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Sai Kingdom (UK) Grama Seva Group 2005 – 10th October - 13th October
10th October
Swami entered Sai Kulwant Hall at 3.50pm and blessed us all with His Divine darshan. The Vedam chanting stopped at 4.15pm and two speakers were announced for the day. First was Dr Rajeshwari Patel, who talked for 30 minutes, reiterating Swami’s message from yesterday regarding purity of mind and namasmaranam, comparing it to drilling for water, where you will certainly strike water at a certain depth. The second was Miss Varma (Anantapur College), who spoke for 20 minutes on her experiences with Swami.
At 5.15pm, Swami commenced His Divine Discourse. Amongst many things, Swami spoke about how Education has to come from the heart to be called Educare. Educare is the foundation for Education. He then spoke about the Ramayana.
Swami concluded the discourse at 6.10pm with the bhajan “Rama Rama Rama Sita”. The students then sang bhajans whilst prasadam was being distributed to all.
Sai Kingdom (UK) Grama Seva Group 2005 – 11th October
Morning Darshan:
Prasanthi Nilayam is now very busy with thousands of devotees having arrived for the Dasara festival. Each day there are more and more devotees coming.
Swami came and gave darshan to one and all in the Sai Kulwant Hall. Immediately after darshan was over, everyone headed towards Poornachandra Hall. It seemed like a very long wait in Poornachandra Hall as Swami had not arrived there until almost 10am. Swami arrived and sat on the stage for a while and then blessed the priest performing the Yagna. Soon after that, Swami went back to His Divine Abode and instructions were sent from inside by Swami to start the day’s Grama Seva.
Today was the last day for Grama Seva outside of Puttaparthi, and on this special day the UK Group was to split into three different teams and went in different directions. One of the villages visited was called Bandlapalli, which had around 150 houses. Some time after that village was completed, it was almost 12:45pm and the Group moved on to another village. Finally, everyone arrived at the second village called Gownukantapalli, which consisted of just over 100 houses. The distribution task was completed as quickly as possible and everyone headed back to Prasanthi Nilayam.
En route, the vehicles had to pass through another village. There, the roads were blocked by women devotees who had placed Swami’s picture on a chair in the middle of the road and all the while they were singing and dancing around Swami’s picture. The only way forward was to offer Swami’s prasadam to the villagers.
The last team to arrive back to Prasanthi Nilayam was at 3:20pm. Everyone got changed very quickly and headed for afternoon darshan. During darshan, we were informed that Swami had inquired with Sri Sanjay Sahni, Principal of Brindavan Campus, about the Grama Seva today. The omnipresent Swami asked “How were the women in the villages today?”!!!!
Afternoon Darshan:
Swami is embodiment of compassion, as He arrived for the afternoon darshan at 4:10pm, just enough time for the UK boys to get ready after coming late from Grama Seva.
Swami sat on the portico listening to Vedam being chanted. He then instructed the vice-chancellor, Professor A.V. Gokak, started the introduction of the speakers for the day at 4:25pm.
The first speaker was Dr. G. Venkataraman, who spoke for 30 minutes about his experiences about Swami. He was followed by Sri S.V. Giri, former vice-chancellor of the Swami’s Institute, who spoke for about 15 minutes about his experiences with Swami. Finally, Professor B.N. Narasimha Murthy, Warden of Brindavan Campus, spoke for 20 minutes.
Swami started His Divine Discourse at 5:40pm. He spoke about the nine-fold path of devotion practised by devotees in the past and at present. Swami said, “Only God who can change the Mind”. Swami spoke about the time he spent two days with Purshottamanand in the Vashishta caves near Rishikesh. Swami sat down on His chair at 6:15pm and continued speaking about the Love between him and Purshottamanand. Swami suddenly called for Aarti at 6:45pm and thereafter returned to His Divine Abode.
Sai Kingdom (UK) Grama Seva Group 2005 – 12th October
Morning Darshan:
Today is the holy day of Dasara. As usual there was an atmosphere of holiness in the Sai Kulwant Hall. There was live music as is the case on such occasion. Sai Geeta also graced the place with her presence. Our Lord Sai arrived at 9:20am for darshan, followed by a number of priests. Immediately Sai Geeta moved forward to greet her beloved Master. She put her trunk inside the car window as Swami patted her and gave a fruit as prasadam. Swami continued to give darshan to everyone and stopped His car on the Portico to speak to Sri Ajit Poppat. Swami took a card from Sri Poppat’s hand and spoke to him for about five minutes. The card was to express the Group’s immense gratitude to Swami for allowing them to participate in the Grama Seva with the Students.
Swami got out of the car and went inside the interview. Instructions were given for everyone to go to Poornachandra Hall for the “Poornahuti” of the Yagna, the final ceremony to mark the end of the Yagna. Everyone was eagerly awaiting Swami’s arrival in the Poornachandra Hall. As He entered onto the stage from behind the curtains, the volume of the Vedic chanting increased to announce His arrival. Swami sat next to the Yagna (holy sacrificial fire) and put various kinds of offerings into the fire. Swami materialised a gold ring for one of the priests, at which point there was thunderous applause. Swami blessed all the priests as the Yagna came to end and went behind the curtains to His residence. After about 5-10 minutes, Swami came back to the stage and signalled to go down to the ground where everyone was sitting. Swami sprinkled holy water on the ladies sitting at the front from His chair. The fortunate people at the front on the gents’ side also received His blessings in the form of droplets of holy water. Swami was then taken up onto the stage. However, he again signalled to go down and this time sprinkled water on the ladies standing outside the Hall! Everyone was thrilled as their prayers had come true and Swami took the trouble of going out to bless them. At 10:30am, Swami returned to His Divine Abode, at which point Professor Anil Kumar made the announcement that the Anantapur sisters will distribute prasadam to all the residents of Prasanti Nilayam and everyone should return to their rooms to receive this. The Anantapur students visited every room in the Ashram and gave the same prasadam that the Grama Seva groups had given to the villages.
Afternoon Darshan:
Swami arrived for darshan in the afternoon just before 4:00pm. Swami went around the entire Sai Kulwant Hall in His car to bless the devotees. Thereafter Swami sat on the Portico and listened to the Vedam chanting.
Swami’s signalled to make the announcement for the afternoon, programme which consisted of a drama entitled Bhakta Soordas. The drama was enacted by the Students of Brindavan Campus. It was a very beautiful play describing the life of Soordas with dance, music and narration. Swami blessed all the Students who took part in the drama and returned to the Divine abode.
Sai Kingdom (UK) Grama Seva Group 2005 – 13th October
Afternoon Darshan:
Swami did not come for darshan in the morning. In the afternoon, devotees were waiting patiently for Swami to come for the afternoon darshan. There were smiles on everyone’s faces as Swami arrived for darshan at 4.00pm. Swami got out of the car and sat on the Protico till the bhajans started at 5.00pm. Swami spoke to Sri Ajit Poppat for few mintues as He entered the Mandir. Swami listened to a few bhajans and returned to the Divine Abode.
Source:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabaofindia/message/988
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