4th Jan. Darshan account by Sai devotee The Olympic Sprint

[Guest guest]

January 4, 2009

 

The Olympic Sprint

 

A sunny morning, the boarding school children have come, the darshan

hall is quiet and serene. Soon the three Om's come over the

loudspeakers and bhajans commence. The darshan hall is largely full,

and I see that huge Maharashtra-Goa group are seated nearby the front

on both the ladies and the mens sides.

 

As the bhajans continue, I find myself translating some of them as

they are sung, and consider how many facets of the Sai Avatar are

sung, daya karo bhagavan, (fullness of compassion) kripa karo bhagavan

(the Lord who receives all our prayers) and how the glories of divine

self-giving are celebrated in song, and add to the glory that is

Prashanti Nilayam, the abode of Highest Peace. I think of all the

energy generated by the bhajans and consider what Swami will do with

this energy, where he will send this in the world as grace to those

who are calling out on God, kith and kin of all on Earth.

 

I took my darshan on the inner level and took padnamaskar on the inner

level, in peace; Swami had not come, and I was simply " being there " if

that means anything, taking in divine grace, and being present in this

holy atmosphere.

 

Suddenly, people start shifting around in the darshan hall, bunching

up, students move forward, and a large crowd get up and race forward

to fill that space left behind the Maharashtra-Goa group. It's a bit

untidy for a moment, then all settle down and look towards Yajur

Mandir for Swami's entrance and darshan. And so Swami does enter the

darshan hall, and proceeds right across the hall. I saw that he

stopped on the men's side for something, and that was the last I saw

of that; men got up everywhere. Swami did not come into sight again

until he reached the top turn nearby the garage.

 

An old man with a walking stick was leaning around trying to see

Swami, and I gestured to him to sit nearby me, and he would have

darshan of Swami in the mandir receiving the bhajans. Several of us

helped him move to that new seat; he was most grateful.

 

Arathi, and I departed the darshan hall to meet with Holly out the

front (one of the Seva Dal Coordinators for the Christmas Choir) (she

is leaving tomorrow) and of course, the assembled devotees wait to see

Swami get in the grey car. So I was standing there nearby the Ganesh

Temple, and thinking of the video I saw of the installation and

prathistha of the Ganesh Idol, a event which took place many years

ago. A devotee and I discussed the appearance of the ashram in those days.

 

Lo and behold, people were sprinting past at an almighty speed, and

the Good Lord help anyone who got in their way. More and more people

came out, it looked like the Olympic 400 metres sprint in Beijing, so

fast they were going. Wow, people running past, some out the front

gate, some up towards the gate to the meditation tree using that back

pathway which runs behind the old State Bank building. Swami was

coming out. Crowds rushed to the Ganesha Gate itself, and milled

around. Police whistles peeped, and the Seva Dals closed the gate (as

they usually do, principally to protect devotees from harm on the

roadway as they spill all over the place).

 

I could hear the police sirens pass by, and then the gates were opened.

 

Thus concludeth morning darshan on this fine Sunday Morning.

 

January 4, 2009

 

Devi and the Feminine

 

It was the turn of the Ladies of Maharasthra-Goa this evening. When I

arrived at the darshan hall there were many banners hanging in the

centre of the darshan hall, and there were groups of men and ladies

seated in the centre area where students normally sit. Chanting was

going on in the mandiram, and the darshan hall was filled with waiting

devotees; silence prevailed.

 

The New Year's Decorations have been removed.

 

I took a seat, maybe halfway down the hall and cast my attention to

the banners hanging from the ceiling. There was one in the middle,

crosswise, and three longwise on each side.

 

In the centre was a tasteful white banner with an impression of

Easwaramma, and the script, Easwaramma, divya mata. The other six

banners all had illustrations of women and citations from the Devi

Stutram, I think it is, or is it the Devi Mahatmya?

 

The first banner had an illustration of Savitri, and the following

from the Devi Prayer:

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Shaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as power in all beings

 

The next banner on that side had an illustration of Rani Lakshmibai on

a horse, and

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Shaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as power in all beings

 

The next banner had illustrations of Putalibai and Mahatama Gandhi,

and the following prayer:

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Bhaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as devotion in all beings

 

On the other side, the first banner had an illustration of

Urmilla-Lakshman and the following prayer

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

tyaggarupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as sacrifice and penance

in all beings

 

The next, for the life of me, I cannot remember; the last banner was

of Ratnavalli and Tulsidas, with the prayer,

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Bhaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as devotion in all beings

 

So there was a very strong Devi focus for the evening. When Swami came

out to the front of the porch, the Ladies led the singing, and

introduced the evening's program. I recall a Gayathri Mantra sung in

four part harmony.

 

The Devi Stutram formed the focus of what was to follow; very young

girls dressed as the characters in the banners performed skits very

close to the front of the veranda; Swami was facing these girls, cent

per cent attention and focus. The conclusion of each skit was the

singing of the relevant strotra from the Devi Stutram (I don't know if

I have this title right, so bear with me) which was a really neat way

to conclude each skit. The girls were all nicely costumed and

delivered their skits quite well.

 

When the skits were over, there was a very catchy song sung about

Mother Easwaramma, and then some songs sung about Swami. There was

then a presentation to Swami, a memorial plaque and prayer to Swami

that these 2400 Sai Youth of Maharasthra and Goa would be worthy

instruments in his mission.

 

The men then did a medley of songs with some very good musical

accompaniments, and the most unusual backing I have ever heard for

Kondama Rama, it was excellent. There was then a short medley of

bhajans as Swami went inside the interview room. He returned shortly,

and went down to the centre area of the darshan hall, and gave photo

sessions to the young girl actresses, and gave them all padnamaskar.

Much applause. Swami called for Shawls and Sarees to be distributed to

all in the choir and in the acting complement. Swami then gave photo

sessions to the Lady Singers, very good, and then moved over to the

Men Singers, where there were many photo sessions.

 

Swami then stayed in the centre of the darshan hall and spent time

answering questions from the Devotees of Maharashtra and Goa, and also

spent some time accepting prayers and requests. After some time, Swami

returned to the front of the porch and called for prasadum to be

distributed to all. The lady singers then led bhajans during the

distribution of prasad, and I quite enjoyed the ladies leading the

singing. When the distribution of prasad was complete, Swami gestured

to the students returning; there was quite some prasad left over, and

Swami sent the students right down that centre walkway, out of the

darshan all, to distribute all the prasad to the devotees down by the

Gopuram Gate!

 

Then Swami called for arathi; the ladies led Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare;

there were 8 waving the arathi flames, three men and three ladies from

the Sai Youth, along with one student, and the Mandir Pujari. When it

got to Mata Pita Guru Daivum, Swami gestured for the lamps to be

placed on the ground, and the Ladies continued leading the singing. It

was quite dark, the darshan hall lights were bright, and the Narayana,

Narayana Om Sathya verses flew through the air as Swami sat there,

right at the front of the porch, brilliant in his orange robe, and

smoke rising all over the place from the many arathi lamps. A great

conclusion to the evening of Devi and the Feminine, by favour of the

Ladies of Maharasthra and Goa.

 

Courtesy: http://saieditor.com/spirit/

[Guest guest]

--- On Mon, 5/1/09, SBOI Group < wrote:SBOI Group <[sBOI-post] 4th Jan. Darshan account by Sai devotee "The Olympic Sprint" Date: Monday, 5 January, 2009, 6:25 PM

 

January 4, 2009

 

The Olympic Sprint

 

A sunny morning, the boarding school children have come, the darshan

hall is quiet and serene. Soon the three Om's come over the

loudspeakers and bhajans commence. The darshan hall is largely full,

and I see that huge Maharashtra- Goa group are seated nearby the front

on both the ladies and the mens sides.

 

As the bhajans continue, I find myself translating some of them as

they are sung, and consider how many facets of the Sai Avatar are

sung, daya karo bhagavan, (fullness of compassion) kripa karo bhagavan

(the Lord who receives all our prayers) and how the glories of divine

self-giving are celebrated in song, and add to the glory that is

Prashanti Nilayam, the abode of Highest Peace. I think of all the

energy generated by the bhajans and consider what Swami will do with

this energy, where he will send this in the world as grace to those

who are calling out on God, kith and kin of all on Earth.

 

I took my darshan on the inner level and took padnamaskar on the inner

level, in peace; Swami had not come, and I was simply "being there" if

that means anything, taking in divine grace, and being present in this

holy atmosphere.

 

Suddenly, people start shifting around in the darshan hall, bunching

up, students move forward, and a large crowd get up and race forward

to fill that space left behind the Maharashtra- Goa group. It's a bit

untidy for a moment, then all settle down and look towards Yajur

Mandir for Swami's entrance and darshan. And so Swami does enter the

darshan hall, and proceeds right across the hall. I saw that he

stopped on the men's side for something, and that was the last I saw

of that; men got up everywhere. Swami did not come into sight again

until he reached the top turn nearby the garage.

 

An old man with a walking stick was leaning around trying to see

Swami, and I gestured to him to sit nearby me, and he would have

darshan of Swami in the mandir receiving the bhajans. Several of us

helped him move to that new seat; he was most grateful.

 

Arathi, and I departed the darshan hall to meet with Holly out the

front (one of the Seva Dal Coordinators for the Christmas Choir) (she

is leaving tomorrow) and of course, the assembled devotees wait to see

Swami get in the grey car. So I was standing there nearby the Ganesh

Temple, and thinking of the video I saw of the installation and

prathistha of the Ganesh Idol, a event which took place many years

ago. A devotee and I discussed the appearance of the ashram in those days.

 

Lo and behold, people were sprinting past at an almighty speed, and

the Good Lord help anyone who got in their way. More and more people

came out, it looked like the Olympic 400 metres sprint in Beijing, so

fast they were going. Wow, people running past, some out the front

gate, some up towards the gate to the meditation tree using that back

pathway which runs behind the old State Bank building. Swami was

coming out. Crowds rushed to the Ganesha Gate itself, and milled

around. Police whistles peeped, and the Seva Dals closed the gate (as

they usually do, principally to protect devotees from harm on the

roadway as they spill all over the place).

 

I could hear the police sirens pass by, and then the gates were opened.

 

Thus concludeth morning darshan on this fine Sunday Morning.

 

January 4, 2009

 

Devi and the Feminine

 

It was the turn of the Ladies of Maharasthra- Goa this evening. When I

arrived at the darshan hall there were many banners hanging in the

centre of the darshan hall, and there were groups of men and ladies

seated in the centre area where students normally sit. Chanting was

going on in the mandiram, and the darshan hall was filled with waiting

devotees; silence prevailed.

 

The New Year's Decorations have been removed.

 

I took a seat, maybe halfway down the hall and cast my attention to

the banners hanging from the ceiling. There was one in the middle,

crosswise, and three longwise on each side.

 

In the centre was a tasteful white banner with an impression of

Easwaramma, and the script, Easwaramma, divya mata. The other six

banners all had illustrations of women and citations from the Devi

Stutram, I think it is, or is it the Devi Mahatmya?

 

The first banner had an illustration of Savitri, and the following

from the Devi Prayer:

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Shaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as power in all beings

 

The next banner on that side had an illustration of Rani Lakshmibai on

a horse, and

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Shaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as power in all beings

 

The next banner had illustrations of Putalibai and Mahatama Gandhi,

and the following prayer:

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Bhaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as devotion in all beings

 

On the other side, the first banner had an illustration of

Urmilla-Lakshman and the following prayer

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

tyaggarupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as sacrifice and penance

in all beings

 

The next, for the life of me, I cannot remember; the last banner was

of Ratnavalli and Tulsidas, with the prayer,

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Bhaktirupena Samsthita

Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namastasyei Namo Namaha

Salutations to the Goddess who manifests as devotion in all beings

 

So there was a very strong Devi focus for the evening. When Swami came

out to the front of the porch, the Ladies led the singing, and

introduced the evening's program. I recall a Gayathri Mantra sung in

four part harmony.

 

The Devi Stutram formed the focus of what was to follow; very young

girls dressed as the characters in the banners performed skits very

close to the front of the veranda; Swami was facing these girls, cent

per cent attention and focus. The conclusion of each skit was the

singing of the relevant strotra from the Devi Stutram (I don't know if

I have this title right, so bear with me) which was a really neat way

to conclude each skit. The girls were all nicely costumed and

delivered their skits quite well.

 

When the skits were over, there was a very catchy song sung about

Mother Easwaramma, and then some songs sung about Swami. There was

then a presentation to Swami, a memorial plaque and prayer to Swami

that these 2400 Sai Youth of Maharasthra and Goa would be worthy

instruments in his mission.

 

The men then did a medley of songs with some very good musical

accompaniments, and the most unusual backing I have ever heard for

Kondama Rama, it was excellent. There was then a short medley of

bhajans as Swami went inside the interview room. He returned shortly,

and went down to the centre area of the darshan hall, and gave photo

sessions to the young girl actresses, and gave them all padnamaskar.

Much applause. Swami called for Shawls and Sarees to be distributed to

all in the choir and in the acting complement. Swami then gave photo

sessions to the Lady Singers, very good, and then moved over to the

Men Singers, where there were many photo sessions.

 

Swami then stayed in the centre of the darshan hall and spent time

answering questions from the Devotees of Maharashtra and Goa, and also

spent some time accepting prayers and requests. After some time, Swami

returned to the front of the porch and called for prasadum to be

distributed to all. The lady singers then led bhajans during the

distribution of prasad, and I quite enjoyed the ladies leading the

singing. When the distribution of prasad was complete, Swami gestured

to the students returning; there was quite some prasad left over, and

Swami sent the students right down that centre walkway, out of the

darshan all, to distribute all the prasad to the devotees down by the

Gopuram Gate!

 

Then Swami called for arathi; the ladies led Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare;

there were 8 waving the arathi flames, three men and three ladies from

the Sai Youth, along with one student, and the Mandir Pujari. When it

got to Mata Pita Guru Daivum, Swami gestured for the lamps to be

placed on the ground, and the Ladies continued leading the singing. It

was quite dark, the darshan hall lights were bright, and the Narayana,

Narayana Om Sathya verses flew through the air as Swami sat there,

right at the front of the porch, brilliant in his orange robe, and

smoke rising all over the place from the many arathi lamps. A great

conclusion to the evening of Devi and the Feminine, by favour of the

Ladies of Maharasthra and Goa.

 

Courtesy: http://saieditor. com/spirit/

 

 

 

Get an email ID as yourname or yourname.