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January 07, 2005
Sairam,
Here is an update from an eyewitness old student on the events that took place
on the 1st and 2nd of January with the Old Students of SSSIHL.
1/1/05
Morning Session :
We could reach mandir only around 8:00 a.m. and there was Choir going on at that
time. This was an American Orchestra performing in front of Bhagawan.
I understand, prior to this an Indian Orchestra performed ( 6 songs ). While
this was going on, Swamy asked the boys to distribute Prasadam to all (
including devotees ).
Then around 8:40 a.m., A group of youngsters from South California sang Bhajans
( both English and Sanskrit ). Swamy sat through this session for about 45
minutes until 9:30 a.m. or so, then He took Aarthi. Before getting into the car,
he went up to the cakes and cut all the New Year cakes ( made by Old Students,
Current students, Mandir Students etc. ).
Swamy made Mr. Anil Kumar announce that there would be a Music Program by the
Old Students of SSSIHL at 3 p.m. in Sai Kulwant Hall.
Then Swamy retired for the session.
Evening Session :
Swamy came in to the hall around 3:15 p.m. He sat down in the Chair and looked
at the front row ( where all the old boys' / singers sat ) and motioned to the
Vice Chancellor to make the announcement ( Old students' music program ). After
him, V. Kumar went up to Swamy praying Swamy to Inaugurate the "Bridge Across
Time - Vol 5 and 6 ". A couple of others went up offering a prayer card (
specially made for the occasion ), another boy went up offering cloves to swamy.
When they returned, Swamy motioned us to start and we started singing the
songs...one after the other…..and went on presenting 15 songs, with some
commentary, both in Telugu and English in between. They were all, kind of, slow
songs and it seemed as if Swamy was tired. After 15th song Swamy asked V. Kumar
if we were done, at this point we still had 3 more songs to present and we
immediately cut 2 of them and presented the last one which was a group song. We
thought, it was a little dragging and too many songs too.
Then, the Band Master ( current student ) prayed to swamy if they could present
their songs. Swamy agreed to it. Then they have presented some 6-7 songs. That
was really awesome and Swamy liked it too and immediately called the Band
Master, created a Golden bracelet for him. After this, Swamy called Mr. Poppat
from UK and asked him to speak and he has spoken very well. He has asked all of
us to make a New Year Resolution that we would really behave like Swamy's
devotees hereafter…
Then, it was about 6:40 p.m. or so and Swamy took Aarthi and left for the
session.
2nd Jan. 2005
Morning Session :
Swamy came out around 7:30 a.m. and gave a normal darshan in the car. He has
gone up to the portico and received Mr. Y. S. Raja Shekhara Reddy ( Chief
Minister of A.P.) who was already waiting for Swamy there. Then, Swamy spent
time with him and his team till about 9 a.m. When the bhajans started Swamy came
into the Bhajan hall, enjoyed the Bhajans and took Aarthi around 9:35 a.m. Yes !
we had a bonus of 5 minutes extra !! Then swamy left for the session.
Evening
Sometime in the afternoon we prayed to swamy for a chance to sing Bhajans and
swamy gladly agreed for the same. So we were all seated in the Sai kulwant Hall
accordingly. As soon as Swamy came into the hall around 3:15 p.m. he has looked
at some of us, and asked us to get ready for the bhajans.
Once we were ready, Swamy asked us to start. Santosh pai started with the Bhajan
" Gauri Ganesha Vinayaka" and during this, Swamy called Sriram and said that we
should sing Devotional Songs. Then the scramble started……We were all
sitting only some 3-4 feet away from Swamy and we really did not have the luxury
of even looking into each other's eyes to communicate as to which song should be
presented. I took the lead and started asking the singers - one after the other
- to present the songs. The singer would choose ( think of a song ) and tell me
and Sonum ( who was playing the Harmonium ) the Sruthi and then, we would start
off. As many boys left, we did not even have a lot instrumentalists
too….just Harmonum, Flute and Tabla, that is all. It was a great session
and we had so many wonderful songs presented by the singers straight from their
hearts…as these were not really "practiced to present" but were the
numbers "close to the singers' hearts" and of course, they were all instant
hits. Everyone, including V. Kumar, Vishal Vaidya, Sonum, Kote, Vijaya Sai,
Ashwini Jayadev, Sai Kishore, Sriram, Shyam Sunder, Santosh Pai, Anand….so
on presented their best songs and every song was received very well by the
devotees toowith loud clapping keeping the rhythm to the song. Swamy too seemed
to have enjoyed this session very much. The time went so fast that before
realized, we had already presented more than
12 songs…!!!!. Then we started off with Bhajans. Of course, the special
ones with Aalaap ( like V.Kumar's 'Gopaalam', Kote's 'Oh Baba' and so on ) and
Swamy seemed to have enjoyed each and everyone of them too as he was nodding His
head and putting Talam to all of them.
I would say, it was wonderful evening that Swamy had planned for Himself and,
ALL of us were really fortunate to have partaken that bliss. It was an evening
of performance by the Old Students - perfectly planned by Bhagawan - and every
Song / Bhajan presented was surely the best as the entire Kulwant Hall rose to
huge clapping and applause for every number presented.
Then as the Bhajans were going on, Swamy made the VC to distribute watches to
all the music boys and some non-music old students too. Then HE got the
Prasaadam distributed to everyone, including the devotees, again.
Ah, our hearts were filled to the brim as we all wept in tears of Joy ! What
more can we ask for ! God is really great.
Swamy retired for the session around 6:30 p.m. after harathi.
Thank You, Dearest Swamy.
Sairam. http://www.SaiBhajans.net
online source.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/5669
