AP Gets Rs 800cr From Centre

AP Gets Rs 800cr From Centre
Express News Service
First Published : 24 Oct 2009 04:03:52 AM IST

Chief Minister K Rosaiah seeking the blessings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Prasanti Nilayam in Puttaparti on Friday

PUTTAPARTHI: Chief Minister K Rosaiah today said the State had received Rs 800 crore from the Centre towards crop insurance for the last Kharif season and an order was issued for payment of Rs 386 crore to the affected farmers.

Addressing a gathering at Satyasai Airport, the Chief Minister thanked the people of Anantapur district for their help to flood victims. At a time when the government had declared 981 mandals in the State drought hit, unexpected and unprecedented floods wreaked a havoc.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited the flood affected areas and announced an immediate relief of Rs 1,000 crore, he said.

Rosaiah who arrived here from Bangalore, drove straight to Shanti Bhavan enroute Sai Kulwanth Hall in Prashanti Nilayam. The Chief Minister touched the feet of Sri Satya Sai Baba and sought his blessings. Sathya Sai Baba gave a private audience to the Chief Minister in the Green Room for about 30 minutes.

Earlier, he was received by Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, former minister JC Diwakar Reddy, ZP Chairperson T Kavitha, Anantapur Mayor R Parasuram, Anantapur MP A Venkatarami Reddy, Hindupur TDP MP Nimmala Kishtappa, TDP legislators P Raghunatha Reddy, Abdul Ghani, Congress MLAs B Gurnadha Reddy, K Madhusudhan Gupta, K Venkatarami Reddy, District Collector B Janardhan Reddy, SP MK Singh, Joint Collector Anitha Ramachandran, Congress leaders T Bhaskar Reddy, Y Visweswar Reddy and others.

Later, Rosaiah left for Bangalore.

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Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram

Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram

Curtesy RadioSai

Monday, November 24, 2008
This evening, the Tamil Nadu Balvikas children were to perform a dance drama in Sai Kulwant Hall. Bhagawan arrived for darshan in His chair at 5.20 pm, and after His darshan round, went into the interview room. From there, He emerged to come onstage and start the drama at 5.45 pm. After the 70 minute drama, Swami came down from the stage and blessed the children with group photographs. Prasadam was distributed, and Swami accepted Arati at 7 o’clock before returning to His residence.

Sunday, November 23, 2008
Bhagawan blessed the overflowing Sai Kulwant Hall in a white robe this morning, as the 83rd year of His advent dawned. The procession to Sai Kulwant Hall began from Yajur Mandir at 9.45 am, led by the bands of the Primary School, the Anantapur campus and the Prasanthi Nilayam campus, with Vedam chanting students from the Primary School, Higher Secondary School and the University. Bhagawan was seated on a raised chair covered with golden cloth. Once Swami reached the stage, He heard the four bands perform ‘Happy Birthday’ and other tunes before moving to the verandah to bless the cakes assembled there. Once He returned to the stage, He asked for Bhajans to begin at 10.30. Prasadam was distributed. The large number of people who could not enter the Sai Kulwant Hall had darshan moving across the Gopuram gate, and accepted prasadam there. Bhagawan accepted Arati at 11 o’clock before returning to His residence.

The evening programme commenced with Bhagawan arriving from His residence at 5.40 pm. Once He reached the stage, He asked Prof Anil Kumar to speak a few words in Telugu and to introduce the speakers for the evening. Sri. V. Srinivasan, All India President of the Sai Organisations spoke first, and was followed at 6.15 pm by Sri. Ajit Popat of the UK. Bhagawan delivered His Birthday message at 6.55 pm, in which He declared that the Muddenahalli educational institution would come under the Sri Sathya Sai University within a year. After nearly an hour, He concluded by singing the Bhajan ‘Rama Rama Rama Sita’ and accepted Arati at 7.50 pm before returning to His residence.

Saturday, November 22, 2008
The 27th convocation of the Sri Sathya Sai University was scheduled for this evening. The procession from Bhagawan’s residence to the Sai Kulwant Hall led by the bands from the Anantapur campus and the Prasanthi Nilayam campus of the University began at 3.45 pm, and in a short while, Bhagawan entered the Hall in His chair clad in a maroon robe. He was flanked on the stage by the office-bearers of the University. The function proceeded in the conventional manner, with the Vice-chancellor Prof. Vishwanath Pandit presenting the graduands of the year, with the gold medal winners and recipients of PhDs being called up by Principal of the Prasanthi Nilayam campus, Prof. U. S. Rao. The convocation address was by Prof. G. Venkataraman, following which Bhagawan gave His benedictory address seated onstage for forty-five minutes at 5.20 pm. The proceedings concluded with the National Anthem just before 6.15 pm. The convocation drama presented by the students of the University got underway at the Poornachandra auditorium at seven o’clock after Bhagawan arrived there. After the drama, Swami blessed the participants with group photographs onstage before accepting Arati and retiring for the day at 8.20 pm. An announcement was made about breakfast and lunch being provided tomorrow free to all as Bhagawan’s prasadam.

Friday, November 21, 2008
Last evening, Bhagawan saw the dress rehearsal of the convocation drama at the Poornachandra auditorium from 4.30 to 5.30 pm before coming to the Bhajan Hall to accept Arati after Bhajans. Today, He distributed sarees both in the morning and the evening as extended Bhajan sessions went on. In the morning, He called groups like the Primary school teachers and so on into the Bhajan Hall and distributed there, while in the evening, He went around the Sai Kulwant Hall giving sarees. He also distributed a few sarees in the Bhajan Hall.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Ladies’ day at Prasanthi Nilayam began with the traditional Suprabhatam being sung by Smt. P. Susheela just before 5.30 am. The vedam chanting around the Mandir was also by the ladies. Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall at 9.30 am in a procession led by the girls bands of the Anantapur campus of the Sri Sathya Sai University and the Primary School, along with Vedam chanting students, as a welcome song was aired. Fifteen minutes later, when Bhagawan reached the stage, the programme for the day began with a ten-minute introduction by Mrs. Chetana Raju. The two speakers of the morning were Dr. (Mrs) Ankhi Mukherjee, former student of the Sri Sathya Sai University and Lecturer in the Universty of Oxford and Mrs. Sylvia Alden, who is a member of the Central Council of the Sai Organisation in the USA with a Masters in Special Education. After their talks, the materials kept in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall were distributed to the needy. Solar LED lanterns, water purifiers, rugs and other items useful for the rural folk were passed on to the recipients drawn from various parts of Anantapur district. After prasadam distribution, Bhagawan accepted Arati at 11.10 before returning to His residence.

In the evening, once again Bhagawan was ushered into Sai Kulwant Hall in a procession, with another welcome song played over the speakers, at 5 pm. When He reached the Mandir, He moved to the Bhajan Hall where the children from the Primary school were ready in costumes for their programme this evening. After a brief interaction with them, Swami came onstage and started the programme for the evening. Smt. Sunitha and troupe presented devotional songs for an hour and Bhagawan blessed them with clothes before the programme by the Primary School children began at 6.20 pm. Their 70 minute dance-drama brought out the glory of Sai down the ages from Krita Yuga till the present, with video projections on the back-drop adding to the narrative. Swami was very pleased with their performance and went down among them for group photographs before returning to His residence after Arati at 7.40 pm.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The traditional Rathotsavam in which the idols of Rama Lakshmana Sita along with Venugopala Swami are taken from the Mandir to the Kalyanamantapam in Puttaparthi was held this morning. Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall after blessing the baby elephant Gita near His residence and after a darshan round in His chair, went inside a few minutes before 9.30 am. The procession led by Vedam chanting students began soon after, and as they came near the stage, Bhagawan arrived there to send them to the Gopuram gate. He then moved to the Gopuram gate to see off the procession and then returned to the Mandir and asked for Bhajans to begin a few minutes before 10 o’clock. At 10.30, He accepted Arati and returned to His residence. In the evening, Bhagawan arrived after the Bhajans began at five o’clock. He moved down the verandah in the chair and entered the Bhajan Hall from the rear door. Moving to the front of the Bhajan Hall, He sat there for a while before going on another round of darshan and returning to the Bhajan Hall to accept Arati and retire for the day.

Cultural Program By Sathya Sai Baba Devotees From Tamil Nadu

Cultural Program By Sathya Sai Baba Devotees From Tamil Nadu
Music Program and a skit entitled, ‘Sri Sathya Sai Kavacham’
Main Reference With Pictures

August 26, 2008 – Curtesty RadioSai
This evening, the youth from Tamil Nadu presented a 45 minute drama, “Sathya Sai Kavacham”. Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall by 4.15 pm and moved to the interview room. After spending an hour there, He came onstage and began the proceedings after a few minutes. The drama had Narada and “Kali” – the embodiment of the Kali age – as onlookers, as a Sai youth displayed ideal behaviour and proved the Kali age to have been superseded by the Sai age. Bhagawan blessed one of the group with a chain and came down from the stage to take group photographs with the participants. Chocolates were distributed to the group and Arati was offered. Then Swami asked for clothes to be brought, and He gave safari pieces to each performer as he came up and interacted with Him. After the distribution, Bhagawan asked the group to sing Bhajans. They sang a couple of Bhajans before Swami accepted Arati once again and returned to His residence at 6.50 pm. (Reference).

August 26, 2008 -Curtesy SaiStudents:
As announced yesterday, the youth from Tamil Nadu were all set to put up a drama, Sathya Sai Kavacham, in the divine presence. Swami came out in the chair. The car seems to have been completely abandoned for quite some time now. There were times when Swami’s arrival in the chair sent shivers of pleasant surprise through everyone assembled. Now it has become part of the routine and people are shocked if He uses the car! Talk about familiarity! Many times, we miss grand and glorious things happening in our presence merely by getting used to it! The secret to happiness and peace lies in living the present moment fully and looking forward to every moment as if it is a new one for indeed it is a new one!

Moving through the ladies side, Swami reached the centre of the hall where He took a detour towards the interview room. The Primary school children were arriving in great hurry and Swami seemed to enjoy them rushing in. Anyway, rushing for God is a noble quality worth of emulation by anyone! Swami granted interviews to various devotees till 5:15 pm. He then came out and wanted the drama to begin. The initial offerings of the card and flowers were made. Once the Veda chanting stopped, flexible and foldable props erupted on the stage and created appropriate settings for the scenes to begin.

The storyline was very similar to many dramas put before but the presentation style was novel. The drama begins with a dialogue between Narada and Kali (the demigod in charge of the present age). Kali exults over his power and influence. Narada laughs at him and challenges him to influence a simple person. Kali uses all his powers to tempt that person into taking money – by ensuring that he loses his job, pressures from the family growing and finally with his mother falling very sick. But the person never yields and Kali surrenders as the hero’s mother is alloted a bed in a Super Speciality hospital under the Trust’s hospital collaboration scheme. Wondering where on earth the lad gets his sustenance and determination from, Kali discovers the power of the Sathya Sai kavacham (shield). He too desires to come to Parthi to see Swami and gives up his crown of ego.

Swami seemed very involved in the drama. He was very touched when the hero held on to his principles in the face of very stiff challenges. Swami was moved seeing the hero torn between options and was pleased to see him select the correct one over the easy one. As the drama concluded, Swami called one of the participants and told Him that He would move down for group photographs. He moved down and the boys clustered around Him. He materialised a gold chain for the Narada of the drama. He kept saying, “Romba Santosham” and His smile and beaming face conveyed the same to those who did not understand Tamil or could not catch those words. He moved up the stage and then brought Safari cloth pieces from inside. As Aarthi was performed and prasadam was distributed, He personally distributed white cloth pieces to each and every member of the performing troupe. The boys were all joy at this shower of Grace.

Icing up this cake of Grace, Swami asked the boys to sing some bhajans. The mikes were quickly transported to the youth from TN and they began singing. Swami kept rhythm as two bhajans were sung and everyone joyfully clapped and followed. After those bhajans, Aarthi was performed for a second time. Everyone seemed so happy because very rare are the days when Swami receives Aarthi twice. Swami raised both His hands in benediction and Love and told all the participants that He was very happy. Then He retired. (Reference)

Sathya Sai Baba – Recent Events At Prashanti

Sai Baba Car Darshan

Sathya Sai Baba – Recent Events At Prashanti

Curtesy RadioSai
Saturday, August 23, 2008
This evening, the students from the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva school at Alike presented a Yakshagana Roopaka. This is an adaptation of the traditional art-form of Karnataka, involving colourful costumes and stylized dance. Bhagawan came for darshan in His chair and went into the interview room for a while. He then went down to near the Sai Kulwant Hall main gate where the performers were seated and interacted with them before returning to the stage and starting the programme at 4.45 pm. The programme was made more accessible by the addition of English dialogues by the actors. As they concluded at 6.05 pm, Swami came down from the stage to have group photographs with them. He interacted with them for nearly half an hour, blessing them with clothes and talking at length to the teachers. Swami accepted Arati at 6.30 pm after prasadam was distributed before returning to His residence.

Friday, August 22, 2008
Bhagawan moved about in the Sai Kulwant Hall on a second extended darshan round in His chair on two occasions this week, on Tuesday and on Thursday. This evening, devotees from Vishakhapatnam presented a musical dance drama. The approaching Krishna Janmashtami festival was the inspiration for their drama, comparing the divine leelas of Krishna and Sai. Swami arrived from His residence at 4 o’clock, and after an hour in the interview room, emerged to come onstage. There, He Blessed the various items brought to Him before the program commenced at 5.15 pm. As the last song of the 45 minute dance drama was being played, a jhoola was kept in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall and the devotees prayed that Swami sit in the jhoola. Bhagawan graciously came down from the stage and posed for group photographs in front of the jhoola. He then interacted with the group for nearly twenty minutes, giving clothes to the children, getting prasadam distributed to them. After a brief visit to the interview room, Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 6.30 pm.