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Published on Thursday, Sept
02, 2010 at 0130 Hrs. IST
With the passing of every week Prasanthi is inching
forward, marching towards the calendar’s most
fascinating day, 23rd November. In its run up to this
D-Day, yet another fortnight passed by, presenting
plenty to reminisce. Every passing moment, every passing
day is a virtual experience in this spiritual township,
as Prasanthi, housing the Supreme Lord, is ever
benevolent in imparting fresh lessons for an eager
onlooker who is willing to traverse the path.
The fortnight that has just passed by had an almost
empty first week with not many special presentations
scheduled. 20th August, being the first Friday before
the full moon in the month of Sravana, Varalakshmi
Vratam, most auspicious for married women, especially of
Hindu origin, was celebrated in the Divine presence.
With legends tagged to Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi
substantiating the auspiciousness of the occasion,
deviating from the previous trend, this time the
function was observed en masse, widening the appeal with
Bhagawan presiding over the same adorning the dais. |
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21st Aug marked the
24th anniversary of School of Business Management
Accounting and Finance in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Learning
. Commemorating the occasion, a group of faculty members sought
Divine benedictions from Bhagawan to help continuing the School’s
ongoing journey, with firm imprints of its own concept of Value
Based Business Management, as advocated and taught by Bhagawan
Himself.
Marking the “Home Coming” of erstwhile emperor Mahabali, Kerala had
yet another
Onam
celebration in the Divine presence. Staging a couple of drama
presentations along with a cultural presentation entitled
“Keraleeyam” depicting the rich cultural heritage of the state,
Prasanthi was made to wear an Onam garb for two days. Of the two
drama presentations, the first one “Bharata, The Embodiment of
Supreme Love” was a portrayal of the epical character showcasing his
everlasting unsullied love and surrender to Lord Sri Rama, while the
second presentation entitled, “Marghadhaara” was on the ‘heroic’
life of child ascetic Dhruva who won the favour of greater heaven by
detaching himself from all worldly pursuits, concentrating on the
ultimate Divine. While the first drama was presented with lots of
emotional fervour, the second presentation was more in line with a
comic sense, though the depiction had its charm and seriousness as
the storyline demanded. Magnanimous Bhagawan almost gave Himself to
the participating crew on the first evening when He spent almost
fifteen minutes amidst them, granting each and every member a
Paadanamaskaar, Vibhuti Prasadam along with Laddu Prasadam from His
hands while some of them got the coveted opportunity to whisper a
word or two into His ears. Bhagawan was indeed extremely pleased on
that evening and these children from the state enjoyed every bit of
the same.
Following the international batches from
the United States and the UK, over 1200 devotees from far-flung
Canada came on a Prasanthi Pilgrimage staying for ten days, from
17th Aug to 26th August.
Presenting themselves to The Lord with a theme, that, step by step
we will reach the light, 235 inspired children from various centres
across Canada presented a programme entitled “A Life of Sai Ideals”
illustrating six inspirational stories essentially declaring that
Impossible is Nothing…and man is essentially the repository of
innate potential that could achieve him anything and everything.
These inspirational stories, presented in the pretext of inspiring a
young boy who set an ambition to participate in Paralympics,
included thestory of legendary Terry Fox, who in 1980, with one leg
having been amputated embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money
and awareness for cancer research. The next day found the Youth from
Canada presenting a soul rendering musical programme singing “Love
for God” that followed by a half-an-hour melodious bhajan session.
The State of
Odisha, formerly Orissa, has a special bond with
The Divine! The state’s bond with Bhagawan is essentially a part of
history and His Story. Celebrating Bhagawan’s all conquering love
that flooded the state, a group of over 700 Youth ‘marched’ to
Prasanthi Nilayam, seeking yet another opportunity to express
gratitude at His Divine Lotus Feet for donning the role of the
Savior in their lives helping the state to redeem herself to
normalcy. Presenting a thematic drama on the episode of natural
flood of disaster in August 2008 followed by the Divine Flood of
Love, Odisha, in total surrender to Bhagawan prayed unto Him to set
His Feet in its soil, blessing the state and its subjects. Odissi
Dance, the internationally acclaimed dance form from the state also
got to stage the popular Dasavathar episode depicting victory of
good over evil, running through the lives of the ten Avatars of Lord
Vishnu.
A group of doctors and paramedical staff from Sri Sathya Sai General
Hospital, Whitefield, the holistic institution that is into its 34th
year of service to humanity, came over to Prasanthi Nilayam during
the weekend seeking Divine benediction on the occasion of its
anniversary. Blessing the group of staff members, Bhagawan spent
quite some time outside His Divine Residence late in the evening on
29th Aug, Sunday, distributing Vibhuti prasadam and blessing the
group with Padanamaskar.
Sai Bhakta Nivas, as it is called now, that was under construction
from early december last year, is partially ready with first three
dormitories awaiting His sanctifying touch. Each triple storied
dormitory with twin halls, with each hall covering an area of 40 x
100 sq. ft., could accommodate hundreds of devotees, aggregating to
over five thousand three hundred, once the project is completed in
its entirety. This new addition would be provided with bunk coats
facilitating increased number of capacity per shed apart from open
shelves for keeping the belonging, liberal provision for bathroom
facility etc.
The tiny tots of Prasanthi Nilayam who are the blossoming little
buds in the hands of The Lord continued to grab His attention per
session. Bhagawan was regularly seen passing and pausing at the
block, be it the Primary School children or the children from
Easwaramma English Medium School, blessing the wards glancing
through their handiworks, blessing the birthday beneficiaries etc.
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