PARTHI NEWS-FEBRUARY 2010

25 FEBRUARY 2010 DARSHAN UPDATE

Om Sairam dearest Sai family,

Puttaparthi the Abode of Highest peace is buzzing with thousands of devotees every day. The crowd is growing and growing day by day. .Very surprisingly the mercury levels are touching 40 degrees and the summer season has not yet started. The heat is too much now a days.

Due to the recent terror attacks elsewhere in India, stringent security measurements are being taken in Puttaparthi by the police department. Right at the Ganesha gate there are sevadals thoroughly checking every one like they check before entering Sai Kulwanth Hall. There are also reports that CC cameras would be put at 25 strategic points in the main roads of Puttaparthi.

Now a days Swami’s sweet uncertainties have completely become unpredictable. If you see the past week’s evening darshan timings of Swami the average darshan was at 6:30pm.

25th February 2010.

Right now in Puttaparthi there is a group of 3000 devotees from the district of Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh. There is also a group of WELL BEHAVED 200 youth from Australia who reminded me of Sai Youth from Puppet’s group. The brothers and sisters are very well behaved. The way they come to darshan, go in line after darshan is something which is to be noted. The Youth who are here for the past 10 days came here with a hope to perform before Swami. The drama entitled Mother of Mine, Divine Mother was being practiced for almost 6 months. It was a very hard work for the youth who were living in different parts of Australia and it was a perfect display of team work.

Swami had given permission to perform this evening and they were seated right in the middle of the Sai Kulwanth hall. the hall was completely full in no time with the 3000 plus devotees from Adilabad. The veda chanting started at 4pm until 5pm. As the Australian youth were ready with the programme the bhajans didn’t start at 5pm. Every one of us were eagerly waiting for our beloved Lord, to bless us with His divine darshan. It was 5:30, 6pm still no signal of His arrival. There were some anxious faces in the crowd. The Youth in particular, were bit worried as what would happen to their performance. I am sure they were praying very hard, in fact that would have been a very sincere and intense prayer which they would never have done in their life time. Infact it is once in a life time chance for them to perform before Swami. They didn’t want this golden chance to lose.

Every one were looking at the clock. It was 6:45pm it was getting more and more tense. Many started murmuring, very strange talks, some said the darshan will be cancelled, some said may be Swami is not in good health and what not.

When we look in a deeper level, Swami by making us wait is actually teaching the game of PATIENCE. As the saying goes, Patience is mightier than a big ocean. By coming out late for darshans, in the recent past, Swami is probably hinting it is about time for all of us to STOP running after HIS PHYSICAL FORM, instead look at the SWAMI within us who is always with us.

Many devotees say we have travelled thousands of miles to reach Parthi, which is not true at all. If we can travel an inch within us, is enough to claim that we have made the PILGRIMAGE TO PARTHI.

The sincere prayers of those fortunate 200 plus Australian youth combined by few thousands who were assembled in Sai Kulwanth hall, was fructified when Swami came out to grant His divine darshan at 7pm, yes you read it right 7pm. Swami always asks us to love His uncertainty and only He can explain why. Seated on His mobile throne, Swami entered the Sai Kulwanth hall, smiling at His chosen ones. Accepting letters, blessing every one. Swami made a full round of Sai Kulwanth hall and came on to the dais.

Swami after listening to the veda chanting for few minutes, signalled for the programme to start. Four brothers and sisters from Australian sai youth went upto Swami to take his blessings and the programme started with a sister, speaking in Telugu, thanked Swami for the wonderful opportunity. It was the turn of a Sai brother who again spoke in Telugu. It was very nice to hear their Telugu which had a bit of Australian accent.

The programme started with a beautiful and well scripted drama Mother of mine divine mother. The drama starts with a ice cream vendor selling ice creams to two children with their mum. The children loved their mother so much and vice versa. They promise mother that they will give all the comforts and treasures of the world when they grow up.

The next scene the children are grown up and they both are qualified for scholarships in elite schools. The same time mother gets a medical report from a hospital which says that she has cancer. Looking at the happiness of her children mum decides keep the news to herself, and not to spoil the happy moments.

As the time passes, the children are now grown ups. They are working in big jobs and one becomes a pilot. Suddenly one day they get a call from the hospital, saying that their mother has cancer, her condition is bit serious and both the children are shocked and both rush to home. Seeing at the pitiable situation of the mother both the sons are touched. The doctor says, your mother needs the love of near and dear ones. The brother who is a pilot decides to stay with his mother sacrificing the job where as the other one says his career is in the peak stage with big projects in the offering. He decides not to stay with the mother.

Mean while mother’s health deteriorates further. The brother who left his mother, incurs heavy loss, even loses his job. Unhappy with his professional life, he comes home. The brother who is a pilot tells him, probably it is too late for him to come home. Mother is on the death bed.

Here comes the most sentimental and heart touching part of the drama. The mother is lying on the bed, the two children are weeping sitting next to her bed. The dialogues in the drama touch the pinnacle. Here is the dying mother, two children crying for help and there is our beloved Lord, (equally immersed in the drama) watching them as though it is real. It sounded like a real life incident as the actors were totally involved in the play. The brother who abandoned the mother was crying for help. He was praying “My mother used to say, in times of difficulty, there is only one person who could come to our rescue and He is Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Swami please save my mother one time “. The brother delivered the dialogue looking at Swami and every one of us felt the urge and pain in the prayer.. just then the doctor who was treating the mother enters the scene. Doctor says, there was lot of vibhuthi materialized in one picture of Bhagawan and the first person I thought of was your mother. I have got some vibhuti for your mother and this might cure her illness.

As soon as the doctor applies the vibhuthi, mother raises from her death bed amidst huge round of applauds from the audience. Swami was very touched by this particular scene.

That was a beautiful drama, with no big hungama. It was very simple and humble. No big costumes, no big back ground effects. The message was conveyed in a very simple way without beating round the bush. Probably devotees who are planning to have plays before Swami should put their dramas bit simple and short like this one (well that’s only a thought)

The next programme was a musical programme to start with was a Telugu song entha hayi entha hayi eevela. The brothers and sisters from Australia also sang Shiva Shiva Shiva Shiva anarada, mee chintalella bapikona manarada, a very rare, forgotten Telugu song which was written by Swami. This song has a Telugu folk style tune but has the Atma Gnana. The singing was perfect. Even though it were the Australians that were singing Telugu songs, but they did a fantastic job

It was almost 8:20pm and Swami signalled for arathi. After the arathi, Swami came down the dais and distributed clothes for every one in the Australian Sai Youth group and even blessed them with a group photo.

I am sure the years of yearning and prayers, of those humble brothers and sisters was fructified in the form of this beautiful evening which was completely spent with our beloved Lord. Swami never disappoints any of His devotees if the prayer comes from the heart..

Swami is very keen about the youth and this youth stole His heart successfully and lets hope the tempo and dedication remains the same. May the whole world be happy and blissful..

With humble pranams at the Lotus Feet of our beloved Lord,

satish naik
26.02.10

Prasanthi Update

After the Wonderful and Hectic Shivarathri and Chinese New Year Celebrations, Prasanthi Nilayam is quite and serene as always. On Monday morning,Swami went for a drive at around 8am and after coming back, Swami sat for Bhajans and took Mangala Aarthi at around 10am. In the evening, Bhagawan came for Darshan at around 5.30 and after Bhajans Mangala Aarthi was taken at around 6.30pm.

As March approaches, Two Major Festivals are upon us Tuesday'16th March is Ugadi or Telugu New Year's day and Wednesday'24th March is Sri Rama Navami.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - 21.02.2010

Prasanthi Update - Chinese New Year Celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam

Sunday, 21 February, 2010 5:34 PM

Swami moved through the ladies' side and He asked the co ordinator there about how long the monks would be staying. Crossing over to the gents' side, Swami completed His darshan rounds and arrived at where the monks were seated. He called to the boy who had anchored the programme so well yesterday. Speaking to him for a while, Swami materialized a beautiful gold chain and put it round his neck. Moving through the portico,

Swami blessed some people seated there and arrived on the stage. The Veda chanting had concluded and the bhajans began. Swami sat for the bhajans for the next 45 minutes! He looked at the clock and it showed 9:45am. He said, "One last bhajan." That bhajan was sung and Swami beckoned for Aarthi.

As the Aarthi was done, the photo of Swami gifting the chain was given to Him and Swami presented it to the lad. Swami asked him what he was studying and he said that he had three more years left to complete his graduation from a Buddhist school. Swami blessed him. Then, instead of moving to the residence, He moved into the interview room. He sent shawls for all the monks. But before giving it, He had instructed that they be shown the shawl and asked what they felt about it. They loved it and Swami was so happy. He asked for all of them to assemble in the bhajan hall.

The monks did so and soon, Swami was there. He asked them all whether they liked the shawls and they were indeed very happy. "We will use it every night as we sleep." One of the monks told, "I love Swami." For a monk who believes in absolutely the Nirakara (formless) aspect, to openly profess love for Swami, it just shows the power of Divine love.

Swami then began to explain to them about the bhajan hall in which they sat. He pointed out to the various idols on top and explained to them the Dashaavatars. He also showed them the Buddha and said that he too was there in the avatars. Swami then began to ask the monks their names and the meaning of the names. One of the young lads had a heart problem and Swami told him not to worry. He spoke to Captain Aung who had been the facilitator for the whole group. He also moved amidst the monks and asked each and everyone his name. After three 'aisle glides' Swami returned to the front.

Swami was speaking so softly. On one occasion, when three people were straining their ears to hear, Swami said, "I am giving you a lot of difficulty right?" They were almost startled and said in one voice, "No Swami! We love you Swami." Swami then pointed to the covers which held the shawls. He read out what was written, "Hands that serve are holier than the lips that pray." Blessing all of them, Swami moved out of the bhajan hall at almost 11am.

The evening drama had been announced for 6:00pm. It was at sharp 5:55pm that Swami came out. The New year evening began i a novel way. One of the staff members sought blessings last evening telling Swami that he had bought a new car. Swami asked for him to come with the car so that He could have a look! Indeed wonderful and mysterious are the ways in which the Lord blesses His loved ones.

So, as soon as Swami came out of the residence, A Tata Nano car greeted Him. Swami asked the staff member (from the SSSIHMS), "Which car is it?" "Swami, Nano." Swami lipped the name after him. Even his parents had come as per Swami's command. Swami blessed the trio and looking at the parents said, "Get him married! That will fulfill your parental duties!" Taking the key of the car, Swami blessed it. Then He told him to drive the car over lemons as is the tradition. Even as he did that, the lemons were squashed and some of the juice flew to Swami's hair. Swami beamed with joy as He wiped it and seemed to admire the driving skills of His student! Blessing the family with a group photograph, Swami proceeded.

Swami was preceded by a colourful Chinese procession. As Swami moved in the marbled blocks, He collected letters from Chinese kids who were seated in the front. Completing the darshan round, as Swami arrived on the stage, He lit the lamp in the altar of the Buddha that had been made specially. Then He asked for the programme to begin. It began with a plethora of offerings. Fruits, cakes and other edibles - all held very sacred by the Chinese. After the initial offerings, there was a speech by the coordinator. In his speech, he spoke about the importance of family that the Chinese culture had always spoken about. He laid out a nine point sadhana as per Swami's guidelines to follow in one's life. With that, he welcomed everyone for the celebration of the New Year.

The programme then began with the Chinese performing a variant of the Burrakatha!! Everyone were wondering as to what the programme would be like when three Chinese youth took centre-stage. Explaining the path to peace and love through Swami's teachings, the lads sang out in Hindi, Sanskrit and Telugu. It was amazing as to how a rural art form from Andhra Pradesh had travelled all the way to China and all only because of the fact that Swami loves it! The lads also chanted a verse from the Rudram and the chanting was impeccable. Their 15 minute presentation was very well received and Swami also clapped for it. It was after this that the drama began.

The drama was centred around the family and family values. It had its share of humor and was excellently acted out by the youth and elders alike. It consisted of a typical modern family where the elders are not cared for and the values have gone for a walk! There is complete disharmony and restlessness. Wrong decisions are taken based on hypocrisy and the very foundation of the family is shaken. It is at this point that the 'grand'father of the family steps in to begin a dialogue that is to have a profound impact on everyone present. He narrates tales from ancient China and inspires love and bonding in the family.

He advises them as per Swami's teachings to ensure that the love in the family strengthens the harmony in society. Amidst all this wisdom, there was a deaf character who provided comic relief. Towards the end, there is an emotional reunion among the family members. Interspersed in the drama were some colourful dances from China. Soon, the entire troupe came ahead into the final formation.

Swami immediately moved down the stage and granted group pictures for the participants. Then returning to the stage, He asked for Aarthi which was taken. However, after the Aarthi, He asked the students to sing bhajans. Two bhajans later, there was another Aarthi. As this happened, many Chinese moved up to Swami at teh stage and presented Him a rose and took namaskar. The lad who acted as the rebellious son in the drama, having shed tears of repentance, began shedding tears again as he approached Swami.

Swami seemed to console Him but that seemed to evoke more tears. Another boy by his side consoled him, rubbing his shoulders in a brotherly way. Swami then moved into the interview room and brought sarees and white safari pieces, He had them distributed to all the participants. He also blessed prasadam for distribution. Finally, ensuring smiles on every face, Swami moved towards Yajur Mandir and the time was past 8:00pm.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - 21.02.2010

Bandra Samithi's Visit To Parthi with Gujarat Research children

In thy's holy presence, the Memorable moments which gave immense joy to All of us when Our Dearest Lord Sai granted us a special interview inside the Mandir Hall.

All are children in the eyes of God but some are more special than others.

On the evening of 31st Jan, when the Hyderabad Youth were sitting in full strength with a loving music programme in their agenda and when all eyes were on the stage awaiting Bhagawan's arrival, Bhagawan took a detour and went to attend a special lot.

A small group of mentally and physically challenged children were sitting in orderly lines seeking Bhagawan's blessings. These were the children from Gujarat Research Society, an NGO based in Khar West, Mumbai, aimed at treating children having psychological  and physiological problems. Twenty Two children accompanied by some parents and other aids came over to Prasanthi Nilayam to have Bhagawan’s darshan and blessings.

Where He wills there is a definite way. When Bhagawan wanted these children to sing. It was obvious that these physically and psychologically challenged children would find it difficult  to do it without proper practice. Yet their Love for Bhagawan  has given them the determination to achieve what many of us normally take for granted. What followed was even more spectacular! Both the groups of children (boys and girls)  gave wonderful dance performance with perfectly synchronised steps.

Greatly pleased with their devotion, Bhagawan Blessed All of them posed for pictures with the children and distributed gifts to them.

Pictures of our Lord Sai with Gujarat Research children.

Jai Sai Ram
Vishal. D - Feb 03.02.2010

sourced: http://www.dharmakshetra.org.in/

Prasanthi Update - February 13th - Shivarathri celebrations

After Swami left Kulwanth Hall last night after the Evening Programme, the Shivarathri vigil began for everyone. At around 9pm,when the mikes were switched off , the Group bhajans began. A separate group was formed in a corner of the hall where the Rudram was chanted. Also Reading of scriptures and holy books was resorted to by some. It seemed that everyone seemed to do some Spiritual act or other on this most Holy and Sacred night.

As Dawm broke today, the Divine Saishwara lingam was again decked and adorned with flowers. Bhajans again echoed everywhere in Prasanthi Nilayam when the mikes were turned on at 6pm.

At around 6.10pm, Swami arrived on the special throne chair. As Swami reached the centre of the hall,Bhagawan blessed the Prasadam which contained Huge vessels of Chakrapongal (sweet rice) and pulihora (tamarind rice).

It was a wonderful sight to see Swami holding the small "broom" made of sacred grasses and sprinkle water on all the vessels containing the Prasadam. Swami then sat on the stage and Bhajans were on in full swing, After a Few Bhajans, Swami asked for the Prasadam to be brought and kept in the front on the respective sides and then Bhagawan moved into the Bhajan hall. Once that was done, Swami moved towards the bhajan hall.

Bhagawan then blessed the vessels of food there and gave some instructions on distribution. He also had a look at the leaves from which the prasadam would be served. Swami's attention as always is most meticulous. Bhagawan then to the great happiness of everyone took another round of Darshan

It was around 7:10am when Swami arrived on the stage asked for Mangala Aarthi to be taken Even as the Mangala Aarthi was going on, the Prasadam distribution began. As the Prasadam was being served, Bhagawan moved into the interview room and it just before 8am that Bhagawan retired to Yajur Mandiram thereby bringing the Shivarathri Celebrations to a close at the Divine abode.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - 13.02.2010

Prasanthi Update

After the Wonderfully Hectic days of the Sports and Cultural Meet, Students are back into serious studies as the Mid term Semester exams approach, every student in the School and the University is taught the most Wonderful lesson that Swami is the Happiest when the Students study well and so all energies of the students are pin pointed on studying well and no wonder that everyone passes with flying colors.

There were not many Programmes in January after the Sports meet barring a Wonderful Drama by the Hyderabad youth and a Vice Chancellor's Conclave on the 30th and 31st of January.

Swami's Darshans are wonderful as always as everyone awaits Shivarathri on the 12th.

For Wonderful Photos of the Programmes in January, Please see the Below Link :

http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/ptw31012010.html

Courtesy: KM - Monday, 8 February, 2010

Om Sai Ram

Prasanthi Update - Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday evening Bhagawan came for Darshan at around 4:40pm, Swami moved passed the ladies' side and spoke with wonderful interest to the people from Ooty and also blessed the devotees from the same place in the Gents side also. Swami then moved to the Portico where seated were two research scholars and a Senior Professor from the University who had painstakingly worked on and compiled a case study on the various Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Supply Projects and Programmes. Swami leafed through the booklet and was very impressed.

The Water Projects contain great lessons in leadership, inspiration and private-public sector co operation in executing projects of such massive scale. They are also case studies for hassle-free, redtape-free, trust based man management. The NUS (National University of Singapore) has an Institute for Water policy. Since keen interest had been evinced in these projects, the Sathya Sai University took upon preparing a case study.

Swami then sat for Bhajans and Mangala Aarthi was taken at 5.45pm.

On Sunday evening the Devotees from Ooty performed a Wonderful Folk Dance Programme owith the Title "Sathyavan Savithri". Swami liked the Programme a lot and blessed the participants with Groups Photos and Clothes, Bhagawan also blessed the the person who acted as Savithri with a beautiful gold chain.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - Monday, 8 February, 2010