CHAITANYA JYOTI - TESTAMENT TO LIVING DIVINITY

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Chaitanya Jyoti - a blooming flower in His garden

How would you sum up the Lord and His Works, His Life, Mission and Message to a

friend? With a few words? Surely too short. A book - little better. How about a

whole building with beautiful exhibits, wonderful pictures and breathtaking

artefacts dedicated to Him. That's just what devotees felt inspired to do to

commemorate the Sri Sathya Sai Avatar's 75 years of service to humanity.

That dream building came alive as the Chaitanya Jyoti Museum. 'Chaitanya' means

'consciousness' and 'Jyothi' is 'light'. So, the 'Light of Consciousness' is a

mammoth attempt to portray Swami and His Message by way of the building's

architecture and its contents of 90 exhibits based on the life and Teachings of

the omni-faceted Lord.

But can a mere building do justice to His Love? It is after all to be

apprehended by the five senses, which Swami says we have to transcend to

glimpse His Love. But like the finger pointing to the moon the Chaitanya Jyoti

Museum is a bold and beautiful endeavour to facilitate our awareness of the

Divine - the Light of Consciousness within.

Rising from the rocky hillside it stuns the devotee with its grandeur and

originality. Bhagavan paid the building a fitting tribute when He saw the first

plans, asking if it was possible to build it; He then stated that "It will be

the wonder of the 21st century".

Captivated by its splendour, devotees flock in ever increasing numbers. Over 1.2

million have passed through its hallowed portals since inauguration on 18th

November 2000 and the record daily figure surpassed 8,200 on Swami's Birthday,

2004.

The building incorporates architectural styles from all over the world and thus

embodies in its very design Swami's teaching on the Unity of Humanity. There

are Roman arches; Gothic windows; a Singapore designed fish pool; Moorish

domes; Japanese roofing (for the lift shaft); a Greek inclusion on the roof;

and Indian religious figures.

Japanese flat roofs and the Greek inclusion behind

Chinese religious figures with Nandi bull at the rear

Of course the majority of the influence is from China. Witness the unforgettable

roof, the largest outside China. It is laid with ceramic tiles glazed using

traditional methods. There are Chinese dragons, religious symbols, and

decorative designs to be seen all round.

The glazing finish on the roof tiles

The Chinese dragon

Decorations all around

 

One is left in awe as one takes in the exquisite nature of this offering to the

Lord. One is lost in wonder at this blooming depiction of divinity that

transports one's feelings in praise of Him.

 

Coming into the precincts of the Museum, one first delights at the entrancing

masterpiece of the Stupa; it leads the eye to His Divine hand supporting the

Universe. The Stupa is not only a work of art but also a work from the Heart as

it conveys deep spiritual lessons for the onlooker to imbibe and treasure.

 

Coming into the precincts of the Museum, one first delights at the entrancing

masterpiece of the Stupa; it leads the eye to His Divine hand supporting the

Universe. The Stupa is not only a work of art but also a work from the Heart as

it conveys deep spiritual lessons for the onlooker to imbibe and treasure.

 

 

The edifying Stupa

The five swans portray discrimination as the swan chooses milk over water.So

they remind us to seek the Lord’s Grace, rather than the tinsel of the world.

The lotus stem rises from the mud untouched and resplendent in its inherent

nature and reaches upward towards the Creator. It teaches one to be detached

from the world (the mud) and to be attracted by the spiritual path alone, so as

to shine in our Divine Atmic nature.

The 108 petals portray the creator Brahma, upon which the hand of Sathya is to

be seen, holding the Universe aloft with His forefinger. Originally the

artisans had shown the World atop but Bhagavan had explicitly redirected them

by saying "Not World, Universe". It is a reassuring reminder for the devotee

that the Lord that they worship as the Embodiment of Truth has all the power of

the Universe at His fingertips.

The delightful Koi fish

Thence, the visitor is captivated by the Koi fish, now 200 in number, who

glisten in the dark water, giving joy to all who see them. Fish are renowned

for their relaxing effect on the viewer and everyone likes to wait awhile at

this point and admire them. They ever dart here and there, reflecting the sun's

rays in a myriad colours. They have been well tended and some are rather large,

up to 4ft in length.

 

 

Click here to download and watch the ball rotate.

 

 

Nearby an enormous granite ball can be seen rotating bathed in a continuous

stream of water. This ball weighs 670kg and is actually moved entirely by water

hydraulics. This arrests the mind in silent contemplation of the gentle, soft

water moving the heavy, hard granite.

Looking up one can see the Moorish titanium domes, proudly showing the Sarva

Dharma symbol. The metal is only half a millimetre thick and the domes' use of

titanium is unique in India. From the roof one can see the blending of

architectural styles. The dome is complimented both by the Gothic windows and

the Roman arches.

A canopy of Chinese colour

Next the devotee is beckoned to climb further and then waits in the cool shade

of the upper stairs. Here one cannot only enjoy the view in front of the sports

stadium and hills, but also look up and marvel at the roof above. It is filled

with a canopy of colours and designs in glorious Chinese style. The central

flower has embedded fibre optic lights which change colour in delightful

patterns. One is surrounded by 108 Hanumans who are supporting the roof

confirming the belief that this great devotee is ever in service to Sai.When

the Lord came to pay a gracious visit He stopped by this area and remarked,

"Why have you painted it red? Red is a communist colour". The reply from the

chief engineer was that red was traditionally used in China well before

communism. Of course, this is known to Swami, but maybe He wanted this

clarified for others who would not know.The building also incorporates some

numerological

features relating to Divinity. The number 9, Swami's own Divine number, and the

number 75 are prominently used throughout.Here are some examples relating to

the Stupa. Its total height is 36ft. The lotus stem rises 27 ft up to the 108

petalled lotus which is 9 ft in diameter.

The flower lit up

Hanuman's devotion depicted

Other references to the number 9 include 108 Hanumans supporting the roof; 90

exhibits and 90 doorknobs. The roof is 81ft above road level and the Museum was

inaugurated on the 18th.Relating to 75, there are 75 steps in the staircase up

to the balcony and the building itself is 75ft high. Thus the reader can be in

no doubt that the Chaitanya Jyoti Museum embodies a testament to living

Divinity. In its stunning structures, and delightful designs, what better way

can there be to convey the Lord's Love. Inspired by Love for Him, it is a

fitting 'finger pointing to the moon'. On a full moon's night one can indeed

see His face inscribed; so let the Chaitanya Jyoti lead you to gaze on Him and

to know Him more and more - deeper and deeper…JAI SAI RAMSource;

www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_03/02FEB01

Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'

Source; www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_03/02FEB01