NEWS FROM BRINDAVAN

Dear Readers! Sai Ram!
We are back again after a hiatus of one month, bringing to you the events from Brindavan, the Ashram of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Bangalore, Karnataka. In this update, we are giving a brief report of the Akhanda Bhajan that was conducted for 24 hours from 4th June 2005 to 5th June 2005.

Akhanda Bhajans (4th & 5th June 2005)

A twenty-four-hour Akhanda Bhajan was conducted in Brindavan from Saturday evening (4th June) to Sunday evening (5th June 2005). The stage was tastefully decorated with flowers and beads for the occasion. The Akhanda Bhajan started with the singing of the Bhajan 'Vighna Vinashaka Gana Natha...' (Vinayaka is the remover of obstacles and is the master of Ganas). Soon thereafter, Bhagawan came on the stage and stayed for around 30 minutes.

Bhagawan went back to his residence at around 4.30 p.m. Bhajans continued thereafter. Students from the Brindavan Campus and also the faculty/staff members continued singing high tempo and high pitch Bhajans throughout the evening and night. In between they were joined by the staff of Sri Sathya Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore city youth and also the alumni of the Institute. It was an outpouring of love and prayers to Bhagawan through Nama Sankirtanam - an apt event to follow the exhibition on 'Sai Nama Kirtana – Kali Yuga Sadhana' that was organised in Brindavan last weekend by the spiritual wing of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Karnataka.

Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall was slowly filling up with devotees. Bhajans were continuing in full swing. The Brindavan Seva Dal Bhajan group, both ladies and gents, were taking turns with the students to lead the Bhajans. At 9.15 a.m., there was some movement among the Seva Dals, and the chandeliers on the stage lit up, indicating Bhagawan's arrival. Swami sat on the stage for 15 minutes and then went back to His abode.

Various groups like the Karnataka Youth Wing, devotees from the overseas, and others were continuing Bhajans with devotional fervour during the day. After 3 p.m., the lead singers of the Brindavan Seva Dal Bhajan group and the students took over singing of Bhajans. By 4 o'clock, Bhajans like 'Mandir mein aao Madhava...’ (Oh Madhava (God), we sincerely pray to You to install Yourself in the temple of our hearts) were being sung. All were thirsting for the Divine Darshan. Bhagawan allowed the tempo to continue till 4.35, and then He came on the stage again. Swami sat for twenty minutes of Bhajans, and then Arati was offered to Bhagawan. After the Arati, an announcement was made for all to collect Prasadam from the special counters set up all around Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall.

JAI SAI RAM