While the Birthday morning was blessed with His immaculate, resplendent white robe darshan, the evening had its share of glory when The Lord came out in a golden-hued robe, lighting the evening turned twilight to eternal bliss.
On the evening of 23rd November, the 84th Birthday, Bhagawan came to Sai Kulwant Hall at 5.30 p.m. in a sparkling golden-hued robe, a sight for everyone to behold and cherish in their lives. Blessing the huge gathering of devotees with a complete round, Bhagawan came to the dais setting the stage for the evening’s further proceedings. What was in store for the evening session were two musical concerts as announced in the morning; the first to perform was Dana Gillespie from the United Kingdom followed Malladi Brothers from Vijayawada.
Gillespie is famous world over in the genre of blues. After offering her salutations to Bhagawan, Gillespie began her performance which was a mixture of her old and new songs. At the outset, she introduced the accompanying artistes who were students from the university. All her songs had an underlying spiritual meaning in them and were addressed to Bhagawan.
To mention a few of her songs: “Om Sakti, Om Sakti, Om Sakti, Siva Sakti Om”, “Oh my beloved, you are the light in my heart, a light in my heart of hearts.” On a personal note before singing a song, she said, “When in troubles, it is Swami who took me out of the troubles as the guardian blue angel.” As an intro to the song, “Love the lover, the beloved”, Ms. Gillespie said, “It is not enough if we love Him, we should love everything on this earth.” She also sang the Bhajan, “Allah Ho Akbar, Allah Ho Akbar, Allah Ho Akbar …” Everyone present in the hall joined in chorus as she sang the Bhajan in her devotional ecstasy. She ended her performance with a song which she found in the Upanishads, “The whole universe indwells in our heart.”
.......................Yajur Mandir shining in splendor ..............................Photographer's Delight...a copy to Bhagawan..............
The second programme for the evening was by the famous Carnatic musical artistes Malladi Brothers who gave a scintillating performance in the morning session too. After receiving the blessings of Bhagawan, Malladi Brothers with the song, “Ra Rama Intidaka Raghuveera Sukumara.” One song followed the other in quick succession transporting everyone into a divine plane. Their songs had a perfect mix of Bhava, Raga and Tala (feeling, tune and beat). At times, the songs reached a crescendo. It was during one of the songs that Bhagawan called both the brothers and materialised gold chains for each of them, put it round their necks and honoured them with shawls. He also gave clothes to the accompanying artistes. To name a few of their songs, “Janulamadhya Tirugare Jagapathi”, “Taraka Mantramu”, “Nannu Palimpaka Nadachi Vachchi.” The Malladi Brothers ended their concert with a Mira Bhajan, “Bhaja Kesava Hari Nandalala Bhaja Giridhari Gopala.” Prasadam was distributed to everyone present in the hall. Arati was offered to Bhagawan at 7.30 p.m. after which Bhagawan retired for the day.
Thus, ended the day of 23rd November 2009, the 84th Birthday of the Avatar in human form, a day to be remembered, and a day to be etched in the annals of the Avatar.
