Prasanthi Update - 10th May

May 11, 2009

After a hectic week of festivities and programmes, a relatively free day arrived for Swami. The expectation was that He would arrive for Darshan at nearing bhajan time as it had been for quite some time now. It was about 4:20pm when Swami arrived, smiling beautifully, the wind playing with tufts of His hair! Moving through the ladies side, Swami came to the students area. The number of students had increased, what with many coming for the entrance exams for the various classes and University levels. About 1500 devotees from Karnataka had also come with the intention of inviting Swami to Brindavan that, in their words, has become "arid and dry without the touch of his Divine feet."

Swami completed the darshan rounds and after a short while, arrived on stage.

He sat listening to the Veda chanting and soon seemed to indicate something. He raised His left hand, like the sage Narada, and snapped His finger. He was asking for the Burra Katha boys! The lead singer was right in the front and Swami smiled at him. He asked as to where the other two were. The trio went up to Swami. Swami spoke to them and soon materialised "something" and gave one each to the three of them. The word, "something" has been used here for Swami instructed them not to show it to anybody! One of them asked, "Swami can I show my parents atleast?" Swami agreed. One was reminded of the incident wherein Swami had materialised a gold coin from a tulasi leaf for a student with instructions not to show it to anyone.. When one of the elders could not fight the irresistable urge to force him to show it, the coin turned back into a tulasi leaf! In this case too, the boys told later, Swami had materialised gold coins for them! So the "something"

finally has a name - gold coin! This trio had accompanied Swami to Kodaikanal where He had lovingly spent time with them. One of them had expressed his desire to pursue medicene and Swami had agreed to bless Him with a seat. This boy gave Swami a letter from his father expressed his gratitude to Him. Swami told the boy to reconfirm as he would be taking up medicene having completed his BSc and MSc in Biosciences. Swami always stresses that whatever one does, it should be in accordance to the wishes of ones parents.

What about the boy whose coin had turned into a tualsi leaf? Well, Swami smilingly admonished him before changing the tulasi leaf back to the coin and gave it back to him with the same instructions! The boy who is now a member of the staff in the Sathya Sai Central Trust, still has the coin with him! Swami then called the boy with the tabla and took his letter. Carrer counseling went on for a few minutes after which Swami told out aloud, "This boy has finished his course from Music college. He has also done MA by correspondence." There was joy and pride as He said that. Another music college boy too gave his letter and had his share of counseling. The Veda chanting continued. Swami then called the little boy, Sathya from the Primary school block. He asked him to chant the Vedas and asked for all others to stop chanting. The boy chanted confidently and loudly.. There was one line where he seemed to fumble but his ever obliging elder brothers from the

Institute helped him through.

At the end of the chanting, he recieved applause from the audience and a loving pat on the cheek from Swami. Swami said, "He is from Iran. He is a Mohammedan. Father's name is Naved. Mother is also Muslim. But he chants the Vedas so well!" Swami sent him back and seemed so happy. That happiness reflected in everyone's being as well. When Swami was speaking about Sathya, all the boys moved up front, very close to Him so that they could be in hearing range. Once that was done, there was no "going back" as they say! Once near God, who would want to go back? All sat there, almost on the steps leading to the stage.

Swami then blessed prasadam but told them to distribute it later. He moved into the interview room and interviews were on for nearly an hour. In the meanwhile bhajans had begun. Swami arrived back on the stage and sat for the bhajan. It must have been a very special session, especially for the students as they sat so close to Him. After a few bhajans, Swami asked for the Aarthi. As the Aarthi was performed, prasadam was also distributed.

Om Sai Ram

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