Ugadi 2009 - Evening Programme

In the evening of Ugadi , a huge mat had been spread and the students who were to sing, were seated by 3:30pm. The array of instruments presented a wonderful sight.

At about a few minutes before 5pm, Swami arrived. He came on the special raised golden throne that He seems to use when He feels that the occasion is special! The hall was truly packed now and Swami gently made His way through the surging crowds of devotees. Completing a round of the hall, He moved through the veranda and then arrived onstage. As soon as He saw the students, He asked for them to begin the programme.

The lead singers moved on to the stage and offered flowers to Him. The introduction was beautiful. It stated that this year was one in which we have to be Virodhi(opposed) to the six Virodhi (enemies) within. The first song was the Yugadi song in Telugu which was so poignantly rendered. The second song was a Thyagaraja kirtan that extolled the might of Rama. The pair that sang the song excelled in the rendering of the swaras in the beginnning, scaling new heights in the pitch and undulating their voice rapidly with great ease. The crowd could not help but burst into an appreciative applause. From the wonder of technique, the duo shifted to the beauty of feelings as everyone soaked in the Love of Rama.

Swami seemed so happy and even proud at their rendering. The third song was a song "Maula Maula" which had been suitably altered and modified to fit the theme. Again, the pair revelled in high scales as they melodiously pleaded to their Lord.

Then there was a Hindustani classic that brought out the richness of feelings and of the sonority that the voices of the boys exhibited. Another song in Telugu thrilled at the prospects of being in the divine presence. The next song was, "Gopi Gopala Bala" and it described the divine sport of Krishna with the gopikas. It also projected the masterful control and the expertise of the singers. Finally, there was a Namavali song on the Lord Hari which was sung by a trio of singers.

Though only seven songs were sung, the programme lasted a full 75 minutes! Time passed so quickly as it does when one is lost in something. In between Swami went to the interview room for a short while but He sat through for almost the entire programme. It was such a beautiful and musical way to begin the new year. More than anything else, Swami seemed so happy with the programme.

Swami blessed the Ugadi Prasadam to be distributed to all and then received Aarthi. Two students moved up to Him and thanked Him for the wonderful opportunity, also praying that He forgive any mistakes that might have crept in. Swami blessed them and then moving to the car, retired for the day.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM emailed on Sunday, 29 March, 2009 10:48 AM

Prasanthi Update - A Simple but Wonderful Ugadi 2009

Ugadi festival was celebrated in a most simple manner in Prasanthi Nilayam. Swami came at around 10am in the morning and after taking a full round of Darshan, Swami sat for Bhajans for sometime, then there was an announcement that there would be a Music Programme by the students in the evening.

In the Evening, Bhagawan came at around 4.45. After giving Darshan, Swami stopped the Vedam and asked the boys to begin the music programme. One must add that the Music Programme was one of the very best in recent times in Prasanthi Nilayam.

The singers were boys from the Music college, Mphil and Post Graduate Courses. Two songs were simply outstanding. One which was sung by two Carnatic singers and another sung by Two Hindustani artists which was treat for everyone. Requesting everyone to listen to the songs when they are put up on Radio Sai. Ugadi was simple but wonderful in every sense.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM 28.03.2009

UGADI 2009 IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM

MORNING DARSHAN

Om Sairam dearest Sai Family,

Ugadi greetings from the land of Yuga Avatara, Puttaparthi.

Ugadi, Telugu New Year was celebrated with festivity and gaiety in the abode of Highest peace Prasanthi Nilayam.

The ashram was beautifully decorated on the holy occasion. The Kulwanth Hall in particular was draped with sky blue cloth around the pillars and on the dais. Beautiful flowers covered the whole dais and a small space left for Lord Ganesha to be visible.

Replica of Mangoes, the fruit of the season was hung between pillars and here and there some real mangoes were seen.

It was a very bright and cool morning to start with. Being a new year, many Puttaparthians in particular came to the ashram in new clothes and coconuts and flowers in their hands... Many breaking coconuts to Ganesha, some seriously moving around Ganesha, clearly seemed to be counting the number of rounds and Sai Kulwanth Hall was not really jam packed but had good numbers. Being election season, it was also the turn of chota politicians to come for Swami's darshan.

Being examination season for all the students in India, probably would have been the reason for not so many devotees on this holy occasion. Notably there were no big groups on Parthi Yatra in the recent past for the same reason.

Every one were eagerly awaiting Swami for His divine darshan on the auspicious occasion. It was 8:30 am and still no trace of His arrival, it was 9 am and the bhajans started and made many in the hall little bit curious if Swami will come or not...

It was 9:45 and then there was some movement at His residence and in no time Swami out of His immense grace came out from His physical abode wearing the brightness of the bright sun and with a sweet smile. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. Mallikarjun will be retiring in few days and He had to say a few words to Swami and after a quick chat, Swami entered the Sai Kulwanth hall in His mobile throne.

Swami took a full round in the hall. This time, there were beautiful flowers placed on either side of the path way and here and there small baskets with some mangoes were kept.. Swami after finishing His darshan round came on to the dais.

After 5 or 6 bhajans, he called upon Mr. Sudhir Bhaskar to make an announcement in place of Prof.Anil Kumar who is not in town. It was announced that Swami's students from Sri Sathya Sai Mirpuri COllege of music, MBA and MPhil students will have a karnatic music programme this afternoon.

AFTER NOON DARSHAN:

In the afternoon Swami came just after 4pm and this time in a bit bigger Mobile throne. Swami interacted to students and some devotees before He came on the dias. Immediately the music programme started and it was a beautiful programme totally performed and MASTERED by Swami's students. The Alaaps in particular were too good. I am Music illiterate but there was one elderly devotee probably in his 60s sitting next to me.. When the student was doing the alaap, he was listening to them in rapt attention probably checking if the students were singing it right. His index finger was making small movements as if drawing a ECG graph and his gestures made me more curious and he seemed very much thrilled by the way the students were singing. Seeing him so much immersed I was definitely sure that he had good knowledge of music. In about 10 minutes I looked at him and this time tears were rolling down from his eyes.. it was definitely a beautiful appreciation not to the students but to the MASTER who made this beautiful music college and no doubt this will be a pioneer music mandir in the years to come..

The students on the other hand were getting big round of applauds after every song and they definitely made our beloved Swami proud to be His chosen ones..

At 6:30 Swami asked for arathi while prasad was distributed to every one. Just out of curiosity, I went to the elderly devotee and asked him two questions... how do you feel and are you a musician? He looked at me as if feeling little bit uncomfortable and in a second he came back to me with a beautiful smile and said so you saw me crying??? It was beautiful and first of its kind experience. For my second question, I was little bit taken back when he said I am working with A.R.Rahman (the oscar winning music director of the "Slumdog" millionaire fame) and I am going to share this experience with him. I knew he was a musician but I never thought he would be working with a living legend and this is what our students are!! Swami always says my students are PURE BANGARU (gold) and how true it is!!!

This new year, which sounds little bit scary by its name VIRODHI (enemy, opponent) has already created sleepless nights to every one. Especially many politicians feel it is not a good year for them. Many others think there will be lot of enemity this year. To add to this, there is one email circulated in South Africa reading SWAMI'S PREDICTIONS which has been projected as personally given by Swami to His students and the contents of the letter need not to be mentioned as every word in that is absolutely false and baseless. Swami our beloved Lord, has come to this world, to save His own beautiful creation and to teach us all love and non violence..

The VIRODHI (enemy), in fact VIRODHIS are the jealousy, anger, desire, hatred.... with in us and let this VIRODHI year remind us these VIRODHIS and let us all, by Swami's grace fight these enemies and win the game of life...

With humble pranams at the lotus feet of our beloved Lord.

R.Satish Naik..

27.03.2009

Prasanthi Update

Generally everyday Swami has been giving Wonderful Darshans everyday both in the morning and the evening which is making everyone very happy.

There have been no Programmes in the past few days except for the Gratitude Programme by the Students of the Sri Sathya Sai College of Music on Saturday. Another wonderful feature is the Great Weather in Prasanthi Nilayam whereas it has already been getting very hot elsewhere in Rayalaseema. The nights have been cool and the weather very pleasant.

Students of the Primary High School and the University have been very busy with exams.

It is expected that Swami will be in Prasanthi Nilayam surely for Ugadi and most probably for Sri Ramanavami also. Of Course it is not possible for anyone to predict Bhagawan's Programme, But that is the news coming out of Prasanthi Nilayam.

Will keep everyone updated.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - 23.01.2009

Prasanthi Update - Saturday 21st March

On Saturday evening there was a Most Wonderful Hour long Musical Presentation by the students of the Sri Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music, Prasanthi Nilayam who presented their gratitude programme in front of Swami..

The one hour long programme was a wonderful mix of Carnatic and Hindustani style of Indian classical music Which a treat to the ears. Swami was very happy with the Programme and blessed the Students and also spoke to them for some time before accepting Mangala Aarthi and returning to His Yajur Mandiram at around 6.30 pm.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - 23.01.2009

Swami's Students perform memorably in the GATE exams

By Swami's Grace and Blessings many Students of Sathya Sai University have done memorably well in the All India GATE examinations.

30 of the students have secured ranks and most notably a student has secured an All India 4th rank in Physics and an All India 6th rank in Chemistry and many other students have done very well and have got ranks in the 20s and 30s

Another wonderful aspect is that usually in the GATE exams - Computer Science is very tough and many students do not clear this exam, but around 12 Students have secured ranks in Computer Science. What a Memorable Achievement.

Bhagawan Blessed all the students Yesterday evening and took Photographs with all of them, Swami also gave a Most Beautiful Gold Chain to the student who had secured the 4th Rank.

Let us all Congragulate all the students of Swami's University on this memorable performance.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM 18.03.2009

14th & 15th MARCH 2009 - DARSHAN UPDATE

Om sairam dearest Sai Family,

Long ago in late 80s it so happened that Swami blessed a family with interview. Like it used to be a tradition, Swami used to allow all the selected ones into the interview room and He used to enter at the end and after which He Himself bolted the door.

There was an old lady in a wheel chair, in that particular family, who was very devoted and she was the one who got the whole family into Sai Fold. On that particular day, all the family members entered the interview room and before the old lady could enter, Swami went in and locked the door. It was a BIG shock to her and she was feeling very sad and also bit uncomfortable while thousands were watching her.

In Sai Kulwant hall, many times, we tend to see who is getting padnamaskar, who is denied, who is stopped by the sevadal, who gives letter to Swami and so on. When this incident happened obviously there was lot of gossip in the air. Many were wondering as why it happened to the old lady, many were drawing their own conclusions and many even starting feeling pity for her. This lady was feeling bit more uncomfortable as she was the Talk of the HALL if not the town. After 45 minutes, Swami opens the door and surprising every one , calls her in. The first question she put to Swami was as why she was not allowed before and why now? Swami with a sweet smile replied, you still had 45 minutes left for My appointment which was FIXED some thousands of years ago and now it is the RIGHT TIME, and that is our beloved LORD. So accurate in every step and in every action..

Exactly or more or less the same thing happened to devotees of Bihar and Jharkhand yesterday 14 march 2009. They all had come to Puttaparthi to have Darshan and they also had readied a beautiful play to be performed before Swami. March 13 was their last day and all the train tickets were booked and they were eagerly waiting for Swami's permission. Till March 13 morning they were really hoping that they will get the DIVINE consent but in negative. Finally the time of their departure from Parthi arrived and they were all disappointed and literally crying. Many were consoling themselves that IT IS FINE but in vain. They couldn't digest the fact that Swami didn't give them permission. Finally the train arrives at Prasanthi Nilayam railway station and all the hearts got more heavier and heavier. Finally they got in the train and still had the sad feeling that they couldn't perform before Swami. As the train got closer to Dharmavaram station (1 hour from Parthi) the DIVINE leela started, they get a CALL a DIVINE CALL in-fact saying that Swami has given you permission to perform tomorrow (14 march) and all of you get back to Parthi. All of them were literally shocked.. Can this be true?? Is the call genuine? later when the train reached Dharmavaram, many were in fix.. and with Swami, we should just love His uncertainty and they all came back and performed a beautiful play in the immediate presence of Swami..

It was on educare with a little bit of patriotism. It was a beautiful play and thanks to Swami which didn't go out of RECORD by His timely intervention. ..At the end the famous number from Vande Mataram album by Oscar winning music director A. R. Rahaman was played and it was just beautiful. The whole song even though addresses India as mother, the boys moulded it as if they are praying it for MOTHER SAI..

Swami was so happy with them that He decided to come down and take some pictures with them and He also blessed every one with Padnamaskar and also gave them clothes... What a blessing!!!! !

15 March 2009

This afternoon there was a beautiful songs programme by Students of Swami of Brindavan campus and need less to mention it was a heart squeezing one and pure love the students have for Swami was clearly visible in their rendering and in their words..

With humble pranams at the lotus feet of our beloved Lord,

Jai Sai Ram
Satish Naik

Sunday 15th March, 2009

Prasanthi Update - Joy Unlimited to the Bihar Devotees

Things are usual in Prasanthi Nilayam as there are no major festivals at present, but there are Programmes almost everyday as there are groups which put up some Programmes before Bhagawan.

A Most Wonderful Thing happened which shows the Love of our Lord. The Bihar Group had come a Few days and had waited patiently for Bhagawan's Permission for putting up their Programme, but as they did not get any response from Swami, they left Prasanthi Nilayam on Friday evening.

On Friday evening Swami in all His Divine Grace and Leela suddenly enquired about the Bihar group and their programme, but they were already in the train. Swami's message was conveyed with lightning speed and all of them got down at Dharmavaram Station and and returned to Prasanthi Nilayam. To everyone's Delight on Saturday Evening they put up their wonderful Programme before Swami. Bhagawan was very happy and blessed all of them and also gave clothes to everyone of the participants.

Bhagawan's Divine Leela's. Swami once said that not even a single person leaves Prasanthi Nilayam unhappy, that was the case yesterday with the Bihar Devotees.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - Sunday,15 March, 2009 1:52 PM

Prasanthi Update - Holi Celebrations

Kulwant Hall was wonderfully decorated for the Celebrations of Holi. Swami came at around 4.30 for the evening Darshan and after He came on the stage around 15 Minutes later that the Holi Programmes commenced.

The Holi Programmes were performed by the Devotees of Bihar and Jharkhand and were for about 45 Minutes in total, The Programmes consisted of dances to the accompaniment of Holi songs Bhagawan gave clothes for the Programme Participants and also blessed them with group photographs when Prasadam was being distributed. At around 6pm, Bhagawan accepted Mangala Aarati and returned to Yajur Mandiram.

Om Sai Ram


Courtesy K M Thursday, 12 March, 2009 8:32 PM

Divine Drama - Journey to Sai by Class XI Students

As the academic year is coming to an end, the students from the XI class of the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School prayed to Swami for an opportunity to put up a programme in His Divine presence. Swami agreed and as a result by 3:00pm, a backdrop and sets were erected and the writing announced the name of the programme - Journey to Sai. The boys in costumes remained in the bhajan hall waiting for Swami to come.

Swami arrived for the darshan rounds and moved through both the ladies' and gents' sides. As He passed through the central marbled area, He enquired, "Drama?" He looked at the pillars that had been placed as stage boundaries and also at the backdrop. Completing the rounds, Swami moved into the bhajan hall where all the costumed students awaited Him. Sitting amidst them, He began to check through their costumes.

Thus it was that 'Annamaya", "Bhadrachala Ramdas", "Manjunatha" and "Lord Shiva" were introduced to Him. He saw a little boy with a very thick mop of hair and asked who he was. They said that it was Swami at childhood. Swami said that the thick hair was not good at all and asked for the wig to be removed. It was so perfect for at that 'age' Swami did not have the thick halo hair He has today. He then examined the dresses and make up of the other children. Satisfied that all was now fine, Swami moved into the interview room for some time.

Arriving on the stage, Swami asked for the programme to begin. The golden chariot was modelled in thermocole and presented to Swami as the programme card. Swami blessed it and the students who came along with it. Swami called the Principal and told him to announce the programme and he did as he was told. the announcement having been made, the programme began.

The drama depicted in short, the travails that the saints Annamacharya and Manjunatha underwent to secure their Lord. The scenes were interspersed with powerful and devotional compositions of these saints and that lent an emotional flavour to the drama. The second half of the drama starts when these saints along with Bhadrachala Ramdas in heaven, are unable to find their Lord. Narada remedies their anguish by telling them that their Lord was now in Puttaparthi as Sathya Sai Baba. Then, in Swami's own voice, were portrayed His eternal messages for mankind and the declaration of His nature.

The drama also depicted a practical example of the transforming power of Swami's love through the portrayal of the life story of Kalpagiri. Kalpagiri murdered his wife and ran away to the Himalayas in the guise of a sanyasi. Baba had said to him, "Why postpone for another birth the suffering, which you must undergo in return for the dire dead?" He told him that the ochre robes ill became a debtor who has not paid his dues; He went up to His apartments and brought down white clothes for him to wear in place of the ochre ones which He directed him to take off. He commanded him to go to the police in his area and report forthwith. He gave him the rare and also the precious Vibhuthi Prasadam, four packets of it; He assured him, "Go, confess and undergo cheerfully whatever punishment they ultimately give you. You will not be hanged; I promise that. Your neck shall wear a Japamala, a rosary, which I shall myself put round it, when you come to Me after the sentence is over." True to His word, a presidential pardon was awarded to Kalpagiri later on.

The transformation that Swami brought about in the prisoners is well brought out in this letter that one of them wrote to Swami. (From Satyam Shivam Sundaram II)

"We are sinners, certainly; but, our lives have become full of hope, through some stray acts of merit which we chanced to do, in some past birth; for, we have rendered ourselves fit to receive Your Grace! Really, if there are any who can be declared fortunate in the world, we are the ones. We are truly proud of this. That the stream of Your Mercy has started flowing towards these mean men who have injured society and who are suffering punishment, is no ordinary event. We prayed that You should grant us Your Darsan and Your Blessings. You have written to us, out of the vastness of Your Mercy that You will elevate us with Darsan, Sparsan and Sambhashana, at Puttaparthi! The Sage Nârada blessed Savithri, on whose head the blow of widowhood had descended, with the statement, "May you have Being-with-husband status long", and, she was able to win her husband back from the dominion of death. We too have learnt from Kalpagiri, whose death sentence was cancelled, that Your Word has come true. It knows no defeat."

The drama concluded on a note of celebration at being with the Lord. Swami blessed the participants by moving down the stage and posing for pictures with them. The XI class students told Swami that the inspiration for them was their class teacher. He thus came to Swami and Swami blessed him with padanamaskar. Swami blessed all the school teachers too with a group photograph. He spoke to many of them and many of them spoke to Him! One of the elderly teachers, so fascinated by the smiling Krishna (actually a .gif file) on his cell-phone, showed the same to Swami. Swami just gave him an amused smile and it was so sweet. It was around 6:30pm when Swami received Aarthi and left.

Om Sai Ram

Courtesy: KM - 07.03.2009