July 16th 3:00 pm - Music program by Kailash and group in Sai Kulwant Hall

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July 16th 3:00 pm - Music program by Kailash and group in Sai Kulwant Hall

 

 

 

Yesterday evening Kailash and group gave an energetic and entertaining performance of Sufi music and other bhajans.

 

The singer was introducing each song and dedicating them to Swami.

After every song he was asking the devotees to get more involved into

the performance. In fact once during the performance he stood up as he

was singing. He later said that he usually performs while standing.

 

 

He also talked about a miracle that happened early that morning. He

said he arrived late at night to Puttaparthi, so he was feeling sleepy

and slept through the morning darshan. When Swami came for morning

darshan He asked about the singer. When the singer was later informed

he told that. Swami makes me sleep in his lap and then enquires about

me ask if He doesn�t know. He also added that their journey to

Puttaparthi and all the arrangement fell into place so smoothly that it

can only be a miracle of our Divine Swami.

 

 

Then after he sang his last song he asked Swami�s permission

for one more song and Swami obliged and he was very happy saying Jai

Sai Ram loudly before singing the last song. To which the all the

devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall joined in with clapping.

 

 

Swami presented the singer with a golden chain and a ring

during the performance. And after the performance Swami gave clothes to

all members of the group.

Prasadam was distributed as Swami was talking to the performers, after Aarthi Swami left Sai Kulwant Hall.

 

 

 

 

July 16th 2:30 pm - Update on Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam

 

 

The morning of Ashaadi Ekadasi dawned with a dash of colour and a rush

of energy in the abode of highest peace. It had been announced

yesterday evening that the morning programme would begin at 9:00am . At

8:50am , Swami arrived from the Yajur Mandir. The usual Vedic chanting

started, but very soon it was replaced by songs that had been specially

composed for the occasion of Ashaadi Ekadasi. The song was full of

vigour and life and the audience began to clap rhythmically with it.

Specially dressed men stood in the centre blowing conches heralding

Swami's entry into the mandir premises. Swami moved on the chair and

went through the whole hall granting the joy of close darshan on this

auspicious morning. Well, any morning when one can have a beautiful

darshan of the Lord becomes holy and auspicious! Passing through the

students area, He blessed all the boys holding trays and celebrating

birthdays.

 

From

the portico as He came on to the stage, there were many VIPs and MLAs

seeking His blessings. He was smiles to everyone and was radiating joy

and peace as He came on stage. The stage had been decorated very

grandly with a beautiful idol of Vitthala adorning the centre. Swami

looked at the whole stage and moved to the gents side corner to light

the lamp. A blue gentle wax candle was given to Him and He slowly lit

all the six wicks in the lamp and a round of applause rented the hall.

The programme began with the arrival of the traditional Varakaris.

Every year, thousands of pilgrims walk all the way to the banks of the

mighty Chandrabhaga river, to the "mother's home"- Pandharpur and pray

to Vitthala. Now Puttaparthi has become the "mother's home" and dear

Sai- the Lord as the pilgrims conclude their walking pilgrimage in His

divine presence on the Ashaadi Ekadasi day. ("Co-incidentally"

Pandharpur translates into English as 'white field' !!) The dance was

the folk type and was marked by the energy and quick movements

demanding lot of stamina. Before the dance actually began, a garland of

Tulsi leaves and dry fruits were brought up to Swami for blessings. The

dance consisted of many human pyramid formations. Each pyramid that

came up was more intricate and tougher to form than the previous one.

There was a formation of steps and the lotus formation too. The dance

received a lot of appreciation and it was after the dance that the main

programme of the morning began.

 

The

programme was by the Bal Vikas children from the Pune district of

Maharashtra. Entitled "Adhyatma Ramayanam", it was based on the inner

significance of the Ramayana as Swami has said it. The actors playing

the part of Rama, Lakshmana, Sugriva and the squirrel who helps a

'tiny' bit in bridge building, came up to the stage offering the card

and flowers to Swami. Swami blessed them and then the enactment began.

It began with all the great poets who had written the Ramayana - sage

Valmiki, Kamban, Tulsidas, Thyagaraja- arriving to the present where a

Bal Vikas teacher is discussing the Ramayana with the children. The

whole story of Ramayana was weaved by these great saints and landmark

events were depicted on stage. The narration starts with a joyous dance

at the prospect of Rama being made the king of Ayodhya. Then the quenn

Kaikeyi, under the influence of her maid Manthara tells Dasharatha to

banish Rama into exile for 14 years and asks for the coronation of

Bharatha. Everyone is shocked and worried- all except Rama, the epitome

of calm and composure. Sita and Lakshmana follow Rama to the forest. In

the forest, the episode of Sita's kidnapping by Ravana was depicted

after she is enticed by her desire for a golden deer. It was brought

out powerfully that in life too, once Kama (desire) overpowers, Rama

(God) leaves! Sita pining for the golden deer, ends up getting the

golden city (lanka) itself, but ends up losing Rama. She is sad and

despondent. Stated another way, as long as the Rama tattwa (spirit of

Godliness) exists, Ravana tattwa(the negatives) cannot enter. The

special smoke and lighting effects as Ravan tries to cross the famous

"Lakshman Rekha" were good.

 

The

Eagle king Jatayu fights valiantly to help Sita and in the process

loses his own life. That act of bravery and selfless love wins Jatayu

the supreme merit of having his last rites performed by Rama himself -

a merit that even the great Dasharatha was not fortunate enough to get,

though he was Rama's father. Rama and Lakshmana then meet Hanuman and

Sugriva. Vali, who stands for body attachment, is slain by Rama and

then the search for Sita begins. Hanuman meets mother Sita after

crossing the Indian ocean . Hanuman's flight across the ocean was also

creatively depicted. There he gives courage to Sita and strikes terror

in the hearts of all the demons at Lanka. He returns triumphantly and

very soon the bridge to Lanka is built. The episode of the squirrel

contributing a few grains of sand to the bridge was also shown. The

special message was very clear. The world judges a person by the fruits

or the results the person produces. God judges not and He sees only the

efforts made. Efforts not results please Him! The drama concluded with

the coronation of Rama and a grand dance to celebrate that. The inner

significance as stated by Swami and brought out by the drama was this:

 

Rama

is the Indweller in every Body. He is the Atma-Rama, the Rama (Source

of Bliss) in every individual. His blessings upsurging from that inner

Spring can confer Peace and Bliss. He is the very embodiment of Dharma

of all the Codes of Morality that hold mankind together in Love and

Unity. The Ramayana, the Rama story, teaches two lessons: the value of

detachment and the need to become aware of the Divine in every being.

Faith in God and detachment from objective pursuits are the keys for

human liberation. Give up sense-objects; you gain Rama. Sita gave up

the luxuries of Ayodhya and so, she could be with Rama, in the period

of 'exile'. When she cast longing eyes on the golden deer and craved

for it, she lost the Presence of Rama. Renunciation leads to joy;

attachment brings about grief. Be in the world, but, not of it. The

brothers, comrades, companions and collaborators of Rama are each of

them examples of persons saturated with Dharma. Dasaratha is the

representative of the merely physical, with the ten senses. The three

Gunas - Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas - are the three Queens . The Four

Goals of Life - the Purusharthas - are the four Sons. Lakshmana is the

Intellect; Sugriva is Viveka or Discrimination. Vali is Despair.

Hanuman is the embodiment of Courage. The Bridge is built over the

Ocean of Delusion . The three Rakshasa chiefs are personifications of

the Rajasic (Ravana), Thamasic (Kumbhakarna) and the Sathwic qualities

(Vibhishana). Sita is Brahmajnana or the Awareness of the Universal

Absolute, which the Individual must acquire and regain undergoing

travails in the crucible of Life. Make your heart pure and strong,

contemplating the grandeur of the Ramayana. Be established in the faith

that Rama is the Reality of your existence.

 

As

the drama concluded, all the participants came into a final mass

gathering. 143 girls and 81 boys fromed a huge mass of children in all

colours and forms! Swami was very happy and He blessed all of them. The

Ramayana is such a powerful story that one does not need a fantastic

script or great acting skills. The story simply narrated in itself

inspires and brings feelings of devotion and love from within. It is

small wonder then that He holds the Ramayana so dear to His heart.

Swami told all the children that He would come down for group photos.

The sight of so many children sitting around Him must be seen to be

believed! He called the little squirrel and spoke to 'it' asking for

the name and place! Even in this yuga, the Lord seemed to be

appreciating the efforts rather than the size of the role played! Swami

created a chain for the lad who played the role of Rama in the forest.

He then told all the children to come and sit close so that good

pictures could be taken. Then He moved to the front where He called of

for Rama, Lakshmana and Sita and posed for pictures with them. Then He

asked one of the photographers, "Call Pattabhi Rama also." So the

crowned and decked Rama, Lakshmana and Sita too came and were blessed

with photos with Him. After the photo session, Swami said that He would

stand up and bless all. As Swami rose, there was an uproarious

applause. Swami beamed and blessed all. Then slowly, He walked up the

way on to the stage.

 

As

He sat on the stage, He called the main organiser and spoke to him

about the children - how they had practiced, how they had put in the

efforts and how many days it had taken. Swami was told that everything

had come out so wonderfully sheerly through His Grace alone. Swami

spoke quite a lot and it was very evident that He was very happy. He

called Sita onstage and asked,"Are you a boy?" The lad blushed and the

redness on his face travelled very soon to His face too! He asked his

name and patted him on the cheeks. He blessed prasadam to be

distributed and in fact He himself distributed it to some of the actors

who were nearby. Then Aarthi was taken and Swami, (after a very long

period of time now), raised both His hands in loving benediction to all

the children. In between all this, He also granted interviews to some

people and the artistes of yesterday's programme. Going back to the

car, it was about 11:10am when He finally retired for the morning.

In the afternoon, Swami arrived at about 4:30pm . He moved

through the ladies side on the chair and then cut through the central

stage area and went straight to the interview room. At 5:00pm , He came

out and sat on the stage. After a short while of Veda chanting, He

raised His hand to signal it to a stop A musical dance ballet entitled,

"Tripura Rahasyam" was to be presented in the divine presence by the

Balvikas students and Gurus of the Mumbai organisation. The lead actors

and dancers came on stage and presented Swmai with the card and flowers

and sought His blessings for the success of the programme. Swami

blessed them and the programme began.

 

The

Tripura Rahasyam literally means, "beyond the trinity". It is the

greatest among the works of Sri Ramana Maharshi expounding the

traditional teachings where a steadily self aware Sadguru imparts

knowledge about inner perception, enabling the disciple to share the

same state. For his part, however, the disciple must be eager, have

full zeal to know and have unqualified faith in the Guru's guidance.

The programme began with a dance for the veneration of Goddess Sri

Tripura. The goddess, regarded as the pure unsullied Intelligence

manifests in ten forms then. Each form was welcomed with the

appropriate musical chants. Covering the entire aspects of the manifest

and unmanifest, the ten forms are very interesting, atleast from an

academic point of view. They are - Dhoomaavathi, Tripura Sundari,

Bhuvaneshwari, Tripura Bhairavi, Maha Kali, Tara, Matangi,

Chinnamastha, Bagala Mukhi and Kamalathmika.

This knowledge had been first imparted by Lord Dattatreya,

considered as the ultimate Guru, an embodiment of the holy trinity, to

the great sage Parashurama. The great knowledge was imparted through

parables. The story of princess Hemalekha's sound advice to the prince

Hemachuda was depicted very creatively. The fickle mind, thoughts, the

senses and the vices were all "humanized" and built up as a single

family with the relationships between them subtly hinting towards the

actual relationships existing as they arise in humans. There are heavy

conflicts within the family and this ruins the intellect and ultimately

makes one ignorant. And ignorance is the root cause of all the problems

- far from being the bliss that it is so often mis-associated with in a

common proverb! Another story of the brothers Rukmangada and Hemangada

was also depicted. They use widom to save themselves from being

devoured by the demon of doubt.

 

By

way of these parables in dreams and visions, Lord Dattatreya resolves

the doubts of Manav- the representative of humanity. Everything begins

with Virakti(disgust of material possessions) leadinf to Vairagya

(detachment) which finally leads to Viveka (discrimination). But for

all this, the Grace of the Lord is paramount. The programme concluded

with the manifestation of the Devi in all her glory and grandeur on the

chariot when all the sages viz. Sanaka, Vasishta, Pulasthya, Pulaha,

Kratu, Bhrigu, Athri, Angiras, Prachetasa, Narada, Cyavana, Vamadeva,

Vishwamitra, Goutama, Sukra, Parashara, Vyasa, Kanva, Kashyapa, Daksha,

Sumanthu, Shanka, Likhita and Devala, and the Gods of the trinity pray

for her! As the final song began, Swami called the protagonist and

created a golden chain for him. In the meantime, everyone came into the

final formation and Swami said that He would move down and bless the

children with group photos.

 

Swami

went down and like bees swarming around sources of nectar, the children

came all over Swami. Swami was so happy! He went through the children

and posed for pictures twice or thrice. He spoke to many and took

letters from many more. He asked the names from some of the children.

He saw 'Hemalakha' and asked 'her', "Where is your husband?", much to

the merriment of everyone around. Once again, for the second time

today, He rose from the chair and holding on to the children, posed for

group photos. He moved back on to the stage and as He sat there, He

kept selecting diads to come up and pose with Him. He picked similarly

costumed people to come up and it was such a beautiful photo shootout!

A "demon" told Swami that He wanted to go on stage to pose with Him.

Swami told him to put on his crown and then come on the stage! After a

very joy filled and eventful session, Swami asked for bhajans to begin.

After a while He went into the interview room. Soon, He came out,

received Aarthi and retired to Yajur Mandir at about 6:40 pm .

 

Written by Eswarachandra Vidyasagar, Sent by Saikrishna Bharadwaj

 

Click here to see more pictures from Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations

 

 

 

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