Old is the experienced version of the New and with the
old and experience comes the Golden…The latter half of
the fortnight had the golden touch of the old when
thousands of Alumni gathered in Prasanthi Nilayam
celebrating their “Coming Together” to the portals of
their alma mater.
While the Alumni Meet 2010 earned central attraction,
the fortnight witnessed frenzy of activities, Christmas
as well as the advent of the joyous New Year 2010.
“Eternal Bond of Love” as aptly termed, the coming
together of the Alumni with a strong 1400 team had the
flavor of a “Coming Home” and Prasanthi literally basked
in the glare of this Divine Romance between Swami and
His Students.
Sunday, 3 Jan evening, supposedly the final day for the
folks before returning, was made most memorable when
Bhagawan, upon taking the dais, called for the remaining
folks to join the current stream of students giving them
yet another opportunity to sing in His immediate
presence. With mikes exchanged to the seniors, with
experienced hands yet again taking over the instruments,
they burst open, singing “Sai Ke Durbar Mein Aao Madhura
Madhura Sangeet Sunao…”
The song reflected the collective feeling of the
fraternity, the feeling of pining and yearning to be in
His presence. For the singer, even as he completed
singing, Swami called him and spoke to him. What was
once a regular routine has come as a rare opportunity on
the blessed evening. He had no words to say and Swami
further struck him dumb as He began to wave His palm in
circles….and there came a beautiful golden chain with a
pendant and the singer broke down, unable to bear the
gush of joy that was welling up within”.
And what the singer, Ajnish Rai, had to share with the
readers on the “Home Coming” and the “bonus” that came
along with like a “bolt from the blue” is a testimony to
the humility and devotion of the entire fraternity.
“I have realized that Swami’s love and compassion cannot
be deserved or attained by one’s abilities. His grace
supersedes all that one can achieve through merit or
good karma. That is why it is called “Grace”, something
which is bestowed upon you and is more than what you
deserve. Despite being the fallible human that I am,
despite the odds of even speaking to Swami, despite
being a mere singer when there are thousands of great
singers waiting for a word or glimpse of Swami, what
else can it be except His infinite Grace, that I get the
loving look, exchange of words and His chain of Eternal
Love! I do not want to blemish this golden moment with a
‘Thank You, Swami’. I offer every song I sing at Thy
Lotus Feet and pray for Thy Grace that redeems the
entire world. Samastha Lokaha Sukhino Bhavanthu!!”
“Even in His silence we were leaning” said someone who
agreed that every individual carry home the needed
lesson that comes most subtly from Bhagawan in His most
inimitable mysterious way. For bhajan folks it is
recalling and reinventing of those nostalgic olden
golden days: “… a flashback to those beautiful moments
got tears in our eyes and left us totally thrilled and a
joy not expressed in words” says Shyam Kumar Raja, a
pass-out of 1989 and whose voice had been heard during
those days.
Earlier the programme got off to a colourful start with
Alumni presenting a thematic drama, entitled, “An
Eternal Bond of Love…” essentially depicting the “Divine
Romance” between Swami and His students. Reliving the
golden memories at the hallowed precincts of Prasanthi
Nilayam, the drama brought out in a most innovative
style, was gratitude in offering for their beloved Swami
for making and shaping their lives as worthy
instruments.
The saga continued on the New Year day when the folks
continued with their presentation in the afternoon with
band display interspersed with commentary followed by a
musical session coupled with bhajans. Capitalising the
opportunity, stream of alumni, clustered in smaller
groups seeking His blessings on various project
activities.
The 2nd evening found the Alumni accompanied by their
escorts assembling in the Poornachandra Auditorium for a
private session with the Lord. The session turned out to
be a “awareness refresher course” when Bhagwan asked two
of the seniors to address the group, Prof. G,
Venkataraman, former Vice Chancellor followed by Mr. V.
Srinivasasn, President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva
Organisations – India.
The fortnight had lots more in its kitty that included
the glorious Christmas celebrations. While the Christmas
Eve was marked with the usual International Choir
singing Christmas hymns, a day after the Christmas found
the International
Children Choir singing His glory through a selected band
of children from around the world. The same evening, 26
Dec witnessed the Christmas 2009 Children Drama, by the
children from Latin American countries, highlighting the
greatness of the festivity in His Divine Presence in
Prasanthi Nilayam. “Christmas Comes to My Heart” brought
home the joy of Christmas, lucidly explaining the story
behind the celebrations interconnecting the same with
that of Bhagawan’s, bringing home the message of true
celebration of Christmas in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Christmas was the day when the Lord in white ushered in
to the escort of Biblical characters bringing in the
real Christmas flavour. Christmas is essentially the
“Western Time” in Prasanthi Nilayam and in the thanks
giving speech, the Christmas Committee Chairman, Mr.
John Behner spelt out every possible names thanking them
profusely for the wonderful co-operation the team had
received making the festivity a grand success.
The entire happening was only “icing on the cake” when
the real blessing came in the form of Christmas Divine
Discourse. He exhorted everyone of the importance of
trying to know the Atmic reality: Enquire into yourself,
“Who am I? Who am I?” you will realise, “I am I, I am
Atma”, “I am I, I am Atma”, “I am I, I am Atma.” If you
forget this Divine Self, what remains is ‘deep wine’!
Hence, you should become divine.
There were other interesting happenings during the
fortnight. The 22nd Dec afternoon Bhagawan commissioned
the Sri Sathya Sai University’s new ERP system in a
private function held in the Bhajan Hall. The newly
revamped version of the University website was also
shown to Bhagawan seeking blessings. The new version of
the website was subsequently launched on the world wide
net.
The Prasanthi Dance Troupe that celebrated its fifth
anniversary had a cultural programme entitled “Sathya
Vaani Nrithya Baani“ held in the Divine Presence on 23
Dec in the immediate Divine Presence of Bhagawan.
“Joy of Serving”, a cultural programme by the devotees
from Southern Europe, comprising erstwhile USSR
countries namely, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,
Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia followed the Christmas
celebrations. More than their singing that had its
beauty, melody and devotion what captivated the
attention was the all-conquering love of Bhagawan when
He decided to move among the hundreds of men and women
to distribute Vibhuti Prasadam in person.
This was followed by two programmes in the next two
days, a bouquet of songs by Balvikas children from Delhi
followed by another bouquet of songs by a huge group of
over 340 from Indonesia.
When the New Year ushered in, the mini world in
Prasanthi had the fortunate darshan of Lord Sai, who
ushered Himself donning in Yellow garb…and what followed
was joy of the advent of the New Year in His immediate
presence…a band display by the University Brass Band
followed by an array of four songs, carnatic vocals by
the Music Troupe that broke loose the set benchmark of
excellence.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was in Prasanthi
for the New Year dawn. The Chief Minister, who came
along with his immediate family, has made several trips
to Prasanthi during the last couple of months seeking
Bhagawan’s blessings.
Rose beneficiaries for the fortnight included Prof. US
Rao, Principal, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, Prof. Anil
Kumar, Prof. GV Prabhakar Rao, Dr. KBR Prasad (all from
SSSU),Sri Sivaramakrishnaiah, Principal, Sri Sathya Sai
Higher Secondary School, Sri Sai Surendranath and Sri
Ramakrishna Reddy, (both from Sri Sathya Sai Higher
Secondary School).
Taking a cue from the recently launched Sri Sathya Sai
Narayana Seva Project, all states coming for Prasanthi
Duty would be bringing special sweets per week to be
distributed in the Mandir, an initiative by the All
India Sathya Sai Seva Organisations.
Sports and Cultural Meet is coming up in the second week
of January and preparations got into a higher gear with
the emergence of the New Year…and came along with the
New Year a wintry bonus…but these resolute folks have
only one aim, to excel and make Beloved Swami “happy”!
It was indeed Home Coming, be it for the Christmas folks
from overseas countries or for the 1400 odd alumni came
from different parts of the world, everyone finds the
warmth of being at home while in His presence in
Prasanthi Nilayam!
