November 10th and 11th, 2007 - Sai Students

[Guest guest]

November 10th and 11th, 2007 There was a lot of devotional fervour in the air in anticipation of the 24 hour Akhanda Bhajan that was scheduled to begin this evening. Prashanti Nilayam in a few minutes would be transformed into the nucleus of a global sadhana in namasmarana which would continue through all the parts of the day and night. When Swami came out, it was very evident that the event would be a very special one. He was looking so beautiful and each of His smiles were so radiant. Swami completed His darshan rounds and then for a short while went into the interview room.He came into the bhajan hall well in advance. He went around the bhajan hall suffusing everyone gathered with enthusiasm to participate in the bhajans about to begin. As the clock struck six, Swami lit the beautiful and huge lamp set in the centre of the altar to mark the beginning of the global Akhanda bhajan. The Ganesha bhajan began with

great gusto. A few bhajans later, Swami wanted to go out for granting darshan to the singing masses! Every path that existed in Kulwant Hall was traversed upon and every being that was present there was immersed in joy divine. Swami had said long ago, "This sugar mountain will not travel to feed the ants; the ants themselves can come here." Seeing Him today anybody would conclude that compassion for the tiny ant had dissolved that resolution, if it was ever seriously entertained!After the round, He came back into the bhajan hall. He sat not in the traditional corner on the gents side, but right in the middle, next to the Jyoti that He had lit minutes ago. Litres of oil had been poured into the lamp for its night long vigil and it showed in the brilliance of the flame. And beside the lamp was Swami - the ocean of Love in His Heart reflected in His beaming and brilliant face. As the bhajans progressed, the fervour doubled. Swami struck a divine pose and hearts surged

with joy. If He would keep rhythm with His hands for the bhajans, the beat would echo in the clapping of the enthusiastic devotees. The bhajans went on alternating between the men's side and the ladies' side. At about 7:20 pm, Swami went back to Yajur Mandir.With Swami's departure, people to rose to leave. But many stayed on, digesting the joy of the multiple close darshans that had been so graciously conferred. Shraddha (Faith) and Saburi (Perseverance) are the only offerings that the Lord asks for. Those who offered these to Him tonight, He granted a special blessing. At 8:15pm, a time when everyone expects Swami to have retired, He showed that the Lord never rests. "Mad Bhaktah yatra Gaayanthe, thatra tishtaami Naarada." (Oh Narada! I install Myself wherever my devotees sing my glory.) Swami suddenly came into the Kulwant Hall in the wheelchair sofa! Audible gasps and thrilled exclamations made their rounds as Swami went about granting all with the bounty of His

darshan, slowly and calmly.He then came into the bhajan hall and all the singers especially were ecstatic. As He sat for bhajans, He exchanged loving comments with some of the singers. After a very long time, we could see Swami out so late in the night. Swami sat till almost 9:00 pm before retiring. But as He went out, He promised, "I will be coming again."True to His promise, Swami came again. It was at 9:45 am the next day! But those words inspired everyone to stay awake in anticipation of further blessings. The Lord's benediction is such that every endeavour with Him as the goal will always fructify. However we seems to forget that and so He resorts to words of encouragement and allows everyone to experience the joy of making efforts. The night long vigil might have tired the bodies but the recharge the spirits got is something that must be felt and cannot be adequately captured in words. Swami came in the wheelchair sofa once again and suddenly the

bhajan singing became louder! The devotees thirst for their Lord. But if we just pause and ponder, the reality of how the Lord too hungers for His devotees will strike us. As He says, " Your bliss is my food." Today He definitely was well fed if we can say so!It is so fascinating to see Swami seeing His devotees. He seem to look deep into them, sampling their thirst and purity. Even a taste of these qualities and He cannot resist. He moves towards them and both the Lord and the devotees drink deep the ambrosia of bliss. Swami came into the bhajan hall and sat; but only for a few bhajans. He began to move amidst everyone seated in the bhajan hall. He went out again and not only traversed all available paths but also exhausted the different possible directions of moving along them! It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that after a while, the students and devotees alike ran out of letters and prayers to offer to Him. The gushing flood of Love and benediction was

so immense that they just sat and saw Him. Swami must have completed atleast three rounds on the wheel sofa this morning. He even went around the portico and bhajan hall a few times. He sat listening to the bhajans till almost 11:15 am and then He retired.In the evening, the crowds had swelled and the hall was packed for the grand finale of the Akhand bhajan. Swami came out at about 4:40 pm. For the third time in a row, the car had been dispensed with. So dear are His devotees for Him and that dearness seemed to translate even into nearness. Years ago, fears had been expressed that Swami, in times to come would become physically inaccessible and very distant. Swami had replied, "For those who hold me close to their heart, I will never be far." Well, the veracity of that statement was there for all to see as Swami satiated everyone to their hearts content. He came into the bhajan hall and as He started tapping His hands on the arms of the chair, the bhajans picked

up speed moving towards a glorious climax. Swami then continued His travelling spree as He went out again. It is really not possible to describe each of His trips around the devotees for they were so many in number and so enriching in experience.Nostalgic memories came flooding as Swami in His inimitable style stopped near a block of boys and told them to make a path between them so that He could move over to the other side. He then went all the way to behind the main gate where all the vessels containing prasadam were kept. He blessed them and spoke to the people in charge as to how the distribution must be done. Then He came back to the bhajan hall. The final part of the bhajan session was filled with deafning clapping, vociferous singing and ever increasing tempo. To one lady singer who enthralled everyone and more importantly Swami with her bhajan, Swami immediately materialised a beautiful necklace in gold! He gifted it to her and continued smiling. As Swami

concluded the bhajans with "Namah Parvati Pataye", the Aarthi was lit. What followed next was a rare scene as Swami sat for the complete Aarthi. During the last stanza of the Aarthi song, the priest waved the camphor at the altar by the sheer force of habit. Swami seemd to look at Him and smile!As the aarthi concluded, Swami took up the role of the host ensuring that the sweetened rice (chakara pongal) and tamarind rice were distributed to all. He personally supervised the manner in which leaves should be distributed and the food served. Once the serving had been fairly accomplished, the food prayer, Bhramaarpanam, began. Swami too joined in chanting the prayer! At the end of it, He said, "Now all eat nicely." He kept cracking jokes and telling everyone to eat well. Finally at 6:35 pm Swami left bhajan hall and moved to the Yajur Mandir. Courtesy: http://www.saistudents.org