Vishu Celebrations , April 12 & 14, 2008

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Vishu Celebrations

Music Programme and a skit entitled, 'Bhakth Ramadas'

April 12 & 14, 2008

As

is the wont, this year too both Tamil New Year and Vishu fell on

successive days. A number of buses carrying devotees from the two

adjoining States started arriving right from 11th April 2008. Sai

Kulwant Hall and its precincts were filled with huge concourse of

devotees. The Hall was tastefully decorated for the two festivals.

Vishu celebrations began on the evening of 12th April 2008. Bhagawan

delighted everyone present as He was wheeled into the Hall on a sofa

this evening at 5 p.m.

 

Presentation of Devotional Songs by Bal Vikas children of Kerala

After He came to the dais, Bal Vikas children from Kerala presented a

bouquet of devotional songs. They started their presentation with the

song, Vandeham Gananayakam

(salutations to Ganesh, the leader of Ganas) and followed it with a

song on the efficacy of chanting of Narayana’s name, one song after the

other captivated everybody attention. Chinni Krishna Muralidhara

(child Krishna who plays on the flute), the next song described

Krishna’s childhood pranks and His Leelas (divine play), the One who

attracts everyone with His beautiful form. Their collection of

devotional songs ended with Anandam Ide, Paramanandam Ide, Brahmanandam Ide

(this is bliss, this is supreme bliss, this is divine bliss). On

Bhagawan’s command, they started Bhajans, after a few Bhajans, the

students of the University took over from them. The evening programme

came to a close with Arati to Bhagawan at 6 p.m. Vishu Celebrations

Vishu is a new year festival held in the state of Kerala (and adjoining

areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu). This occasion signifies the Sun's

transit to the zodiac Mesha Mesha Raasi

as per Indian astrological calculations. Vishu is also considered as

the harvest festival of Kerala and thus the importance of this day to

all Malayalees regardless of their religion or sect.

The

festival is marked with offerings to the divine called Vishukanni. The

offerings consists of a ritual arrangement in the puja room of

auspicious articles like rice, linen, cucumber, betel leaves, mirror,

holy text and coins in a bell metal vessel called uruli. A lighted bell

metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside. This

arrangement is completed by the women of the house during the previous

night. On the day of Vishu, it is a custom to wake up at dawn and go to

the puja room with the eyes closed so that the first thing a person

sees is the Vishukanni. People wear new clothes for the occasion and

the elders in the family distribute tokens of money to the children,

servants and tenants. These tokens are called Vishukkaineetam and are

usually in the form of coins. People carry out this custom believing

that in this way, their children would be blessed with prosperity in

the future. Vishu is considered to be a day of feasting, wherein the

edibles consist of roughly equal proportions of salt, sweet, sour and

bitter items. Feast items include Veppampoorasam (a bitter preparation of neem) and Mampazhapachadi (a sour mango soup).

Vishu Celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam

Sai Kulwant had a touch of Kerala in the form of Thoranams made from

tender coconut leaves and banners wishing people a happy Vishu. This

day - 14th April, also happens to be the festival of Sri Rama Navami.

As Bhagawan entered the Hall at 4.45 p.m., a Panchavadyam troupe

heralded Bhagawan’s arrival by playing bugle. Again Bhagawan was

wheeled into the Hall in a sofa. His compassion knows no bounds. One

could see devotees craning their necks to have a glimpse of their dear

Lord.

Bhakta Ramdas: A Drama by the Sai Youth of Kerala

This evening the Sai Youth of Kerala presented a drama “Bhakta Ramdasâ€

based on the life of Bhadrachalam Ramdas. The drama opens with the

statement, “There is nobody more fortunate than Hanuman who had the

opportunity to serve Rama.†Ramdas pines for Lord Rama. He feels that

he is not so fortunate as Guha or Sugriva who had the opportunity to

serve Rama.

The drama was interspersed with many songs on Sri Rama, the first being Bhagawan’s composition Rama Kodanda Rama ... (Rama who wields the bow), then Rama Neela Meghashyama (Rama’s form is in the colour of blue sky), Bhadrachalam Ramdas’ composition O Rama Ne Namam Entho Ruchi Ra …(Oh Rama! Your name is full of sweetness).

When

Ramdas sees the dilapidated condition of the Rama temple at

Bhadrachalam, he feels sad and decides to renovate the temple. He needs

cash to the tune of 8 lakh varahas (unit of currency prevalent in those

days). Ramdas uses the funds he had collected as tax for this purpose.

The

king of the land comes to know of it and orders for Ramdas’

incarceration. The king stipulates a condition to Ramdas to remit the 8

lakh varahas within a period of 3 days, lest he will be decapitated.

God is Bhakta Paradhina (if a person trusts Me and leaves

everything to Me, I will never let him fall). Sri Rama and Lakshmana

disguise themselves as Ramoji and Lakshmoji and enter the chambers of

the king. The king is surprised as to how they could enter his

chambers. They say to the king that they work for Ramdas. Sri Rama

remits 8 lakh varahas and asks for the receipt from the king. The king

at first gets angry, but does not feel like reprimanding them because

something in him tells that they are divine, and feels compelled to

accept the money.

Meanwhile,

Ramdas pleads with the Lord saying, “Why have You forsaken me? Do I

lack devotion? Have I committed any mistake?†Suddenly, Ramdas finds

the receipt of remittance in the prison. The king himself comes to the

cell and asks for pardon from Ramdas for torturing him. He narrates all

that happened to Ramdas. Ramdas tells the king that it was his good

fortune he had the Darshan of Lord Rama. Even he was not so fortunate

to have His Darshan, Ramdas avers.

The

drama concludes with the song, “Ram Ram Ram Sita Ram Ram Ramâ€. Then a

Sai Youth comes to the centre stage and declares, “Ramdas felt sad that

he was not born during Guha or Sugriva’s time, but we are fortunate to

be born during the time of this Avatar.â€

Bhagawan

materialised a chain for the youth who played the role of Bhadrachalam

Ramdas. Bhagawan went amidst them and gave them a photo session. He

also distributed clothes to all the participants with His Divine Hands.

The entire cast was in tears at Bhagawan’s compassion. He even asked

them to sing a Bhajan. Prasadam was distributed to all the devotees.

Arati was offered to Bhagawan at 6.40 p.m. Thus, concluded the glorious

Vishu and Sri Rama Navami celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam.

 

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