Ashadi Ekadasi Celebrations, 23-25 Jul 2007

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"Ashadi Ekadasi Celebrations", 23-25 Jul 2007 Ashadi Ekadasi Celebrations To see the images, please http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/Ashadi2007.html (Continued...) The morning programme on the 25th commenced with Bhagawan lighting the lamp shortly after His arrival in Sai Kulwant Hall at around 8:10 a.m. Then, it was the turn of the Vaarkaris, symbolising the traditional procession to the Abode of Lord Vittala at Pandarpur, who set started their journey on foot from Dharmavaram on 22ndJuly, doing service to the poor and downtrodden all along their journey while spreading His Divine Teachings, before arriving at Prasanthi Nilayam carrying a palanquin with Padukas of

Bhagawan. The programme got underway with an emotional touch as two tiny-tots took the entire audience to a flashback into the morning programme in the previous edition of the festivity in 2006. Referring to Sai Gita, Bhagawan’s pet elephant, the pachyderm who lived a life par-excellence, the children described her as a true devotee without animal traits. Equating Sai Gita with the elephant God Ganesha the children broke into a beautiful dance sequence in adoration to Lord Ganesha to the tunes of the famous song Ekadantaya Vakratunda… Indeed a fitting tribute to Sai Gita and a wonderful beginning with adoration to Remover of all obstacles. A quiz exposition, an enactment, featuring contestants, expert panels from current and former Bal Vikas students, some of the illustrious

greats of the nation was the highlight of the morning session. Aptly titled Master the Mind, Be a Master Mind , this masterly presentation was intertwined with musical offerings projecting man’s eternal quest, Who am I? to be the central theme. The lingering question allied with an array of relative questions that have come from the Quiz Master to the participants got guidance from the rich experience of Bal Vikas students, who were cashing in all that they have learnt at the Divine Lotus Feet to help the contestants in guiding to find the right answer. The expert guest panel comprising four illustrious greats of the nations, namely, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Muthuswami Iyer and Rabindranath Tagore delivered their words of wisdom on different topics related to the Mind helping the contestants to understand the vagaries of the Mind to reach the ultimate goal. It was indeed an innovative style of posing the much debated question, Who am I? and

the much sought after answer “I am I”. The Quiz Master was seen summarising the progress with an assessment of the good lessons learnt on the day. …And the Quiz Master won special Divine Acclaim when Bhagawan chose to specially speak to him at the end of the programme before materialising a chain for him. Bharat, the land that is acclaimed as the land of Avatars is equally rich with the presence of great masters of spiritual acclaim preaching and peering words of Wisdom to the masses. Often Prasanthi gets introduced to these great lives in the form of dramas and presentations held in the Divine Presence as an offering during many of the festivities. The highlight of the afternoon session was a dance drama on Jhule lal, the chosen God of Sindhi community who lived during the 10th century. Suffering at the hands of a tyrannical ruler Mirkhshah and his fanatical followers, the Hindus in the Sindh Province prayed to the Water God for protection and yielding to their prayers came a prophesy stating that their saviour would come at the end of eight months in a town called Nassarpur. Born as Uderolal, under miraculous circumstances, Jhule lal had to face the wrath of the tyrannical ruler who under pressure from fanatic muslim leaders tried to persecute him. The altercation between the king and Jhule Lal and the subsequent sermon about Jhule Lal’s Divine nature and the wrath the ruler had to face at the hands of nature were at portrayal changing scenes at rapid pace. Lost and defeated, a humiliated Mirkhashah sought Divine Mercy upon him. He was forgiven by the merciful Lord who instructed him to treat Hindus and Muslims alike. After Jhule Lal’s passing away when there was an altercation between Muslims and Hindus about the construction of a proper

monument, there came a voice from the heavens: “Behold, make my shrine acceptable to both Hindus and Muslims; let it’s one part be like a temple and the other part be like a Dargah (shrine). I belong to all of you”. At a time when communal harmony is at stake and world is reeling under violence over fanatic passion, the message of Jhule Lal is of absolute significance for one and all to receive and embrace in practice and precept. …A wonderful presentation on the inspiring life of the Lord of Sindh on the day of his 1000th birth anniversary. Immensely pleased with the presentation, Bhagawan gave away watches to all the participants before distributing Prasadam to all assembled. Bhagawan materialised a chain for a little boy who acted as a disciple of Uderolal and chose to speak to the boy

specially calling him on the dais. Bhagawan retired to Yajur Mandiram after receiving Mangala Arathi at 5:30 p.m. after a short stint of Bhajans by Maharashtra Choir. Source: http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/Ashadi2007.html