Published on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 2353 hrs. IST
The proverbial phrase says, coming events cast their shows before. In this sacred land of Prasanthi Nilayam the story takes a twist, as coming events cast their radiance before them. This is true with the way Prasanthi is bustling with activities well ahead of the ensuing 85th birthday celebrations. Prasanthi practically becomes a virtual theatre for the world of devotees to come and offer their love and devotion to the Lord in physical. Following a festive August, there arrived the month of September offering glimpses of the fascinating days to come, presenting rare events of great practical impact. Joining this list of events were Sevaamrutam and Shiva Parvathi Kalyana Mahotsavam. Thousands of devotees from all over the world witness these festive celebrations, with inexpressible joy and boundless gratitude, arranged by different groups of devotees as their special offering at His Divine Lotus Feet in connection with the ensuing 85th ‘Birthday’ celebration of Bhagawan!
First to come during the week was a West Bengal presentation on Tuesday. Foraying with the mighty stock of actual stories the state has had, the Balvikas children and the Youth offered two programmes, Nrithyanjali, a dance programme based on the poetic collection of India’s First Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore followed by a power packed drama presentation on Swami Vivekananda.
While Rabindra Sangeet with universal appeal moves in tandem with what Bhagawan teaches, to reconnect every moment of life with Divinity, “Sambhavami Yuge Yuge..”, the portrayal of Vivekandanda was the sublime story of a true spiritual seeker who was molded, from an inquisitive youth to become the country’s most formidable voice of wisdom, under the masterly tutelage of Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa.
September arrived showcasing the greater importance of “Serving in Prasanthi Nilayam”. Serving the Lord in physical directly in His mission, by being in Prasanthi Nilayam, is never an accidental happening, but is an Intentional Divine exercise that goes with the merit of actions from the past lives. The function was organized by the grateful students working with various divisions of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, celebrating the 38th anniversary of the parent Trust.
Participated by a mammoth 1370 staffers, both ladies and gents, that included functionaries, trustees, administrators and other staff members down the ladder, the get-together turned out to become an explicit reminder of the greater boon bestowed upon by the Divine, motivating one to excel in his or her area of service to reap the best of the benefit out of the golden opportunity.
Krishna Janmashtami with Bhagawan is indeed special as it marks the celebration of the Advent of the Avatar of the previous age with the succeeding Avatar who is presiding over the present age. The joyous occasion happened over five thousand years ago, finding reminiscing episodes every repeating year with rejoicing touch in the immediate Divine presence, came back once again to the precincts, on 2 September. An all Krishna Bhajan session, Gokulam procession of cows and quadrupeds followed by a musical session comprising of special Krishnashtami renderings marked the celebrations this year in the immediate Divine presence. Quintessentially, Prasanthi celebrates the Advent in her own style; the only difference from the previous years and the present time is the Divine Discourse that Bhagawan would give during earlier years. And in the Senior Boys’ hostel, the students would every year celebrate the Advent with fun and frolic associated with the joyous occasion, breaking pots laden with coloured water!
All India Sathya Sai Schools, known as Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, joined together to flock to Prasanthi Nilayam bringing 1400 students from 79 high schools across India. The team of 1800 including principals, faculties and management team spent three full days in the ashram, celebrating an evening of programmes in the Divine presence. Having come under a common group, a common logo was unveiled by the Divine hands apart from staging a drama presentation echoing Bhagawan’s message of love for mother and motherland with service as main motto. Four selected children from various schools got to speak in the Divine presence on the theme, Sathyam Vada Dharmam Chara.
Rocking with programme spree, the week brought the most auspicious celestial drama unto the physical plane, the holy marriage of the eternal Divine Parents, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi, yet another harbinger of universal peace!
Bharat’s rich spiritual heritage that is replete with stories of yore of such Divine Unions added yet another feather in its cap by hosting such an epochal spiritual feat, a harbinger for a united peaceful world. Bhagawan’s presence as the presiding physical Lord adds a priceless tag to such events that counts blessings in abundance recounting the future story for a better tomorrow.
Five days of festive events on the trot and there dawned a Sunday, ready to reminisce the whole of the events during the week. Bhagawan chose to remain indoors during the day and Sunday did a perfect job gratefully reminiscing the beauty and grandeur of the Lord whose very presence makes the real difference.
The week passed the baton to the fresh one that takes the privilege to host the glorious Ganesh Chaturthi festival along with Holy Ramzan!
