Onam in Prasanthi Nilayam - A Report...

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ONAM IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM

Onam

is definitely the most joyous and precious occasion for the Keralites

irrespective of caste, creed or religion. The festival marks the annual

visit of Mahabali to his erstwhile kingdom, reminding the reign of

equality and justice.

 

It is customary for all Keralites to be at their ancestral homes with

their parents to celebrate the festivity. The devotees of Bhagawan Baba

flock to Prashanthi Nilayam in thousands to celebrate Onam in the

Divine Presence.

 

Onam celebrations this year began in the evening of 10th September as

Bhagawan came to the Sai Kulwant Hall amidst Veda chanting. Sacred

notes of the Mangalavadya Nadaswaram announced the commencement of the

celebrations. There was a dance drama entitled “Dashavathar†by the Bal

vikas children of Kozhikkode and Malappuram districts. The children

enacted various episodes from the Dashavathar, particularly Narasimha,

Vamana, Rama, Krishna and Buddha. The programme concluded with bhajans

and Mangala Aarathi to Bhagawan.

 

The celebrations for the second day commenced in the evening of 11th

September. Bhagawan was received to Sai Kulwant hall with Veda and

Nadaswaram at 3:30 PM. As Bhagawan occupied the dais, He instructed the

students to start the Veda class; they dealt with the second and third

Anuvakams of the Namakam.

 

What followed was a drama by the students of Sri Sai Vidya Vihar,

Alwaye and the Bal Vikas children of Eranakulam, entitled “Rama – the

embodiment of Loveâ€. It was a bouquet of various incidents from the

life of the Avatar, taken from Bhagawan’s Discourses. The opening scene

demonstrated the love between Rama and His brothers. It went on to

depict the surrender of Sugreeva, Vibheeshana and Hanuman.

 

Bhagawan was pleased with the performance and blessed the participants

with the most coveted group photo. Vastram was distributed to all.

 

Next offering was Sampradaya Bhajan by Sri Padmakumar. All devotees

joined the fast tempo songs clapping their hands enthusiastically. The

programme concluded with Mangala Aarathi.

 

Even as Aarathi was over, Bhagawan spent some time in the dais and

interacted with the participants of the drama. He remarked that the

children had put in their best effort; that was why they could bring

about such a wonderful performance. He particularly congratulated

children who enacted the roles of Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Bhagawan

added that the dialogue, music and costumes were also excellent. He

told the children that He would come to Kerala and their school, that

too walking! Bhagawan said; He knew that children were very anxious as

to how the drama would come out and they had been working tirelessly

since morning. Now that everything turned out fine they could go back

and take rest. Bhagawan blessed the chilren with Abhayahastha.

 

12th September was the Thiruvonam day. The Sai Kulwant hall was

bedecked to the occasion with the festoons made of Kuruthola (Tender

coconut leaves). The stage was aesthetically decorated with fresh

flowers and ornamental umbrellas (Muthukkuda) adorned the periphery of

the auditorium. A traditional Pookkalam (floral design) was arranged in

front of the dais along with Nirapara, Nilavilakku (step lamp), Onathappan (onam

deity) and other auspicious offerings like flowers and fruits.

(Nirapara is a full measure of paddy heaped for ceremonial offerings; a

traditional measuring container would be filled to the brim with paddy

and decorated with ‘Thengin Pookula’ (tender coconut flowers).

Bhagawn made His grand entry at 9:35 a.m. and was traditionally

received with Poornakumbham, accompanied by a colorful procession

consisting of band, Veda group and thalapoli (Thalappoli, a ceremonial

procession, is a significant item in most of the festivals in Kerala In

this ritual, women or young girls carry thalam, which literally means

plate, in their hands. Thalam is filled with rice, flowers and a lighted lamp. Thalappoli is considered a symbol of prosperity).

 

As Bhagawan made entry into the hall, auspicious notes of Nadaswaram

and Panchavadyam filled the ambience. After granting darshan to one and

all Bhagawan occupied the dais and inaugurated the function by lighting

the sacred lamp. After a few moments Panchavadyam (orchestra of five

instruments, is basically a temple art form has evolved in Kerala) and

Nadaswaram (one of the most popular classical instruments of South

India) gave way to Thayambaka by students (Thayambaka is a type of solo

chenda performance that developed in the South Indian state of Kerala,

in which the main player at the centre improvises rhythmically on the

beats of half-a-dozen or a few more chenda and Ilathaalam players around) – initially in a low tempo progressively increasing to a thunderous climax!

As Veda chanting continued, Bhagawan permitted to commence the music

programme by receiving the offering of flowers from the singers. The

singers of the session were Sri Kavalam Sreekumar, Sri Pranavam

Sankaran Namboodiri and Sri Yogesh Sharma.

 

After invoking Ganesha and Guru with Vandana Shlokas, the music

programme began with a Malayalam composition expressing the devotees

love and longing for Bhagawan. Compositions of Thyagaraja,

Purandaradasa and Meerabhai followed. The programme concluded with a

traditional hymn – ‘Narayanam Bhaje Narayanam†– to which all devotees

joined in chorus.

 

Mangala Aarathi followed. To the surprise and joy of all Bhagawan asked

the Institute boys to sing a couple of Bhajans. Before returning to the

Yajur Mandiram, Bhagawan instructed the State President of Kerala to

announce that there would be Divine Discourse and drama in the evening.

 

In the evening at 4 p.m. even before Bhagawani arrived the Veda class

by the Institute students commenced, covering the fourth and fifth

Anuvakams of Namakam. Bhagawan graciously arrived into the Sai Kulwant

Hall as the class was in progress, granting Darshan to all.

 

The first item of the evening was a brief speech by Master Abith, a

student of the Sri Sathya Sai Vidyapeeth, Sreesailam, Quilandi near

Calicut. He began by sharing the good fortune of the devotees in the

opportunity to celebrate Onam in the Divine presence of Sai Vamana. He

recounted and experience of how Sai Gayathri saved one of his teachers,

as he fell into a well during a Seva activity. He also shared how

Vibhoothi saved the life of a cow of the Gokulam from the fatal foot

and mouth disease. He concluded by sharing his love and gratitude to

Bhagawan on behalf of all students and staff of Sri Sathya Sai

Vidyapeeth and all Sai devotees of Kerala.

 

After the brief narrative, Bhagawan graciously delivered the Onam

discourse, with introductory verse as the glory of Bharath. Having been

born in Bharath, one has to live up to its glory. Today’s education and

technology is promoting a mad race after money, but Bhagawan reminded,

Money comes and goes; morality comes and grows. One has to cultivate

spiritual outlook and self confidence to realize the true meaning and

purpose of life. Truth is the father of the whole world and Dharma is

the mother. Then only can Shanthi and Prema prevail in the world.

Bhagawan escorted the devotees to imbibe the virtue of sacrifice from

Emperor Bali. Bhagawan congratulated the Bal Vikas children of Kerala

for putting up excellent cultural programmes; Bhagawan also

acknowledged the dedicated efforts of Mahilas in preparing them.

Bhagawan reminded the devotees to keep up the standard set by them. He

also urged them to watch the drama on Savitri (that was to follow)

carefully and imbibe values of courage and confidence.

 

The next item was a dance drama entitled “Savithri – the embodiment of

Shakthiâ€, by the Bal Vikas children of Alappuzha district. The drama

depicted how Savithri recovered her dead husband from Yamadharma

through her penance out of chastity and courage. The powerful dialogues

and dramatic situation left the audience glued to the drama. The

befitting conclusion was a beautiful, vibrant dance depicting Adi

Parasakthi as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, followed by all

participants paying their salutations to Mother Sai. Bhagawan blessed

all participants and Vasthram was gifted to all children as a token of

Bhagawan’s grace.

 

Bhajans by the Institute students followed. The programme for the

evening concluded with Mangala Aarathi to Bhagawan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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