Prasanthi Update - August 22nd

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Sent by Dear Sai Brother Vidayasagar from Prasanthi Nilayam :

 

Devotees seem to be coming in huge numbers to Parthi nowadays. Its not that devotees were less in numbers anytime before. Its just that, now they come as groups. The concept of Unity seems to be getting stronger with each passing day. For instance a 2500 strong contingent had arrived from Vishakapatnam and had also been permitted to put up their programme today evening. From His side, Swami too encourages group sadhana. Even physically, He seems to give more attention when the devotees are in groups. He speaks to the group, gives them opportunities to present their programmes and distributes gifts of grace. Very subtly but surely the message sent across is this, "Unity is strength; Unity is divinity."Swami arrived at about 4:10pm itself. But He took a straight path to the interview room.. The stage was all set for the drama to begin. The actual drama began, however, at only 5:15pm. But in the hour that passed by, any absorbed

observer could not have helped notice two other dramas going on- one of bhakti and the other of Karma. The hall was packed and all the devotees with yellow scarves sat in prayer and devotion waiting for the Lord to come. It was a hot evening. As the popular fact about Puttaparthi goes, "There are three seasons in Parthi - hot, hotter and hottest!" So though the wrath of the summer has passed by, it is still hot at times in Parthi, with the humidity too being high as it is the monsoon season.

 

Giving relief to the Bhakti of the devotees was the Karma of the selfless sevadal volunteers as they went about relentlessly supplying ambrosial and cool drinking water to them. This silent Yajna went on continuously as many a parched throat was slaked with nectarine water. It was symbolic of all that Swami has achieved through His mammoth projects - injecting into His people the enthusiasm for energetic service; the softness of heart to be touched by suffering of any kind.Swami came out at about 5:05pm and after listening to the Vedic chants for a while, asked them to stop and beckoned the Vishakapatnam group begin the programme. The office bearers first came and symbolically offered the programme unto His feet. A silver lamp made its way up the stage and soon it was lit by the Lord. This is another practise that is gaining ground especially among the different districts of Andhra Pradesh. A lamp is lit by

Swami at Parthi and its "light" is taken back to the respective places signifying Swami's entry into their homelands. And so it was only after the lamp was lit and Padukas blessed that the actual participants moved upto Swami and offered flowers. Soon the drama began.The drama opened with Karnam Subamma calling out to Krishna and little Sathya responding to her asking her why she had called. He reminds her of the wonderful Brindavan days that He has come to recreate - those days of leelas when He as Krishna had danced with the gopikas. Then too, like now, He was the favourite of everyone. All wanted to spend time with Him and no one felt their day complete without Him being a part of it. As a tiny tot, Krishna showed Mother Yasoda that the entire Universe is in Him - the same boon that the little Sathya bestowed on Subamma.

 

The episode of Krishna merrily dancing on the hoods of the vicious serpent Kaliya as He subdued him was wonderfully depicted and the episode of Swami swallowing the poisoned vadas and in turn consuming the hatred and anger of people who tried to poison Him was brought up as a comparision. Krishna also performs the miracle of lifting the mountain Govardhana to spare the people of Gokulam, who had placed all their faith in Him, from the ire of Lord Indra. When Subamma asks little Sathya whether He would do a similar thing even now, He replies, "Then I lifted only one mountain- symbolic of achieving the impossible. This time I shall do many more." He then allows her a sneak peek into the future where He accomplishes "lifting the Govardhanas" of health care, educare and socio-care. Throughout the drama, Swami was very moved and it appeared as if He was reminded of the Love that exists between Him and Subamma and that which exists

between Him and Yashoda, if there is any difference between them that is! He seemed overwhelmed on many occasions and here and there kept nostalgically remembering the episodes and even told some of them to the people by His side. The crowning moment for the drama came towards the end. Both Subamma and Yashoda express their desires to see their dear little ones gently swinging in a jhoola. At this point both Krishna and Sathya came to Swami and pleaded with Him to fulfill that desire! Swami agreed and as the final dance was on itself, Swami moved down from the stage and near the big swing that had been placed in the centre of the performance area. The dancers went about merrily dancing till Swami told them to stop and pose with Him by His side. And so all the children came crowding around. Slowly all the people associated with the dram also came to Swami They surrounded Him from all sides as the flashes were fired and tapes rolled. Most

of the children began to break down into uncontrollable tears. There were expressions of Love and uncontrollable joy. The urge to fall full at His feet was also uncontrollable. In short, everything about the final formation and photo session was uncontrollable!

 

And thats how it is with the Lord - everything beyond limits and boundaries! Swami created two gold chains simultaneously and gifted one to Krishna and the other to Subamma. He was surrounded on all sides by the children and children seemed to be everywhere. And everyone seemed to have only one objective- to fall at His feet. Soon, Swami waded out of the surging waves of children and as He moved towards the stage, He asked for sarees and white safari pieces. He gifted two beautiful sarees to Yashoda and Subamma. He also asked for sarees to be distributed to all the other children. For the boys side, He gave T-shirts to all the kids and to the elder boys, He gifted Safari pieces. In the meanwhile, He also sent word for Krishna and Sathya. He told Krishna, "Call your mother also." The innocent 'Krishna' instead of calling 'Yasoda', called her mother from the audience. And the mother of Sathya also came to Swami in the same fashion. Swami

posed for a picture with them. The mothers broke down and almost lay at His feet. Swami told them to rise and blessed them. Swami continued the giving with pens that were also brought out. To many of the children, He Himself distributed. After that was done, Swami went back on stage. Everyone were so happy and Swami was the only reason for that. Swami said that the drama was very well scripted and presented. After a short visit to the interview room, Swami received Aarthi and retired for the evening.

 

Om Sai Ram