking at the child, and recalling

what Swami had said at their first meeting. ~Yes a son is coming- be happy.~ In

that reverie, she turned her face to the light from the window, and looked

outside at the monkeys nearby. In that quiet time alone she was thinking about

Swami's recent announcement that he would protect the devotee as the eyelid

protects the eye. Then suddenly she heard a sound of glass breaking and turned

to the child in his bed. The two-year old baby boy had bitten through the

thermometer and the mother saw the shards being swallowed by the infant. Prying

open the tender mouth, she saw blood and screamed. The family was frantic as

they rushed in to help. As if from next door Swami, without a word, came to

them and massaged the baby's stomach. He looked at the mother and smiled. `Like

the eyelid protects the eye,' she thought. As quickly as he had come, Swami

left. Picking up her child, the mother was astonished to find the mercury and

glass bits which she had seen in the mouth, now under the baby boy's blanket in

the bed!

 

After this, Sunderamma began regular weekly bhajan meetings in her own native

place, all with great dedication and without interruption for an entire year.

Her father, Sehagiri Rao, thought they should celebrate the completion of the

year of bhajan-singing in suitable style. Each member of the family thought up

a different way to celebrate the anniversary in befitting manner, but it was

Seshagiri Rao's idea that was adopted: uninterrupted bhajans for one whole day

and one whole night. They would begin by lighting a Jyothi in Swami's honour,

and then sing nonstop for 24 hours.

 

The decision having been taken, they got down to planning the performance at

their house -- which songs to sing, what prasadam to distribute, pooling of

resources to obtain the ingredients of the prasadam. (This was particularly

difficult as, in those days, there was rationing of rice and a system had to be

worked out for cash or kind to gain enough foodstuffs for the party). After

making all the preliminary arrangements, father and daughter went to Puttaparthi

to announce their intention to Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He was very happy to hear

of their plans and responded, "I have come only for the sake of my devotees. Go

ahead with the AKHANDA BHAJANS. I myself will come, and be with you throughout

the singing."

 

Sunderamma was startled at that, since up to that moment they had planned only a

very simple celebration. But, if Sri Sathya Sai Baba was himself going to

attend, then she felt she ought to make more elaborate arrangements. But Swami

told her not to fear, he himself would see that all went well. He asked where

she had planned the meeting, and then suggested instead she book a place in town

for the `akhanda bhajan', so that all those who wanted to attend could do so

more conveniently. He also advised her to ask other devotees to assist in

helping her make the arrangements. Sunderamma was in a quandary at this

unexpected turn of events. To cope with an occasion such as it was turning out

to be was a gigantic task in those days when even transportation was very

difficult.

 

She did contact other devotees and together all arranged for the hall, but she

herself felt it was her responsibility to prepare the food for the group. She

calculated that about a hundred regular devotees might turn up for bhajans and

so had PRASADAM prepared for that number. Little did she know that the crowd

would continue to grow as the hours passed. As the crowd passed two hundred

persons, Sunderamma became anxious about how she would provide enough PRASADAM

to go round. At that late date it was impossible to acquire more food, all her

friends had already used what rations were available, and since rationing was so

strictly enforced, she feared that nothing could be done.

 

As the hour approached to begin the festivity, Swami entered the hall. In his

presence, PUJA to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba's and Sri Sathya Sai Baba's images was

performed under a gaily bedecked floral canopy. Sri Sathya Sai Baba

materialised a silver figurine of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba to keep beside a large

bust of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba especially made for that occasion. Then, with

circular movements of his hand, He produced 108 golden flowers for the PUJA.

After ARCHANA (Offering with MANTRAS) of rare flowers, Seshagiri Rao performed

PAADA PUJA (worship of the feet) to Sri Sathya Sai Bba and lighted the AKHAND

JYOTI (everlasting flame) at that first ever akhanda BHAJAN meeting.

 

Sunderamma then touched his feet and Swami sensed she had a question. He lowered

his head to her ear and said `Yes Daughter, what is troubling you?' She

requested Sri Sathya Sai Baba to come into the kitchen. He did as she asked and

in the kitchen he carefully looked at each dish she had prepared, and so

realized her concern that there was not enough food for all those who had come.

He then smiled at her and loudly said "AKSHAYA" thrice, sprinkled water on the

food and simply left the kitchen. Bhajans began immediately. Sunderamma did not

know what to think, but realizing she had done all she could do, she surrendered

to what must come.

 

Bhajans continued for several hours and as the evening progressed, devotees

would come into the kitchen for refreshment, and be served by Sunderamma. That

day from the food she herself had prepared for a hundred pesons, she easily fed

several thousand people, even generously. The pots containing the PRASADAM

simply never became empty! At last as the 24 hours came to a close, Sunderamma

entreated Sri Sathya Sai Baba to let the pots be empty and only then did the

food supply decrease.

 

Later when she told this story, Sunderamma said "Such was the nature of Swami's

blessing that it ensured an unending stream of food". The event was truly

remarkable. Many of the guests were totally unaware of this miracle, and assumed

foodstuffs had been provided by some wealthy devotee. That first meeting where

the Jyothi lighting was organized by Seshagiri Rao, has led to the lighting of

thousands of other JYOTIS on AKHANDA BHAJAN day in SAI SAMITHIBHAJAN centers

throughout the world. Though Seshagiri Rao is no more, Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Himself recalled his contribution on one such occasion, by referring to him as

"the devotee who was the first to light a JYOTI to Swami."

 

Even today Swami begins a discourse with a spontaneous poem which he sings in

Telgu. This love of song is reflected by devotees, who sing bhajans at all Sai

meetings. In memory of this long past event, once a year devotees around the

world sing together nonstop for 24 hours, glorifying all the Names of God- from

Siva to Allah, from Elohim to Ahura Mazda.

 

Source: http://www.hindunet.org/alt_hindu/1994/msg00938.html