Prasanthi Bulletin , Wednesday, November 19, 2008

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Prasanthi Bulletin

 

 

 

 

Index of earlier Bulletins

 

 

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Ladies' day at Prasanthi Nilayam began with the traditional Suprabhatam

being sung by Smt. P. Susheela just before 5.30 am. The vedam chanting

around the Mandir was also by the ladies. Bhagawan arrived in Sai

Kulwant Hall at 9.30 am in a procession led by the girls bands of the

Anantapur campus of the Sri Sathya Sai University and the Primary

School, along with Vedam chanting students, as a welcome song was

aired. Fifteen minutes later, when Bhagawan reached the stage, the

programme for the day began with a ten-minute introduction by Mrs.

Chetana Raju. The two speakers of the morning were Dr. (Mrs) Ankhi

Mukherjee, former student of the Sri Sathya Sai University and Lecturer

in the Universty of Oxford and Mrs. Sylvia Alden, who is a member of

the Central Council of the Sai Organisation in the USA with a Masters

in Special Education. After their talks, the materials kept in the

centre of Sai Kulwant Hall were distributed to the needy. Solar LED

lanterns, water purifiers, rugs and other items useful for the rural

folk were passed on to the recipients drawn from various parts of

Anantapur district. After prasadam distribution, Bhagawan accepted

Arati at 11.10 before returning to His residence.

In the evening, once again Bhagawan was ushered into Sai

Kulwant Hall in a procession, with another welcome song played over the

speakers, at 5 pm. When He reached the Mandir, He moved to the Bhajan

Hall where the children from the Primary school were ready in costumes

for their programme this evening. After a brief interaction with them,

Swami came onstage and started the programme for the evening. Smt.

Sunitha and troupe presented devotional songs for an hour and Bhagawan

blessed them with clothes before the programme by the Primary School

children began at 6.20 pm. Their 70 minute dance-drama brought out the

glory of Sai down the ages from Krita Yuga till the present, with video

projections on the back-drop adding to the narrative. Swami was very

pleased with their performance and went down among them for group

photographs before returning to His residence after Arati at 7.40 pm.

 

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 The

traditional Rathotsavam in which the idols of Rama Lakshmana Sita along

with Venugopala Swami are taken from the Mandir to the Kalyanamantapam

in Puttaparthi was held this morning. Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant

Hall after blessing the baby elephant Gita near His residence and after

a darshan round in His chair, went inside a few minutes before 9.30 am.

The procession led by Vedam chanting students began soon after, and as

they came near the stage, Bhagawan arrived there to send them to the

Gopuram gate. He then moved to the Gopuram gate to see off the

procession and then returned to the Mandir and asked for Bhajans to

begin a few minutes before 10 o'clock. At 10.30, He accepted Arati and

returned to His residence. In the evening, Bhagawan arrived after the

Bhajans began at five o'clock. He moved down the verandah in the chair

and entered the Bhajan Hall from the rear door. Moving to the front of

the Bhajan Hall, He sat there for a while before going on another round

of darshan and returning to the Bhajan Hall to accept Arati and retire

for the day.

 

Monday, November 17, 2008 This

morning dawned bright and sunny. The Stadium was filled with devotees

by 9 o'clock for the conclusion of the three day Yagnam. Bhagawan left

His residence shortly after 9.30 and alighted from His car to arrive at

the stage in the Golden Chariot, moving all the way down the stadium in

a procession, blessing everyone on the way. By 10 o'clock, He was

onstage, and the Poornahuti got underway after all the distinguished

religious figures onstage like heads of Kanchi Peetham, Sri Siddaganga

Muth of Tumkur and many others had a brief interaction with Him. The

Poornahuti function concluded, and the centurion Dr. Sivakumara

Swamigalu of Tumkur gave a brief talk before Bhagawan accepted Arati

and returned to Yajur Mandir at 11 o'clock.

At 5.30 in the evening, Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall while the

priests finished rituals leading up to the 'Rukmini Kalyanam' function.

After a brief visit to the interview room, Swami sat onstage as the

priests finished the marriage ceremony of Sri Krishna with Rukmini

Devi. After the ceremony concluded, Bhagawan blessed the priests with

gifts of clocks and then went on a round in His chair before the

devotional songs by Ms. Mahalakshmi Iyer and party began onstage at

6.45. Forty-five minutes later, Bhagawan asked them to remain onstage,

and called up the Malladi brothers to have their concert for the next

45 minutes. Swami then blessed the concert artistes with clothes,

accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 8.15 pm.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

This morning, Bhagawan arrived at the venue of the Yagnam in the

Stadium at 9.30 as the skies showered a fine spray of rain. Additions

paraphernalia there were two huge elephants who were to lead the

procession tomorrow. After spending an hour there moving around the

stage and blessing the participants, He accepted Arati and returned to

His residence. One of the distinguished persons onstage for today's

function was Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore. In the

evening, He arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.45 pm while the Abhisheka

puja was going on for the deities onstage. After His darshan round in

the chair, Swami sat there till the ceremonies concluded before

starting the speeches an hour later. Pancha Sahasravadhani Sri. M.

Mohan garu spoke on the story of Sri Krishna's birth for around 45

minutes. Bhagawan blessed him with a chain and clothes before the next

presentation, which was a concert by the Malladi brothers along with

their father. They offered a CD produced by them to be released by

Bhagawan and a song from it was played before their hour-long

programme, following which Swami accepted Arati at 7.45 pm before

returning to His residence.

 

Saturday, November 15, 2008 The

venue for the three-day Sahasra Chandra Darshana Mahotsava Yagnam

commencing this morning is the extended Shanthi Vedika Stage at the

Vidyagiri Stadium. Seating for the vast gathering has been arranged on

the ground in addition to the galleries by spreading green matting.

Giant LED screens and strategically placed TV monitors helped all to

have a ring-side view of the proceedings. At 7.45, the priests began

the chants. Bhagawan arrived at 8.45 and was welcomed onstage with the

Poorna Kumbham amidst chanting by the priests and the students. After

spending more than 90 minutes going around the different parts of the

stage and blessing the entire congregation, Swami accepted Arati and

returned to Yajur Mandir. The priests continued the rituals at the

Shanthi Vedika, and after a lunch break, did more ceremonies at 3.30

pm.

In the afternoon, Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 5.20

pm. After 15 minutes, the speaker for the day was introduced. Dr.

Rajagopala Chakravarthy spoke for an hour on the stories of Ambareesa

and Kuchela, with references to nuances from other Shastras. Bhagawan

blessed the speaker with a chain and clothes before the singers for the

next programme came onstage. The Priya sisters began their concert at

6.30 pm and sang devotionally for nearly an hour. Swami blessed them

and their accompanists with clothes before accepting Arati and

returning to His residence at 7.30 pm.

 

Friday, November 14, 2008 Bhagawan

arrived at 4 o'clock this evening in His chair to Sai Kulwant Hall. The

priests who were to conduct the Sahasra Chandra Darshana Mahotsavam

ceremony from tomorrow were seated in front of the stage. Clothes and

other ceremonial materials for them were brought out. After Swami's

blessings, Sri Adikesavulu Naidu, chairman of the Tirupati Tirumala

Devasthanam, distributed the items to the more than 120 priests. The

Bhagavatha Saptaham speech for today began after the distribution at

5.15 pm. Dr. K. Ramanujacharya narrated the stories of Dhruva and the

churning of the ocean, bringing out the inner meanings of the Puranic

stories. As the speaker concluded at 6.30 pm, Bhagawan blessed him with

a chain before accepting Arati and returning to His residence in the

car. An announcement was made about the programme commencing tomorrow

at 7.30 am in the Vidyagiri Stadium. The priests moved to the stadium,

where they completed preliminary rituals onstage. www.radiosai.org is readying to carry video web streams of the highlights of the ceremonies over the next three days.

 

Thursday, November 13, 2008

This evening Bhagawan came for darshan to Sai Kulwant hall at 5.25 pm,

and after a few minutes in the interview room, He began the proceedings

onstage at 5.40 pm. This evening's speaker was the one who had done the

introductions on earlier days. Prof. Anil Kumar introduced him to the

gathering today. Sri Santosh Kumar Shastri is the resident scholar or

Asthaana Pandita of the Sarada Peetham, and is also senior manager at

Sri Venkateswara Bhakthi Channel, the TV channel run by Tirupati

Devasthanam. The 32 year old scholar spoke feelingly on the Gajendra

Moksha story. Bhagawan once again blessed the speaker with a chain

before accepting Arati and returning to His residence.

 

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 Yesterday

and today, the Bhagavatha Saptaham continued with scholarly talks by

Sahasravadhani Garikipati Narasimha Rao garu and Tribhasha

Sahasravadhani V. Padmakar garu respectively. Bhagawan arrived in Sai

Kulwant hall after five o'clock and began the proceedings with the puja

by the Tirupati priests for a few moments followed by the speeched in

Telugu for around an hour. Yesterday's topics were the prayers of Kunti

and Parikshit along with the episode of the Varaha Avatar. Today's

speech dwelt on Prahlada's story. Swami blessed both the speakers with

chains before accepting Arati and returning to His residence. This

evening, an announcement was made after Arati about concluding of the

two-week village service programme by the students with the

distribution taking place at Prasanthi Nilayam tomorrow.

 

Monday, November 10, 2008 This

evening, the seven day Bhagavatha Saptaham got underway at Prasanthi

Nilayam. In the morning, Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall at 10.30 and

the icon of Venugopala Swami kept onstage was consecrated with Pujas by

the priests from Tirupati. Swami then went to the Stadium before

returning to Yajur Mandir. In the evening, Bhagawan arrived in Sai

Kulwant Hall at 5.10 pm, and after a full round of Sai Kulwant Hall in

His chair, once again moved through the ladies' side, picking up ladies

and telling them to be seated on the verandah. When He reached the

mandir, He asked these ladies to move to the Bhajan Hall. He entered

the Bhajan Hall and interacted with them, and asked for some more

ladies to be called. Soon, all the ladies from overseas were making a

beeline for the Bhajan Hall. Bhagawan blessed more than 250 of them

with sarees, granting them padanamaskar and a moment of interaction,

for nearly an hour. He then came onstage, where the Saptaham was to

commence. The priests did a brief ceremony and Swami moved across the

stage to observe the Idol. After a short introduction in Telugu,

Brahmasri Dr. Nagaphani Sharma garu took the stage with his Bhagavatha

narration. Interspersed with songs and poems, the scholar described the

glory of Sai in mellifluous Telugu for an hour. After the oration, it

was 7.30 pm when Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

The Global Akhanda Bhajan which began last evening at six o'clock

concluded this evening at 6 pm. Bhagawan came in the morning at 9.30

and sat in the Bhajan Hall while the Bhajans went on before going to

the College Auditorium at 10.30. There He saw the rehearsal of the

Convocation drama by the students for an hour before returning to His

residence. In the evening, He came at 4.30 pm to Sai Kulwant Hall. He

moved down the Bhajan Hall aisle and sat onstage for a while before

sitting in the bhajan hall for the last few minutes of the Bhajan. At

five minutes to six, He asked for the Bhajan with 'Sri Raghavam' Alap.

After Arati, Swami watched as the prasadam of laddoos and tamarind rice

was distributed, and those in the bhajan hall partook the prasadam

after a collective 'Brahmarpanam' chant. When He moved out, the Prmary

school students chanted again before He returned to His residence.

 

Saturday, November 8, 2008 The

24 hour Global Akhanda Bhajan commenced this evening at six o'clock.

Bhagawan arrived for darshan at 4.30 pm, and after a brief visit to the

Bhajan hall, sat onstage for an hour listening to the Vedic chants

before coming to the Bhajan Hall to light the ceremonial lamp and start

the Bhajan at 6.00 pm. He sat there listening to the Bhajans for an

hour before returning to His residence.

On Thursday, Bhagawan had asked the students who were thorough with the

entire Rudram to come to the Mandir in the morning. Even after the

morning Bhajans concluded, Swami had not arrived, and the students

continued to wait. Finally, He arrived at 11.30 and blessed them all

individually with orange dhoties while they chanted full-throatedly on

the verandah. Swami then went to the stadium before returning to His

residence after noon. Another event this week was the visit of the

leader of the Opposition (in the Indian Parliament) Sri L. K. Advani

for an audience with Bhagawan.

 

Monday, November 3, 2008 The

Grama Seva programme began on the first of November. Bhagawan arrived

at 10.40 am as the Bhajans went on, and went for a drive. When He

returned after half an hour the students circumambulated the Mandir and

left for the Village Service. Yesterday and today, Bhagawan did not

come for morning darshan. So, the students left for grama seva at 8.30

and 9.00 am respectively, In the evenings, Bhagawan has been coming a

few minutes before the Bhajans begin at five o'clock, sitting for a few

minutes onstage, and then moving inside. This morning He also visited

the Hillview Stadium a few minutes before 11 o'clock.

 

Thursday, October 30, 2008 Bhagawan

came for evening darshan in His chair at 5.10, and ten minutes later

was onstage for the presentation of the day, a drama 'Vision of the

Divine' by Gujarat youth, themed on the cataract surgery seva

activities done in Navsari district of Gujarat. When the half-hour

drama concluded, Bhagawan blessed one of the participants with a chain.

Sri Devesh Dave then presented half an hour of popular songs before

Swami accepted Arati just before 6.30 pm. After blessing the

participants in the programme, Swami returned to His residence in the

chair, interacting with some devotees on the way.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

This evening, the Gujarat devotees sang group songs welcoming Bhagawan

to their New Year celebrations and presented a drama on the Prema Jyoti

exhibition and its impact. Swami came onstage to begin the programme

after His darshan round in the chair at ten minutes to five. Ten

minutes of songs were followed by the 40 minute drama by the Sai youth.

Swami sent watches for the participants after blessing them with group

photographs. Smt. Piu Sarkhel then presented Hindustani classical songs

and bhajans onstage for half an hour. Swami blessed her and her group

with clothes and photographs, and Bhajans by the devotees commenced at

six o'clock. Ten minutes later, Swami asked the students to sing the

'Allah ho Akbar' bhajan with alap, following with He accepted Arati and

returned to His residence.

 

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 This

evening, the devotees from Gujarat presented a programme celebrating

Deepavali and their New Year. Bhagawan went to the stadium after a

darshan round in the car, moving out from the East Prasanthi Gate. He

returned to His residence after half an hour coming onstage at Sai

Kulwant Hall at five o'clock to begin the programme. A short drama on

the Ramayana of Kaliyuga, comparing the missions of Sri Rama and Sai

Rama, was followed by a skit 'The Great Souls Meet'. Bhagawan blessed

the Balvikas children by coming down from the stage for group

photographs with them. Bhajans by the devotees began at six o'clock and

Bhagawan accepted Arati to return to His residence fifteen minutes

later. Near Yajur Mandir, students from the Sri Sathya Sai Higher

Secondary school were ready with lamps and fireworks. Swami graciously

sat there for around ten minutes while they set off the fireworks with

His permission.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

If yesterday it was the chance of the Iranian student to chant Vedam

onstage, today it was the turn of the two American brothers, one in the

school and one in the college. Bhagawan came onstage after His darshan

round in the car at 4.30 pm, and asked Prof. Anil Kumar to announce

that the Vedic hymns are not limited to any country or religion, and

then called up the two American boys to chant onstage. After ten

minutes of their chanting, Swami sat for a few more minutes while

everyone chanted together, and then moved to the Bhajan Hall and then

to the interview room. During the Bhajans which began at five o'clock

in the Bhajan Hall, Swami asked for the two bhajans with Alap to be

sung - 'Sri Raghavam' and 'Allah ho Akbar'. At 5.45, He accepted Arati

and returned to His residence.

 

Saturday, October 25, 2008 This

evening, Bhajans began at five o'clock and Bhagawan arrived for darshan

a short while later. He sat onstage and blessed many students with

letters and gave a chain to one of them. Ten minutes past six, He asked

for the Bhajans to stop, and collective chanting of the Rudram began.

The Iranian student from the Primary School was asked to stand onstage

and chant into the microphone. Bhagawan asked Prof. Anil Kumar to

announce after the chanting that the boy was from Iran, and that he was

the first to learn Vedam there. After a few more minutes of chanting,

Swami accepted Arati at 6.35 pm and returned to His residence.

 

Friday, October 24, 2008 This

evening, youth from the North-Eastern states Assam and Manipur

presented some dances. At four o'clock, Swami went to the Stadium

directly from His residence in the car, and returned directly to His

residence after half an hour. Later, He came onstage at 5 pm after His

darshan round in the chair, and the programme commenced shortly

thereafter. Youth from Assam presented Sattriya dance and Guru Vandana

followed by Krishna Vandana. Manipur youth then presented Thougal Jagoi

dance. Bhagawan sent clothes for the participants and Bhajans began by

the youth at 6 pm. Prasadam was distributed during Arati at 6.20 pm,

following which Swami came down from the stage and blessed all the

participants with group photographs before returning to His residence

in the car.

 

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 This

evening, youth from Kerala presented a dance followed by a music

programme. Bhagawan came onstage after His darshan round by 4.30 pm,

and in ten minutes, asked the Kerala State President Prof. Mukundan to

introduce the programme. After the 20 minute dance, Swami went to the

interview room briefly before coming out to begin the musical

performance. Forty minutes of popular devotional Carnatic and

Hindustani songs were followed by bhajans by the students for twenty

minutes before Bhagawan accepted Arati at 6.10. He Blessed the singers

with clothes and the dancers with a group photograph. The main dancer

was blessed with a ring, and Swami interacted with him for a few

minutes before returning to His residence in the car after granting

padanamaskar for all the performers at 6.30 pm.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Bhagawan came for darshan by 4.30 pm on Thursday. Chocolates were

distributed to the students as Bhajans began in the Bhajan Hall at 5

pm. On Friday, Swami clarified at the Bhajan Hall that the Bhajans were

to commence every day at five o'clock. Accordingly, this evening the

Bhajans began at five and Bhagawan arrived at 5.45 pm. He came onstage

for a round in His chair before moving to the Bhajan Hall through the

rear door and accepting Arati at six o'clock. Swami has been visiting

the Hill view stadium sometimes in the mornings and occasionally in the

evenings to view the progress in the work going on there preparing for

the Sahasra Chandra Darshanam function in mid-November. Frequent

showers have cooled down the environs.

Friday, October 10, 2008

This evening, Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall in His chair for

darshan a few minutes after five o'clock. Moving straight to the

verandah after crossing the ladies' side, He came onstage and sat

listening to the collective Rudram chanting by the students. Once all

eleven Anuvakas of the Namakam part of Sri Rudram were completed,

Bhagawan called up Sri Ajit Popat, spoke to him for a while, and asked

him to address the gathering at 5.25 pm. Sri Popat spoke on the need

for all of us to be Grateful, Gracious and Godly. After he concluded at

5.45 pm, Swami asked one of the students to speak. His fifteen minute

Telugu speech was followed by Bhajans in the Bhajan Hall. Bhagawan soon

arrived there from the stage and at 6.20 accepted Arati before

returning to His residence.

 

Thursday, October 9, 2008 Today

was Vijayadasami, the 90th death anniversary of Shirdi Baba, the final

day of the Dasara celebrations and also the concluding Poornahuti

ceremony of the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagna. Bhagawan arrived at

Sai Kulwant Hall at 9.10 am and within ten minutes, the students moved

to the Poornachandra. Just past 9.30. Bhagawan arrived onstage, and

interacting briefly with the priests, moved to the Western end of the

stage and accepted their Arati there. He then moved to the centre, and

the priests chanted mantras and completed the final offerings into the

sacrificial fire. Swami blessed the priests and the wife of the

chief-priest with clothes, and they all went backstage, changed into

the new clothes and returned. At 10.15, Swami accepted Arati once again

and returned to His residence.

 

Bhagawan arrived for darshan in the car at 5.30 this evening. Once He

came onstage, Sri. T. G. Krishnamurthy, former Sai Organisation State

President of Tamil Nadu, was asked to speak. After his half-hour

speech, Prof. G. Venkataraman, former Vice-Chancellor of the Sai

University, spoke for twenty minutes. Bhagawan then indicated that He

would deliver His Vijaya Dasami message and His microphone was brought

up.

 

Swami declared that this "Sathyanarayana Raju" was Sathyanarayana - the True Lord - moving among men. But

many times the people ignore what He says, or think that He is speaking

jokingly. But whether anyone loves Swami or hates Him, Swami will

always love all. All fruits on a tree do not ripen at the same time.

Some take longer than others, some will fall off before they are ripe.

But some day or the other, all will realize the truth. Nowadays, many

people have cell-phones in their pockets. Though you may think it is a

convenience, actually it causes more problems. Girls and boys develop

inappropriate connections this way. Youngsters especially should avoid

misunderstandings with these phones and should be cautious. Better not

to buy these phones at all. If you have to use them, have only those

numbers which are necessary.

 

After Bhagawan ended His Discourse with 'Bhajan Bina', He accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 7.45 pm. The Book Trust website has pictures of the Dasara celebrations.

 

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

This evening, Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 5.30 pm and when

He reached onstage, former Vice-chancellor Sri S. V. Giri was asked to

speak. After his half-hour talk on the Dasara celebrations, Bhajans

commenced in the Sai Kulwant hall. Swami accepted Arati after 20

minutes and moved to the interview room before returning to His

residence at 7 pm. Prof. Anil Kumar was asked to make an announcement

about the Poornahuti celebrations marking the end of the seven-day

yagnam tomorrow.

 

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 This

morning, Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall a few minutes after 9.30

am and moved to the Eastern end of the Hall where a few of His cars

were decorated and kept ready near the garage for the Ayudha Puja

ceremony. Receiving His Blessings, coconuts were broken. Prasadam was

distributed as Swami sat onstage amid Vedam chanting. He then moved to

the Poornachandra where He received Arati at 10.30 am before returning

to His residence.

In the evening, Swami arrived a few minutes after five

o'clock. Once He came onstage after His darshan round, He asked the All

India Sai Organisation President, Sri. V. Srinivasan to speak at 5.15

pm. Once he finished speaking about the Divine Mother Sai, Swami asked

him to speak about the seva to commence in Orissa. In seven flood-

affected districts of Orissa, Swami has directed that houses be rebuilt

by the Sai organisation along with building Primary Schools for the

villagers. At six o'clock, once his speech concluded, Swami asked for

Bhajan to commence at Sai Kulwant Hall itself. Prasadam was distributed

and Swami returned to Yajur Mandir after Arati at 6.30 pm.

Monday, October 6, 2008

As the Yagnam went on in the Poornachandra auditorium, Swami arrived in

Sai Kulwant Hall at 10.15 this morning. After around half an hour in

the interview room, He moved towards the Poornachandra, distributing

sarees to selected ladies on the way. At the Poornachandra stage, Swami

moved to the Western end to receive Arati from the priests at 11.15 am.

There, He distributed some more sarees before returning to His

residence at 11.30.

In the evening, Swami came to the Bhajan hall just before 5.30

on completing His darshan round. As the Vedam went on, He made two

rounds down the aisle, distributing more sarees. At 5.50, He asked for

the Bhajans to begin and sat there for half an hour before accepting

Arati. But instead of getting into the car, He moved to the stage and

asked Sri. Narasimhamurthy, Warden of the Brindavan Hostel, to speak.

After his half hour exposition on the Divine Mother's Love, Bhagawan

returned to Yajur Mandir in the car.

 

Sunday, October 5, 2008 In

contrast to yesterday, when He did not come out in the morning at all,

this morning, Bhagawan came directly to the Poornachandra auditorium a

few minutes before 9 o'clock. Within five minutes, He went over to the

Western end of the stage and all the priests gathered there to perform

the ceremonial Arati with Vedic mantras. Swami then sat onstage for a

few minutes before moving to Sai Kulwant Hall, where He called in the

Union Home Minister Sri. Shivraj Patil to the interview room. Twenty

minutes later, He came onstage and sat there as the entire Rudram was

chanted by the students. He interacted with several of them, calling

them up to Him one by one. After prasadam distribution, past 10.30 am,

He accepted Arati there. As 'Jaikars' rent the air, He interacted with

the students some more, asked one of the students to demonstrate the

Jaikar, and returned to His residence at 10.45 after some more Jaikars

from the assembled devotees.

In the evening, Swami arrived for darshan before 5 pm. After a

brief visit to the interview room, He came onstage. The Vedam chanting

went on for a while till He asked Mr. Ajit Popat to speak. After his

half-hour talk, Bhajans began in the Bhajan Hall. Swami arrived there

soon after, and half an hour later, accepted Arati before returning to

Yajur Mandir.

 

Saturday, October 4, 2008 This

evening Bhagawan came for darshan at 4.30 pm in the Porte car and moved

out through the centre gate to go to the Hill View Stadium. There, He

examined the area near the Shanthi Vedika where an extended stage is to

be built for the Sahasra Chandra Darsana Mahotsavam in November. After

returning to the Sai Kulwant Hall at five o'clock, Swami sat for nearly

half an hour onstage while the Vedam went on, calling up and talking to

many students with letters. He then asked for Bhajans to begin in the

Bhajan Hall just before 5.30 pm. A few minutes later, He came into the

Bhajan Hall and accepted Arati at six o'clock before returning to His

residence.

 

Friday, October 3, 2008 This

morning the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagna got underway. Bhagawan

arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 8.45 am, and after His darshan round in

the chair, moved to the bhajan hall where the priests were seated. He

had a session with them yesterday in the Bhajan Hall after Bhajan, and

today after receiving His blessings, they started for the Poornachandra

auditorium in a procession led by the Nadaswaram troupe. By 9.30, all

were assembled in the Poornachandra and Swami came onstage. The priests

brought up the ceremonial items used to light the sacrificial fire, and

with Swami's blessings, began the proceedings. Swami stayed onstage for

more than half an hour, moving around the stage to bless the various

rites before returning to His residence.

In the evening, the pujari at Prasanthi Nilayam, an MBA and

retired bank officer, was asked by Bhagawan to speak on the Devi

Bhagavatham. After an introduction by Prof. Anil Kumar, he spoke for

half an hour on the topicality of the Purana. Swami then asked him to

speak about the Gayatri mantra. When he concluded just after six

o'clock, Bhagawan called up a few students and spoke to them. After 15

minutes of this interaction, He asked for Bhajans to commence while

prasadam was distributed. At 6.40 pm He accepted Arati and returned to

His residence. The last rites for the puja for the day concluded at the

Poornachandra at 8 o'clock.

 

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 The

Devi Navarathri has begun at Prasanthi Nilayam with the Kalasa puja in

the Mandir. Preparations are underway for the Veda Purusha Saptaha

Jnana Yagnam which will commence in a couple of days. Bhagawan has been

sitting onstage while the Vedam goes on for a few minutes over the last

few days before going into the Bhajan Hall for bhajans. Today, He came

for darshan a few minutes after five o'clock and moved around in the

verandah and the Bhajan Hall before coming onstage at around 5.15. He

sat there for nearly half an hour, blessing the Birthday boys and also

the Iranian Primary School student who had come for Id blessings. Swami

moved to the Bhajan Hall at 5.45 and the Bhajans began. He accepted

Arati just after six and returned to His residence in the car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see an illustrated version of happenings at Prasanthi Nilayam

in the Prasanthi Diary

of our monthly e-Journal

Heart to Heart.

 

The previous issue of Prasanthi Bulletin

is available here..

 

Index of past Prasanthi Bulletins...

 

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