March 1st-2nd, 2008 - Sai Students

[Guest guest]

March 2, 2008 This evening, the youth, who had arrived from Hyderabad with the intention of inviting Swami to that wonderful bubbling city, had been permitted to put up a programme in front of Swami. Swami came for darshan at about 5:05 pm and He alighted near the interview room after completing His darshan rounds. He immediately came out and took a small round on the stage granting beautiful darshan to all who had gathered. The He went in to the interview room for about 10 minutes. He sent word for the programme to be started and the youth began their presentation with the Omkar.They began with a welcome song on how fortunate they were to be able to offer their salutations in His Divine presence. The song had a slow waltzing melody in the beginning and then it picked up momentum and speed as they called out to Swami as their father. It turned out to be a real welcome song for as they completed singing it, Swami

same out of the interview room on to the stage. There were commentary pieces in between the song explaining the gist of the song. There was a song on how sweet and beautiful is Swami's name, form and everything associated with Him. As Swami sat swaying gently to the tunes, it was really a sight for the Gods to behold and we simple mortals were being supremely blessed with that opportunity. It is such a great boon that we are able to see and enjoy His majestic form. On one occasion, speaking to a person who was a chain smoker, Swami had said, "If you do not give up this bad habit, I will not think of you and I will ensure that you too do not think of me!" Even the fact that we are able to think of Swami is His Grace and blessings that we ought to be grateful for.The songs continued. The commentator said, "Swami if we look at you, it's enough, we'll forget the world." Swami nodded and seemed to say,"Oh yes! Why not?" Everyone smiled and the songs continued. There

were songs dripping with gratitude for His compassion and Love. "The eyes never tire seeing you and get addicted to your Graceful form. The ears ache to hear your sweet voice. The temples of our minds are complete only due to your form being installed." There was another song that described the glories of the ten Avatars that Lord Vishnu assumed to protect the world. The songs began to gather momentum and the enthusiasm remained on the high that it always was on. Swami kept responding and emoting to the noble feelings and thoughts being expressed in the songs. As a fast paced song on the ideal way for the individual to conduct oneself concluded, Swami called the violinist and materialized a gold chain for him. He was naturally overwhelmed as he delicately touched His Feet and accepted the gift of grace. The songs continued. Requesting the Lord never to forget them, the devotees sang out a composition by Swami Himself unto Him. From Him, for Him unto Him! There was a very

innovative composition that incorporated in it popular bhajans, "Govind Krishna Jai", "Prema Muditha" and "Shivaya Parameshwaraya". It was a devotional outpouring where the devotees said that their only refuge was His Feet. All those seated in the hall were washed pure and joyous by this spontaneous flow of devotional songs and the silent shower of Love seen from the twinkle in Sai's eyes.The concluding song was a patriotic one with a march beat.As they concluded, Swami called the harmonium player cum singer who had performed exceedingly well. He had a slight difficulty standing due to a twisted back. Swami showered all Love on him and materialized a gold chain for him. He put it around His neck and granted paadanamaskar. After that, Swami stood up and walked down to the group that had clustered by now. He spoke to them and almost satiated everyone's pangs to have a few precious words of "Sambhaashan" with Him. He posed for group photos and then after that, went

into the interview room. He came back with white cloth pieces and personally handed them over to each and every participant. As the Aarthi went on, Swami granted the two handed Abhayahastham to the devotees and they shouted Jaijaikars at the end of the Aarthi. Leaving everyone in this blissful frame of mind Swami retired to Yajur Mandir after blessing the prasadam to be distributed.Click here to view pictures of the programme. March 1, 2008 The first day of the new month had dawned and there was a huge gathering of devotees from Hyderabad who had come with the single pointed motive of inviting Swami to their city. Swami came for darshan at a time that was considered early by many as per the current "schedule". Swami came out at 3:15 pm and the hall was almost bereft of any students. Seeing all the Hyderabad devotees

seated, Swami asked them to sit in front on the raised marble enclosure where the Institute professors and teachers usually sit. He then turned and drove out. He returned in a very short while and then went for the darshan rounds. After completing it, He alighted in the portico and then went into the interview room. He took some members of the "visiting Hyderabad team", if we may call it so, for an interview.As the interview proceeded, word arrived that Swami had permitted the II PG students, the outgoing batch from the Parthi campus to put up their gratitude programme. So outside, all the students began to take their positions and waited eagerly for Swami to arrive. Swami completed the interviews and came out at about 5:15 pm. In spite of the long session inside, Swami was looking so fresh and cheery. As soon as He sat on the stage, He asked where Krishna was. A boy who was donning Krishna's role as part of the program came walking out majestically from behind.

Swami asked him to be seated in front of the marble block. Then He asked for Sudama(Krishna's friend). Sudama came forward and received a blessing on His head and then Swami asked for them to begin.The programme began with a visitor in heaven where he is introduced to the three major departments - the prayer and petition receiving department, the blessing packaging and processing department and the Gratitude receiving department. For a change, the third department is the MOST BUSY! And that is because gratitude has been pouring forth in plenty from the students of Swami! At this point, students carrying pictures of each boy with Swami on decorated hearts, came to Swami as Swami blessed them all, holding and viewing a few of them. The children then began to attempt to express the rich myriad feelings and emotions that were coursing through them. Many students spoke their heart out. Orators, poets and singers seem to be made this day by the minute as each student

used different methods and means to express the same sentiments of Love. The first song was a beautiful melody in Telugu which stated that the Love received from Swami in this stay was more than enough for births together and there remained no other desire in the boys' hearts. They offered gratitude to Swami for having guided them to take their first few steps in Life. Comparing Swami to the Gardener who has nourished them in His Nursery, they prayed that spread the fragrance of His Love to all who come in touch with them. The songs were very soulful and one could see tears streaming down many a face as they realized the apparently bitter truth of physical separation from someone who has been a Mother, Father, Teacher and Friend rolled into one. For Swami's students instead of the mother, father and Guru being God, God becomes the Father, Mother and Guru.There was a small dance sequence for a song composed by Swami Himself. The gist of the song was that

irrespective of what you do, whether you wear ochre robes, smear the holy ash, turn rosary beads or even visit Puttaparthi, the only way to get sanctified is by imbibing Love and compassion for all. The students recollected memories of how some boys had not eaten for 2 days as Swami was not speaking with them. Swami then told the teachers that they must be fed and then it came to be known that even Swami had not eaten for the past two days! There was not a single dry eye as this was narrated. If we just sit back and think of how Swami has beautifully moulded our lives, nay has become our very lives itself, there will not be a single moment when our eyes are dry. Life without God is full of tears. Life with God is also full of them - only that they are tears of Love and Gratitude this time. Why is it that these tears flow down when we see Swami? When there is someone so beautiful in our eyes, where is the place for the tears to remain! A student then narrated of how he, an

almost failure in academics, was resurrected by Swami. When his brother asked Swami in an interview, "Swami will this boy ever change?", Swami had emphatically replied, "When Valmiki himself transformed, will this boy not change? Tell him that Swami has called with Love, He will come to me!" As he narrated this, the boy broke down and Swami too appeared quite emotional as he blessed the boy. To highlight the experience of friendship with Swami, the Krishna-Sudama episode was enacted. Swami seemed to become nostalgic as the play was enacted and He was touched.As emphasised before, the gratitude programmes are events that can never be adequately captured in words. The beautiful and emotion filled evening concluded with a energy filled song addressing Swami as the heartbeat of each and every child. There was Love and grace and magic in the sweet evening air as the fragrance of gratitude wafted scenting everything in its wake. As the programme concluded, Swami came

walking down the stage to pose for pictures with His dear children. What ensued next was the loving exchange of words and feelings. After spending time with them, Swami blessed prasadam to be distributed to all. He then retired to Yajur Mandir.Click here to view pictures of the programme. Source: http://www.saistudents.org