Onam in Prasanthi Nilayam - A Report... by SSSBPT.ORG

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ONAM IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM

 

Onam is definitely the most joyous and precious occasion for the

Keralites irrespective of caste, creed or religion. The festival

marks the annual visit of Mahabali to his erstwhile kingdom,

reminding the reign of equality and justice.

 

It is customary for all Keralites to be at their ancestral homes with

their parents to celebrate the festivity. The devotees of Bhagawan

Baba flock to Prashanthi Nilayam in thousands to celebrate Onam in

the Divine Presence.

 

Onam celebrations this year began in the evening of 10th September as

Bhagawan came to the Sai Kulwant Hall amidst Veda chanting. Sacred

notes of the Mangalavadya Nadaswaram announced the commencement of

the celebrations. There was a dance drama entitled " Dashavathar " by

the Bal vikas children of Kozhikkode and Malappuram districts. The

children enacted various episodes from the Dashavathar, particularly

Narasimha, Vamana, Rama, Krishna and Buddha. The programme concluded

with bhajans and Mangala Aarathi to Bhagawan.

 

The celebrations for the second day commenced in the evening of 11th

September. Bhagawan was received to Sai Kulwant hall with Veda and

Nadaswaram at 3:30 PM. As Bhagawan occupied the dais, He instructed

the students to start the Veda class; they dealt with the second and

third Anuvakams of the Namakam.

 

What followed was a drama by the students of Sri Sai Vidya Vihar,

Alwaye and the Bal Vikas children of Eranakulam, entitled " Rama – the

embodiment of Love " . It was a bouquet of various incidents from the

life of the Avatar, taken from Bhagawan's Discourses. The opening

scene demonstrated the love between Rama and His brothers. It went on

to depict the surrender of Sugreeva, Vibheeshana and Hanuman.

 

Bhagawan was pleased with the performance and blessed the

participants with the most coveted group photo. Vastram was

distributed to all.

 

Next offering was Sampradaya Bhajan by Sri Padmakumar. All devotees

joined the fast tempo songs clapping their hands enthusiastically.

The programme concluded with Mangala Aarathi.

 

Even as Aarathi was over, Bhagawan spent some time in the dais and

interacted with the participants of the drama. He remarked that the

children had put in their best effort; that was why they could bring

about such a wonderful performance. He particularly congratulated

children who enacted the roles of Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman.

Bhagawan added that the dialogue, music and costumes were also

excellent. He told the children that He would come to Kerala and

their school, that too walking! Bhagawan said; He knew that children

were very anxious as to how the drama would come out and they had

been working tirelessly since morning. Now that everything turned out

fine they could go back and take rest. Bhagawan blessed the chilren

with Abhayahastha.

 

12th September was the Thiruvonam day. The Sai Kulwant hall was

bedecked to the occasion with the festoons made of Kuruthola (Tender

coconut leaves). The stage was aesthetically decorated with fresh

flowers and ornamental umbrellas (Muthukkuda) adorned the periphery

of the auditorium. A traditional Pookkalam (floral design) was

arranged in front of the dais along with Nirapara, Nilavilakku (step

lamp), Onathappan (onam deity) and other auspicious offerings like

flowers and fruits. (Nirapara is a full measure of paddy heaped for

ceremonial offerings; a traditional measuring container would be

filled to the brim with paddy and decorated with `Thengin Pookula'

(tender coconut flowers).

Bhagawn made His grand entry at 9:35 a.m. and was traditionally

received with Poornakumbham, accompanied by a colorful procession

consisting of band, Veda group and thalapoli (Thalappoli, a

ceremonial procession, is a significant item in most of the festivals

in Kerala In this ritual, women or young girls carry thalam, which

literally means plate, in their hands. Thalam is filled with rice,

flowers and a lighted lamp. Thalappoli is considered a symbol of

prosperity).

 

As Bhagawan made entry into the hall, auspicious notes of Nadaswaram

and Panchavadyam filled the ambience. After granting darshan to one

and all Bhagawan occupied the dais and inaugurated the function by

lighting the sacred lamp. After a few moments Panchavadyam (orchestra

of five instruments, is basically a temple art form has evolved in

Kerala) and Nadaswaram (one of the most popular classical instruments

of South India) gave way to Thayambaka by students (Thayambaka is a

type of solo chenda performance that developed in the South Indian

state of Kerala, in which the main player at the centre improvises

rhythmically on the beats of half-a-dozen or a few more chenda and

Ilathaalam players around) – initially in a low tempo progressively

increasing to a thunderous climax!

As Veda chanting continued, Bhagawan permitted to commence the music

programme by receiving the offering of flowers from the singers. The

singers of the session were Sri Kavalam Sreekumar, Sri Pranavam

Sankaran Namboodiri and Sri Yogesh Sharma.

 

After invoking Ganesha and Guru with Vandana Shlokas, the music

programme began with a Malayalam composition expressing the devotees

love and longing for Bhagawan. Compositions of Thyagaraja,

Purandaradasa and Meerabhai followed. The programme concluded with a

traditional hymn – `Narayanam Bhaje Narayanam " – to which all

devotees joined in chorus.

 

Mangala Aarathi followed. To the surprise and joy of all Bhagawan

asked the Institute boys to sing a couple of Bhajans. Before

returning to the Yajur Mandiram, Bhagawan instructed the State

President of Kerala to announce that there would be Divine Discourse

and drama in the evening.

 

In the evening at 4 p.m. even before Bhagawani arrived the Veda class

by the Institute students commenced, covering the fourth and fifth

Anuvakams of Namakam. Bhagawan graciously arrived into the Sai

Kulwant Hall as the class was in progress, granting Darshan to all.

 

The first item of the evening was a brief speech by Master Abith, a

student of the Sri Sathya Sai Vidyapeeth, Sreesailam, Quilandi near

Calicut. He began by sharing the good fortune of the devotees in the

opportunity to celebrate Onam in the Divine presence of Sai Vamana.

He recounted and experience of how Sai Gayathri saved one of his

teachers, as he fell into a well during a Seva activity. He also

shared how Vibhoothi saved the life of a cow of the Gokulam from the

fatal foot and mouth disease. He concluded by sharing his love and

gratitude to Bhagawan on behalf of all students and staff of Sri

Sathya Sai Vidyapeeth and all Sai devotees of Kerala.

 

After the brief narrative, Bhagawan graciously delivered the Onam

discourse, with introductory verse as the glory of Bharath. Having

been born in Bharath, one has to live up to its glory. Today's

education and technology is promoting a mad race after money, but

Bhagawan reminded, Money comes and goes; morality comes and grows.

One has to cultivate spiritual outlook and self confidence to realize

the true meaning and purpose of life. Truth is the father of the

whole world and Dharma is the mother. Then only can Shanthi and Prema

prevail in the world. Bhagawan escorted the devotees to imbibe the

virtue of sacrifice from Emperor Bali. Bhagawan congratulated the Bal

Vikas children of Kerala for putting up excellent cultural

programmes; Bhagawan also acknowledged the dedicated efforts of

Mahilas in preparing them. Bhagawan reminded the devotees to keep up

the standard set by them. He also urged them to watch the drama on

Savitri (that was to follow) carefully and imbibe values of courage

and confidence.

 

The next item was a dance drama entitled " Savithri – the embodiment

of Shakthi " , by the Bal Vikas children of Alappuzha district. The

drama depicted how Savithri recovered her dead husband from

Yamadharma through her penance out of chastity and courage. The

powerful dialogues and dramatic situation left the audience glued to

the drama. The befitting conclusion was a beautiful, vibrant dance

depicting Adi Parasakthi as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, followed

by all participants paying their salutations to Mother Sai. Bhagawan

blessed all participants and Vasthram was gifted to all children as a

token of Bhagawan's grace.

 

Bhajans by the Institute students followed. The programme for the

evening concluded with Mangala Aarathi to Bhagawan.

 

http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/onam2008report.html