Prashanthi Bulletin - September 1st, 2005

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Prashanthi Bulletin

Index of earlier Bulletins

September 1st, 2005 Living with the Lord is an experience filled with

significant uncertainties and surprises. Chitrambulu - Vichitrambulu, as Swami

says. This morning, all the students assembled in the Institute Auditorium for

the Moral Class session which is a weekly feature wherein talks are delivered

by eminent speakers - both internal and external on lofty and noble themes.

This morning, it was the turn of Dr. C.L.N. Moorthy, a Professor in Sanskrit.

He has been teaching Sanskrit to the undergraduate students since the inception

of the Institute. This morning, he was scheduled to speak on a very pertinent

topic - Varna System - a boon or a bane. There is no concept more distorted

today than the Varna System. The purpose with which the scriptures laid out

these guidelines, the purpose with which the Lord ordained it, is completely

ignored or forgotten and scholars have given it a stamp of casteism and

divisiveness. We had the initial Bhajans and Aarti as is the practice. Just as

the Vice Chancellor was about to welcome Dr. Moorthy to deliver his talk, we

heard the siren of Swami's escort car. We thought that Swami must be going to

visit the Hospital or somewhere else and continued with the proceedings. But to

our greatest surprise and delight, Swami's car entered the College Campus and

drove right next to the Auditorium door. Immediately, the students rushed and

placed the ramp for Swami's chair to enter the Auditorium. All of us rose to

welcome Bhagawan. Swami took His normal place in between the first rows at the

center of the Auditorium. After a brief interaction with the Vice Chancellor,

Bhagawan asked the speaker to commence his talk. Dr. Moorthy was infinitely

Blessed! Least did he expect that Swami Himself would physically come and

attend his talk. The next 45 minutes witnessed an erudite talk on the Varna

system. Dr. Moorthy had compiled from

various scriptures and ancient texts different writings on the Varna system. He

explained how this system evolved and what it was truly meant for. He also

elaborated on how, gradually, there was a distortion in its content and intent.

Finally he concluded describing how the ten Avatars are themselves symbolic of

the evolution of the Varna system, culminating in the Sai Avatar which

transcends all these differences and advocates the eternal Truth of Oneness.

The talk concluded at 9.40 a.m. and Swami called Dr. Moorthy and spoke to him.

Subsequently, there was a song by the students after which Swami moved out, got

into the car and left for the Mandir. It was truly a great day for all of us.

This was something unimaginable. In the past decade, we do not remember

anything like this happening. That is our Swami. Ever new, ever fresh!! In the

evening, Bhagawan came out at 2.45 p.m. This evening, the First Year Post

Graduate students were ready with a drama on the Leelas

of Lord Krishna. All 60 plus students were involved and were getting ready with

their costumes in the Bhajan Hall. Swami came straight into the Bhajan Hall

much to their amusement. He spoke to some of the characters who were still half

way through their makeup. He called one student who had a white beard on, but

the hair was still black. The wig had not been worn! Swami laughed and asked

who he was. The student replied that he was playing the role of Roma Rishi.

Swami asked him "Where is your roma (hair)?" Swami asked him to wear the wig

and pin it properly so that it may not slip down! After speaking to a few more

characters, Swami went into the Interview Room. He came out at 3.25 p.m. All

the drama boys were ready. At 3.30 p.m. Swami commanded them to come out and

take their places. The center block of Sai Kulwant Hall was left empty for the

play. A red satin cloth covered backdrop served as the setting. A stage was

raised just in front of the backdrop for enacting some of

the scenes. The programme commenced at 3.40 p.m. It started with two Krishnas -

one big and one small offering a card to Bhagawan. Swami Blessed the Card and

the roses offered by them. The first scene depicts a Pujari offering worship to

Lord Krishna. It is the occasion of anniversary of the inauguration of a Krishna

mandir and they recall various Leelas of Krishna, especially the lifting of the

Govardana Giri. A very vigorous dance celebrating the occasion is performed by

the village people. The drama shifts to the next scene where Nanda and the

other village heads are preparing for Indrotsavam. This is a festival where

Lord Indra is worshipped with all grandeur, praying to him to bestow bountiful

rain. The young Krishna knew that this worship was offered more out of fear

than out of love. Therefore, He intervenes and appeals to His father Nanda and

the other village heads to worship the Govardana Giri instead, for it was the

mountain that gave them grazing lands,

streams and rivulets. Agreeing to Krishna's plea, all of them start worshipping

the Givardana Giri. Suddenly, there is loud thunder and lightning followed by

heavy rains. Then the little Krishna runs and lifts the mountain. The effect

was beautiful. From front you see Krishna lifting the mountain and all the

Gopalas taking shelter under the same. The song, Govardana Giridhari Murari....

fills the air. The next scene is a dialogue between a grandfather, father and

son. The son has a doubt. Lord Krishna came to the rescue of the villagers

because the whole village prayed to Him. What if just one individual would have

prayed to Him? Would He still come to the individual's rescue? The grandfather

explains that it is not the question of quantity but quality. God sees only the

intensity of the prayer. One intense sacred prayer from the heart is enough to

attract His Grace. The grandson then enquires as to how one could win His

Grace. The father explains that the

prerequisite for this is to choose God above all. He gives the example of Arjuna

choosing Lord Krishna instead of asking for his mighty army. The next scene

depicts this episode. Lord Krishna, sleeping on His bed, Duryodhana coming

first and sitting next to Krishna's head while Arjuna coming in next and

sitting close to Krishna's feet. When Krishna gets up, He sees Arjuna first and

grants him the first boon. Arjuna without hesitation chooses Krishna. Feeing

elated, Duryodhana grabs the mighty army and the rest is history. The dialogue

between the grandson and grandfather continues and he explains how once we

choose the Lord, He goes to any extent to save and protect us. It becomes His

duty to protect His devotees. This was depicted through the episode of sage

Roma Rishi. The well known story of how the Pandavas in hunger and out of

ignorance pluck the Amrita fruit which was the result of years of penance of

sage Roma Rishi. This was not an ordinary fruit but that which

conferred immortality. Roma Rishi is enraged and looks out for the thief to

curse him. Lord Krishna lovingly intervenes and guides the Pandavas to do as

told by Him. Lord Krishna goes to Roma Rishi and as He speaks to Him, He

signals to the Pandavas to come in. As soon as the Pandavas come in, Lord

Krishna falls at their feet much to their amazement. Seeing this, sage Roma

Rishi follows suit. If Lord Krishna Himself has fallen at their feet, they must

be somebody very great.Later, Krishna tells Roma Rishi about the actual

happenings. By then Roma Rishi is calm and he in fact hands over the fruit to

the Pandavas. The next scene is of Lord Krishna delivering the Gita to Arjuna.

This is depicted on the stage in front of the backdrop and gives a very good

ending to the drama. This scene is then followed by the final conversation in

which Sai Krishna is extolled as the very same Lord Krishna come in the Kali

age. The presentation concludes with a Dandiya dance to

the tune of the very popular Mahabharata song - Mohana Ke Mukha Par

Bansuri....At the end of the song all the dancers form a pyramid with little

Krishna standing on the top playing the flute. The sets boys form another

pyramid in the background, while all the other participants come forward into

the V-shaped final formation. Little Krishna is then carried on the shoulders

of two Gopalas and brought forward to our Sai Krishna. All participants gather

in a semicircle with folded hands awaiting Swami's response. Little Krishna

gets down from the shoulders of the Gopalas and moves forward to Swami with a

pot full of chocolates. Bhagawan was very pleased. He smiled and put His Hand

into the pot. Taking a handful of chocolates, Swami started throwing them

towards the boys. All the actors rushed forward to receive Prasadam from Sai

Krishna's Hand. Bhagawan observed all the participants and after a while, He

asked them to stand as a group. He said that He Himself would come

down. The all merciful Lord signaled the student next to Him to take His Chair

along the Ladies side to the central block. Bhagawan came down all the way and

Blessed the boys with wonderful photographs. He then went into the interview

room. Prasadam distribution and Bhajans followed. At 5.20 p.m. Swami retired to

Poornachandra Hall. Though Krishnashtami was over last week, all of us once

again lost ourselves in the Leelas and miracles of our dear Krishna.

You can see an illustrated version of happenings at Prashanthi Nilayam in the

Prashanthi Diary of our monthly e-Journal Heart to Heart. The previous issue of

Prashanthi Bulletin is available here. The Photo album contains photos of events

of past Prashanthi Bulletins. Index of past Prashanthi Bulletins...

 

Source: Radio Sai Website3rd September, 2005http://www.radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm