Bhaktha Meera

February 1, 2008

Sent by a Dear Sai Brother from Prasanthi Nilayam :

The embodiment of Pure Love - Meera

The story of Bhaktha Meera is well known to all. Her life, dedicated to her beloved Krishna, speaks of Pure Love and complete surrender of a devotee to the Lord.

The students belonging to the 11th standard of the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School presented a drama on Meerabhai on the evening of 31st January, 2008. They had been preparing for the same even before sports meet, and were waiting for an opportunity to get permission from Swami. A couple of days back, Swami blessed the school principal and the students and permitted to them have the program. The life of Meera was portrayed effectively by capturing some of the most interesting events in her life. The highlight of the program was the settings that were procured specially for the various scenes. It was professional arrangement and the audience were thrilled to see them. I had the opportunity to get involved in this program by way of helping them in costumes and

make-up. I would like to narrate a beautiful incident that took place during the program. The make-up was ready and the students were seated in Bhajan hall. swami came straight in after His usual darshan round and interacted with the students, asking them who is who in the drama. He was happy to see the make-up for Meera, krishna, and so many other characters.

The drama had two Meeras, one a small girl, and the other the Rajput queen. When Swami saw this queen meera, He commented as to why she (he) is wearing a rich saree and so many jewels. Then the actor explained that in the initial scenes since Meera is the queen, she will be in this attire, while towards the end, when she relinquishes all worldly things and goes out of palace, she will be in white saree. And the boy told swami that he will be changing the costumes for the final scenes. Swami was happy to note that and after talking to some more actors, He went and sat outside. The program began. The small boy who acted as girl meera was very cute and fitted in the role very nicely. The student who acted as queen Meera excelled in his (her) performance. Both his actions and the dance sequences were

very good and won loud applause for every scene. But the most beautiful thing happened towards the end of the drama.

As the story goes, Meera is thrown out of the palace and now she leaves behind all the riches and goes in search of her beloved. Here, the costume change was required (as was already mentioned to bhagawan). The gap between the scene was just three minutes, in which the actor has to get rid of all jewels, and change to white saree. We were there behind the stage, ready to pounce on him and make the changes. But to our agony, we found ourselves in a fix as the scene had started but Meera was not ready. The time for her entry is nearing and we were half way through the dressing. And we cannot send him in an improper way as the scene had some vigorous movements and mixed emotions of pain, search, joy, ecstasy and ultimate bliss. What to do? how

to stop the scene in the middle ? while we were wondering and hurrying up the work. But He came to our rescue. The all knowing Lord was kind enough to give us so much time as He suddenly decided to go to interview room. Since He went off, the scene was stopped abruptly and we could do the dress change and touch-ups to our satisfaction. He was inside for that much time needed by us for the work! Such was the Love and concern of Swami. He understands our sincere efforts and blesses us in such subtle ways. People who saw the drama may not know what was happening behind. If He had not gone inside, it would have been very embarrassing!

After all those beautiful and touching scenes, a mishap like this would have had total negative impact, but HE averted it! Swami came out and the drama resumed. The song Meera sings in agony of not being able to see her Lord, laying herself on the altar of her Lord was so touching. The boy acted very well. he was one with the character. The climax was this. Krishna appears and grants her darshan. He then takes her to Brindavan and shows her how he dances with the gopalas. Finally her merger at the feet of the her beloved is portrayed.

The songs were melodious, acting was good. Script was well written and settings were apt. At the end, Swami created a chain for the boy who acted as Meera and blessed all of them with group photographs. Full credit should be given to the teachers involved in the program and the dedicated students. After all, they are just 11th class boys and few of them were 8th and 9th class students. Om Sai Ram

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