Of the many things that Prasanthi accepts as a loving offering at her Beloved Lord’s Lotus Feet, music takes an upper hand. Music is Divine, unarguably the most potent weapon to win the heart of Divinity! On December 9, Thursday evening, there was a Dana Gillespie musical concert in the immediate Divine presence, in line with an announcement made on the previous evening.
Dana Gillespie does not require any introduction as she is the most seasoned western singer Prasanthi has been relishing over the years. Famous the world over for the genre of blues, the graceful singer is the face of dedication and devotion, an ambassador of Bhagawan’s Love, all around the world through the medium of music.
Granting Divine Darshan, Bhagawan emerged at 1830 hrs. coming into the Sai Kulwant Hall. Interacting with the singer for a while Bhagawan glided past the pathway blessing the evening assembly. Primary children got their dues as Bhagawan came closer to the blessing some of them.
Completing a full round Bhagawan arrived on stage at 1855 hrs., and soon the stage was set for the programme to commence. Seeking invocatory blessings, getting into the swing of things, the singer began with a Sarvadharma Bhajan, Salaam Alaikum, a song she claimed to be her favourite.
The second piece was from the blues music, titled “Your Love is True…”. Occupying the centre-stage, singing swaying on to the sides coupled with graceful dancing movements, the singer echoed the refrain Your Love is True, describing with various adjuncts, the beauty of Divine Love!
The piece that followed was entitled “Unify”, a clarion call echoing Bhagawan’s maxim “Unity is Divinity”, reasserting Bhagawan’s call to be unified for the good of the world.
The next piece had an interesting tale to precede. Narrating the background story entitled "Play The Game, Be Happy", the graceful singer explained that the piece was based on an Interview Room conversation with Bhagawan. Utilising an opportunity granted by The Lord, the singer had posed a "million dollar question" unto Bhagawan concerning life as to 'what is the purpose? …what is the meaning of life?' and pat had come His reply: "Play The Game; Be Happy!", and thus a beautiful, meaningful song.
Resurrecting the song, the singer said, the same was composed for the 70th Birthday of Bhagawan and she would like to do the “Happy Style Blues” once again, for, many of the students present on this day were a lot more young fifteen years ago.
“Dream On…”, the next song was with a philosophical bearing, wrote on her resurrected life, embracing the world of Sai, that came like a dream come true. It turned out to be a ‘dream song’, singing her heart out, dreaming on, on the Voyage to Sai.
A Bhajan followed, and the singer acknowledged with a request to the student to follow her as she is a beginner and is singing in presence of students who are far better in bhajan singing. The bhajan was Sai Rama Bolo…Govinda Nama Bolo and she sung it with elan.
“Shower the Rose Petals…”, an inspirational piece originated from a wonderful Sai devotee from the US was the last and final piece. The song ended with the refrain “Lokaha Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu” followed by the Shanti Mantra.
The singer, with her typical dancing movements spicing up with her devotional touch and exhibited with emotive expressions, sang meaningful lines, regaling the evening’s audience drawing round of applause at the end of each song. Each of the song was preceded with introductory remarks explaining the background story. It was indeed her soul communion with the Highest Soul through the medium of music, in the immediate presence of The Mighty Divine!
At the end of the forty minute programme, as a token of Divine appreciation, the singer was presented with a memento, a replica of a Phoenix bird. (The Phoenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and the Chinese).
Much to the merriment of the capacity audience, Bhagawan interacted with the singer for a while before blessing her with Padanamaskar. The memento that glows in the dark with special lighting inside was displayed to the singer at the instance of Bhagawan, and the audience, watching the golden moments, turned ecstatic. The singer with humililty and devotion stood gracefully watching The Lord, receiving His blessings. Bhagawan left for Yajur Mandiram at 2000 hrs.
