Prasanthi Bulletin , Tuesday, October 16, 2007

October 17, 2007

Prasanthi Bulletin Index of earlier Bulletins Tuesday, October 16, 2007 The Yagnam was underway at the Poornachandra by

seven in the morning. The students left for Grama seva also at seven, since they were to cover some villages which were a bit far from Prasanthi Nilayam, in Bukkapatnam mandal. Every day during the Grama Seva, approximately 25,000 people are given food, and 5,000 sarees and dhoties are distributed. Bhagawan emerged from His residence at around 9.15 am, and made a round of Sai Kulwant Hall in His chair. After sitting onstage for a few minutes while the Vedam went on, Swami went into the interview room calling the Warden of the Anantapur Campus. A few minutes later, He sent word for the Vedam students to move to the Poornachandra. Ten minutes later, Swami also arrived on the Poornachandra stage. As Bhagawan sat onstage, the eldest pundit came up and prayed that He accept offerings from the chief priest and his wife. Swami acquiesced, and accordingly the "first couple" of the Yagnam came up to Swami, offered garlands and Arati. A few minutes later, at around 10.40

am, Bhagawan returned to His residence. In the evening also, Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall in His chair. After a round of the hall at 4.30 pm, He sat onstage while the Vedam chanting went on, calling up some students and interacting with them. One of them was Blessed with a chain, and another with a ring. At five o'clock, Bhagawan asked for Bhajans to begin. Once again, the students led the Bhajans as a group. At 5.10, Swami called up Prof Anil Kumar, the Bhajans stopped, and Prof Anil Kumar began speaking in Telugu. Narrating many experiences and reciting poems on Swami composed by illustrious Telugu pundits, Prof Anil Kumar held the audience spell-bound till 6 o'clock, when Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence. Monday, October 15, 2007 The seven-day Veda Purusha Sapthaha Jnana Yagna got underway at Prasanthi Nilayam this morning. The priests for the Yagna were seated in the Bhajan hall of

the Mandir and Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall to Vedic chants at 9.15 am. He proceeded to the Bhajan hall and presented clothes to all the priests. The priests sat next to Bhagawan and chanted for a while, then moved to the Poornachandra in procession preceded by Nadaswaram. In ten minutes' time, Swami asked the students also to move to the Poornachandra, and ten minutes later still, Swami arrived onstage there - it was just past ten o'clock. The priests brought up for Bhagawan's benediction the ceremonial material used to create the fire for the Yagna, and in a matter of minutes, held up the fire created by the rubbing of two pieces of Arani wood. The Yagnam then proceeded with Swami seated onstage. You can see detailed reports of the Yagnam in earlier issues

of Prasanthi Diary. At 10.30, the students moved out and proceeded for Grama Seva: today's Seva was in Puttaparthi village. A few minutes past eleven, Bhagawan moved backstage, and half an hour later returned to His residence. The evening session had speeches as is customary during the Yagnam. Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 5.20 pm, and moved to the stage after His darshan round in the car. The two speakers of the evening were introduced by the Vice-Chancellor Sri Gokak. Prof G. Venkataraman, former Vice-Chancellor of the Sai University, spoke first for twenty minutes on the symbolic meaning of the annihilation of Mahishasura. The Professor of Telugu at Prasanthi Nilayam campus, Sri Veerabhadraiah, was the next speaker. He narrated many Sai experiences in Telugu till Bhajans began at 6.30 pm. The bhajans were again "group bhajans": Swami had told the bhajan group yesterday that He approved of their group bhajan singing. After ten minutes of Bhajans,

Bhagawan accepted Arati and returned to His residence.

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