Prashanthi Bulletin 8th-August 12th, 2005

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Source: Radiosai.orgPrashanthi Bulletin August 12th, 2005 This Friday witnessed

the Varalakshmi Vratam - a ritual performed by married women on the Friday

immediately following the full moon day in the Indian month of Shraavan. The

Sai Kulwant Hall was beautifully bedecked with floral decorations. Floral

arches adorned the gate leading to Bhagawan's residence, and even the ganesh

gate was decorated. In the middle of the stage area of the Hall was a dark

stone idol of Goddess Lakshmi. The innermost four pillars of the Hall were

draped with twenty foot high images of Bhagawan and Mahalakshmi. The nearly

thousand ladies doing the puja had assembled there by 5 o'clock in the morning.

They were seated in orderly rows 60 abreast in the front part of the Hall,

occupying the part of the Hall where the students of the School and College

usually sit. Nadaswaram music played by the village band induced a festive air.

Bhagwan arrived at 7.30 am to Vedic chants and the Nadaswaram music. Taking a

round of the Hall, Swami's car came onstage and Swami came to the centre of the

stage in the retractable chair. At 7.45, He gave the signal for the proceedings

to begin and the priests seated onstage started with a brief introductory talk

in Telugu conveying gratitude at the chance for doing this puja. The ritual

worship continued till 8.30 am, concluding with the priest narrating the

Puranic story of the origin of this Varalakshmi Vratam, the story of Charumati

the Pativrata to whom the Goddess granted the boon of this ritual. Thereafter,

Vedam chanting continued with Bhagawan sitting onstage till just after nine. A

special announcement was made, that prasadam had been arranged for all the

participants. Bhagawan then decided to give a closer darshan to the

participants, and asked for His chair to be pushed around. For nearly ten

minutes, Bhagawan went all around the Hall, going up to the very end of the

group of participants, giving an unexpected Darshan to all. A few minutes

afterwards, blessing the priests and their wives with clothes, Bhagawan left

for His abode as Arati was sung. In the afternoon, we were regaled with

devotionals by Smt. Nithyashree Mahadevan, the eminent vocalist. Bhagawan sat

onstage in His car from 3.15 to 4.00 pm while the Vedam chanting went on. At

one point, He asked for the chant related to Lakshmi Devi to be chanted. At 4

o'clock, He moved to the centre of the stage, and the musicians took their

places to His left. Bhagawan was very pleased with the hour long performance,

and blessed the artiste with a medallion, asking her to sing another song on

the Mother Goddess after that. Then Bhagawan went to the interview room. From

there, He instructed that bhajans be sung in the Bhajan Hall, so the students

started the Bhajans there at 5.15 pm. Bhagawan sat in the Bhajan Hall till

5.45, when He returned to the Poornachandra. Arati was offered ten minutes

later. August 8th to 11th, 2005 From the 8th to the 11th, there were no

programmes in Sai Kulwant Hall. Swami came to the Hall every day, both in the

morning and in the evening. On the 8th, He came to the Sai Kulwant at 7.30 am,

and directly went out for a drive - upto the college and back. On His return,

He called in one of the delegates to the Economics conference (mentioned in our

previous update) for an interview. In the evening, the priests from Mookambika

temple in Karnataka state came for Swami's darshan. These were the priests who

had officiated at the Homam at Brindavan in May. Bhagawan came to the Hall at

3.10 and called the priests for an audience. 'Bobbattu' sweets were distributed

to all as prasadam. Bhagawan returned to His abode at 5.10 while bhajans were

going on. On Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, that is, on the 10th and

11th, Bhagawan spent quite a long while inside His car parked on the Mandir

verandah near the interview room, without alighting. On Thursday evening, He

asked for the car to be manoevered onstage, entering from the gents' side of

the stage area and exiting from the ladies' side.

Updated Sai News & latest Photos »» Home

Lakhsmi Puja at Puttaparthi

Varalakshmi Vratam at Prasanthi Nilayamn

Album: Photograph - Images of Varalakshmi Puja at Prasanthi Nilayam

Photos: Varalakshmi Puja Picture Collage

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

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