14 JANUARY DARSHAN UPDATE

[Guest guest]

Om Sairam dear Sai Family, With Swami’s blessings all is well here.. and Puttaparthi and her inhabitants are enjoying this year which is fully charged and there is no day without any surprises from Swami... The annual Sports and Cultural programme by the students of Sathya Sai University was just fantastic and just when all of us who witnessed the games thought, can there be any other programme fantastic than this? there came another drama by the students of Prasanthi Nilayam campus on 12th January, who did a fantastic play potraying the Sundara kanda, the holy episode of Hanuman... Swami witnessed the play by sitting opposite to the dias... The very next day was a drama by the students of White field campus who did yet another masterpiece on the life of Saint Kabir whose poems are full of wisdom and even to this day are sung with lot of devotion.. The characters were so well made that it made every one cry.. esp the Qawalis in the drama was fantastic.. I was watching the play standing in the lane way next to Kulwanth hall and here came one muslim woman her face covered in BURKHA, probably she was going towards the shopping center in the ashram and thought of stopping by to see Swami. She kept on standing and in no time she was in tears seeing the play. She was telling to her friend in urdu, did I not tell you... Sathya Sai Baba encourages all religions and He doesnt belong to any religion.. 14 January 2008 (morning) Our most compassionate Lord, made every one’s heart melt this morning.. We all were waiting for darshan and it was a long wait.. As the clock struck nine, the bhajans started.. All eyes were staring at the entrance, waiting for a signal for our Lord’s arrival. It was 9:30 and just when I thought the Arathi will be given, here came big group of Old folks.. the ladies, all above 60 some of Swami’s(body’s) age entered through the Main gate right across the dias and another large group of Old Men entered into the Kulwanth hall through the students gate.. The ladies were allowed to sit next to the path right across the dias and gents next to the students.. many were wondering as who they were. I enquired a old grand father as who he was and he said he belonged to a village next to Puttaparthi and they were all here because, Swami wants to distribute blankets to them... . By thier appearances every one looked very poor. Many of them of Swami’s age.. There were few familiar faces from the village.. This part of the year is the coldest, and Swami knew it very well.. Mean while a word was sent from Swami’s residence, to continue the bhajans and all the chosen souls were asked to sit in such way that a small path is made in between the lines.. So it was clear that Swami was expected any moment and would distribute the blankets.. It was exactly 10 am and all the sevadals were in rapt attention at Swami’s residence signalling the arrival of our most beloved Lord.. Swami preferred to come in the Mobile throne.. No words could describe the happiness of the special guests. Who will be seeing Swami in close angles,after a long time, that Swami whom they felt has forgotten them.... that Swami whom they played with, spoke with and above all the One whom they kept very close to their hearts... Swami slowly came into the hall, behind Swami were number of sevadals carrying blankets waiting for Swami’s signal.. Swami first stopped by the ladies’ side, the platform was set for Swami, Swami asked the boys to wheel Him in between the lines making it clear that He personally wanted to distribute the blankets...There were about 300 old women and Swami went almost to the middle of Sai Kulwanth Hall and after half hour of distribution, it was the mens’ turn.. Swami with His most beautiful smile came towards the gents side...gave blankets to each and every one.. To some He gave a very familiar smile as if Swami was saying.. ”Hello.. (meeting) after a long time”.. to some Swami was seen enquiring ”Bagunnava” (How are you?) and couple times it was the other way round, they were enquiring Swami’s well being.. after all they all are from the same village and grew with Swami.. It was a very sweet conversation.. many were touching His feet, some touching His hands and others watching this divine romance were in ecstasy..... Swami went on to the dias and later moved in the bhajan Hall. Swami then came out of the bhajan hall and was seen speaking to the old man whom many of us would have seen, ringing the huge bell during arathi. Swami then blessed him with a blanket...The Bhajans lasted for nearly two hours as He accepted Arati at 10.50. While returning to His residence, Swami stopped near the Primary School students in His car for nearly 10 minutes. Thus ended a beautiful morning which was like a REUNION for the elderly.. One elderly man was saying, I thought Swami forgot me and it has been almost 20 years since he hasn’t come to darshan but now he is confident that Swami has kept him in HIS hearts. With a child like smile, with no teeth around he said, now I can die peacefully and happily.. such was the happiness Swami filled into these old hearts.... 14 January 2008 (afternoon darshan) Swami came at 5:10 pm for darshan ....After successive plays by the boys it was the turn of The Anantapur campus girls to steal the show... they presented a beautiful musical programme in the evening. The Anantapur campus very rarely gets such a chance, and once the chance is given, they see that Swami never forgets their programme.. The audience witnessed one such memorable programme, with beautiful renderings which was a mix of classical and devotional songs with nice commentary in between the songs...for fifty minutes, Especially the second song Ravamma Mahalakshmi was so sweet and rhythmically sung that Swami was seen tapping His feet and hands. Swami was very impressed with the performance that during the programme He was saying words of appreciation....Swami then waved His right hand and after three small circular motions, there came a beautiful golden chain and Swami signalled the lead singer to come on to the dias and Swami gifted the DIVINE gift straight from the ”Divine Factory” to her for which she was in tears... Swami then asked them to continue with bhajans..after about 20 minutes Swami asked the regular bhajan singers to start bhajans who started from the bhajan hall while Swami was immersed in the ocean of music, on the dias our hearts filled with joy singing the glory of the Lord,in His immediate presence... After fifteen minutes of their Bhajans, Bhagawan asked for Prof Anil Kumar. The ever vigilant Professor, announced amidst cheers that the Valedictory function of the Sports Festival would be held tomorrow at 8am in Sai Kulwanth hall and all the all round performers will be given trophies by Swami.. Swami again called Prof. Anil Kumar and asked to announce that Swami is going to give a divine discourse tomorrow ... which was received with loud applauds from the devotees assembled in Sai Kulwanth hall... Swami then accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 6.40 pm. Thus ended yet another beautiful day in my Prasanthi diary.. a day full of Sai Love... Thank you dear Lord.. Thank You very much... Reporting from Kaliyuga’s Mathura, Puttaparthi R.Satish Naik...

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