29th July - Guru Purnima in Prasanthi Nilayam

[Guest guest]

GURUPURMIMA IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM Spiritual and Cultural renaissance mooted by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba through His dedicated selfless Mission, holy in essence and holistic in approach, has been promoting individual and societal transformation. Where primitive age old customs and traditions are no longer getting due attention and are engaged in a hard-fought battle for survival, Prasanthi Nilayam very often witnesses festivities celebrated in the very presence of the Promoter of Cultural and Spiritual Renaissance of the modern age, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Moon connotes the mind and on a perfect moon day mind is believed to be regaling in cool and calm composure. When the moon’s

perfection coincides with the Sun’s transition heralding the advent of the month of Ashada based on the vernacular calendar, it marks the arrival of Guru Purnima, with a silent reminder to man of the salient need to pay respect and obeisance to Teacher or Guru. It was 29th July 2007, the moon was at its perfect round spreading cool over the minds that were agitated by the world and the worldly. Prasanthi Nilayam, the Abode of The Teacher of all Teachers was basking in the glory of yet another bout of events and festivities, started with the three day Ashadi celebrations followed by three day Sri Sathya Sai World Youth Conference to culminate with the Guru Purnima celebrations, wherein thousands of devotees from all over the world were privileged to pay obeisance to the God walking on Two Feet. Regaled Prasanthi and the thousands thronged to have a glimpse of the Lord when the Lord clad in yellow robe came out in open with a beaming smile in His custom-made Lamborghini golf cart. Pageantry of the festivity was very much on the fore when Bhagawan was taken in a procession led by Sathya Geeta , the new calf-elephant, caparisoned befitting the occasion, followed by boys holding decorative parasols, bhajan groups followed by a group of boys chanting Vedam. The fully packed Sai Kulwant Hall, decorated with flowers and buntings for the occasion was reverberating with a blend of heavenly sounds, Nadaswaram and Panchavadyam along with full throated bhajans and vedam chantings. Blessing the capacity crowd in the Sai Kulwant Hall, Bhagawan moved in the vehicle for an entire round before occupying His seat on the dais. Before the commencement of the day’s further proceedings Sathya Geeta, the new pet-elephant was brought to Bhagawan, Who fondly caressed and fed the little one, a rare sight to behold. All conquering motherly love of the Teacher of all Teachers was on display on a day dedicated to the highest spiritual preceptor. Devotion suffused with assertion was the highlight of a scintillating Carnatic Music presentation by the Malladi Brothers, Sri Rama Prasad and Ravi Kumar. Bhagawan sat through the entire forty minute session during which they sung some compositions on Bhagawan’s Avatarhood and Mission followed by the famous Pancharatna Kriti of Saint Thyagaraja, Endaro Mahanubhavulu Andariki Vandanamul, a gem of a rare composition, describing the greatness of the devotees through the ages, paying tribute and salutations to the great men living in all ages. Prasadam was distributed to all those assembled and Arathi was offered to Bhagawan before He retired to Yajur Mandiram. Source: http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/gurupurnima2007.html