Brindavan through the 1990's to present time

[Guest guest]

It seems funny to read your commentaries from my home, because I'm

usually in Brindavan at this time of year.

 

Brindavan, Whitefield, used to be a very special place for overseas

devotees. It was there that we had our best darshans. During the

early 1990's, Swami would walk around the blocks and take letters

from so many devotees, it was an absolute delight to watch him.

 

He had a wonderful way in those days of entering the hall from

either the first or second entrances on the ladies side to surprise

us. In those days, it didn't matter if devotees were seated on the

aisle-edge or up in the VIPs - because Swami walked around the hall

taking different directions at every darshan.

 

The blocks, in those days, were divided into six on the ladies side

and six on the gents. side, allowing a good airflow and less

cramping of our bodies. There was very little special seating other

than VIPS. We had a special joke among us and it went something like

this:

 

"Egos in the front, soul at the back." What the joke meant was the

first three blocks were reserved for the ego and the last three for

souls. There was another joke we all enjoyed and one we were told

that Swami had said to someone at one time.

 

"You can have a very good seat but you can't have me."

 

Jokes apart, there was at that time an equal and fair chance of

being near Swami - and we all felt we belonged with him.

 

There were monkeys up on the rafters who ran up and down and hung in

a playful fashion, while watching the seated devotees below. It was

with much trepidation we watched the monkeys as they had a habit of

relieving themselves upon us from time to time.

 

In those days, there were about 50 percent overseas devotees and 50

percent locals who sat together for darshan. On Sundays, we often

stayed through the day with only a small break for lunch, then

returned to sit all through the afternoon until Swami returned for

bhajans and arathi. (What devotion we had to give in those days and

how much we felt part of him.)

 

In the late 1990's things changed at Whitefield. The road building,

the often times pollution, the rising cost of rooms, the water

problems, the long hot summers, all made it more difficult for

overseas devotees to visit.

 

At this time Swami cut back on darshan too. He ceased to give

afternoon darshans, restricting his time to bhajans only. Then

gradually cutbacks to morning darshan became evident. Swami no

longer walked around the blocks but kept to the centre aisle only.

Some time during the very late 1990's, he only walked down the

centre aisle and round the men's back section, then back to the

stage area via the far side of the men's side. Although the darshans

were often long and beautiful the women did not fare so well as

before.

 

After 2000, there were less than 20 percent overseas people visiting

Brindavan, Whitefield, even less the last year I was there.

 

Many overseas people told me that changes in Bangalore, the new road

building, higher prices and seeing less of Swami were some of the

reasons for not spending time there. Instead, they scheduled their

visits for Puttaparthi, where they could see more of Swami and for a

longer duration each day.

 

Thus, Raja when you say that overseas people are really good

devotees to put up with the hot climate, long waits and being

placed --- often times towards the back - you are absolutely correct.

 

I wish you were the chief Seva Dal at Brindavan and could usher in a

new era of fair and equal seating at darshan for those people who

after all, risk dangerous flights, cramped conditions and high

prices that are meted out to so many earnest pilgrims.

 

Thank you.

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram all !

 

Let me share with you this picture from my photoalbum. In "those days" we could

bring a camera and so I did sometimes.

Swami came to Brindavan just for a couple of days this time ( 26 oct -1 nov

1992, - to inspect the construction of the new hall?)  We were sitting on the

ground outside the hall eagerly waiting for a glimpse of our Lord. Very short

darshans.

 

I have forwarded many mails to the Sai family here in this cold -winter-dark

corner of the globe and this group has made us very,very happy .Thank you

Swami!

 

Ulla from Sweden

-

hastasana

saibabanews

Monday, April 05, 2004 8:14 AM

[saibabanews] Brindavan through the 1990's to present time

It seems funny to read your commentaries from my home, because I'm usually in

Brindavan at this time of year.Brindavan, Whitefield, used to be a very special

place for overseas devotees. It was there that we had  our best darshans. During

the early 1990's, Swami would walk around the blocks and take letters from so

many devotees, it was an absolute delight to watch him. He had a wonderful way

in those days of entering the hall from either the first or second entrances on

the ladies side to surprise us. In those days, it didn't matter if devotees were

seated on the aisle-edge or up in the VIPs - because Swami walked around the

hall taking different directions at every darshan. The blocks, in those days,

were divided into six on the ladies side and six on the gents. side, allowing a

good airflow and less cramping of our bodies. There was very little special

seating other than VIPS. We had a special joke among us and it went something

like this:"Egos in the front, soul at the back." What the joke meant was the

first three blocks were reserved for the ego and the last three for souls.

There was another joke we all enjoyed and one we were told that Swami had said

to someone at one time."You can have a very good seat but you can't have

me."Jokes apart, there was at that time an equal and fair chance of being near

Swami - and we all felt we belonged with him.There were monkeys up on the

rafters who ran up and down and hung in a playful fashion, while watching the

seated devotees below. It was with much trepidation we watched the monkeys as

they had a habit of relieving themselves upon us from time to time.  In those

days, there were about 50 percent overseas devotees and 50 percent locals who

sat together for darshan. On Sundays, we often stayed through the day with only

a small break for lunch, then returned to sit all through the afternoon until

Swami returned for bhajans and arathi. (What devotion we had to give in those

days and how much we felt part of him.)In the late 1990's things changed at

Whitefield. The road building, the often times pollution, the rising cost of

rooms, the water problems, the long hot summers, all made it more difficult for

overseas devotees to visit.     At this time Swami cut back on darshan too. He

ceased to give afternoon darshans, restricting his time to bhajans only. Then

gradually cutbacks to morning darshan became evident. Swami no longer walked

around the blocks but kept to the centre aisle only. Some time during the very

late 1990's, he only walked down the centre aisle and round the men's back

section, then back to the stage area via the far side of the men's side.

Although the darshans were often long and beautiful the women did not fare so

well as before.After 2000, there were less than 20 percent overseas people

visiting Brindavan, Whitefield, even less the last year I was there.Many

overseas people told me that changes in Bangalore, the new road building,

higher prices and seeing less of Swami were some of the reasons for not

spending time there. Instead, they scheduled their visits for Puttaparthi,

where they could see more of Swami and for a longer duration each day.Thus,

Raja when you say that overseas people are really good devotees to put up with

the hot climate,   long waits and being placed --- often times towards the back

- you are absolutely correct.I wish you were the chief Seva Dal at Brindavan and

could usher in a new era of fair and equal seating  at darshan for those people

who after all, risk dangerous flights, cramped conditions and high prices that

are meted out to so many earnest pilgrims.Thank you.            

Attachment: (image/jpeg) Baba blessing with sweets 28okt 1992.jpg [not stored]