SHIVARATHRI 2012
Om Sairam dearest Sai Family
Greetings from the Land of Sai Shiva, our beloved Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Puttaparthi has been very busy for a week or so and as the festival of Lord Shiva started approaching there was tons of excitement in the air.
It all started from Feb 10 th when a group of 1000 devotees from Tamil Nadu came on a pilgrimage to Puttaparthi which was followed by a beautiful Burrakatha ( a popular folk art famous in the state of Andhra Pradesh) by the students and the theme for this year was Shiva Parvathi Kalyanam, depicting the celestial wedding of Shiva Parvathi.
Then entered another huge group of 1200 devotees from Hyderabad consisting of over 27 centers of Hyderabad and neighbouring suburbs. They had series of programmes planned during their Parthi yatra and the highlight of their visit was the Pallaki Seva through the streets of Puttaparthi around 8 pm. There were little children dressed up in the traditional way dancing in tune to the Chakka Bhajan ( one type of dance form with two wooden pieces held in hand). There were few others who were chanting vedam and few others singing bhajans.
As it was about 8pm the whole Puttaparthi was on the road watching these devotees immersed in devotion. Their love for Swami was just mesmerising and motivating to all of us. This reminded of the days when with a little info about Swami's car arrival the streets would become very busy with devotees lined up on either side of the road to have a glimpse of the Divine.
RUSSIAN DEVOTION:
While all the Indian Devotees were lining up for Shivarathri Celebrations in Parthi, there were overseas Devotees as well thronging to Parthi in large numbers. A special mention is to be made about the Russian Devotees who come in large numbers especially during Shivarathri. It is a pity that many Russians are misunderstood thanks to the media who write all non-sense about them. But there are few thousands of them now in Parthi to pay their obeisance to Bhagawan . It is very interesting to know how every one of them are keen to dip into the depth of spirituality and Swami's love. One would also remember the day when Swami showered so much grace on them in 2007 Shivarathri when He praised the Russians for their devotion and dedication.
On the 19th February about 300 Russians had a special satsang with Prof.Anil Kumar with a Russian translator and one would be surprised to know that 70% of them came to Puttaparthi for the first time and they were all tears and excited when they heard the significance of Shivarathri and the advantages of Pilgrimage to Puttaparthi. This again speaks about their keenness in knowing the essence of Indian culture and heritage
The evening session which would take us to the night long vigil commenced with the procession of the Huge lingam which was sanctified by Swami during the first Athi Rudra mahayagna in the year 2006. The same priest Sri.Nanjunda Dixit headed the prayers while a beautiful silver throne was placed at the usual place for Swami. Boys and Girls from both the campuses started the bhajans taking turns as all the devotees were immersed in the ocean of bliss. What a beautiful way to celebrate Shivarathri , to be seated right their in the SANCTUM SANCTORIUM of heaven on Earth, Puttaparthi, looking at the beautifully lit Mahasamadhi, these two eyes were not enough describe the glory and majesty of that sight.
The Sai Kulwanth Hall was jampacked and many Devotees had to stand outside the hall in the East Prasanthi Lane but the icing on the cake, Hats off to the person who took this decision, was that they let us go to bow down the Mahasamadhi while the bhajans were on and it was just fantastic and no words to describe the happiness and bliss to have Mahasamadhi darshan in the night dedicated to Lord Shiva.
MEETING WITH SRI.RITHU RAJ MAHARAJ:
Devotees from all over the world were present on this holy occasion and Bhagawath Katha fame young man Sri.Rithu Raj Maharaji was also present. We all remember how much love Swami showered on him couple of years ago when he did a week long programme of the story of Bhagawatam in Sai Kulwanth Hall.
Thanks to Sri.R.K.Modi of Rajasthan, I had a chance to meet this humble soul briefly in the ashram and he was sharing how beautifully Swami used to enquire about his family, his health etc and Swami blessed him with abundant grace to give the Bhagawatha programmes all over the world and he was particularly here to take blessings from Swami before his week long trip to London where he will be having the Bhagawatha saptaham from 16th April to 25th April in 60 Bridge Lane
Golders Green London NW11 0EH UK.In our conversation he asked how it was to loose Swami (physically) and more so being born and brought up in Puttaparthi. I don't know how and why but I said, for us living in Puttaparthi, Swami apart from being an Avatar, He was also our BREAD WINNER. Every rupee that came home was directly from Him and because of Him. When a family head departs, there are so many questions raised about the future. But that is the difference between a PHYSICAL father and DIVINE father. When a physical father departs, if it is a middle class family the whole life takes a turnaround and the family even ends up starving but our beloved Swami made sure none of His chosen ones in Puttaparthi (in particular) starve in His physical absence and luckily everything is still normal to us.
MESSAGE FROM A MENTALLY ILL LADY:
After a while I took leave from Sri.Ritu Raj and i was heading home. As I was walking in Chitravathi road, I had this beautiful experience with this poor lunatic lady. She always roams around in the streets of Puttaparthi and more commonly seen in Chitravathi road. I was told that in the past she was a very rich lady but was cheated by her in-laws and thus became mentally ill.
As I entered Chitravathi road, it was around 11pm and being Shivarathri the street was very busy with juice vendors and water melon vendors busy serving the same to the devotees particularly those that were fasting. As I kept walking in Chitravathi road, I came to a point where there were hardly any one in the road. In the distant, I could see this lady walking towards me. Even though I saw her almost every day, never before I had any eye contact with this lady and today she seemed to be fast approaching directly towards me. Quite naturally, considering the timing and no body in the road, i was bit scared. Even though she had a beautiful smile, but that didn't help my situation. She further came closer to me and now hardly 5 feet away and then with a much broader smile said, "Anna, Intiki po, annam tappakunda pedutaru, (brother, go home and you will be definitely served food), Devudu unnadu (God is present)". I couldn't believe what she was saying but I knew it was a Swami who was reassuring that He is very much here in Parthi and will take care of every one of us. WOW!!! that was an amazing experience even though bit scary.
After the night long bhajans, as it is the tradition devotees were fed with sumptuous food in Sai Kuwanth hall thus pulling down the curtains for a beautiful Shivarathri which definitely gave us a chance to see and feel our Swami within and the atmosphere was just fantastic.
On a different note, want to share this sad news that Sri.C.R.Singh, a blessed soul from South Africa, living in Puttaparthi for few decades merged at His Lotus feet 3 weeks ago. Sri.C.R.Singh,, who was lovingly called as Singing Singh by Bhagawan had the golden opportunity to sing/speak before Swami for more than 50 times and he was also one of the speakers addressing the visiting devotees in the Conference hall in Parthi. He was in his 80s and had a peaceful passing in his house in Puttaparthi.
Also those living in Bangalore may take time to visit Brindavan ashram where brother Sumeet Tappoo is having a concert in Sai Ramesh hall and the details are as follows:
Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation Karnataka
presents
"ONE WITH SAI - a musical tribute at His Divine Lotus Feet"
a Live Concert by
SUMEET TAPPOO
@ Sai Ramesh Hall, Brindavan Whitefield
accompanied by Muthu Kumar (Tabla) & Butto (Flute).
Sunday 26th February @ 4pm.
A NEW VIDEO OF BHAGAWAN:
Here is another interesting video of Swami's Divine Discourse from 2009 Shivarathri where He spoke about the Body and in this very Discourse He actually gave a "clear " hint about His departure. As you watch this video some where around 2 minutes or so He taps His chest and says here is This body. This body will not be seen after some time .......
Keeping in mind the hearing impaired Devotees and on many requests from them this Discourse has been subtitled into English.
to watch this video Please click the following link:
Our beloved Lord is so kind and compassionate. He is very much in control of all the activities of Prasanthi and this Shivarathri was no exception. He hand picked these thousands of devotees to be part of 2012 Shivarathri and it was indeed a grand success and a great blessing to every one. There was this peace and bliss among the devotees who were in Parthi and none of them seemed to be depressed or sad.This is how Swami works, "Give all your worries to Me and you will be cheerful and happy".
Sisters and Brothers, no matter what, lets not leave Swami. Let every thought be about Swami, let every action be a dedication to Swami, let every breath be Swami.
With Pranams at the Lotus feet of our beloved Bhagawan
R.Satish Naik
BENDICIONES
AMA A TODOS - SIRVE A TODOS - LOVE ALL - SERVE ALL
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