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Sairam sacred embodiments of SatchitanandaToday was a special day in Puttaparthi. The ladies celebrated Varalakshmi puja this morning. Most of the ladies in the Sai Pilgrimage joined the VaraLakshmi puja group, the few remaining women were able to get special seating in the Mandir. Right now there are three USA groups in Puttaparthi, a California group, an Arizona group and the region 4 group. This is rather unusual, but very nice to observe. This morning we shared a line with the California USA group and sat together for the Lakshmi puja. Swami came in early, shining with the golden radiance of Mother Lakshmi. The participants in the puja were all seated with their puja trays filled with kum kum, tumeric and a beautifully decorated coconut. Our Lord circled the Mandir blessing the

ladies and saturating

their hearts with ananda.The puja commenced with Vedic chanting. The front of the mandir was covered with rows and rows of ladies doing the puja in blessed synchronicity. It was a magnificent scene to behold. Swami sat on the veranda watching the puja with great intensity.At the conclusion of the ceremony, He took araathi and an announcement was made inviting the puja participants for a special meal at the canteen and informing us that there would be a music program for afternoon darshan.I was invited to a puja at Sai Bharati's house, a popular astrologer based in Puttaparthi.After darshan I went with my friends Padma and Lalita to Sai Bharati's residence.There we were blessed with another Lakshmi puja, and received saris and orange cord, sweet gifts from the Divine Mother.What a blessed day! Afternoon darshan it was my turn to receive front row seating with the group's method of rotation, it was by sheer grace

that my back row seat yesterday for the presentation turned into a front row seat in the mandir. By the way the correct name of the drama presented was actually The United Sai of America, sorry about that blooper.We were all seated in the Mandir when the Seva dals had us get up and move across the main aisle very, very close to Baba's throne. All the groups were invited to that special area. So USA was indeed united for this darshan :)Beloved Sai Avatar again came early, He orbited the Mandir slowly and sweetly smiling and taking letters. As He moved through the throng of students seated right next to the veranda. He came close to us, and said something to one young lady from California, as she sat down she took padnamaskar, there was a flurry and the ladies to left of me jumped up and rushed to touch the holy feet. Swami flowed past us I didn't want to jump up, the lady to right of me said, "Swami padnamaskar?", Swami just looked

very deeply at both of us with such an intense burning look, O Heaven! He then glided around the podium and onto the dais.He sat at the front of the veranda and blessed the performers with the opportunity to sing in the Divine Presence. A female singer and her group of musicians blessed us with Indian classical music, I'm sorry I did not get the names of the performers but it was heavenly transporting us to states of unalloyed bliss.At the conclusion of the presentation Swami gifted the group with white cloth, photos and saris. Our Lord took Araathi and then gently, lovingly returned to His celestial residence.Lots of Happinesssonya ki