Report on Guru Purnima Celebrations 2003

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http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/guru_purnima.htm

 

GURU POURNIMA Celebrations 2003 Report

 

On the morning of this very auspicious day when the Guru is

remembered and worshipped, devotees from all over the world had

gathered at Prashanti Nilayam to pay their obeisance to the

Jagadguru - Bhagawan Baba.

 

Swami entered the Sai Kulwant Hall at around 7 a.m welcomed by the

melodious strains of the Panchavadyam (a traditional form of music

played in the temples in the State of Kerala) by the students of the

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. As Swami gracefully

walked up to the portico and seated Himself, the devotees gave a

thunderous applause to express their joy of being in the Divine

Presence on this sacred day.

 

The programme commenced with a function organised for the

felicitation of Sri Indulal Shah and Smt. Sarla Shah on the

completion of 40 years of their Service to the Lord.

 

After Swami sat down, Dr. Michael Goldstein - Overseas Chairman,

Sathya Sai Seva Organisations invited Sri Indulal Shah - Chairman,

World Council, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations and Smt. Sarla Shah

to take their place on the dais by the side of Swami's chair. On

Swami's directions a Bhagawan blessed 5 speakers to address the huge

gathering before His divine Discourse. All of them spoke on the work

and life of Sri Indulal Shah and Smt. Sarla Shah, their devotion

towards Bhagawan and their commitment and sincerity towards

Bhagavan's mission and the international organization. The speakers

included - Dr. Michael Goldstein, Dr.G.Venkatraman (former Vice

Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning), Mr.

Robert Bozzani (President of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Book Center,

USA and Office Bearer, Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation, USA), Sri

Chakravarty (Secretary, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust) and Sri C.

Srinivas (Member, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust). All of them exalted

the contribution and visionary leadership of Sri Indulal Shah in

steering the International Sathya Sai Seva Organisation during the

last 4 decades. Thereafter Bhagawan released a book on the dedicated

life of Sri Indulal Shah and Smt. Sarla Shah in Bhagavan's

Organisation. Bhagawan presented the first copies to them. Bhagawan

also presented Sri Indulal Shah with a silver platter in

appreciation of their lifelong and dedicated service at the Lotus

Feet.

 

Thereafter Bhagawan gave His Guru Poornima Discourse in which He

reiterated His message of giving up body consciousness and paying

greater attention to the Atmic Principle, which is essentially the

spark of the Divine in every individual. Bhagawan also mentioned a

few details of the incidents, which took place at Brindavan during

the previous month. He spoke about the surgery and the happenings

before and after that. He also spoke with great appreciation of Sri

Indulal Shah's work which commenced way back in the year 1965 and of

the establishment of Dharmakshetra at Mumbai and also the 1st World

Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, both held at

Mumbai in the year 1968 and of his untiring service at the lotus

feet during the last 40 years. He also acknowledged Smt. Sarla

Shah's grand contribution to the Bal Vikas Movement and the Mahila

Vibhag of the Organisation.

 

Thereafter He exalted the great service of Sri Satyajit and Sri

Dileep (Former students of Swami's Institute and currently working

in Swami's Institutions at Prashanti Nilayam), who served Him with

great devotion and care during the last one month when He underwent

the great physical discomfort. Swami ended the discourse with the

Bhajan - Hari Bhajan Bina Sukh Shanti Nahi. The audience was

thrilled to hear their Sadguru after a period of 4 months at

Prashanti Nilayam. Many an eye were wet with joy and supreme

happiness to see Swami back in their midst after such a long period

of time. Bhagawan had given the entire credit for His speedy

recovery to the devotees' prayers. The devotees were overwhelmed at

Bhagavan's bountiful compassion and love for His devotees.

 

Thereafter prasadam was distributed to the thousands of devotees

gathered for the celebrations. After the mangal aarati, Bhagawan

retired for the morning session.

 

In the afternoon session Bhagawan once again blessed the devotees

with His nectarine Darshan at the Sai Kulwant Hall at 3.45 p.m. The

first speaker of the afternoon session was Dr. Ram Setty from USA

who spoke about the 2 students whom Swami had sent to USA for

pursuing post graduate Courses in Hospital Administration at the

Loma Linda University in California. Thereafter the Vice Chancellor

of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Sri S.V.Giri

spoke about how Bhagawan blessed the 2 students to go for this

course and how He miraculously took care of both during the entire

procedure of admission and their stay in the USA.

Thereafter Bhagavan, the Chancellor of the Institute, presented the

2 boys- Sri Sriram Parshuram and Sri Vemula Praveen with their post

graduate degrees in Masters of Public Health awarded by the Loma

Linda University. Subsequently, Swami blessed Sri Sriram Parshuram

to share with the audience his experiences during the admission

procedure as well as during their stay at the Loma Linda Institute.

Thereafter Bhajans were sung in the praise of the Guru and Bhagawan

Baba graciously sat in the portico so that all could have the feast

of His Divine Darshan during the Bhajan session. After the managal

arati Bhagavn retired for the evening session.

 

There was a special music programme in the Poorna Chandra

Auditorium - a choir presentation by a group of overseas devotees of

the Organisation. Before the programme, Dr. Goldstein made the

pleasant announcement, that on the request of all the Zonal Chairmen

of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation (Overseas) and by Bhagawan Baba's

Divine grace and permission Sri Indulal Shah was now given the

responsibility of being the World International Advisor for the Sri

Sathya Sai Seva Organisation.

At the end of the music programme, which lasted for about 50 minutes

Bhagawan blessed the performers by giving them gifts and posing for

photographs with them.

 

Thereafter, Bhagawan retired for the day at 7.15 p.m.Thus ended an

eventful day of the auspicious Guru Poornima festival in the Divine

Presence of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The devotees returned home

fully satisfied, contented and overjoyed being with their Beloved

Lord on this most important day and above all seeing Him back to

normal physical health after the long and painful period of physical

discomfort.