Reporting from Prasanthi Nilayam - 18th November 2005

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18th November 2005, 17.00 hrs. Reporting from Prasanthi Nilayam …

Prasanthi gears up for the grand occasion

With only four days to go for the dawn of the Day all have been waiting for

quiet long, the heat is already on and every inch of Prasanthi Nilayam is

reverberating in anticipation of the SUN TO RISE on that coveted day, 23rd

November 2005, the day when Avatar's physical frame enters the Eightieth Year

of His sojourn on Earth. Of course, for the one who is beyond time and frame,

it is yet another occasion to pour His bounteous benevolence to them whom He

calls His Own Reflections.

Prasanthi Nilayam is already filled to capacity and one can see roads

leading to the ashram being spruced up for the special occasion with decorations

and huge hoardings on both sides welcoming the influx of thousands of devotees

from different parts of the world. Ashram administration and the state

government have made elaborate arrangements to ensure comfort and convenience

of the expected lakhs of devotees in the days to come. With free food as

‘prasadam' being offered to devotees from today onwards, separate makeshift

kitchens have become operational with thousands being served breakfast, lunch

and dinner both South Indian and North Indian style, apart from snack and tea

in the evening, Food is served in huge pandals specially erected for the

occasion….and hundreds and thousands of Seva Dal volunteers are active round

the clock, right from unloading provisions that are arriving regularly,

shifting these provisions to the makeshift kitchens, to cooking and serving the

thousands. Special tents are raised to accommodate the participants of the World

Conference and other devotees towards the Western end of Prasanthi Nilayam.

Special telephone booths with ISD, STD and local call facilities are arranged

at vantage points in the ashram and an Information Centre is functional round

the clock near Ganesh gate to facilitate devotees with required information.

Special Bookstalls have been erected at vantage points to facilitate devotees

with easy access to Sai Literature.

Free Medical Camp and emergency medical care are being provided with both

allopathic and homoeopathic doctors available on duty round the clock. Moving

on to the Hill View Stadium, one could see elaborate arrangements being made to

see that everything is foolproof for 23rd morning. The main dais is being

specially decorated and a special huge stage is being raised on the western

slope of the stadium adjacent to Krishna Statue for the day's programme.

With the Eighth World

Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations getting underway on 20th

November, arrangements are well on a higher gear with huge settings, shamiana

being rasied, behind the North Blocks, towards the North-West end of Prasanthi

Nilayam which can easily accommodate thousands of devotees expected to attend

the conference.

18th November 2005, 15:00 Hours IST Reporting from Prasanthi Nilayam

Rathotsavam (Chariot Festival)

Tradition has it that 18th November is celebrated every year as the Rathotsavam

in Prasanthi Nilayam. This day heralds the Birthday celebrations every year.

This year the celebrations began a day earlier with the Mass Marriages function

(a report of which was given in our previous update). The idols of

Venugopalaswami and Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman are brought to the

Prasanthi Mandir the previous

night and the next morning they are taken in a procession to Pedda Venkama Raju

Kalyana Mandapam (previously called Patha Mandir or Old Mandir). Arati is

offered to the idols and on their return, only the idols of Rama, Lakshmana,

Sita and Hanuman are brought to the Prasanthi Mandir. This tradition is

punctiliously followed every year in Prasanthi Nilayam as is done in other

temples.

Bhagawan came to Sai Kulwant Hall for granting Darshan at 7.45 a.m. to the sweet

strains of Nadaswaram and the bugles of Panchavadyam. The Veda chanting students

were dressed in the traditional attire of Dhoti and angavastram for the

occasion. After Darshan, Bhagawan went inside Bhajan Hall and asked the Veda

chanting students to start the procession. Soon the Seva Dals who were to carry

the palanquins of decorated idols took their positions. As is the custom,

Bhagawan's dear elephant Sai Gita led the procession followed by Nadaswaram,

Panchavadyam, Veda

chanting students and Bhajan singing group from Sai Kulwant Hall. As the

palanquins reached the Gopuram gate, the idol of Venugopalaswami was placed in

a chariot. As the procession was about to begin its journey, Bhagawan came to

the Gopuram gate and blessed the chariot and the Seva Dals. As the procession

meandered through the Gopuram main road, thousand of devotees offered Arati and

flowers, broke coconuts and paid their salutations to the idols. It was sight to

see so many people offering their obeisance to the idols. After the procession

reached the Kalyana Mandapam, the grand chariot carrying the idol of

Venugopalaswami was moved inside the enclosure kept specially for it and Arati

was offered to the idols. Then the procession began its return journey with the

idols of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman. Bhagawan was all the while waiting

for the procession to reach the Prasanthi Mandir. After the idols were placed

in the Mandir, Arati was offered to Bhagawan. Then Bhagawan

retired to His abode. Thus ended the grand festival of Rathotsavam in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Decorated idols in Prasanthi Mandir before taking for procession

Bhagawan in the Prasanthi Mandir before the procession Procession

moving towards Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyana Mandapam Nadaswaram Troupe and Veda

Chanting Students leading the procession Swami's dear elephant Sai

Gita in the procession Venugopalaswami Idol in the enclosure kept in the

Kalyana Mandapam Bhagawan in the Prasanthi Mandir at the culmination

of Rathotsavam Arati being offered at the culmination of Rathotsavam

Source: http://www.srisathyasaipublications.org/PrasanthiNews.htm