Sai Darshan News: March 24, 2008 - Sai Students

[Guest guest]

March 24, 2008 His holiness, Sri Sri Ravishankar had expressed a desire to meet Swami. Swami had permitted him to come in the morning at around 10:00 am. The perfect host that He is, Swami was out at 9:45 am and the bhajans were on in the morning. Swami sat for the bhajans and the singing went on. At about 10:10 am, Swami saw outside. All the devotees were singing with the joy of His presence amidst them which is a special privilege in the morning these days. He called for the car. As He was sitting in the car, Sri Ravishankar arrived. Swami went in the car and slowly made rounds amidst the devotees who had been sitting and singing bhajans for so long. There was a loud applause as Swami moved among the devotees. As Shirdi Baba, Swami had said, "Shraddha (faith) and Saburi (perseverance) are the two qualities most endearing to the Lord." And today, Swami went around proving that those qualities are still held very dear by

the Lord. He completed the round and came back to the portico when Sri Ravishankar rose from his chair to prostrate to Swami. Swami stopped him and told him to go into the interview room. The interview lasted about 45 minutes after which Sri Sri Ravishankar left. Swami went into the bhajan hall and after the bhajan asked for Aarthi. He sat for the complete Aarthi and retired for the morning at about 11:05 am.Today evening, was to be the concluding programme by the states of Bihar and Jharkhand for the festive Holi fastival. The central marble block had been kept empty and it was flanked on both sides by singers ready to express their love and devotion to Swami. Children waited behind the backdrop of the Sri Sathya Sai Village Integrated Programme or the SSSVIP as it is popularly called. Swami came for darshan at about 5:20 pm. He took a detour after the ladies side and came straight on the stage. As He sat, He seemed to signal to the Vedam group to stop, but as the

tempo and pitch was dying, He looked and told them to continue! Then, He decided to come down and move around in the chair. He went towards the Primary School children and the amplitude of the Veda chants went up immediately by several decibels! Swami seemed to enjoy that. After all "Veda Poshana" was one of the primary goals of the Avatar. It is but natural that the Vedic chants receive a boost when the Avatar comes near! From the Primary School side, Swami moved towards the ladies who were seated in the front. He spoke to a few of them inquiring into the details of the programme that they were about to put up. Then Swami went through the students on the gents side. He blessed all the boys sitting with trays and collected letters. He completed a round around the students and moved back on to the stage.He then asked for the programme to begin. The first part was a garland of songs in Hindi. The five songs sung were all preceded by a short commentary in English on

the meaning and significance of the song. Swami sat tapping His right hand to the rhythm of the songs. After the songs two lads came front and offered roses to Swami. The next programme was a short Hindi drama on the SSSVIP. It was the story of the transformation of a lad who aims to become a big shot in life - a VIP. He thinks only of himself. He is not selfish but he feels that a single person cannot do much to transform the world. Persuaded by a friend of his, when he goes for the Grama Seva, he is very touched at the scenes he witnesses. A true incident where a whole village gets burnt down due to an unexpected fire was depicted. The Sai Youth then help rebuild the village in every way - physically, morally and spiritually. Today that village stands out as an ideal for all villages. The protagonist of the story decides that only that life is worth living that is spent in service to others not because it redeems the world but because it redeems and gives ultimate joy to

the server! He is an example of the members of the youth brigade being touched and transformed by Swami's love and message. The drama concluded with a song of gratitude to Swami expressing the beauty of the bond that exists between Swami and every devotee.Swami blessed all the participants and had prasadam distributed. It was 7:10 pm by the time Swami received Aarti and retired to Yajur Mandir.Click here to view pictures of the Holi programmes. March 22, 2008 This afternoon, the stage had been set for a song and dance program by the devotees of Bihar and Jharkhand. On both the gents' and ladies' sides, there were groups of singers with various accompaniments ready to sing on the grandeur and colour of Holi. It will not be out of place to add a small note on Holi here. The festival of colours as it is popularly known is

celebrated with great vigour and merriment in India especially in the northern states. Holi takes place over two days in the later part of February or March.On the first day bonfires are lit at night to signify burning the demoness Holika, the sister of demon Hiranyakashipu who tried very hard in vain to kill his God-loving son Prahalada. His sister had the boon that fires would not be able to touch her. But when she sat in a pyre with Prahalada on her lap, he emerged unscathed while she was reduced to ashes. On the second day, known as Dhulhendi, people spend the day throwing colored powder and water at each other. The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold. Thus, the playful throwing of the colored powders has a medicinal significance: the colors are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors. Basically, it is the celebration of the victory of Love

for God over all the elements and forces in the universe.Swami arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.45 pm, welcomed by small children bearing lamps on either side of the path in the ladies side. The whole hall had been transformed into a palette of multiple of colours. Balloons of various hues and colours had been innovatively used to lend a rich splash and dash of colours in the hall. Swami completed a full darshan round and reached the stage. Swami came out to the stage and there was a cheer. The programme commenced, with a dance by children while a song on Gayatri was being sung. The Gayatri was sung very soulfully and powerfully in the king of ragas - Darbari. Then were songs for the occasion of "Pavitra Holi" as they termed it. This was the general trend of the programme. The songs continued on the beauty and joy that the festive Holi brings and very aptly, the children danced in rhythm to the songs. Each song had a short note of introduction in English. They also

requested Swami to visit Bihar and Jharkhand. The songs were unique in the sense that the counter notes were sung very wonderfully along with the main tunes, the way it is done in western classical music. There was a song on the impact of Swami's education system and especially the Sri Sathya Sai Village integration Programme. The glory of Grama Seva was extolled beautifully in this song. The Shivaashtakam was also sang and it charged the entire atmosphere with a feeling of wonder and awe at the magnificence and sheer power of the Lord Shiva. The musical offerings continued for the next 45 minutes. At the end, Bhagawan blessed the performers with group photographs and as a bonus for them, asked them to sing bhajans. They responded very joyously to Swami's command. Fifteen minutes of their Bhajans followed, till Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence.Click here to view

pictures of the Holi programmes. Source: http://www.saistudents.org