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November 13, 2008

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Sai Baba Photos & darshan news updates

Saturday, November 8, 2008 & Sunday, November 9, 2008 " Akhanda Bhajans "

If at all we get a chance to rise and travel with the sun along its perennially westward journey, we will find that the second weekend in the winter month of November is something very special. As the sunset time gets due, the primeval sound - the Omkara - resounds marking the beginning of the 24 hour long Akhanda Bhajans. As we move along westward into the later time zones of the world, more and more nations join this activity of devotion, peace and love till a point when the whole world is reverberating with the divine name. This practice which began as a small stream of singing at a senior devotee's house in Bangalore has today gathered momentum into a massive river of devotion worldwide surging towards the tranquil ocean that the Lord is.

It was about 5pm IST when Swami entered the Kulwant hall for the darshan rounds. He took the detour after the Primary School block to enter the Bhajan Hall where a lovely large lamp had been prepared. This is the lamp that Swami would light to mark the beginning of the global Akhanda Bhajan. Swami inspected it and He was shown the various fittings that would be added on soon to the lamp to make it taller and grander. He also examined the wicks and satisfied that all was fine, moved out to the stage.

What happened there was something so special that maybe we could also term today as the " Kalpavriksha Day " ! Swami sat out listening to the Veda chanting that was on. The Rudram was soon completed and the Purushasuktam was beginning. Swami called the Vedam tutorial teacher and in a spurt told him that Swami's wish was that all learn the Purushasuktam as well. He, on his part, assured Swami that all the students and staff would begin efforts in earnest towards that direction. Swami then called the boy in front who was holding up a tray. He spoke to him and blessed him by sprinkling the holy Akshatha grains on his head. As is the practice, when Swami calls one of the boys with the tray, it is assumed that He has called the other " tray boys " too. So, one by one, the boys started to move to Swami and Swami blessed them all. He spoke a few words to some, listened to a lot of words from many(!) and granted the twin joys of an Akshatha shower and a padanamaskar to all. The grace-hungry are a huge number and even Swami seemed a bit startled as about 25-30 boys came up to Him with trays! Though He jocularly asked once, " How many boys!!? " , He ensured that every boy returned with a heart full of satisfaction and joy.

Then began the part two of the " Kalpavriksha Day " celebrations as we have chosen to term it! Swami called one of the boys in the front who was holding a letter. He took the letter and went through it and spoke a few words of advice to him. Another boy meanwhile decide to play his chances and moved to Swami along with the first boy and he too gave a letter. Swami simply smiled at him and took his letter and spoke to him too. Emboldened by this response another boy and then yet another moved to Swami. And again from His side, it was the same response. With smiles on their faces, the boys slowly made sort of a line that was headed to the Lord and Swami too noticed that from the corner of His eye and merely smiled. And so from 5:20pm till almost 6:00 pm, boys kept moving to Swami handing over their letters of gratitude, love, prayers and petitions and Swami satisfied each and everyone. The whole block now resembled a river that was flowing on to become a waterfall as all the boys converged to join the stream that was headed towards Swami and bliss! As the time became 5:55pm, the boy sitting next to Swami " reminded " Him that He was due to light the lamp at 6:00pm. At that time, Swami sweetly said, " Only 5 minutes left now. " That acted as a prod for all to go quickly to Him and offer letters. It was seconds before 6:00pm that Swami moved into the bhajan hall and gently lit the beautiful lamp as the Aumkaram began.

Swami sat for about an hour listening and keeping beat for the bhajans. The boys and girls, as usual, alternated in singing the bhajans. It was about 7pm when Swami left for Yajur mandir.

The 9th morning saw Swami coming out for darshan at about 9:20 am after a plethora of " Aao " bhajans as they are called had been sung. These are bhajans which request and plead with the Lord to come and bless all with His darshan. Swami cut through after the Primary school block. However, He moved to the stage and sat outside and everyone assembled in the hall had beautiful darshan. Singing the name as we see the form is a sublimely uplifting experience. And that experience was conferred on the thousands gathered in Kulwant hall. Soon after that, Swami moved into the bhajan hall where there were quite a few people who had spent the whole night singing the divine glories of God. He sat through 6-7 bhajans after which He very sweetly excused Himself! He then left for the Institute Auditorium where the students were rehearsing for the Convocation drama.

Swami takes keen interest especially in the Convocation drama and though it is performed in His presence on the 22nd of November, He sees through every aspect of the drama right from the script writing to the acting and costumes. As always, the devotees from Kulwant hall and other places in Puttaparthi made a beeline towards the car to glimpse their beloved Lord as He drove by. Swami was welcomed into the auditorium by the Vice Chancellor, the principal and the controller of examinations. All the boys lined up the path through which Swami entered. Swami signaled to them to go on stage and begin the drama.

It is on an apologetic note that the updating on the sequence of the drama and Swami's specific reactions have to be reserved to preserve the suspense of the drama! However some points can be divulged. Swami watched the drama with rapt attention. Speaking to the warden who sat beside Him, Swami enquired into the various roles and characters on stage. There was a scene from the Ramayana which was very apt to the situation and it evoked very positive response from Swami. He was absolutely touched. All the various songs that were part of the drama were sung live by the students. Swami gave feedback on the drama to the warden and asked for it to be trimmed at certain points to make it crisp. After watching for 50 minutes, Swami blessed all and said that it was time to leave. As Swami moved towards the car, all the students crowded around Him and sought blessings. Chocolates were blessed to be distributed to all. As He came out of the auditorium, the Institute brass band struck up the National Anthem. It was played beautifully and listening to that, Swami left for the mandir and moved into Yajur mandir.

Meanwhile the bhajans continued in the mandir and as the evening drew close, more and more people thronged the mandir premises. The prasadam to be distributed at the end of the bhajan session was also carried in or wheeled into the Kulwant hall. The rows of vessels holding tamarind rice and the laddoos were placed neatly at the Northern end of the hall. It was about 4:45pm, when Swami came out once again. He moved through the ladies and then took a detour towards the Northern gate where all the prasadam had been kept. He blessed them and then surveyed all the preparations done for the distribution. Turning back, He moved towards the mandir again and near the gents side took another detour. Now this detour was something that pleased all the gents as it meant that Swami was coming towards them. After a gap of many days, Swami was going through this path and naturally there was a rejoicing. Swami took a complete round as if rewarding all for whatever efforts they had put in for the Akhanda bhajan.

The evening was characterized by Swami moving in and out of the bhajan hall. He moved through the central aisle in the bhajan hall and also through the upper and lower porticos in the mandir. He sat out for a while collecting a few letters and granting darshan. Nobody could have complained of not having darshan. The tempo and enthusiasm levels of the bhajans went up as the conclusion time arrived. At about 5:55pm, Swami asked a pair of boys in the front to sing the Sree Raghavam aalaap bhajan. Everyone expected that with that bhajan the 24 hour session would culminate. But sensing another minute and an opportunity remaining, the girls began in full speed, " Namah Parvati Pataye Hara Hara " . Swami saw that and smiled. After a while, He told the boys with puckered lips that the girls took the opportunity and they are concluding. A total of more than 400 bhajans had been sung and according to one student, the exact number stands at 424! With that bhajan, Aarthi began.

The last stanza where the tempo picks up was marked by resounding clapping and vociferous singing. Swami also asked all to sing the " Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu " is a very loud voice and all were only too happy to oblige. Swami then sprinkled water over the vessels holding the prasadam and blessed them to be distributed. When a boy started serving the boys immediately, Swami told him that ladies must be first and so the prasadam must be kept on the other side for serving to the ladies! The prayer, " Bhrahmaarpanam " was then done after which everyone began to eat in the divine presence on the divine command.

Swami then moved out of the bhajan hall and surveyed the food being served to the Primary school children. They too began to chant the prayer and so sweetly at that too! It was a high pitched one and Swami sat sweetly swaying to the chants. As they completed, Swami told them all to begin eating. Then He slowly moved through the ladies side and blessed the Anantapur students who were seated there. Finally, leaving all with full hearts and quickly filling bellies(!) Swami retired into Yajur mandir.