Darshan News: June 26 and 27, 2008 - Sai Students

July 1, 2008

June 26 and 27, 2008 The holy Thursday was to play host to the Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana. In the morning, the laksharchana by the devotees gathered in Sai Kulwant began at 7.30 am, with the chant of the Sri Sathya Sai Ashtothara Sahasranamavali. Bhagawan arrived at 8.40 am while the chanting was in progress and sat onstage for a while. It was such a wonderful feeling that all present at the moment in the hall would have experienced- to sing Swami's names in Swami's presence! He then moved to the Bhajan Hall and then to the interview room. The chanting concluded at 9.10 am and Bhagawan arrived in the Bhajan Hall for the Bhajans to start. He moved to the interview room for a few minutes, then returned to the Bhajan Hall, sat there for half an hour and accepted Arati at 10 am before returning to His residence.

Swami returned in His chair to Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.10 pm and moved to the interview room. After a round of the Bhajan Hall and the verandah after a few minutes, He came onstage at 4.45 pm and sat there for 45 minutes while the Vedam went on. As has become the norm, as soon as He comes on stage the priests offer to Him a garland of lotuses and also get blessed flowers to be offered to the diety for the day. The vedam went on and the priests also kept chanting the shlokas from the Sundara Kanda. As Swami sat listening, He called a few students and spoke to them, smiling and cracking jokes. When Swami cracks jokes, it is such a beautiful sight. The smile on His face broadens till it seems to cover the entire face. Then the lips open and a whole hearted laughter gently rocks His body. Its such a beautiful sight to see that any onlooker cannot help but smile and laugh out on his/her own too. A great devotee had termed this beauty of Swami as

omni-felicity. At the same time, He felicitates so many. Everyone sitting feels that a wave of His hand or a smile from His lips is for them too! Swami then called more students and collected letters from them. Today He seemd so intent on the Veda chanting going on for quite some time. It was almost 5:15 pm when He asked for the speaker to be introduced. The speech for the day was on the Sundara Kandam by Dr. Mylavaram Srinivasa Rao garu from Guntur in Telugu. The entire Kanda was on the glory of Hanuman. Hanuman is the champion is all fields related to the body, mind or soul. The speaker highlighted these wonderful qualities of Hanuman in a very poetic way. The Sundara Kanda is one which is a repository of so many secrets and so many beautiful episodes - thus the name. The talk was a delight for the Telugu understanding audience - for the others, it was quite musical to hear to too! And so he held the audience spell-bound for 90 minutes. After

that, lost in the glory of Hanuman's love and devotion to Rama, the speaker went on. Seeing the audience getting restless, Swami gently reminded the speaker of the time! Swami's communication skills are something that all must emulate. He says, "Do not speak the unpleasant Truth." But He always speaks the Truth and the way He speaks is so wonderful that nobody is ever hurt. His words are the sweetest and most wonderful. The speaker concluded and Swami immediately received aarthi and retired for the evening. The concluding Laksharchana was with the chanting of Sri Lalitha Sahasranama on Friday, the 27th of June. All the devotees chanted "Aum Sri Matre Namah" as the Sahasranama went on from 7.30 to 8.25 am. The scholar who chanted the Sahasranama spoke a few words extolling the compassion of the mother, then concluded the morning session for the Bhajans to begin as usual at 9 o'clock in the Bhajan Hall. The afternoon session began with

Bhagawan arriving in His chair at 3.45 pm. Moving to the interview room after a few minutes onstage, He emerged at 4.15 and moving to the verandah. All the priests were called to the mandir portico. Swami wanted to distribute special clothes for the priests to wear for tomorrow's function. As they sat in two rows, Swami moved gracefully amidst them handing over each of them a yellow bundle and gifting each with the opportunity to touch or kiss His feet. Then, telling the priests to proceed with the Poojas as usual, He came onstage and sat for a while with the Vedam chanting going on. Out of the blue, Swami called up two American brothers from among the students to chant Vedam onstage. They were taken aback but with His touch, regained composure and chanted the Vedas with aplomb. Swami told everyone to stop chanting and listen to them as they went about flawlessly! The Mother's heart sweeled with pride as the amazed priests watched the lads in

admiration. Swami then blessed them and sent them back. He asked for Sathya, an Iranian boy from the Primary School to be brought to mandir! Quick messages were passed and the little boy of 9 years was picked up from the playground, quickly washed up and brought to the mandir! As He came, Swami asked him whether he could chant vedas. That tiny child too chanted the MedhaSuktam with as much proficiency as anyone else. When, at Swami's behest, the boy told on mike that he was a 9 year old from Iran, there was loud applause. Swami was very happy and He told him to sit in the front. The programme of the speech commenced at five o'clock. The Yuddha Kandam was narrated with gusto in Telugu by Sahasravadhani Garikipati Narasimha Rao garu till six o'clock. He spoke with a speed that had been hitherto unknown during the saptaha. In between the speech however, Swami said with a smile, "He is speaking so fast." Oratorially, the speaker was a marvel. But

Swami always has in mind every devotee in the hall - and many cannot follow such rapid Telugu. Credit to the speaker for translating parts of his speech into English too. At one point, trying to explain a point in greater detail, the speaker spoke of the India - Pakistan cricket matches. Swami, with a mischievous glimmer in His eye asked the Iranian Sathya, "Will you go to Pakistan?" The boy did not understand at first, but on getting the import, nodded his head vigourously to say no. The speech concluded and Swami asked for the bhajans to be sung. Prasadam was blessed to be distributed to all. Swami asked for aarthi and today it was amazing sight About 5-6 Aarthis were waved in unison- they also by coincidence seemed to be in perfect sync with each other. A head priest also came very close top Swami and performed Aarthi as he would to the idols! Swami smiled beautifully at him and told him to be at a little distance! Then He retired for the

evening.

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