Brindavan Diary-Chronicles of Heaven on Earth

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Brindavan DiaryChronicles of Heaven on Earth

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Swami returned from Kodai Kanal on the 7th of May to Brindavan. Brindavan was

always busy with functions and festivals. Here is the account of the happenings

in Brindavan in May and June.

May 16 TO 18, 2005: YAJNAS IN SAI RAMESH HALL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WORLDAfter

Swami’s arrival in Brindavan from Kodaikanal, the devotees were fortunate to

witness a unique function wherein Yajnas (ritual sacrifice with offerings of

oblations to the sacred fire accompanied by the chanting of Vedic mantras) were

conducted in Sai Ramesh Hall on 3 consecutive days, for the welfare of the

world. Four special heart-shaped Yajna Kunda (sacrificial pits) were set up on

the dais of Sai Ramesh Hall, while another was set up in front of the dais. The

entire Hall was tastefully and aptly decorated with flowers as well as banana

and mango leaves in the traditional South Indian style on all the 3 days.

The first day the priests (drawn from famous temples in the area) performed

Ganesha and Kalasha Puja and other traditional prayers before conducting the

Dhanvantari Homa. On the 17th morning, Rudra Homa, Mrityunjaya Homa and Durga

Homa were conducted simultaneously. Sudarshana Homa was performed in the 17th

afternoon.

This 3-day sacred function concluded on the morning of the 18th, with the

performance of Shatachandi Homa. After the Homa, renowned Hindustani classical

singers Smt. Parveen Sultana and her husband Ustad Dilshad Khan sang Bhajans to

elevate the devotional mood of the devotees and bring this sacred blessing from

Bhagavan to a close.

Truly this festival was a living embodiment of our daily prayer, “Loka Samastha

Sukhino Bhavantu” - May all the beings in all the worlds be happy!!

 

May 23 and 24th: BUDDHA PURNIMA CELEBRATIONSA large gathering of over 2000

Buddhist devotees from 10 countries, gathered in Sai Ramesh Hall to celebrate

the Birth Anniversary of Lord Buddha. The celebrations this year was

coordinated by the devotees from Sri Lanka.

The festivities started on the morning of the 23rd when Bhagavan was welcomed to

Sai Ramesh Hall by the devotees singing Sai Bhajans in mellifluous tones. Folk

dancers from Sri Lanka in their colourful traditional dresses also delighted

the crowd by dancing to the beat of drums. Following this, there was a one-hour

very special rendition of bhajans by the ladies and gents from Sri Lanka that

sanctified the atmosphere and rendered it serene.

In the afternoon of the 23rd, following speeches by 3 Sri Lankan devotees,

Bhagavan gave his much awaited divine discourse. Swami talked about God being

one and not limited to a particular name, form, region or religion. Swami

exhorted everyone to develop self-confidence, as self-confidence is the basis

for self-realization. Defining meditation as thinking of God at all times

under all circumstances, Swami asked everyone to install God in their hearts and

discharge their duties with the feeling that God is the basis of everything.

Touched by the devotion of the devotees from Sri Lanka, Swami promised to visit

Sri Lanka and bestow eternal bliss on all the citizens.

On the morning of the 24th all the overseas Buddhists devotees lead the morning

Bhajans. In the evening the Bala Vikas children presented a drama, “Life with

the Divine”, that beautifully captured and depicted the intimate relationship

of the 5 basic elements with the 5 human values – and taught that man should

live in harmony with nature by practicing the 5 human values.

 

 

JUNE 4 & 5th: 24-HOUR AKHANDA BHAJAN IN SAI RAMESH HALLThe new and returning

students had just settled in, for the start of the academic year. They were

basking in the divine presence, when an electric announcement was made on the

morning of the 4th that there would be a 24 hour Akhanda Bhajan starting from 4

pm that evening. What an auspicious way to kick start the academic year and

carry forward the spiritual momentum generated by the 3-day Yajna and the

Buddha Purnima celebrations.

In spite of the short notice, the boys quickly organized. Groups were formed and

all the time slots were quickly filled up, to keep up the spiritual vibrations

with unabated fervour through the night. On Sunday, the boys were joined by the

Seva Dal Bhajan Group also. All the devotees were treated to a veritable feast

and quite a few kept a 24-hour vigil contributing and participating in the

Bhajans, fully utilizing this golden opportunity to deepen their Sadhana.

Swami came to Sai Ramesh Hall at 4:30 pm on the evening of the 5th and listened

to the Bhajans for a full hour before

bringing it to a close. A prasadam of pulihora (tamarind rice) and a sweet was

served to all devotees at the conclusion.

 

 

JUNE 7th: A PROGRAM ON VEDA CHANTING AND A DIVINE DISCOURSEThe Brindavan boys

had prepared a small skit on Veda chanting, to regale the Lord and enhance the

understanding of all. In a well-thought out and nicely rehearsed skit they

brought out the central essence of the main Mantras that are most often chanted

in the Divine Presence. They not only chanted the Mantras, they also explained

the quintessential meaning and the significance and relevance to everyday life.

They also demonstrated the different ways in which the Vedas can be chanted.

They also sought Bhagavan’s blessings for as the Veda Purusha, He accepts the

prayers of all.

Bhagavan was visibly pleased with the programme put up the boys. He signaled for

a mike to be brought and decided to give an unexpected Divine Discourse.

Speaking informally, while seated, as He is wont to do in a “Trayee Session”,

Swami spoke continuously in Telugu for a few minutes. He spoke on the

sacredness of mother’s love and said she should be honoured and respected

(Matru Devo Bhava). He also spoke about the singular importance of Namasmarana

and termed it as the highest form of Sadhana, by which the Lord can be easily

reached. He exhorted everyone to constantly remember the Lord with love. The

discourse was later summarized in English by Sri B.N. Narasimhamurthy, Warden

of the Brindavan Campus.

 

 

JUNE 8TH: HONORING OF PUROHIT COUPLESIn the morning of the 8th of June, the

members of the Indiranagar Sai Samithi, Bangalore, had an auspicious function

in Sai Ramesh Hall to felicitate and honour as many as one hundred and eleven

Archaka/Purohit (priest) couples drawn from Bangalore city and the district.

The couples were brought in a procession to a suitably decorated Sai Ramesh

Hall, preceded by a Nadaswaram troupe and Veda chants by a troupe from “Sai

Darshan” (the Community Hall of the Indiranagar Sai Samithi). The couples were

presented to Swami and were honoured with a plate containing traditional gifts

like betel leaves, kum-kum, clothes, fruits and even Sai literature. All the

couples also had a ‘Parikrama’ (circumambulation) of Trayee Brindavan, which

gave them great joy.

In the afternoon, the Bala Vikas children of ‘Sai Darshan’ put up a play

entitled “Dasanudasa Kanaka”. These 22 children, who come from economically

backward families, narrated the story of Bhaktha Kanaka Dasa, a 16th century

saint-singer of Karnataka. The play presented a few episodes from the saint’s

life to highlight his Bhakthi to the Lord. The grand finale of the play was the

legendary episode wherein the deity of Lord Krishna in the Udupi temple turns

around to give Darshan to Kanaka standing behind the temple as he was denied

entry because of his caste. Swami advised the Director of the play, Smt. Nallu

Ganapathy, that the message of the play should reach everyone and the good work

done by the Samithi should continue.

 

JUNE 12TH: MASS UPANAYANAM IN SAI RAMESH HALLIn the morning of June 12, about

500 young boys, drawn from 22 districts of Karnataka and also from Swami’s

educational institutions in Alike, Muddenhalli and Brindavan, participated in a

mass Upanayanam ceremony in the Divine presence. This sacred thread ceremony

initiates the young boy on the spiritual path and he is given Upadesha of the

Gayathri Mantra by the priest.

These young boys along with their parents all dressed in the traditional attire

of a dhoti and an angavastram (upper cloth) came marching to Sai Ramesh Hall

from Sai Gokulam led by Nadaswaram music and Veda chants. In a 90-minute

ceremony, the head priest led all these boys through the sacred ritual that

included the Ganesha Homa, the Nava Graha Homa and the Gayathri Homa.

After the Poorna Ahuti ceremony, the young boys were initiated by having the

sacred thread slipped on their shoulders and by reciting the Gayathri. There

was a reverential atmosphere in the Hall and many were moved to tears of

gratitude to Swami, not only for conducting the function but also for providing

everything – the clothes, the ingredients for the ritual and even the

sacred thread that was used by them. Truly the Divine Mother only gives, gives, and gives!

After the function, the participants reverentially circumambulated Swami’s house

as a mark of respect. They were also provided with a sumptuous breakfast. All of

us were also blessed to have witnessed this unique event.

Being with Swami and writing these chronicles, one is always astonished at how

much He keeps giving of Himself to foster love and devotion in all the

devotees. His giving is not just to those in the immediate divine presence, but

has no limitations of boundaries and space! I am sure many of you must have

experienced His grace also. Do write and share with us your experiences of

Swami’s Love at h2h (AT) radiosai (DOT) org. Joy shared is joy doubled. Let’s savour and

enjoy the stories and Leelas of our Lord.So till next time --- SAI RAM.

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