President of India visits Prasanthi Nilayam

Presidential Special Aircraft touches down the holy land

To the holy land

Dr. Mrs. J. Geeta Reddy greets the President

Secretary, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Sri K. Chakravarthi greets the President

Vice Chancellor Sri Vishwanath Pandit along with Prof. G. Venkataraman greeting the President

Pranams to the Lord!

With reverence to Bhagawan!

Yet another Burra Katha on the life of Shirdi Sai Baba

Singing the glory of the Avatar - Shirdi Sai Baba

This day happens to be a special day in the annals of Prasanthi Nilayam as Her Excellency The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil visited Prasanthi Nilayam. The President who came by a chartered Indian Air Force Aircraft was received at the Sri Sathya Sai Airport by the Collector of Anantapur, Secretary of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Sri K. Chakravarthi, Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University Sri Vishwanath Pandit, Former Vice Chancellor Prof. G. Venkataraman and other dignitaries.

The President who came into the Sai Kulwant Hall at 4:35 p.m. for His Divine Darshan was blessed by Bhagawan with a half an hour audience. At the end of the interview Bhagawan blessed the Presidential support staff with Vibhuti Prasad. After the President and her entourage left the Nilayam, the three students who had performed Burra Katha on the previous day on the life of Mother Easwaramma gave another performance on the life of Shirdi Sai Baba.

As is the custom, the artistes began their performance by offering their salutations to Lord Ganesh. As they were offering their salutations to Bhagawan, the traditional garlanding took place. The students began their interesting narration on the life of Shirdi Sai Baba supplementing it with songs and humour. Delineating on the birth of Shirdi Sai Baba, the artistes said that He was born to Hindu parents Devagiriamma and Gangabhavadia. The Divine couple Parvati-Parameswara appeared before Devagiriamma and Gangabhavadia and foretold that He would be born to them as their third child. The couple who were childless till then gave birth to a daughter and son. On 28th September 1835, Shirdi Sai Baba was born in the village of Patri. Though born to Hindu parents, Shirdi Sai Baba was brought by a Muslim couple. As a child, He used to go to a Hindu temple and proclaim about Allah and speak about Rama in a Mosque. He advocated the concept “Sabka Malik Ek Hai” (One God governs all).

From the year 1858, Baba lived in Shirdi. He spent his early days under a neem tree and later lived in the Masjid which he named as Dwarakamai or Mother Dwaraka. Baba used to feed the fakirs and devotees and even cook for them. Baba had a profound love and compassion for suffering humanity. The master used to personally attend to the needs of the sick as a physician and a nurse. Baba distributed the holy ‘Udi’ - the panacea for all troubles to his devotees. ‘Udi’ is the ash from the perpetual sacred fire - Dhuni lit by Baba. The Udi is the token of His divine grace to all who come to Him for help. He begged for alms and shared what he got with his devotees and all the creatures around him.

Once during the festival of lights, Deepavali, Baba wanted to light lamps in Dwarakamai. As the shopkeepers refused to give Him oil, Baba just poured water on the lamps and lighted them. One can call it was only a tip of the iceberg. Baba performed many such miracles in His lifetime. He lived for 83 years and attained Samadhi in the year 1918.

Thus ended another beautiful narration by the three artistes. Bhagawan blessed the Prasadam to be distributed to all the devotees. Arati was offered to Bhagawan at 6.00 p.m. before He retired to His Abode.