Prashanthi Bulletin, 7th - 13th Nov 2005

[Guest guest]

The cooks in the canteen are busy preparing the Prasadam for the Akhanda Bhajan.

Puliyora (Tamarind Rice) and Chakkar Pongal (Sweet Rice) which will be served to

all this evening after Aarti. The crowds are huge and the Hall was packed last

evening. The main road outside the Ashram leading to Yenumulapally, along the

Institute and the Hostels is being redone. The tar laying machines and

equipment are working non-stop to get the roads ready in time for the Birthday.

The Stadium is also busy with a number of Seva Dals engaged in decorating the

ground. In the evening, Bhagawan was out by 3.30 p.m. The Prasadam Coordination

and arrangement task began at 4.00 p.m. with tractor loads of Puliyora and

Chakkar Pongal being delivered from the Canteen into the Kulwant Hall. Students

were also passing on bowls of Prasadam across long human chains, shifting the

vessels from the Canteen to the Mandir. By 5.15 p.m. all arrangements were

completed. We were all set for the

distribution. Swami sat inside the Bhajan Hall for most of the time and at sharp

6.00 p.m. Aarti was offered. Few minutes later, signal was given to commence the

Prasadam distribution. Swarms of students spread themselves across the dozens of

bays in the Kulwant Hall, distributing Prasadam to the devotees. As the

distribution was taking place, Swami came out in His chair, moved across the

portico and proceeded towards the gents' side of the Kulwant Hall. He moved

along the rows of students who were seated in neat bays receiving Prasadam. As

He approached the Primary School boys, the young children who were waiting for

His Presence, spontaneously started chanting Brahmarpanam Brahamahavir Mantra!

Following this they partook the Prasadam. Watching this, Swami was overjoyed! A

good lesson for all of us. November 12th, 2005 Today being the second Saturday

of the month of November, we know that it is time for the Global

Akhanda Bhajans. This evening at 6.00 p.m. Bhajans will commence at Prashanti

Nilayam. Sai Centres in various nations start the Bhajans at 6.00 p.m.

according to their local time. Therefore, at some point, the sacred vibrations

of Bhajans will envelope the entire globe, initiating a massive cleansing of

minds. Let us all actively participate in chanting the name of the Lord. This

evening, Swami came out at around 3.30 p.m. and proceeded to the grounds as He

has been doing everyday. He returned at 4.10 p.m. and went straight into the

Poornachandra. We all sat in Kulwant Hall waiting eagerly for our Lord. The

Bhajan Hall was packed to its full. At 5.45 p.m. the Toyota Porte glided into

the Kulwant Hall. All the lights came on instantly, including the chandeliers

and the series lighting across the roof of the Hall. The entire place was

shining brilliantly welcoming our Lord. Swami went straight into the Bhajan

Hall. To everybody's delight, Swami stood up from His chair

and took a few steps to light the ceremonial lamp. There was loud applause. A

few minutes later, the Omkaram began marking the commencement of the Akhanda

Bhajans. Swami sat in the Bhajan Hall until 7.00 p.m. The mikes were kept on

even after Swami retired and were put off only at 9.00 p.m. November 7th to

11th, 2005 November 7th was Kartika Somavaram - as you know, Bhagawan's

Birthday according to the Indian calendar is also on a Kartika Somavaram, but

when the Ardhra Star is in alignment. Bhagawan came out for evening Darshan and

asked for a Music Programme. This was just out of the blue. However, as the

Music Group Students had prepared a programme for Deepavali which did not

materialize that day, they were able to immediately present a good programme.

While singing Rama Katha, Swami went inside the interview room and then after a

while the programme came to a close followed by Bhajans. On the morning of the

9th,

Bhagawan came out for Darshan close to 9.00 a.m. Bhajans were from 8.30 a.m. to

9.00 a.m. Subsequently, Swami visited the Maha Lakshmi temple that is almost

ready close to the Gayatri temple near the Round Blocks. Very soon, this temple

will be inaugurated. On 8th and 9th, Swami drove out into the Vidyagiri Stadium

at around 11.30 a.m. He spent more than half an hour in the stadium,

supervising all the seva going on there. A lot of decoration and other

arrangements are being made in the stadium. Flags of all nations have been

fixed vertically on poles along the railings on top of the stadium. This gives

a colourful look to the whole stadium. Swami has been entering into the stadium

through the huge entrance on the Primary School side. A wide space has been

marked on the grounds on which Swami's car can move straight towards the Shanti

Vedika stage. It just passes by the pitch on the Cricket Ground. Subsequently,

Swami went up to the Hanuman Statue and as He returned,

all the students stood along the road and had a beautiful Darshan. The Shanti

Vedika stage has been completely tiled now. All the Sports Meet structures that

had been fixed on the ground earlier have been removed and this makes the ground

appear very spacious. We are also awaiting the inauguration of the Humanities

Block - the new building in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Prashanthi Nilayam Campus that is now ready. It will house the Economics

department and possibly the I and II Year Under Graduate classes will also be

held there. This will create more space for the existing departments in the old

building. 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

Websitehttp://radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm