The End of a Saga

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vidyullekha < vidyullekha

May 23, 2007 3:02 PM

The End of a Saga

 

Dear Brothers,

 

Sairam.

 

Yesterday around 8.00 am Sai Geeta had a fall in her 'bathtub' which

is just in front of School Hostel to the right side of the

planetarium - her palace being on the left side. All along she lived

in front of the College Hostel and her last moments were destined to

be in front of the School Hostel!!

 

She did not appear visibly hurt - but there was some possibility of a

fracture in her leg - which we are unsure of. She lay there moaning

with her head resting on the edge of the cement pool. We saw her and

felt a feeling of helplessness. Of course there were all the

caretakers and others over there....but you know, if it is a human

being - its so simple....two of us can carry the patient to the

hospital. But with an elephant, it's a different ball game

altogether. Arrangements were being made to fetch expert vet doctors.

 

Meanwhile, Bhagawan arrived at around 5.00 pm in Kulwant Hall to

preside over the second day celebrations of Buddha Purnima in

Prasanthi Nilayam. We had Japanese drums, dances, choir and 'hold

your breath!!' - a Yajnam performed as per Japanese

traditions.....with the Yajna Kundam, Mantras and all the

paraphernalia that goes with it .....Swami sat through all that.

Least did we realize that on the other side at the Sai Geeta shed,

dear Geeta was breathing her last and merging into the infinite.

Around 6.00 pm she became one with our Lord. Bhajans were on at that

time and Prasadam distribution was going on in the Mandir.

 

Overnight a huge pit was dug by an earth mover in the centre of the

shed. This morning, people were rushing into the Sai Geeta premises

to pay their homage to this great devotee of our Lord. In fact the

road was fully crowded. A white cloth covered the sacred body of

Geeta. Around 8.00 AM, Swami arrived at the spot. The cloth was

unveiled. Sri Pedda Reddy Garu - the caretaker of the elephant all

through its life, rushed to Swami weeping profusely. Swami was moved.

Both shared their feelings. Minutes later, Swami came out of the car

in His chair and moved closer to Geeta. He spread Vibhuti all over

her head and trunk and kept moving His hand over her....what great

fortune to be fondled by the Lord!! After a few minutes, Swami spoke

to Sri Pedda Reddy Garu, gave him some instructions and left to the

Mandir.

 

At 9.30 pm preparations began to shift Sai Geeta from the place where

she had fallen to her would-be Samadhi - the beautiful palace, which

many called Geeta Mahal. A crane had been driven in with a number of

L & T workers and staff. They maneuvered the entire procedure guiding

the crane and the earth mover to carefully fasten the elephant's body

and move her out.

 

It was around 10.30 AM when they finally managed to move her closer

to the other side. By then Swami arrived in the Porte and sat

watching the further movements. It was a complex task to maneuver the

crane inside the shelter and position the body into the pit

appropriately. It took another two hours to accomplish the same.

 

Swami sat all along watching silently from the car.

 

Finally around 12.30 Geeta's body rested peacefully in it's eternal

home. There were Jai Jai Kar's all around. Hats off to the driver of

the crane and the coordinators who accomplished a marvelous feat.

 

Once the crane moved out, Swami's Porte moved in. The Lord was in

tears responding to the great devotion of Sai Geeta. A few minutes

passed by. Huge garlands and rice grains were showered by everybody

on Geeta. The Porte then moved out and Swami went back to Yajur

Mandiram.

 

All along, Bhajans and Vedam were going on. People flocked in to have

a glimpse of Geeta and redeem their lives. Thus ends the saga of a

great devotee - the end of yet another Divine Love Story!!

 

With All our Prema,

 

Sri Sathya Sai Students.