7th Sep. LATEST PHOTOS & UPDATES from Prasanthi Nilayam - Sathya Sai Baba darshan news

September 7, 2008

Saturday, September 6, 2008 Today morning Swami came shortly after 10.00 a.m. Swami took a full darshan round & after half hour Swami accepted the aarthi & returned back to His abode. In the evening Swami stayed on the stage area after taking His darshan round. A large number of devotees (almost two thousand) from Andhra Pradesh's Medak district had assembled in front rows of Sai Kulwant hall. The devotees had brought with them sewing machines, wet grinders etc. for distribution to the needy in the presence of Sai Avatar. Swami gracefully blessed the organizer and granted them permission to distribute the items, there was also a brief speech by the organizers about the seva activities of the Medak District. Swami then asked Prof. Anil Kumar to speak Prof. Anil Kumar started his speech in Telugu but Swami asked him to speak in English. Prof. Anil Kumar narrated the incidents from Swami's school days in Medak dist & he

asked all devotees to embrace Swami's teachings. Prof. Anil Kumar concluded his speech at 5.50 p.m. and thereafter the Musical program by bal vikas students commenced. Today's evening Bhajan were performed by devotees from Medak dist. After accepting the Aarti at 6.35 p.m. Swami returned back to Yajur Mandir.

Also read details of Ganesha immersion with photosTeachers day was welcomed by most of the residents of the Sri Sathya Sai institutions like one would do for the New Year's Day - by keeping awake through the night! Swami had notified everyone that Ganesha immersion - an event of great significance in the Indian annual calendar would take place on the 5th. The act of taking the clay idol of Lord Ganesha to the nearby water body and immersing Him in it has a great spiritual meaning. The clay idol is symbolic of the human body composed of the five elements. It should spend time on the earth in a manner that it is worshipped! After its worshippable stay on the earth, it finally merges back with the elements. Though the idol is gone, Ganesha lives forever! And that story is the same for the true being, the soul, too. It is in this spirit and fervour that the immersion is celebrated all over India, more so in Puttaparthi. And everyone is fully

immersed in making either chariots or palanquins for carrying the sweet elephant Lord Ganesha! scroll down to read more details...

At about 3:00pm, all the chariots from the school and Institute and the various institutions were all lined up along the main road at Parthi and what an impressive sight it was! The procession began to the singing of bhajans, enthusiastic rhythms of the chants and the musical beats of the drums. The beeline towards the mandir was ready and it began. As the chariots entered the mandir, they were led to the bays that had been earmarked for them to park. Soon the entire array was ready and what an impressive sight it was! The mandir resembled a cosmic battlefield where the Lord pervaded all the chariots! To add to this was a contingent of little Ganeshas from primary school waiting in front of Swami's residence along with the nadaswaram and the Veda chanting contingents. There was a peacock chariot and another one that had the Golden eagle. A palanquin and a chariot had been inspired by Adi Sesha, the serpent which forms the bed for Lord Vishnu, and

they were designed like that divine snake. There was a "Harry Potter" cup inside which Ganesha sttod as the prize, a huge Hibiscus flower had Ganesha as its centre, a castle and a mountain added to the variety. An elephant with Ganesha seated atop in the howdah also paraded in the procession. A "navaratna ring" chariot too was present and there were chariots from the indoor stadium and from the Sri Sathya Sai airport too.

scroll down to read more...

It was about 4:00pm when Swami came out for the darshan rounds. A little "Ganesha" immediately moved forward to his "father" and offered a rose and that instantly brought a sweet smile on Swami's face. He asked for all the procession to begin as He sat watching from in front of Yajur Mandir. Representative members of each group that had gathered there went forward to Swami and offered flowers before embarking and joining the procession. The procession entered the Kulwant hall and so did Swami, behind it. He slowly went past each and every chariot and as He went by, there were people holding out fruits and various articles of worship. Very patiently, Swami blessed each of them and looked at the chariots. He went for a full round looking at and appreciating the creativity and devotion embodied in the vehicles for Lord Ganesha. He then came and sat on the stage. As part of the programme, a dance on the glories of Ganesha had been organised. The

children from the school did a wonderful job and there was a loud round of applause for all of them. As they concluded, Swami called the warden and blessed everyone to go around for the pradakshina.

There is a very famous story of how Ganesha went around Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati and claimed that He had circumambulated the entire universe. When questioned, He simply replied that his parents were the Universe for Him. In that similar manner, all the students and staff went around Swami and the mandir. After that, each chariot was brought up in front of Swami as the announcers introduced them and explained the significance of their vehicle. scroll down to read more...

The chariots slowly made their way to their final destination as Swami very lovingly blessed each and every chariot with Abhayahastha. Strains of "Jai bolo Sai Baba Ki" and "Jai Bolo Ganesh Maharaj Ki" filled the air. The wholoe atmosphere was one of enthusiasm and energy. Swami sat viewing till the entire procession moved past Him. As it left the mandir, Swami went into the bhajan hall. There He interacted very lovingly with one of the students for quite some time and materialized a gold chain for him. Spending time speaking to him, Swami then asked for bhajans to begin. Bhajans went on for about 40 minutes after which Swami received Aarthi and left to Yajur Mandir. Again there too were students who offered roses of gratitude to Him. Swami accepted them and blessed the students and retired for the day. Photo update from Prasanthi Nilayam below: Click on the thumbnail to see large size

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