Guest guest Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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