Latest - Prasanthi Bulletin - Sivaratri special

[Guest guest]

February 26th, 2006

 

We wish you a very happy Sivaratri.

 

This morning, Swami came out for Darshan at 8:30 AM. As we entered

the Kulwant Hall this morning, we were surprised to find four brand

new cars, dark red in colour, parked near the gents' side garage. Two

were Hyundai Accent models, the third one was a Hyundai Santro and

the fourth one was a Hyundai Getz model. Swami had got these to gift

them to some very special people.

 

At 8:30 AM, as the Porte Car made its way into Sai Kulwant Hall, the

Pancha Vadyam and the Naadaswaram, both were being played by the

students standing near the Gopuram entrance of the Hall. Taking a

full turn, the car stopped near the interview room. Bhagawan was

wheeled onto the dais. Swami first spoke to Sri Sanjay Sahni,

Principal of the Brindavan Campus of the University. Soon the mike

was arranged and Mr. C. Srinivas came forward and interacted with

Bhagawan.

 

It was clear that some special function was about to commence. Mr.

Sanjay Sahni announced that Bhagawan was today, Blessing four very

distinguished men who had offered yeoman service in the cause of

Bhagawan's Mission. The first gentleman was Mr. A. Ramakrishna,

former Vice-President of ECC construction division of the L&T

Company. Swami had entrusted to L&T under Mr. A. Ramakrishna's

guidance, the construction of most of His grand project buildings;

such as the Bangalore and Parthi Super Specialty Hospitals, The

Chaitanya Jyoti, The Water Projects at Anantapur, Medak, Mehboobnagar

and East & West Godavari tribal areas and of course the Sai Kulwant

Hall.

 

Mr. A. Ramakrishna came forward and Swami Blessed him with the keys

of the car. Meanwhile, all the four cars were brought in front of the

dais with one of Swami's 'driving team' at the steering wheel of each

car. Swami was not satisfied with merely giving him the car key. He

then got up from the chair, came walking down the central steps to

the side of the car. Standing there, Swami commanded Mr. A.

Ramakrishna to get into the car and He literally flagged off the car

and caught his hands and Blessed him as the car moved along.

 

Prior to this, Mr. Ramakrishna spoke a few words offering his

gratitude to Bhagawan for all the Love that He was showering on him.

It was very clear to him that Swami was doing everything and giving

him the credit for all the success. He explained how after Swami came

into his life, the L&T Company has prospered enormously.

 

Swami continued standing there as Mr. Sanjay Sahni called out the

other names. The second distinguished gentleman was Mr. Kondal Rao,

Senior Technical Consultant to Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for the Sri

Satya Sai Water Supply Project, and also the Chief Engineer

supervising the Chennai Water Supply Project. Mr. Kondal Rao had been

closely working with L&T in the execution of these projects. Mr.

Kondal Rao got into the car and received the Blessings as earlier.

 

The third special recipient was Mr. Chakravarthi, the secretary of

the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and formerly collector of Anantapur

District and also the first Registrar of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute

of Higher Learning. The fourth Blessed gentleman was Prof. G.

Venkataraman, former Vice-Chancellor of the Institute, currently of Prasanthi Digital Studio and Radio Sai Global Harmony. He

is also actively involved in conducting the Values Based Course

called the Awareness programme for the Post Graduate students at the

Institute.

 

After Blessing all of them profusely, Swami walked back to the dais

and then Blessed Mr. Ramakrishna and Mr. Kondal Rao with a

photograph. Both of them sat beside Swami and Swami holding their

hands kept praising them for a long time telling about their

achievements to the boys seated in front. Next He Blessed Mr.

Chakravarthy and Prof. G. Venkataraman with a photograph and also

praised them for a long time. By now it was 9:05 AM.

 

Swami gave permission for the Stotram chanting to commence. This

morning, the presentation was organised very well. We had brief

commentary preceding every song, both in Telugu and English rendered

by two students very well. The Stotrams chanted included the

following:

 

Chidananda Rupah Sivoham Sivoham

Bilvashtakam

Lingashtakam

Ganga Taranga Ramaneeya Jataakalaapam

Neela Kantara Devaa Deena Bandhava Ra Ra

Sada Sivam Bhajaamyaham Sakala Loka Naayakam

Siva Siva Siva Siva Anaraada

Shiva Shankari Shivananda Lahari - Solo

Om Namah Shiyava -- Om Namah Shivaya - Solo

 

 

The last two were solo songs very well by the Mandir Bhajan singers.

Others were all group songs. Swami was very involved throughout the

presentation and especially appreciated the last two performances. It

was 9:55 AM when Bhagawan asked them to stop.

 

After this Prasadam was distributed to all (Mysore Pak sweet in a

neat plastic box). At 10:30 AM, Swami went near the interview room

and Blessed the special cake baked for the occasion. At 10:40 AM,

Bhagawan retired to Poornachandra.

 

The Evening Session

 

It was 4:00 PM, when Bhagawan made His entry into the Kulwant Hall.

He took a full round in the car as He usually does and then went into

the interview room. After a while a number of trays with blue

coloured boxes started coming outside in the hands of students. All

these were placed on the dais, ready for distribution. Meanwhile,

another team of students who had rushed to Poornachandra Auditorium

just before Bhagawan's arrival returned with big carton boxes full of

white safari cloth for students.

 

All the cloth pieces were placed on the dais. A few minutes later

Swami came out and was wheeled onto the centre of the dais. Swami

immediately instructed the students to go ahead and distribute the

safaris to all the students. Both college and school students were

the lucky recipients of this Blessing from Bhagawan. After a while

the blue coloured boxes were also distributed to the students. This

contained a small calculator that made some sort of music when

started. This we came to know since all boys started opening their

boxes and switching on the calculators!

 

All the while Swami sat and kept watching the distribution. Now and

then, He called the boys and gave them some guidelines for

distribution. By 4:35 PM, He was wheeled in again. After around 10

minutes, very surprisingly, we found Swami getting into the car and

driving away to PC. We all were eagerly waiting for His Divine

Message but here was Swami leaving us in suspense. After some time,

Swami again came out into the car and went somewhere outside for a

short while. Once again, He was back to PC. Then at 5:15 PM, Bhagawan

returned to the Sai Kulwant Hall.

 

He was wheeled onto the dais for a few minutes and then in again. But

after a few minutes we saw Him walking on the inner VIP Portico

adjacent to the Bhajan Hall, talking to a number of devotees. He then

went again towards the interview room and finally at 5:25 PM, Swami

came onto the dais walking. He stood holding the railings for some

time giving joy to one and all. For a moment He raised His right Hand

and gave Abhaya Hasta Blessings to all. Immediately there was loud

applause.

 

At 5:30 PM, Swami was seated on His Chair. Mr. A.V.S. Raju, Founder-

Chairman of Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited, was also wheeled

in and made to sit next to Swami. Swami spoke to him and we knew that

he was about to read his poems to us. The Vedic hymn Mantra Pushpam

was being chanted and to our joy, Swami also started chanting along

with the students.

 

Around 5:45 PM, Swami gave some instructions to brother Nitin. A few

minutes later the famous playback singer P. Susheela came onto the

scene. Swami spoke to the Music boys giving them some instructions.

We thought that it was going to be some musical programme by her. But

who can understand Swami's ways? Swami asked the boys to start with a

Ganesha Bhajan followed by some other Bhajan. Then, Swami asked Smt.

P. Susheela to sing two Bhajans. She sang Esawramba Priya Tanaya Sai

Narayana and Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam. After these two Bhajans

the boys continued the Bhajans. But Swami had other plans.

 

At 6:10 PM, suddenly, Swami asked them to stop singing Bhajans. He

instructed Mr. A.V.S. Raju to share some of his poems with the

audience. This went on till 6:35 PM when he was asked to conclude.

Subsequently, we were almost sure that Swami would ask us to continue

singing Bhajans but instead Swami asked for the Discourse mikes to be

arranged. Bhagawan stood up and to the delight of all, commenced His

Sivaratri Divine Message at 6:30 PM.

 

The whole Universe is in Him. Can you build a temple for Him? When He

resides in all beings, what name can you give Him? When all the

oceans find refuge in Him, can you give Him a bath? He is not merely

Iswara; He is the Iswara of the whole Universe. Prapancha is a

combination of the five elements. 'Pra' means expression or

manifestation or blossoming. 'Pancha' stands for the five elements.

 

There are the five elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether.

There are also the five senses - Shabda (sound), Sparsha (touch),

Rupa (sight), Rasa (taste) and Gandha (smell). The five life breaths

are Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana. The Lord is the basis for

the expression of all these. Is any among these permanent? No, only

Brahma Tatva is eternal. What is Brahma - that which represents these

five.

 

Man worships a specific form. This is not permanent. We worship with

narrow feelings and forget the Cosmic Principle. The Universe is the

form of God. Anda, Pinda and Brahmanda. Anda consists of the material

world, Pinda consists of the fulfilment of one's birth and both these

occur in Brahmanda.

 

Love is the foundation of the Universe. There can exist neither

Nature nor world without Love. The world is sustained by the Love

that is distributed in the five elements. Forgetting Love, following

any mode of worship is in vain. The five elements express their power

through the human life.

 

Prana (life) - why is it given? Human birth is the rarest of all. Man

is Divine but running after Kama (desire). God created all - wife,

children and friends. It is the duty of man to respect each one

accordingly. The wife should be considered as Divine. Children also

represent Divinity. Enemies are also Brahmaswarupa. Even those who

fought with God were finally given mergence in the almighty.

 

There is no place where there is no God. All eyes and ears are His.

Nobody recognizes this Truth. People wonder how God can hear - where

are His ears? We must understand that sound itself is God, light

itself is God. Therefore, there is nothing that God does not know.

God's creation is highly sacred.

 

Human delusion is on account of attachment to one's body. Manava -

'Ma' stands for Maya, 'Na' stands for no or not and 'Va' stands for

living or conducting oneself. Therefore, we must conduct ourselves

such that we do not allow Maya to overpower us.

 

Good and bad are all in your thoughts. Correct your thoughts. If

there is any element of hatred, feel ashamed of it. If you are

attracted by anybody, it is because of attachment. Understand that it

is God who attracts. All forms are His. You have none but one true

enemy and that is your own mind.

 

You are the origin of everything. You are all Embodiments of Love.

None of you is separate. There is no second at all. Nothing like a

6th element. Your Love represents the Divine Form. Brahma is not away

from you. To think that He is away is Brama. Action (Karma) is also

Divine. Never accuse or criticize God. All is God.

 

It was 7.10 p.m. and Swami sat down on the sofa and continued.

 

All is Sivam, all is Vishnu, all is Divine. This is the Sivaratri

message for all. From a tiny granule to a gigantic tree, Divinity

resides in all. There is no need to search for God. You are verily

God. You are verily Vishnu and Shiva. It is only your feelings that

create a difference. Sometimes you get angry. The same anger gets

transformed into love later. Yesterday's anger becomes today's love.

They are not different.

 

1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 2 = 4, 4 + 4 = 8 but 5 + 5 is not equal to 10. 5 + 5 =

1 only. The rest are all zeroes.

 

Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti. There is no second at all. This unity

is God. Know this Truth. Jeeva and Deva are not different. Your

shadow is not different from you. Bliss is your own reflection. Only

when we understand this oneness, can we experience Divinity.

 

1&0 = 10, add a 0 = 100, add another 0 = 1000, add another 0 = 10000,

add yet one more 0 = 100000

 

If you remove the One, nothing is left. Just zeroes. So too in life,

we say:

 

My wife, my child, my land, my house...

 

'My' is like 1 and all the rest are like zeroes. Nothing remains at

the end. The whole world is a zero that comes out from God who is the

Hero.

 

Doubts and imaginations rob us of our Bliss. Never entertain any

doubts. It is like poison. You get doubts about your wife,

children..... all this is useless. Why don't you doubt yourself? Then

you will feel so ashamed. Even if doubts come, brush them aside. You

can develop strong faith only when you remove all doubts. Doubts can

be dangerous and can sometimes prove fatal.

 

A car can ride well only if all the four tyres are in good condition.

Even if one tyre gets punctured you can meet with an accident. In our

life, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the four tyres. None of them

should get punctured. Students, body is the chariot. Mind is the

steering. You must control the steering. Until the mind is

annihilated, you need to control it very well. This will lead you to

Moksha and your life will be fulfilled.

 

When you ride a bicycle, balance is very important. So too in life,

balance is very important. Being born as a human being, if you slip

into the existence of an animal, it would be so embarrassing. This is

the teaching of Shiva. You are a human being. You are not an insect,

not a bird or an animal. You can never deny the Atma. Do not claim

everything as yours. Ma in Manava stands for mine. Get rid of this Ma

Ma Ma - mine, mine, mine.

 

Your goal is to attain Divinity. For this you need Sanmati (good

mind). Unity leads to purity, purity leads to Divinity. All must have

this unity. We all are humans; brothers and sisters. Students of

Satya Sai College must always be united. Only if you are united, you

deserve to be called Sai Devotees, else there will be no purity of

Sai in you.

 

Love God and it will transform your hate towards others also into

love. Therefore, develop Love.

 

It was 7:30 PM. Bhagawan concluded His Divine Sivaratri Message with

the Bhajan, Prema Mudita Mana Se Kaho.... After the Bhajan, He once

again continued...

 

The name of Rama has been helping humanity since ages. This is the

power of Rama Nama. Everybody chants the name of Rama. Be it in a

village or a city, valley or the mountain top. People of all

religions should begin with chanting the name of Rama. Rama means

that which attracts - Ra Ra - come,come...

 

Then Swami narrated the story of King Krishna Devaraya and his

minister Tenali Ramakrishna. Once Tenali Ramakrishna constructed a

sentence containing five words which meant the same but in different

languages. It was 'Ye Aao Ra Ba Va?' Actually it was a question asked

of Ramakrishna, 'Which cow is it, brother-in-law?' in Telugu. But

when split up it could also mean 'Ye' -come- in Marathi, 'Aao' -come-

in Hindi, 'Ra' -come- in Telugu, 'Ba' -come- in Kannada, 'Va' -come-

in Tamil. The lesson from the story was that words should be used

very carefully.

 

Understand small things and then you will be able to understand the

bigger things too. All students should develop good qualities, and

live an ideal life. Then, Swami will be very happy. Those who make Me

happy, I will make them very happy. Get a good name wherever you go.

Conduct yourself as befits a Sai student. This is the message of

Sivaratri.

 

When all of you enjoy supreme Bliss, it is Sivaratri for Me. My

Blessings to all of you?. Sing the glory of God all night. Do Naama

Smarana whole heartedly. Then you will attain Divinity. Am I giving

you trouble? (Boys immediately replied - No Swami.)

 

It was 7:50 PM and Bhajans began. Just two lines were over and Swami

again stopped them. He said:

 

Do not sing the word 'Digambara' in the Bhajans. Laymen understand

this word to mean 'naked'. But the true meaning is that God has His

attire as the eight directions 'Diks'. Thus He is called Digambara.

But avoid this while singing.

 

Bhajans continued. At 8:00 PM, Bhagawan retired for the day. It was

such a hectic day for Swami. Morning to evening, He kept giving and

giving tirelessly! The mikes for Bhajans were on till 9:30 PM. Later

an announcement was made as per instructions of Bhagawan by Prof.

Anil Kumar. He announced that Aarti would be at 7:00 AM tomorrow and

Prasadam (Puliyora and Sakarpongal) would be distributed thereafter.

 

February 25th, 2006

 

This evening, Swami came out for Darshan at 3:45 PM. After the usual

round, Swami came walking onto the dais. As soon as He reached the

centre of the dais, He signalled to the students at the rear end to

move. We were not clear what Swami wanted, but soon Mr. Chakravarthi

received instructions from Swami and he came and passed on the same

to the boys. The entire group of boys seated at the rear end got up

and marched towards Poornachandra Auditorium. We were wondering what

the task could be.

 

A few minutes later, all the boys returned in a line, marching in

with huge watermelons in their hands. Swami asked them to distribute

to all the students and staff - each one receiving a huge water

melon! This went on for quite some time with boys marching back and

forth between the Poornachandra and Sai Ramesh Hall. Subsequently,

Swami asked the Lady Sevadals to collect the water melons and serve

the devotees on the ladies side.

 

It was 4:20 PM when the entire drill was over. The next programme was

poem recital by Sri A.V.S. Raju Garu, the Founder-Chairman of

Nagarajuna Construction Company Private Limited. We have heard him so

often sharing his poems in the Divine Presence on earlier occasions.

His chair was wheeled in and placed next to Swami's. Sitting there,

he read out a number of poems for several minutes.

 

At 4:45 PM, Sri Ajit Popat (devotee speaker from UK) was summoned and

he thrilled the audience with his electrifying speech till 5:25 PM.

This was followed by a few Bhajans and finally Swami retired at 6:15

PM.