Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram – September 2009

Bala Sathya Sai Baba

Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram – September 2009

- Curtesty Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust:

• Prasanthi This Week – 27th Sept 2009 (28th Sept)
• Ayudha Pooja, Poornahuthi – Dasara Jnana Saptaha Yajnam – 23rd – 28th Sept 2009
• Dasara Jnana Saptaha Yajnam – 22nd Sept 2009
• Id-Ul Fitr in Prasanthi Nilayam – 21st Sept 2009
• Prasanthi This Week – 20th Sept 2009
• Warangal Parthi Yatra – 20th September
• An Encore of Ramayana Burrakatha…16th Sept 2009
• Prasanthi This Week – 13th Sept 2009
• Andal Kalyanam & Thiruppavai Mahotsavam – 3rd day -11th Sept 2009
• Andal Kalyanam & Thiruppavai Mahotsavam – 2nd day -10th Sept 2009
• Andal Kalyanam & Thiruppavai Mahotsavam – 1st day – 9th Sept 2009
• Prasanthi This Week – 6th Sept 2009
• Onam Divine Discourse – 2nd Sept 2009
• Onam – Divine Discourse and Bhakta Nandanar – Dance Drama -2nd Sept 2009
• Bhakta Thukkaram, Dance Drama and Music by KS Chitra – Onam 2nd Day 1st Sept 2009

- Curtesty RadioSai:

Monday, Sept 28, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, the seven-day Veda Purusha Sapthaha Jnana Yagna was coming to a close. The priests concluded their rituals by nine o’clock and went for their ceremonial ablutions. Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant Hall at around half-past nine and after half an hour, all gathered at the Poornachandra for the conclusion of the Yagna. Sathya Sai Baba sent for the large silver ladle through which the final offerings were to be made, and at a quarter past ten, the final offerings were made with Bhagavan sitting next to the sacrificial fire. Swami then moved to the Western end of the stage and accepted the Arati there. The Grama Seva also concluded today, with the students of the Anantapur campus serving food and clothes to the Ashram residents. In the evening, Bhagavan arrived just before the five o’clock bhajans began and sat onstage for a while after His darshan round. He then moved to the bhajan hall where the priests who officiated at the Yagnam were seated. He blessed them profusely with clothes and other gifts, interacting with them for more than fifteen minutes. It was a quarter past six when He accepted Arati, and He left for His residence after a brief visit to the interview room.

Sunday, Sept 27, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, Sathya Sai Baba arrived in Sai Kulwant hall around half-past nine and later moved to the Poornachandra to accept Arati there after ten o’clock. From Sai Kulwant hall, He had blessed two Primary School boys with chains. In the evening, Swami came just before five o’clock and began the speeches after He sat onstage. Prof. Anil Kumar introduced Prof. G. Venkataraman as today’s speaker. Following his speech, Swami started His Discourse at 5.40 pm. Bhagavan began His Discourse with the mysteries of Nature, and it began to rain heavily. After asking those who were getting drenched in the rain to move inside the hall, Swami moved on to speaking about His childhood days at Kamalapuram, Puttaparthi and Uravakonda. Prasadam was distributed following the Discourse, and Swami gave the prasadam Himself to some of the students nearby before Arati at a quarter-past seven.

Saturday, Sept 26, 2009 Full Story With Images »
Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba arrived in Sai Kulwant hall just after 9 o’clock this morning. He moved to the Eastern side of the hall where His vehicles including the Golden chariot were parked. The Ayudha pooja was done for all of them and Swami moved to the stage to sit there for a short while with the Vedic chants before accepting Arati at half-past nine. He then moved to the Poornachandra where He sat onstage before accepting Arati there after ten o’clock.

In the evening, Bhagavan arrived for darshan just after half-past four and began the programme of speeches just before five. Prof. Anil Kumar spoke in Telugu, followed by Prof. Anantharaman of the MBA faculty and Sri K. Chakravarthy, Secretary of the Central Trust. Prasadam was distributed when the speeches concluded at 6.10. Swami went to the interview room briefly before returning to accept Arati and retire for the day.

Friday, Sept 25, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, Sathya SaiBaba did not emerge from His residence but sent word for the students to move to the Yagna venue in the Poornachandra hall at 10 o’clock and for the Arati to be offered there at 11.30. In the evening, He came before five o’clock and began the programme of speeches at 5.20 like on the last few days. Prof. Anil Kumar’s introductory Telugu speech was followed by the All India Sai Organisations President Sri V. Srinivasan, an M.Phil. student Bhabani Shankar in Hindi and the University’s Controller of Examinations Sri Srinivas Srirangarajan. The speeches concluded at 6.30 and Arati was offered as prasadam was distributed.

Thursday, Sept 24, 2009 Full Story With Images »
Today’s proceedings were similar to yesterday’s in the morning, with darshan at 9 o’clock and Arati at 9.30. In the evening, Sathya Sai arrived by 4.35 pm and began the programme of speeches just before five o’clock. Prof Anil Kumar gave a short Telugu speech and then introduced the speakers for the evening. A research scholar Sri Shashank Shah was followed by MBA student Sri Akshay Kamath and lecturer Dr. Subhash Subramaniam. All India Sai Organisations President Sri V. Srinivasan was the last speaker, with the session concluding with Arati at 6.30 pm.

Wednesday, Sept 23, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, the students proceeded for Grama seva at 8 o’clock and Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came for darshan half an hour later to Sai Kulwant Hall. Sending the students to the Yagnam venue at the Poornachandra hall, Swami also moved there, coming onstage in a few minutes. Spending nearly half an hour observing the Yagnam in progress, Swami accepted the ceremonial Arati in the Western corner of the stage at 9.30 am before returning to His residence.

In the evening, Bhagavan arrived at 4.45 and after His darshan round, began the speeches for the day just after five o’clock. Two student speakers Aman Jhaveri and Robin Sharma were followed by Sri Narasimhamurthy, Warden of the Brindavan hostel. As the speeches concluded at 6.20, the students sang a bhajan following which Arati was offered.

Tuesday, Sept 22, 2009 Full Story With Images »
The seven day Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagna commenced this morning. Sathya Sai Baba came to the Sai Kulwant Hall and after blessing the priests in the bhajan hall, asked the procession to leave for the Poornachandra auditorium at 9.20 am. After the students and priests reached the Poornachandra hall, Swami also arrived onstage and watched as the priests started the sacrificial fire in the ceremonial manner. Watching the proceedings onstage for a few minutes, Bhagavan returned to His residence at 10.10 am.

In the evening, Swami arrived for darshan by four o’clock and sat onstage after His darshan round as the Vedic chants went on before moving to the interview room. At half-past four, He came onstage and began the evening’s programme. Prof. Anil Kumar introduced the three speakers for the day: Prof. Vishwanath Pandit, the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University, former VC Sri. S. V. Giri and Dr. T. Ravi Kumar, faculty in the Chemistry department at Brindavan. As the third speaker concluded, Swami asked for Arati at six o’clock and returned to His residence. The Yagnam evening puja privately in the Poornachandra before concluding at 8 pm.

Monday, Sept 21, 2009 Full Story With Images »
Today, the Grama seva and morning darshan proceeded like yesterday. In the evening, the students and some of the Muslim devotees were ready with a musical programme celebrating Id, the last day of the holy month of Ramzan. Sathya SaiBaba arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall at 5.30 pm as the bhajans went on. After His darshan round, He took a round of the verandah and came into the bhajan hall where the priests for the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagna were seated. Swami blessed the priests and gave them some instructions for the Yagna which is to begin tomorrow. He then came onstage and asked Mr. Ajit Popat of the UK to speak. After Mr. Popat’s speech, it was the turn of young Sathya from Iran, studying in the Primary School here, to say a few words. The students then sang a couple of songs following which Swami accepted Arati at half-past six.

Sunday, Sept 20, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, the students left for Grama seva at 8 o’clock after going around the Mandir. Satya Sai Babaji came for darshan after ten as the bhajans went on, and sat onstage for more than half an hour before Arati after eleven. In the evening, He came at 5.30 as the bhajans went on. Devotees from Warangal district prayed that Swami permit them to present a drama, and He acquiesced. The centre of the Hall was cleared and the devotees arranged the sets. The bhajans were stopped at 6.15 and the 45 minute Telugu dance-drama began after a short introduction with devotees getting many items blessed. The importance of the Mother was stressed in the drama which included a vignette from Pothana’s life. Swami blessed them with group photographs and sent clothes for the participants, interacting with some of them for several minutes. He then asked the students to sing a couple of bhajans following which He accepted Arati at 7.30 before returning to His residence.

Saturday, Sept 19, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning marked the beginning of the 10 day Dasara celebrations with the students embarking on the Grama Seva programme. The village service will continue for these ten days, covering more than 150 villages in the neighbouring mandals, distributing food and clothes to every household at their doorstep for a population of more than 250,000. Swami came for darshan at 10.15 am as the morning bhajans went on. When He completed His darshan round and sat onstage, the students began their circumambulation of the Mandir before proceeding out through the main gate to board the vehicles parked there for today’s Grama seva. Bhagavan accepted arati at 10.40 and then moved to the bhajan hall where the Kalasa puja for the Navarathri was to begin. Blessing the puja, He returned to His residence in the car at 11 o’clock. In the evening, Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall just after half-past five and sat onstage as the bhajans went on till 6.15. He then moved to the Bhajan Hall where He blessed the Kalasa puja again before returning onstage to accept Arati after prasadam distribution.

Friday, Sept 18, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, Bhagavan came for darshan at ten minutes to five and came into the bhajan hall after His darshan round. T-shirts and caps for the men students and sarees for the women students were kept there, for use during the village service programme starting tomorrow. Inspecting the clothes, Swami gave instructions for the distribution. In the next hour, as the bhajans went on, all the materials were distributed to the students and teachers by the Registrar and former Vice-chancellor Sri S. V. Giri before Swami accepted Arati at six o’clock.

Wednesday, Sept 16, 2009 Full Story With Images »
After the evening bhajans yesterday, Swami had asked Prof Anil Kumar to announce that this evening, there would be a Burrakatha by the students. Accordingly, the costumed performers were not ready in the bhajan when Bhagavan came for darshan just before five o’clock. He came to the bhajan hall, and after a couple of minutes of interaction with the group, came onstage to begin their performance. The hour-long Burrakatha concluded with Swami interacting with all the artistes and accompanists, blessing them with clothes, with Prof Anil Kumar announcing that they represented a “Bharat darshan” with students from all parts of India. Swami then asked for a bhajan with alap following which He accepted Arati at half-past six. He moved to the interview room, and after ten minutes returned to His residence in the car.

Friday, Sept 11, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, the preliminary worship for the Kalyanotsavam was held. As on the last two days, the worship included the chanting of the thousand names, and today it was the Lalita Sahasranamam. When the worship of the deities onstage reached the point of closing the curtain at 9.20 am, the lady singers of the Brindavan bhajan group started leading bhajans. Just after 10 o’clock, the curtains were opened again and more Vedic hymns were chanted before Maha mangala Arati at 10.20 am.

In the evening, Bhagavan arrived by 4.10 pm. He was preceded into the Sai Kulwant Hall by the priests waving Chamaras bringing the idols in a procession for the marriage ceremony onstage. The hour-long ceremony began soon after. Swami moved around the verandah and bhajan hall and from the stage, moved down to sit facing the stage while the rituals went on. After the Aandal Kalyanam concluded, Swami asked the students to sing bhajans at 5.40 pm. A couple of bhajans later, He permitted the group of devotees to sing some songs relating to the Aandal Kalyanotsavam. After half an hour of songs, Swami accepted Arati. Prasadam was then distributed to everyone in the hall – tamarind rice, sweet rice, laddoo and obbattu.

Thursday, Sept 10, 2009 Full Story With Images »
Today, the morning rituals proceeded like yesterday, with the Sathya Sai Sahasranamam being chanted for the worship. Bhagavan came for darshan at 5.10 pm and sat onstage listening to the Vedic chants after His darshan round. At 5.50 pm, the speeches for the evening commenced. Sri Mylavaram Srinivasa Rao spoke on today’s verses of the Thiruppavai in Telugu for 50 minutes. Swami then accepted Arati as prasadam was distributed.

Wednesday, Sept 09, 2009 Full Story With Images »
The three day Thiruppavai celebrations got underway at Prasanthi Nilayam this morning. The idols of Ranganatha, Bhoodevi (Andal) and Garuda were installed onstage and the worship began in Sai Kulwant hall just after seven o’clock. Yesterday, Swami had blessed the people conducting the rituals with ceremonial clothes which they wore today. On completing the rituals, a short introduction to the three day programme was made in Telugu. Collective worship with sacred rice grains on the plates supplied to all the devotees chanting the Vishnu sahasranamam completed the morning rituals. The proceedings concluded after morning bhajans with Arati at 9.35 as Bhagavan did not emerge from His residence. Later, He went for a drive at half-past eleven.

In the evening also, Swami came from Yajur Mandir in the car at 4.15 and went for a drive to the Indoor Stadium before returning to Sai Kulwant hall after an hour. From the interview room Swami came onstage 10 minutes later to begin the proceedings. Sri. N. Srikanta Rao delivered a half-hour address in Telugu about Aandal (Godhaa devi) and her devotion. Bhajans then commenced at 6 o’clock and prasadam was distributed before Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence at half-past six.

Monday, Sept 07, 2009
This evening, the idols for the Thiruppavai Mahotsavam and Aandal Kalyanotsavam to be held at Prasanthi Nilayam from 9 to 11 September were arranged in the Bhajan hall. Swami came for darshan ten minutes after the bhajans commenced at five o’clock and completing His darshan round, sat onstage. At six o’clock, He accepted Arati and then came into the Bhajan hall. He saw the idols and later interacted with some of the teachers there before returning to His residence in the car.

Sunday, Sept 06, 2009
This evening, Swami’s students who are working in His institutions were gathered in the Bhajan Hall, praying to Him to bless them with an interaction. This ‘Sai Sannidhi’ group is now 175 strong and has been meeting on the Sunday near September 2, which is the anniversary of the establishment of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. Swami came for darshan just after five o’clock and after His darshan round, came to the Bhajan hall where the gathering welcomed Him with group songs. As the songs went on, Bhagavan went around the hall, interacting with many of them. After a couple of songs, Swami spent 45 minutes speaking informally to many of His former students, who are now teachers and administrators. Sending clothes for all of them, Swami moved to the stage as the bhajans began after the session just after six o’clock. After half an hour of bhajans with prasadam being distributed, Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence, blessing all with both hands.

Wednesday, Sept 02, 2009 Full Story With Images »
Thiru Onam dawned at Prasanthi Nilayam with Sai Kulwant hall and Yajur Mandir decked in festoons and floral decorations. Swami was welcomed into the hall with resounding Panchavadyam by the students and devotees and the girls’ brass band of the Srisailam school as the bhajans went on at 9.30 am. Small girls with traditional lamp plates lined Bhagavan’s route. Once He sat onstage after His darshan round, He listened to the bhajans for half an hour more before asking Prof. Anil Kumar to announce that He would address everyone in the evening. Accepting Arati, Swami went to the interview room for a few minutes before returning to His residence at half-past ten.

In the evening, Bhagavan arrived for darshan at 4.20 pm and after His darshan round went into the interview room. A few minutes later, He came onstage and began the programme. The Kerala state President introduced the speaker for the evening, Sri Jayakumar IAS, in-charge of arrangements at the Sabarimala shrine. After his short speech, Swami commenced His Divine Discourse at 4.45 pm. Reminding all of the story of Mahabali, He exhorted the people of Kerala to follow Emperor Bali’s example in upholding values. The 45-minute Discourse was followed by a drama on Bhaktha Nandanar by the children of Sri Sai Vidya Vihar, Aluva. As the drama came to a close at half-past six, Swami blessed one of the participants with a chain. Prasadam was distributed after Bhagavan blessed the children with a group photograph. He then asked them to sing a bhajan, following which He accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 6.45 pm.

Tuesday, Sept 01, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, Bhagavan came for darshan at ten minutes to nine, and in the evening at ten minutes to five. He came directly to the stage and asked for the drama of the evening to begin. The children from Sri Sathya Sai Vidyapeeth of Srisailam, Kerala, presented a half-hour play on the saint Tukaram. After their play, the famous playback singer Padmashree K. S. Chithra presented a 45 minute programme of songs. After her programme, she brought up her child also for Bhagavan’s blessings. Swami created a chain for the child and put it on her neck. Swami had a group photo with the singer and accompanists and Arati was then offered while prasadam was distributed. Bhagavan then asked the students to sing a couple of songs with Alap after which He left for His residence just before seven o’clock.

Fill Every Moment With Quality

Sathya Sai Baba

Fill Every Moment With Quality

In March this year I was privileged to be in the residence of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba along with devotees. As we waited eagerly for the sudden flash of the Red Robe, He appeared beaming with a smile; his eyes flashed “Vidyullekha”. I waited in grateful expectancy for events to unfold themselves. In Baba’s Presence we learn the art of waiting for things to happen; anything unexpected can and will happen!

He suddenly turned towards me and said: “So, you have been transferred to Bangalore!” He was asking me this question after several months of my transfer even after I had first reported to Him before taking charge of my assignment! Like others I have also wondered why Baba the ‘Omnipresent’, the ‘Omniscient’, asks such questions and sometimes even feigns ignorance! I have found an answer which I believe is true.

Supposing Baba starts telling in front of everybody about us, what is in our mind and all our deeds and misdeeds, how many of us will have the courage to go to Him again? If He reveals all the time His Divinity and the attributes of “Omnipresence” few of us will dare go to him; the skin-deep facade of a devotee which we all maintain even in His Presence, is so fragile that it will be shattered and there will be no scope for improvement and the ‘transformation’ for which He has incarnated. So, in His mercy He gives us the impression that He is merely human and envelopes us with this Maya that is essential for our transformation which, unfortunately, is slow. ‘Kramakramena’, ‘gradually’ you will have to give up your undesirable habits, He says in His infinite patience!

Returning to the occasion when He asked me the question, I said, “Yes! Swami” and I thought that was the best occasion to volunteer additional information. “Swami I have only 71 days more before I retire.” I hoped that He would say, “Yes! Bangaroo! Time will pass and you will join Swami’s service.” He suddenly turned round and looked at me with those penetrating eyes. Out came the Sadguru’s mantra: “Whether it is 71 days, 71 hours, or 71 minutes or 71 seconds, quality is most important” and in His characteristic style. He turned round and conveyed the same message to all. “Quality is important, isn’t it?” He asked them, His way of confirmation.

This is Sathya Sai Baba’s method; He uses all occasions to convey important lessons of spirituality in daily living by such mantra. He aims the mantra not only at the direct recipient but also at others who might care to learn the lesson. One will miss the import of His statements if one thinks that it was meant only for the individual who happened to be the target..

Sathya Sai Baba shook me from my stupor. He has repeatedly said that all work is His; there is nothing like Sai service and government Service.. All that you do is for Sai only; in fact it is for yourself, for awakening the Sai within you. Not that I did not know these teachings of His. But again I had forgotten the lesson and the ever vigilant Sadguru had given me the lesson again at the right moment.

What a great formula for Ananda! What is important is not what happens after 71 days. What is important is that till that last second we do not forget that it is His work and that we should carry out the work assigned with the highest quality since it is His Worship through whatever He has assigned. “The past is beyond recovery. Those days are gone. The future you are not sure of. The given moment is NOW! Sanctify it with holy thoughts, words and deeds,” He has declared. “Quality” means sanctifying every moment with holy thoughts, words and deeds. “The most important thing in life is not doing what you like, but liking what you have to do”, Sathya Sai Baba has told us. These are the keys to spirituality in daily living.

Can we do this in the office, in the factory, in the kitchen or in any other vocation and avocation? Yes! We can; we should try to bear in mind some of the other mantras He has given us. We can sanctify our thoughts, words and deeds if they are not motivated by the six enemies which the ancients had correctly identified, Kama (passion), krodha (anger), lobha (greed) moha (attachment) , mada (pride), matsarya (envy). Difficult? Yes but not impossible if we try. Read any book on modern psychology; you will learn that all our diseases are due to these six enemies; our diseases are psychosomatic caused by these passions.

There is another aspect to filling every moment with “quality.” We must be fully involved in enjoying the quality of the work we do! That itself becomes “fulfillment” rather than the fruit of the act. In fact the real fruit of the act is the sweetness of the process. The game is more important than whether we win or lose! That is the real meaning of the Lord’s statement, “Work alone is thy concern; not the fruits thereof.”

Knowing that we are all forgetful I pray: “Baba give me the wisdom to remember your mantra when it is most needed and fill every moment with the highest quality, for which you have endowed me with abilities..”

(Extracted from an article by M.V.N.Murthy, published in Sanathana Sarathi, June, 1981)

Monument To Music

Monument To Music
by Aruna Chandraraju

From the window above, the strains of a soothing raga, and the rhythmic beats of a mridangam float down to us. We pause on the steps leading to Sathya Sai Baba Mirpuri College of Music in Prashanti Nilyam to take a good look at the Saraswathi statue that fronts this truly unique college.

You might wonder what is unique about a music college considering India abounds in them. This college not only offers high-grade education free of cost but also a zero-cost all-inclusive residential facility. Attached to it is an enormous music museum with strikingly unusual architecture and a collection of nearly 300 musical instruments from across the world. The Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music also has eminent Indian musicians like Shivkumar Sharma, Yella Venkateswara Rao, Hariharan, L. Subramaniam, and Neyveli Santanagopalan visiting and holding interactive sessions with students. Moreover, the students get to listen regularly to legends in Indian classical and film music who frequent the Sai Ashram and perform there.

We are ushered inside and walked through the building. The classrooms are spacious, airy, and impeccably clean. The library has an impressive collection of nearly 4000 music-related books and 400 CDs and audio cassettes, with new additions every month.

The college offers three courses each in Hindustani and Carnatic streams of music, and teaches vocal and instrumental music including veena, mridangam, sitar and tabla.

It even has classes for dying folk arts like Burrakatha. There is a two-year foundation course (Abhyaasa Gaana), three-year diploma course (Vidya Praveena), and one-year post-diploma Kalapoorna course.

The curriculum was designed by stalwarts like Bhimsen Joshi, Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana and Yella Venkateswara Rao, and professors of music from other universities.

The museum has a giant tabla alongside and its façade has two-storey high tamburas and guitars for pillars, while an enormous trumpet forms another design element. Within is a visual and acoustic treat for the music connoisseur — nearly 300 stringed, percussion and wind instruments from Africa, South-east Asia and Arabic countries, including rare specimens, displayed in a large, well-lit hall.

Some of the smaller instruments are mounted on the wall alongside pictures of the spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, who is Founder-Chancellor of the university which runs this college. There are bigger instruments at floor-level like a giant veena, mridangam and guitar, all perfectly proportioned and tuned.

For details, contact Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music, Sri Sathya Sai University, Prashanti Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh. Tel: (08555) 287 239; 289 050.

The Hindu Reference

Krishna Janmashtami Krishnashtami In Prasanthi Nilayam

Sathya Sai Baba Gold Krishna

Krishna Janmashtami Krishnashtami In Prasanthi Nilayam
Posed at 9:10 Hrs. 15th Aug 2009

Krishnashtami (also ‘Krishna Janmashtami’) denotes the Birth of Bhagawan Sri Krishna. Enchanting Little Krishna has been the most endearing Divine form for millions and billions of hearts over past many millennia, cutting across borders and barriers set by religion, caste and nationality…And His song celestial Bhagavad Gita has been the right recipe for the human minds to reach their final destination. His legacy continuous even after five thousand years of His Divine Advent, as this Divine Being, fondled and nurtured by Mother Yasoda – epitome of Motherly love and compassion, continues to be the stealer of hearts, as is often sung in Prasanthi Nilayam, Chitha Chora Yasoda Ke Bal… Navaneeta Chora Gopal…

The land known for its rich cultural and mythical heritage, land that has given birth to umpteen number of saints and sages, the land that has spread the glory of Lord to the entire world was the only fortunate land that was blessed by Incarnations. Lord Rama in Treta Yuga, Bhagawan Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga and now Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Kali Yuga…Bharat is the chosen land of God!

Bhagawan Krishna was born in the Dwapara Yuga, over five thousand years ago, in Mathura, India on the eight day (Rohini star on Ashtami day) of the dark half (new moon fortnight) of Shravana.

The falling week with three consecutive holidays ensured a quite a capacity crowd in Prasanthi Nilayam. In the morning, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came out of His Abode after 9:20, donned in Yellow Robe blessing the vast concourse of devotees filled every available space in the spacious Sai Kulwant Hall. Adding to this chunk of devotees joined the students from the three campuses along with a contingent from the Muddenahalli and Alike institutions and a group of devotees from Aksa village Maharasthtra.

The evening proceedings began at four with regular Veda chanting for an hour followed by Bhajans. By five o’ clock, the “Gokulam Procession” of cows and other quadrupeds, led by Little Sathya Geeta arrived at the mandir joining the devotees awaiting the Lord. As the Lord made His grand entry, Bhajans gave way to Bhajagovindam followed by other keertanams and special songs. Sathya Sai Baba, enroute, blessed the Gokulam Procession of animals and birds, a traditional affair every year during the occasion, symbolizing the Dwapara’s age old tradition derived out of Lord Krishna’s greater affinity towards the quadruped…

Bhagawan Sri Krishna’s story is all about love principle and the students, including the tiny tots from the primary school make it a point to express their greater love for the Lord in physical and this was very much evident on the auspicious evening wherein students from all campuses vied to get a Divine Glimpse, a Divine Touch, a glance from the Lord to their “handiwork” greetings marking the special occasion. Sitting onstage Bhagawan Sathya SaiBaba asked for Bhajans to continue for some time before calling for Mangala Arathi.

A convention of ‘Thyagajeevi’’s of Muddenahalli and Alike Institutions and Brahmachari’s of Prasanthi Nilayam and Brindavan institutions was held, as a prelude to the a symbosium scheduled for 15th August, at the adjacent building to Bhagawan Baba’s residence. Mr. Narasimhamurthy, Warden, Brindavan Campus addressed the gathering of “two hundred and forty” evincing details of the 15th August proceedings followed by a peptalk on the greater significance of the institution of Brahmacharya. Quoting Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, he announced that, You have made the sacred decision in your life; hold on to it; you could not have done anything better… The symposium would continue on the 15th August with a morning session followed by another session after the lunch wherein eminent speakers from the all the campuses including Muddenahalli and Alike institutions would address the aspirants.

Reference (With Pictures)

Two Divine Answers By Baba

Sathya Sai Baba

Two Divine Answers By Baba

Question: Sometimes people ask us that if Swamiji is God, then why does He not remove all the sufferings?

Sathya Sai Baba: It is not that Swami has no ‘desire’ (ichcha) to remove the suffering, but how is it possible for Swami to accept part-time devotion and give full-time payment? Swami has a great ‘desire’ to give happiness to all mankind, but mankind itself is responsible for the good and the bad it experiences. God’s grace can change your destiny, if you so desire.

All the good and all the bad, are merely reflections of the various activities in this world indulged in by mankind. The world is not constituted of earth and mud only. There are people in it as well and the earth and the people are inseparably bound with each other. They cannot be separated.

For every act of man, there is Reaction, Resound and Reflection.

Question: Does Swamiji suffer sorrow or happiness?

Sathya Sai Baba: You see Sorrow and happiness only because of your dual nature. God only sees One, not many. Of course, the seed of activity (Karma) is there and that brings forth your destiny.

You reap whatever you have planted. God sees only One. There is a tree with its roots, trunk, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits.. It is a manifestation of many forms and attributes, which have all come from the One seed. Take the example of soil or earth. There is sweetness in sugarcane and various fruits. The sweetness is really contained in the One earth just as the tree is in the One seed.

Similarly for all the names, forms and attributes, the One Divinity is the basis. Because I know the Truth fully, that all are Divine; that everything is Divine and that there is no Jiva (individuality) other than Divinity, there is no time or occasion when Swami has suffered pain, or pleasure, or sorrow. At no time does Swami suffer any of these things.

When someone comes to Me and says that he is suffering great pain or sorrow, I very much want to feel and see what pain is like or what sorrow is like. But it has not been possible for me to experience either pain or sorrow. Since such people have not understood this aspect of Mine, I pretend and look sorrowful or as if I am suffering. I pretend, so that I may correct them, put them on the proper path and make them understand me. I am telling you these things through truthful personal experience and these are not some imaginary statements.

In Me there is no such thing as sinking at some worldly sorrows or being elated at some worldly achievements. “My Life Is My Message” has been said in this context and if you try to follow Me, you will also have an enormous amount of peace and bliss.

Source : QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH SATHYA SAI BABA By Eruch B.Fanibunda – 1976

From Puttaparthi – Raja Reddy Incidents

Sathya Sai Baba At The Chitravathi

From Puttaparthi – Raja Reddy Incidents

Among the few fortunate devotees, who came to Sathya Sai Baba in the early years of His avatharhood, Mr Raja Reddy is exceptional. He was one of the most privileged who came to Bhagavan as a teenager and continued to stay in the Divine Presence enjoying His blissful divine proximity for nearly three decades. In his words:

Once I had a difference of opinion with Baba – you know ego coming out! We were stationed in Bangalore – in one devotees’ place. And I took it so much to heart that I thought I must back off! And in fact, I did back off. I took a 3 hour bus journey to return to my home.

But half way through the journey, as I was having a snack in a way-side hotel, I don’t know what happened! My whole heart was being wrung like a wet towel. I could not stand it! Automatically tears started flowing from my eyes unendingly.

So much so that the other inmates at the hotel thought: ‘Poor fellow; he must be suffering from some agony!’ The tears would not stop. It was a ceaseless flow. I could not stand it anymore; I was finished! I took the next bus to Bangalore and said, “Come what may, I am going back to Baba!”

When I reached, I saw Sathya Sai Baba sitting quietly on the bed, writing a letter to me! Yes! He was writing: “Where will you leave me and go?”

From then on I decided – He is the supreme indweller! And nothing can be done without His permission. When He has your heart under His control, you can’t do anything! You’re finished. Your brain doesn’t work. So that’s how it happened and that’s when I decided: “I will not go anywhere without Your Will – it can’t be done!”

He knows absolutely everything; it was something fantastic! And you know all the rest of it – whenever a thought rises in the mind of any one of the devotees sitting there, it at once gets registered there in Sathya Sai Baba’s Solar Consciousness; so much so that He reacts immediately!

For instance, my wife, and my son – they have also had such experiences. Once Satya Sai Baba was giving an interview; and He called my wife too. There were some rich people around Him. Then she had a faint thought in her mind: ‘He gives special attention to rich people!’

Sathya SaiBaba was talking then about something else, but He immediately turned to her as if following her thought and said: “Why? Because under them there are so many other people who are working; and they will all be benefited by it!” Everybody working under the rich person can get influenced!!! So many people will be benefited if one at the helm is corrected. Naturally, His heart goes out to other people also; so they also stand to benefit. So, instead of catching every small ant, catch hold of the queen ant! That’s what Sathya Sai Baba is doing; and that’s what Swami Vivekananda used to do too.

Gradually he put me in bhajans and in driving His car and looking to His various duties; getting His bath ready and His bed, and so many other opportunities! He has been immensely graceful to me – giving me all those chances to do seva, and so it went on.

It was in Ooty and Baba was relaxing on a cot; only we two were there in the room. Sathya Sai Baba said: “If you are a devotee of Vishnu, you will see the parama-jyoti (Supreme light) coming from my heart; if you are a devotee of Shiva, you will see it from my forehead – where the third eye or the Jnana netra (eye of wisdom) is located.” I, of course, saw a jyoti (Divine light) in the heart area, as I have been a devotee of Lord Krishna right from the very beginning.

I told you I am a born skeptic! I wouldn’t yield that easily; I have an ego too! After Sathya Sai Baba went out of the room, I took His torch which He had kept under the rug. I thought: ‘Will it give me the same effect? Let me try it!’

Immediately Sathya Baba caught me red-handed! He came inside and said: “What shall I do to make you believe?”

Heart 2 Heart Reference

Divine Experience Of Late Shri Kutumba Rao

Sathya Sai Baba 1944

Divine Experience Of Late Shri Kutumba Rao

Late Kutumba Rao was an ardent devotee of Sathya Sai Baba, he came to Parthi in late 40s to see who this wonder kid is. After being impressed and convinced by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba he stayed back and did a great service at various levels in the Trust and passed away in 1989 .

Well, this happened in 1950 when Shri Kutumba Rao came to Parthi for Dharshan enroute to Tirupathi. His intentions were to stay at Parthi for 3 days and from there to go to Tirupathi for a couple of day’s stay. As he spent time at Parthi, attended a few sessions of Chitravathi, bhajans he forgot the time. He only realized the time when his money coffers became empty. With full faith he prayed to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for the success of his remaining part of the tour. As a response to that he heard a message in the evening that Sathya Sai Baba would be leaving for Brindavan by late evening, which means that he lost the opportunity to talk to Bhagawan in the next morning.

The determined Kutumba Rao prayed and stayed. A few hours passed and Sai Baba left for Brindavan. Shri Kutumba Rao was completely at lost as he left with penniless to go home or continue his journey. When he was in that dilemma a person came in search of Shri Kutumba Rao and asked him “Are you Mr. Kutumba Rao”. After hearing in affirmative the stranger put a pocket in Kutmba Rao’s hand, to his pleasant surprise, told him, Sathya Sai Baba asked me to give you. Shri Kutumba Rao opened and found a set of currency notes in that packet.

The overjoyed devotee thanked the omniscient Lord and pursued his journey. He never counted how much money was there in that pocket. As the Lord sent, it should have sufficient money to take care of his journey. As he started spending money to his delight he kept on getting money. He reached home and after spending some time with family he went inside the Pooja room to open the packet to count the money.

To his Surprise, there was only a Rupee note left in that.

This note is still in the Pooja room of the family members of Shri Kutumba Rao. That was the faith and that was the response of Lord.

Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram – July 2009

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram – July 2009

- Curtesty Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust:

• Varalakshmi Vratam in Prasanthi Nilayam- 31st July 2009
• Ranga Reddy Parthi Yatra – Distribution and Musical Offering – 27th July 2009
• Radha Krishna – Dance Drama – 26th July 2009
• Divine Discourse – 20th July 2009
• Prasanthi This Week – 26th July 2009
• An Evening for Mother Divine – 26th July 2009
• Thou Art That – A Divine Reminder 20th July 2009
• Prasanthi This Week – 19th July 2009
• Devudu Unnaru – Musical Dance Drama by Medak BV & Youth 18th July 2009
• Medak Parthi Yathra – Distribution and Music Programme 17th July 2009
• Guru Purnima Divine Discourse – 7th July 2009
• Bhagawan’s visit to SSSIHMS – 10th July 2009
• Prasanthi This Week – 13th July 2009
• Divine Discourse – Evening- 6th July 2009
• Sai African Adults Choir 2009 – 9th July 2009
• Music Programme by Brazil and Indonesia – 8th July 2009
• Guru Purnima 2009 – Felicitation and Divine Discourse – 7th July 2009
• Divine Discourse and Music Drama by TN Youth and Balvikas – 6th July 2009
• Prasanthi this week – 5th July 2009
• Ashadi Ekadashi: "Sant Gajanan Maharaj"- Musical Ballet – 4th July 2009
• Ashadi Ekadashi: "Maharashtra Bhakthi Gaata – Music and Dance Programme" – 3rd July 2009
• Ashadi Ekadashi: Music Concert – 2nd July 2009
• Ashadi Ekadashi: Veda Chanting and Hindustani Music- 1st July 2009
• Ashadi Ekadashi: Dindi Yatra and Medical Camp- 1st-3rd July 2009

- Curtesty RadioSai:

Friday, July 31, 2009
Today, the Varalakshmi vratam was celebrated at Prasanthi Nilayam. The Mandir was decorated with flowers and an icon of Mahalaksmi adorned the centre of the stage. Bhagavan emerged from His residence after the 8 to 9 Vedam chanting at 9.45 am, moving straight to the stage on His chair. The ladies doing the pooja, more than 1500 in number, were seated in the front of the entire extent of the hall. The worship by the priest onstage began at ten o’clock and continued for 45 minutes, concluding with the traditional recital of the story of the origin of this celebration. Swami then went around the hall in His chair for ten minutes before returning onstage. He accepted Arati at 11 o’clock and prasadam was distributed. As Swami left for His residence, Prof. Anil Kumar announced that food had been arranged for all the participants in the canteen and that there would be a music concert this evening.

Sathya Sai Baba came for evening darshan at 4.30 pm. Once He finished His darshan round, He asked the artistes for the music programme to be shifted to the stage. Once they were ready, He came onstage and began their performance at 4.45 pm. After 70 minutes of soul-stirring songs by Smt. Anuradha Sriram, Sathya Sai Bab called her up and blessed her with a chain. He gave clothes to all the members of the troupe and had a group photo with them. Bhajans by the students then began at 6 pm. After twenty minutes of bhajans including some with alaps, Swami accepted Arati and retired for the day.

Thursday, July 30, 2009
This morning, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba went for a drive a few minutes after nine o’clock and returned to the Mandir after around half an hour. In the evening, the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall had a backdrop with the United States portrayed – devotees from the USA were to present a programme. Swami completed His darshan round and came onstage at 5.10 pm. After ten minutes of getting items blessed, the play by the devotees began. They presented the varied spiritual traditions of the “United Sai America” as being discovered by Sage Narada sent by the Lord to the US. At the fag end of the play, Swami called up “Narada” and blessed him with a chain. After the drama, Arati was offered and prasadam was distributed. Then Swami acceded to the prayers of the devotees and allowed them to sing some bhajans. He went into the interview room and emerged with clothes for the performers. At 6.30 pm, He accepted Arati again and returned to His residence.

Monday, July 27, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, the devotees from Ranga Reddy district had arranged items to be distributed to the needy in the centre of Sai Kulwant hall. After Swami’s darshan round, He came onstage and began their programme a few minutes past five o’clock. After getting blessings from Bhagavan, items like sewing machines, plumber kits and so on were distributed to deserving folk from their district. The ten-minute distribution was followed by a music programme with Telugu songs for nearly an hour. Swami sent clothes for the singers and also blessed two of the elders with rings after the programme. He went down among them for group photographs too. After Arati and prasadam distribution, Swami returned to His residence at 6.30 pm.

Sunday, July 26, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, the devotees from Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh presented a drama. Bhagavan came for darshan at 5.10 pm, and after His darshan round, came onstage. Some of the organisers came up to Him for blessings and the drama got underway after half-past five. The Radha-Krishna drama which Swami had prepared to be acted by His students for His 60th birthday in 1985, writing the dialogs and the lyrics Himself, was recreated by the Balvikas children. After the 45 minute drama, Swami went into the interview room and emerged in a few minutes with clothes. He went down from the stage to give the clothes to the children, sitting amidst them for photographs and interacting with them for more than half an hour. After He came onstage at 7 o’clock, He blessed one of the elders of the group with a chain before accepting Arati and returning to His residence while prasadam was distributed.

Saturday, July 25, 2009 Full Story With Images »
As indicated on July 20th, Vedam chanting has been going on in Sai Kulwant hall before the bhajan sessions. Thursday was the 14th anniversary of the Higher Seconday School boys’ hostel, and Swami blessed the toffees brought by some of the boys during evening darshan. Last evening, Swami spoke to one of the lead singers after Arati, and this morning onwards the post-Arati ‘Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’ chant was reinstated. Devotees from the US were ready to present a skit and bhajans this evening. The daily Vedam chant went on from 4 to 5 pm, and Swami came for darshan at 5.20 pm. After His darshan round, He came onstage briefly and then moved to the interview room. After some interviews, He emerged at 7.35 pm to come onstage and begin the programme. The children presented a 10 minute skit on Abraham Lincoln, following which the devotees sang bhajans for half an hour before Swami accepted Arati. After Arati, Swami went down from the stage for photographs with the group before returning to His residence in the car at 8.30 pm.

Monday, July 20, 2009 Full Story With Images »
Yesterday, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba had a twenty minute darshan round, spending a few minutes with His students currently working at the Super Speciality Hospital at Bangalore, and later with some Primary School students. This evening, He came for darshan a few minutes before five o’clock in the special white chair. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra was also part of the congregation in Sai Kulwant hall. The evening bhajans began as Swami completed His darshan round and Swami sat onstage, making a brief round of the verandah. At 5.40, He asked for the microphones to be brought, and asked Prof Anil Kumar to speak. Following his twenty minute impromptu talk, the former Vice-Chancellor Sri. S. V. Giri was asked to speak. Then Bhagavan began His Divine Discourse at 6.20 pm. In His fifty-minute Discourse, Swami touched upon the Upanishadic truth of the Unity of all creation. Following the Discourse, the students sang a bhajan while prasadam was distributed, and Arati was offered. At the end, while ‘Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’ was being chanted, Swami called up the lead singer and asked him to chant ‘Samasta Jeevah Sukhino Bhavantu’ – he chanted this thrice and the session concluded at 7.20 pm. with Bhagavan returning to His residence in the car. Later in the evening, Swami sent word that tomorrow onwards, Vedam should be chanted in the Sai Kulwant Hall from 8 am to 9 am and from 4 pm to 5 pm before the bhajan sessions.

Saturday, July 18, 2009
Bhagavan went for a drive at 11.40 this morning, returning to His residence after noon. In the evening, the devotees from Medak district presented a drama ‘Devudu Unnadu’. After His darshan round when Swami came onstage, some of the devotees came up to Him for blessings and the drama got underway at 5.30 pm. The forty-five minute Telugu play showed the transformation of two youths to theists with many quotes and poems from Swami. After the drama, Swami went inside the interview room for five minutes and emerged with clothes for the participants. He went down from the stage and moved among the children while bhajans went on, and took group photographs with them. He blessed one of them with a chain, and gave them the clothes Himself. After nearly half an hour of interaction, once He came onstage, He accepted Arati at seven o’clock. He interacted some more with the devotees before returning to His residence ten minutes later.

Friday, July 17, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall was filled with items for distribution. Devotees from Medak district of Andhra Pradesh are here in strength in their Parthi Yatra. Bhagavan arrived at a quarter-past five and after His darshan round, came onstage. Children dressed to represent the various faiths came up to Swami for blessings. After some more devotees came up and got various items blessed, the distribution programme for the evening got underway. The recipients’ names were called out and they came up with flowers to offer to Bhagavan. Sewing machines, kits for various trades, bicycles, push-carts and so on were presented to more than eighty people. A music programme based on the nine paths of devotion followed the distribution ceremony. Swami called up one of the children at 6.30 pm and blessed him with a chain while a song on ‘God as friend’ was being sung. As the music programme concluded, Swami sent them clothes and prasadam. Arati was offered at 6.45, and some of the participants came up to the stage for a group photograph before Swami left for His residence in the car.

Thursday, July 16, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba sent word that the students of the Higher Secondary School and the University should come for morning darshan – usually they come for morning darshan only on Sundays and festival days. Clothes were to be distributed to them. Swami came at half-past nine while the bhajans were going on. After inspecting and sorting the cloth material in the Bhajan Hall, He came onstage and watched while the cloth pieces were distributed to the students and teachers. At a quarter past ten, He accepted Arati. USB memory sticks were also distributed to the senior students. In the evening, Swami came for darshan at 4.30 pm and moved to the Bhajan Hall, where He distributed sarees to the family members. Once the evening bhajans began in Sai Kulwant Hall, He came onstage and had a brief interaction with one of the Music college teachers, blessing him with a bracelet. Swami then moved to the interview room and returned after half an hour to sit onstage for a couple of bhajans and then accept Arati.

Saturday, July 11, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, the doctors attending the Orthopaedic conference at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences were seated in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall on chairs. Bhagavan arrived for darshan at 4.25 pm, and after His darshan round moved to the interview room after a brief interaction on the verandah. After the five o’clock bhajans began, Swami came to the stage. He asked for a bhajan with alap. Bhagavan moved down among the doctors up and down the central path as the doctors crowded around Him. Once He returned onstage, prasadam was distributed. Arati was offered at 5.45 pm.

Friday, July 10, 2009
This evening, Satya SaiBaba went to the Super Speciality Hospital at Prasanthi gram at around 3.45 pm – the Hospital is hosting a two-day international conference in Orthopaedics. The Biosciences department of the Sri Sathya Sai University is also hosting an international conference in Diabetes research. Bhagavan returned to the Mandir while the bhajans were going on. He moved to the Bhajan hall and inspected some items kept there before coming onstage. Sri Sunil Gavaskar, the cricket legend, was here to celebrate his 60th birthday. Swami interacted with him for a few minutes before coming to the stage and accepting Arati at 5.30 pm.

Thursday, July 9, 2009 Full Story With Images »
The African choir was to perform this evening, and the members were seated in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall. Swami completed His darshan round and came onstage to begin the programme at 5.30 pm. After a brief introduction by Mr. Victor Krishna Kanu of Zambia, the choir began their performance which had songs in Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Hindi English and more. After 45 minutes, Swami sent clothes for the performers and came down from the stage. Seated beside them, He asked for some more songs, and they performed for ten minutes more. He then gifted them photo frames as mementos, and also had group photos with them. After interacting with them for a few minutes, He accepted Arati as prasadam was distributed, and left for His residence at seven o’clock.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, the bhajans began at 5 pm, and Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant Hall ten minutes later. While He was on His way, He granted permission for the group from Brazil to present their bhajans. The students made way for the Brazilian group to sit in the centre of the Hall, and at 5.15, they began their programme of Bhajans, many of which were in Portuguese. At six o’clock, they concluded, and made way for the Indonesian group. The devotees from Bandung presented a traditional Sundanese Angklung ensemble with the bamboo instruments playing a couple of bhajans and a traditional melody. After their presentation, Swami accepted Arati while prasadam was distributed and returned to His residence at 6.20 pm.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This Gurupoornima morning, Bhagavan came into Sai Kulwant Hall at ten o’clock clad in a yellow robe, seated on a special white chair, welcomed by the students’ Panchavadyam band. The stage was set for a felicitation programme. Once Swami reached the verandah, He blessed the cakes arrayed there and then came onstage to begin the proceedings at 10.15 am. Prof. Anil Kumar announced the programme and called up the distinguished persons with brief introductions to sit beside Bhagavan. There were three brothers: Sri Appa Rao – outgoing Finance Controller of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Sri Sathyanarayana Murthy – Engineer in charge of the Airconditioning of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Dr. A. V. Lakshmi Narasimham – outgoing Registrar of Sri Sathya Sai University. Along with them was Sri M. Nanjundaiah – outgoing Controller of Examinations of Sri Sathya Sai University. Mrs. Appa Rao and Mrs. Nanjundaiah were seated beside their husbands. After the distinguished persons were garlanded by their junior colleagues, there were a couple of speeches by Dr. A. N. Safaya – Director of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences and Prof. Vishwanath Pandit – Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University. Arati was then offered at 11.30 am. While Arati went on, prasadam was distributed, and Swami blessed the persons onstage with mementos and clothes. The function was brought to a close with a collective ‘Samasta Loka Sukhino Bhavantu’ chant at 11.45 am following which Swami left for His residence.

In the evening, the bhajans began at 5 pm, and Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba came to Sai Kulwant Hall at 6 pm. Once He reached the stage after His darshan round, He asked for the chairs to be arranged on the stage like in the morning, and asked the personalities of the morning felicitation ceremony to once again come onstage. At 6.30 pm, the bhajans were stopped and Bhagavan began to speak, seated between Sri Appa Rao and Prof. Nanjundaiah. Swami commended their services and exhorted the youngsters to follow their example in selfless service. After His Discourse, Swami asked for a couple of Bhajans to be sung and prasadam was distributed. It was 7.45 when He accepted Arati. After Arati, He sat onstage and interacted some more with the gentlemen and ladies before slowly moving to His residence in the car at 8 o’clock.

Monday, July 6, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall was set up as a stage for a musical by the Tamil Nadu Balvikas and youth. But when Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant Hall and came onstage after His darshan round, He indicated that the microphones be brought. At 5.25 pm, He commenced His Divine Discourse. The fifty-minute discourse had the triune fear of sin, love of God and morality in society as the theme. Swami stressed the need for individual transformation before attempting to change society. After His Discourse, Swami asked for the programme by the Tamil Nadu children to begin. The hour long drama had many songs and a couple of dances, and brought out the message of various saints and sages culminating in the golden age of Sai. Swami went down from the stage for group photos with the participants before returning to the stage and accepting Arati at 7.30 pm. He then moved to the interview room for a few minutes before returning to His residence at 7.45.

Sunday, July 5, 2009
This evening, Sathya Sai Baba came for darshan by 4.10 pm and after His darshan round, took another round through the verandah and in front of the stage area. After more than half an hour, He went into the interview room briefly. At five o’clock, He came to the Bhajan Hall and called in the group of devotees from the USA. In a half-hour interaction, He granted them padanamaskar and group photos, with vibhuti prasadam being distributed. Bhajans in the Sai Kulwant Hall began when Swami emerged from the Bhajan Hall at 5.30. As Swami sat onstage, prasadam was distributed to all before Arati was offered at six o’clock.

Saturday, July 4, 2009 Full Story With Images »
Devotees from the USA sang bhajans this morning. In the evening, the Balvikas children and youth from Mumbai presented a drama. Bhagavan arrived at five minutes to four and came onstage after His darshan round to begin the proceedings at 4.15 pm. The musical was based on the life of the saint Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon. After the hour-long performance, Swami went down from the stage for group photographs with them. When He returned onstage, prasadam was distributed and Arati was offered.

Friday, July 3, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening, the Maharashtra devotees continued the Ashadi Ekadasi programmes. Bhagavan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 5.15 pm, and coming onstage after His darshan round, commenced the proceedings. Many devotees and some of the artistes involved in today’s programme came up to Him for blessings, and the presentation got underway at 5.40 pm with the traditional Dindi dance. The Balvikas children and youth presented “Maharashtra Bhakthi Gaatha”, an offering of song and dance, with the songs being performed on the raised stage erected in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall. At 6.45, Swami called up one of the protagonists and blessed him with a chain, just as a song concluded beseeching Swami to visit His devotees in Maharashtra. Arati was offered at 6.50 pm and Bhagavan retired for the day.

Thursday, July 2, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This evening’s programme was a concert by Pandit Suresh Talwalkar and troupe. Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba finished His darshan round and came onstage to begin the proceedings at 5.30 pm. After taking His blessings, the group proceeded to the high stage built at the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall with large speakers on either side. The hour-long performance had tablas and other percussion instruments like the pakhawaj accompanied by vocals, flute, sarangi, keyboards and so on. Swami sent clothes for the artistes and accepted Arati at 6.45 pm. After Arati, He blessed the troupe with group photographs before returning to His residence.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Full Story With Images »
This morning, the devotees from Maharashtra commenced their three-day Ashadi Ekadasi celebrations, welcoming Bhagavan into Sai Kulwant Hall in a procession with Vedic chants. The Balvikas children, youth and devotees chanted Vedam for nearly an hour as Swami sat onstage, with Arati being offered at five minutes to ten.

In the evening, Sathya Sai Baba came for darshan at 4.30 pm and sat onstage for a few minutes after His darshan round before moving to the interview room. He emerged at five o’clock to begin the programme – a Hindustani vocal concert by Ms. Kalapini Komkali, the daughter of renowned musician Kumar Gandharva. After the hour-long concert, Swami blessed the artiste with a chain and a pendant and the accompanists with clothes. He then asked the students to sing some bhajans with alap, and at the end asked for a song on Vithala to be sung. It was 6.30 when Arati was offered. Swami moved to the interview room for a few minutes before returning to His residence in the car.

India News – Islamic Terrorist Attack Citation Was Incorrect

India News – Islamic Terrorist Attack Citation Was Incorrect

Dear Friends and Fellow Readers,

A news article released on ANI (Asian News International) claimed that a wanted terrorist named Farhatullah Ghouri was alleged to have masterminded a blast that occurred at Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh in South India. This claim is incorrect. The bomb blast occurred at a Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Dilsukhnagar, Andhra Pradesh in South India. The ANI article with the incorrect information stated:

Gujarat Police arrests Akshardham attack suspect
Published on : Sunday 19 Jul 2009

Hyderabad, July 19- ANI: A team of Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS) of Gujarat Police arrested a terror suspect allegedly involved in the attack on Gandhinagars Akshardham Temple in 2002, here today.

The OCTOPUS took Shoukatullah Ghouri into the custody immediately after his arrival from Saudi Arabia, at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

Ahmedabad court has issued a non bailable warrant against Ghouri.He was accompanied by his wife and four children from Jeddah, where he said to be working as a religious cleric in a mosque.

Ghouri was interrogated by the Intelligence Bureau, OCTOPUS, and Andhra Police in an undisclosed location. Police also reportedly questioned Ghouris wife and children in a farmhouse in the citys outskirts, and also seized their passport and educational documents before releasing them.

Hyderabad Police said, Ghouri was handed over to Gujarat police, as no case was registered against him in Andhra Pradesh.

According to police Ghouri had links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed and had fled to Saudi Arabia after the attack on Akshrdham temple. He was reportedly in the city for the treatment of his ailing wife.

Ghouris brother, Farhatullah Ghouri, is also a most wanted terrorist who allegedly masterminded the blast in Sai Baba temple at Puttaparti in Andhra Pradesh and suspected suicide attack on the office of the Hyderabad city police Task Force. Police believe that he is operating from the Gulf or Pakistan. – ANI

(ANI Reference)

Please help spread the news about this error relating to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba before it hits the rumor and gossip mills.

No One Comes To Puttaparthi Without My Willing It

Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba

No One Comes To Puttaparthi Without My Willing It

The Below Wonderful Conversation between Sathya Sai Baba and a Western devotee is taken from the book “Baba” by Arnold Schulman.

“You don’t understand,” Baba said.

“I only told you ‘write a book’ because I wanted you.Understand? You. Not a book. The book is publicity. I don’t need publicity. I don’t want publicity. I want you. I want your faith. I want your love. Everybody who comes here to see me thinks they have arranged it, but I arranged it. ….”

Then later in the book…..

The writer stepped into the room and bowed slightly, both palms together on his chest under his chin.

“So,” Baba said. He paused to look directly into the writer’s eyes . “So, you have seen enough.”

“Too much. I dont understand anything I’ve seen.”

Baba laughed.

“Appearance is not different from emptiness,” Baba said struggling for the words id English. “Yet within emptiness there is no appearance.”

The writer felt he should smile or nod or indicate in some way that he understood what Sathya Sai Baba had said, but he did not understand and he resisted the temptation to pretend that he did.

Baba nodded. “Life is only the memory of a dream,” he said.

“It comes from no visible rain. It falls into no recognizable sea. Some day, not for a while yet, you will understand how meaningless it is to spend your whole life trying to accumulate material things. I have no land, no property of my own where I can grow my own food.

Everything is registered in the name of someone else, but just as those people in the village who have no land wait until the pond dries up so they can scratch the land with a plow and quickly grow something before the pond fills up again, I grow my food which is Love or Joy. To you the words have different meaning, but to me both words are the same. But I have to do it quickly, quickly in the hearts of those who come to see me, quickly before they leave.”

He looked up again into the writer’s eyes.

“The kind of belief in me I ask for is more, much more than most people think is faith or love,” Sathya Sai Baba said.

“Thats why many people who come just to see the miracles stop loving me the minute I stop entertaining them and giving them presents. No. What I ask you to do is give me everything. Not fruits or flowers or land, but you, all of you with nothing held back. Your mind. Your heart. Your soul…” He stopped and paused, then nodded to himself. “But those are just words.”

They were silent for a time.

The writer stood beside the couch and waited. There was nothing he could say. A kind of warmth and closeness he had never known before was spreading through his consciousness and it frightened him. He felt in danger of being smothered by it, but it wasn’t just the intensity of the feeling that disturbed him. It was the sudden realization that this feeling of Love -he thought it was love- was different from any other kind of love he have ever felt or heard about or read of before. It may have been his inability to define what he felt that caused him suddenly to panic. In less than a minute he had become a displaced person, emotionally, isolated in the dark unknown, and to cope with this puzzling anxiety the only defense he could find was to try to turn it off.

Baba watched him for a time with intensity.

“You cannot run away from me,” Sathya Sai Baba said. “As I told you , no one can come to Puttaparthi, however accidental it might seem, without my calling him. I bring only those people who are ready to see me, and no body else, nobody, can find his way here. When I say ‘ready’ there are different levels of readiness, you understand.”

….“I am always with you,” Baba said. “Even when you don’t believe in me, even when you try to forget me. Even when you laugh at me or try to hate me. Even when I am on the opposite side of the earth….”