Updated at 2030 on July 05, 2010
For the second year in succession, the Sri Sathya Sai Seva
Organisations, East Godavari District has taken initiative to bring
hundreds of tribal folks granting greatest of the boons in their
lives, giving them an opportunity to have Darshan and Blessings of
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba!
Over 600 tribals along with thousands devotees have come on a Parthi
Yathra for three days with an ensemble of cultural programmes,
showcasing cultural heritage of the folks from the region. The
Parthi Yathra that was christened as Giridhari Sannidhiki Girijanula
Parthi Yaatra was indeed an offering of Gratitude and Greater Love
towards Bhagawan by the people from the region.
On the first day of the scheduled three day Parthi Yaatra, the
programme commenced with offering of Poornakumbham to Bhagawan that
was followed by various other offerings that included an album
containing rare photographs of Bhagawan’s 18 visits to the region.
This was followed by invocatory Vedam chanting by tribal girls.
The programme for the evening, entitled Nava Vidha Bhakti Sumanjali,
a musical dance ballet by Balvikas and Youth of tribal origin from
the district, was a depiction of various forms of devotion as
discoursed and taught by Bhagawan. The presentation was interwoven
with various incidents and teachings of Bhagawan along with glimpses
from the lives of illustrious devotees. This absorbing presentation
had all the elements of the East Godavari culture, explicitly
showing up their gratitude and devotion to Bhagawan. The programme
was interspersed with colourful dance sequences and soulful
rendering and the entire presentation was reminiscent of the golden
olden days of Bhagawan.
The Supreme Lord has been in different places at different times,
but it is the rarest grace of the Bharatiyas that the Supreme Lord
has most of the time manifested in this holy land. Hailing Bhagawan
as the promoter of human values, they declared that all ‘Gods and
Goddesses’ do visit Prasanthi Nilayam regularly for His Divine
Darshan!
The programme involved dialogues between three men, Sivayya, Surayya
and Ram Babu, wherein Ram Babu explained the greater significance of
Nava Vidha Bhakti as taught by Bhagawan that would lead to
salvation.
The first step, Sravanam, hearing or application of mind to listen
was explained narrating the story of Venaka Avadootha who would come
and explain Bhagawan’s grandfather about the imminent advent of Lord
Narayana in human frame, as Mother Earth badly wanted Lord’s
presence. In due course of time Kondama Raju would hear a Divine
Prophecy, heard as ethereal prophecy, about the Advent of Bhagawan
as the 8th born child of Mother Easwaramma.
Keerthanam, the Singing of Glory of The Lord, followed with
melodious rendering depicting a few incidents at the time of
Bhagawan’s Advent, highlighting the path towards salvation.
A couple of incidents, one involving Karnam Subbamma - Bhagawan’s
foster mother who would request Bhagawan to grant her a name for
chanting, was narrated in an attempt to explain the third step,
Smaranam, Dwelling on the Lord in the Mind. Another incident was
explained from an incident involving Bhagawan and Dr.Samuel
Sandweiss, wherein Bhagawan advised Sandweiss that to cherish the
Divine Memories forever is Meditation.
The fourth step, Paada Sevanam, engaging in serving His Lotus Feet,
was explained illustrating an ‘altercation’ between Kamavadhani and
Raja Reddy, where in both of them disputed at the ‘soft’ and ‘hard’
nature of His Divine Lotus Feet. While Raja Reddy who came out of
His interview room along with Kamavadhani claimed that Bhagawan’s
Lotus Feet was ‘soft’, Kamavadhani was of other opinion who claimed
that “Baba’s Feet was hard”! Explanation to this was given quoting
Bhagawan’s own statement telling that He is Ardhanareeshwara, half
Siva and another half Shakthi.
Archanam, worship, the fifth step had its narration through a song
hailing Mother Easwaramma calling her most privileged by being the
earthly mother of the highest being, who is verily Divine. Glory of
Puttaparthi could be attributed to You, Oh! Mother, for You have not
only given birth to The Lord, but also took a word from Him that He
would continue to stay in Parthi.
Vandanam, the sixth step had an interesting narration about Paada
Namaskaaram. Bhagawan had explained once that one should take His
permission before touching His Feet as many angels would be offering
Vandanam at His Lotus Feet. Once He granted permission these angels
would give way for a devotee to have Paada Namaskar.
Daasyam, servitude, the seventh step had the interesting revelation
that “it is not we, who think privileged, who are doing service to
Bhagawan, instead, it is Bhagawan, who is doing yeomen service to
humanity through various projects.
Sakhyam, Frienship, eighth and penultimate step, was explained with
the aid of a dialogue between two of Bhagawan’s childhood mates, GV
Satyanarayana and Bucchireddypalli Narayana Reddy. These friends
confided between themselves as to how happy they were, having
received bounteous blessing from Bhagawan that made their lives
prosperous and peaceful.
Atma Nivedanam, Surrender to God, the final step was explained
quoting Bhagawan that, “You cannot surrender to Me…So, just chant my
name and I will surrender to you”.
It was a revealing experience for the capacity audience at the
twilight wherein they heard many interesting tales involving
Bhagawan while getting explained of the nine fold path to Divinity.
The programme concluded with a song of glory to Bhagawan, “Jai
Ho…Sathya Sai Nathuniki Jayam...”. “Angels do not get this
opportunity. This bliss we enjoy is by Thy Divine Grace…” declared
them concluding the programme with an oath repeating: “We will not
forget Thee…”
2nd Day's Programme
On the second day, the 'centre stage' was set for another cultural
programme, A backdrop with Bhagawan in various postures, from His
yester years, with a longboat in River Godavari, signifying the
'golden olden days' when Bhagawan had travelled from Rajahmundry to
Bhadrachalam, boating for three long days, was set in the centre.
Bhagawan, while gliding past, showed keen interest in the same and
was seen explained by one of the seniors about the same.
The programme commenced with an initial introduction. Some of the
selected old devotees, most of them octogenarians, who were the
recipients of boundless Divine Grace in those olden days, still
remain active in service activities were brought onstage to receive
Bhagawan's direct blessings. Many of these devotees could not make a
trip to Parthi in the recent past, due to advanced age, and thus
this initiative by the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations served as a
great boon satiating their hunger to have Divine Darshan of
Bhagawan.
Launch of SSSVIP- East Godavari website was the next item that was
followed by a gratitude speech in Telugu and an ensemble of cultural
presentation tagged to many an activity taken up by the Organisation
for the upliftment of the tribals in the region. SSSVIP East
Godavari Project is a flagship project, directly under the ‘Super
Vision’ of Bhagawan Himself. Top office bearers, including the All
India President, had visited the district in the past overseeing the
project activities.
Epochal Water Project Scheme in the district under the direct
initiative of Bhagawan came in for reference in the gratitude speech
delivered by a tribal from the region. At the completion of the Sri
Sathya Sai Water Project, the district organization had spread the
area of activities into 25 selected villages rendering medicare,
educare, individual care, socio care, agro care, employment care,
spiritual care and infrastructure care etc.
Sri Sathya Sai Navaratnamala was the first item that was chanted by
the tribal children, who sang the customised composition to existing
popular tunes, raining Gratitude to Master Beloved suffused with
devotion in its purest essence. Colourful dance sessions bringing
forth cultural essence of tribals from the district, explicitly
showing up their gratitude and devotion to Bhagawan followed, that
included chakka bhajan, peackock- snake dance to conclude with an
innovative dance programme, “Railu Vache Railu Vache…” having
implied significance. In the dance song, “Railu Vache Railu Vache…”
Bhagawan becomes the engine with His name being the switch to move
the train and rails signify human values to promote peace, love and
non-violence, indirectly exhorting to practise human values.
Special mention is to be made on the Likhita Sai Rama Nama Sadhana,
wherein these Girijans made a collective effort to pen 1.2 crores of
“Sai Ram” that they finally offered at His Lotus Feet during the
occasion. Interestingly, an old woman, still keen on doing the
sadhana pursued with vigour by practising writing the name with a
chalk on a stone, to finally participate in the ‘yagna’.
Above mentioned dance programmes were, apparently, with reference to
many of the project activities taken up by the Organisation.
Next half-an-hour witnessed the tribal girls singing Sri Sathya Sai
Geetamulu Bhajans, while Bhagawan moved off the dais into the
interview room. As bhajans continued Bhagawan emerged yet again, at
1835 hrs., to come onstage in next five minutes, round of Ganesha.
After the bhajan session got over, there was a pause of silence when
Bhagawan sat through watching over, interacting with some of the
seniors from the group, passing on some instructions. Clothe
distribution to the children followed and in due course of time
Bhagawan moved down the aisle to pose for a photo session with the
children.
It was obvious that His compassion was filling and fulfilling.
Bhagawan, upon coming onstage after the photo session, moved down
yet again, this time to pose with the girls, moving among them in
between the disciplined rows followed by the boys to come back
onstage at 1910 hrs. Bhagawan asked for Mangala Arathi in next
couple of minutes and upon accepting Arathi, off He moved from the
dais, retiring to Yajur Mandiram. Prasadam was distributed to the
entire assemblage before the Arathi offering.
An exhibition of many a forest product cultivated by the tribals
from the region along with another exhibition of Sri Sathya Sai
Village Integration Programme in the district were held next the
canteen coupon counter during these three days that was attended by
many devotees.
At the end, it was apparent that East Godavari tribals were touched
by Bhagawan perennial flow of pure love. Sri Sathya Sai Seva
Organisation in the district could definitely feel proud of its
various ventures that made many a life beautiful in this otherwise
backward region of Andhra Pradesh.
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