34th weekly posting- Saudi SAI activities- 14 Oct 2007

[Guest guest]

Sai-Satsang in 4 centers continued

(week ending 14th Oct, Sunday)

 

Sairam to all Children, Sisters and Sai Brothers

in all 4 Sai SatSanghs in Dammam, Jubail, Jeddah and

Riyadh.

 

We continue with the Thirty fourth (34) posting of the

activities of all 4 centers. Meanwhile, Apologies for

late posting this week.

 

Summary:

1) Total Attendance all over Saudi above 140, a

near record.

2) Navarthri this week – Note on Durga Mata

 

Details:

In Dammam the weekly satsangh was held on the evening

of Wednesday 10th Oct at Bro. Kaladeepan’s residence

in Khobar. The attendance was by about 25 members with

Aarthi taken by Bro. Ramesh. Bro Prem provided the

report. Thank you Prem.

 

Jubail center held the weekly Satsang on Sunday 14th

Oct (during Eid break) at 11Am attended by about 40

members at Bro Swamy Mahadevan’s residence who was

celebrating the successful completion of final exams

by his daughter Sai Veena, in BDS. Aarthi was taken by

Bro Vinod. A large number of members from Dammam,

about 25, participated. Subsequent 3 Bhajans are also

scheduled at the same venue. Bro Wimal & Swamy

Mahadevan provided the report. Thank you both.

 

The Jeddah Sai Samithis members met Bro Gopi & Bro KP

Rajan’s residence on Thursday 11th Oct/2007 with an

attendance of about 27 members. Aarthi was taken by

Brother Prakash Chadaythu. New member Bro.Saleef

Bhaskaran attended. His family visited Puttaparthi on

their recent vacation. After the Darshan, his 9 years’

old daughter had some symptoms of brain tumor and was

operated in Eranakulam. They will be back shortly to

Jeddah. We pray for her speedy ad full recovery. His

wife is teacher at Indian Embassy School Jeddah. The

report was provided by Bro. K.P.Rajan. Thanks you KPR.

 

 

Riyadh center held a Mahila Bhajan on Thursday evening

7 pm on 11th Oct, The Bhajan was attended by about 48

members. Sis. Banu Manishekar took the aarthi. She had

composed some devotional songs on Baghvan which were

played in Eshwaramma day celebrations the previous

week.

 

With the coincidence of Eid holidays this year being

same as week of Navarathri, there are daily Lalita

Sashranamam prayer sessions in devotees homes. (Hindu

Navarathri following the Solar calendar is held on the

same dates each year, but Eid following Lunar calendar

shifts few days in advance each year). The concluding

9th day prayer will be on Saturday 20th Oct at the

center.

 

The following is a brief note on Durga Pooja following

discussions with Bro. P.B.Rao and some internet sites.

 

 

The ongoing festival of Navaratri (nine nights) is a

celebration of the Great Mother Goddess, in which the

different days of worship is divided into three

parts, in her three essential forms (Durga, Lakshmi,

Saraswati). The two principal scriptures of the

goddess - The Devi Mahatmya and the Devi Bhagavata

Purana, highlight these aspects with highly

instructive and symbolic stories.

 

Durga worship is based on the concept of Mata (mother)

being the originator of the Universe as Shakthi

(Energy) when One “Parabrahma” became two, (into

Energy and Matter) which in turn led to creation of

this universe. Durga in turn, created Brahma, Vishnu

and Shiva and their female consorts to carry on the

work of creation, maintenance and recycling of the

universe as per The Devî Mâhâtmya also known as the

Durgâ Saptashatî, or Chandi Patha - containing 700

(saptashata " seven hundred " ) verses, arranged into 13

chapters.

 

The Devi Mahatmya is found in the Markandeya Purana

and estimated to have been composed some 1,600 years

ago, c. 400-500 CE. Here, for the first time, the

various mythic, cultic and theological elements

relating to diverse female divinities were brought

together in what has been called the ”crystallization

of the Goddess tradition. " .

 

The word Durga is made up of 'Dur,' which means

difficult, and 'ga,' meaning go against. Thus Durga is

the triumphant aspect of Shakti, which brooks no

opposition. Most famous is the story of Mahishasura

Mardini – Devi as " Slayer of the Buffalo Demon " – one

of the most ubiquitous images known almost

universally in India.

 

The world then was under attack by Mahishasura, the

most evil demon in the world, who took many different

forms, including that of a buffalo. The male gods,

fearing total annihilation endowed Durga with their

powers. Riding a lion into battle, Durga slew the

buffalo by cutting off its head and then she destroyed

the spirit of the demon as it emerged from the

buffalo's severed neck. It is through this act that

order was established in the world.

 

The Devi Bhagavata Purana describes the physical form

of this goddess:

 

A virgin blooming with fresh youth, the luster of her

body was like the rising sun. Shining on her crown was

the moon. She was holding a noose (Basham) and goad

(Ankusha) in her two hands and the other two arms

displayed the mudras of boon granting (varada) and

fearlessness (abhaya) respectively.

 

Her body, decked with various ornaments, looked

auspicious and exceedingly lovely. She was like the

wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpa Vriksa). Her clothing was

red and her body was covered with sandal paste. She

was the Cause of all causes, and the embodiment of

compassion (karuna-murti).

 

Next week we will look at how various communities in

different parts of India actually celebrate this 9 day

festival.

 

Pranams

P.B.V.Rajan