5th weekly posting of Saudi Sai Satsangh activities- 1 Feb 08

[Guest guest]

Sairam dear Sai Children, Sai Sisters and Sai Brothers

of all 4 Sai SatSanghs in Dammam, Jubail, Jeddah and

Riyadh.

We continue with our 5th posting of 2008 as on Friday

1st Feb 08. This week I am doing the report in the

absence of Sister Renuka who has gone to India to

attend the wedding of a near relative. I will be doing

it, till she returns.

Summary:

1. Total Attendance all over Saudi was above 90.

2. Comments on Jeddah center activation

3. Riyadh Center note on “South Indian Marriage”-2008.

Details:

Jubail center had celebrated in a grand way its 2nd

anniversary on last Friday 25th Jan. “Well done and

Congrats and hope you will have many more

Anniversaries and other special events, similar like

Riyadh Sai center”.

This week they held their weekly Satsang on Thursday

31st Jan attended by about 20 members at Bro Gopi's

residence. Aarthi was taken by Bro Sarathy. There were

5 members from Al-khobar / Dammam. Thank you Bro.

Wimal for the report.

Dammam-Khobar centre held the weekly Satsang on

Wednesday, 30th Jan 2008 at Bro. Kaladeepan’s

residence at AlKhobar. Around 20 devotees attended the

Bhajan. Aarthi was taken by Bro.Ramesh. Thank you for

the report, Bro. Prem.

Jeddah Samiti held the weekly Bhajan at Bro. Ashok’s

residence in Nada Compound Thursday 31st Jan. 12

devotees attended the session. Aarthi was taken by

Bro. Ashok. Thank you for the report, Bro. K.P. Rajan.

 

During a brief interaction with Bro. K.P Rajan to

collect the weekly report, I got some information that

I would like to share with all Sai Satsangh members. I

had originally joined the Jeddah center in 1999-2000

when Bro Rommel was with Indian Embassy started it and

carried on many activities vigorously. However after

he left, there was some anxiety on other people

reporting about us and the activity level has severely

diminished.

The present membership is now around 15 which is lower

than all other 3 centers. Mr. K.P.Rajan is one of the

oldest member and is also active in both Puttaparthi

and Trivandarum. What happens if he leaves for Dubai

or some other place? For example even this winter the

prayer sessions were closed for some weeks, due to

some security scare in one of the compounds.

Jeddah is a big city with more liberal atmosphere than

Riyadh. It is possible that it needs injection of new

& bold members who will take some initiatives to bring

more activity into the center. As per rules, to be

recognized as center, it must have a minimum strength

and a decent level of activities. Members cannot just

leave after Aarthi (as they do now) but at least the

working committee members should stay back for some

time and plan new strategies. I am told that funds are

no constraint but what is lacking is “courage”. This-

in “Swami’s movement!. “Why Fear when I am here” is

one of his famous quotes. I also think that members

from Riyadh/ Dammam and Jubail should visit Jeddah

center and try to activate them to a higher level. No

offence is intended against any one person by these

comments.

Riyadh centre held the weekly Satsang on Friday, 31st

of January 2008 at 9 am followed by Study circle. More

than 40 people attended the Bhajan session. Bro Ravi

continued reading from Shirdi Sai Sricharitah. In this

week he narrated an instance of Shirdi Sai’s mastery

over Sanskrit and about Baghvat Gita that dispelled

the ego of a Nana Saheb who was a devotee. Yours

Truly - (P.B.V.Rajan) took the aarthi on return from

Chennai after marriage of Daughter Charuleka. I thank

Sai center for being thoughtful enough to send us a

wedding gift presented in person by wife of Bro Ravi

Chandran (SABIC). It was a silver bowl, overflowing

with good wishes from members.

A booklet on “South Indian Wedding” was distributed

to some members after the Bhajans. We thus discussed

this subject as one of the main topics in the study

circle that followed. Here is brief summary.

Marriage is a word that evokes a range of feelings

among our South Indian community. One of the most

important aspects is the Vedic rituals that are

“necessary” to make it legal. This includes

PaniGrahanam (holding hands) and Sapthapadi (walking

around fire in 7 steps) and not just Kanyadhanam or

Mangalyadharanam. The central concept is that if you

walk with someone for 7 steps, you will be deemed a

true friend for life.

The topics covered in the booklet (20 pages- A/5 size)

are: Ganapathi Pooja- Naandi- Vratham- Vakku

Nichyathartham- Kasi Yathrai- Garland Exchange (on the

shoulders of maternal uncles), Swing-Oonchal, Paalikai

seeds, VaraPuja (where the Bridegroom is assumed as

Lord Vishnu), Kanyadhanam (here father of the bride

asks for assurance 3 times and bridegroom assures him

3 times about his remaining a true companion for the

bride), Kanakana Dharanam, Mangalya Dharanam, Pani

Grahanam, Sapthapadi, Pradhaana Homam, Treading the

Grindstone (Ammi), Showing the Arundhati star, Lajja

Homam (feeding the Homam fire by the bride and her

brother with Pori), Showering the new couple with

Akshdai (yellow rice) by audience , Grihaprevasam,

Nalangu, Pravesa Homam, Sesha Homam ending with

Mangalaarthi. At each step important Vedic Mantras are

chanted with good meaning and intention to protect the

rights and interests of the bride. As its is all

uttered in public, it is assumed that Bridegroom will

honor these public promises. If you wish to see the

photos or videos of these functions carried out

recently, or get copies of the booklet Pl contact me

on rajanpbv

Apart from the Vedic rituals, there are also social

mixing between two families and friends. We get to see

our own relatives whom we have not met for quite some

time. In my own case, even though we are just a

nuclear family of 4 (parents and two girls), we are

meeting “all at one place” together after 6 years due

to all living or studying at different places around

the world. The boy was seeing his parents in person

after 3 years. Till 100 years back our families had

not even left their own villages for several years.

Our traditional conservative society is now trying to

cope with Globalization. Marriage is one such occasion

when such family bonds are reinforced. So when you

have a marriage in the family, Pl do attend it even if

it is time and expense. Money cannot be a substitute

for Personal and family relationships. So next time

there is marriage in the family, Pl do attend it.

We end our 5th posting for 2008 here with these

Divine Words----

Any happiness experienced through the mind alone

(thought process) is not spiritual bliss. The (self)

Aathmik Principle can't be understood by such thought

processes. Divert your attention towards the Aathma

(Self).. . If you cannot get rid of thoughts, then

cultivate good thoughts. Turn your thoughts towards

the Supreme Lord…. Turn your heart God-ward.- BABA

Pranams

P.B.V.Rajan