Sai Darshan News: September 9-11, 2008 - Sai Students

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September 11 2008 It was 3:30 pm when Swami came out for darshan rounds today. Swami completed the rounds quickly and then moved on stage. He asked for the Veda chanting classes to begin. He said that come rain or shine, the classes must proceed and all must make efforts to learn the Namakam. And so, the class began and as it went on, Swami went into the interview room. Soon He came out and once the lessons for the day had been completed, He asked all the students to get up and clear the area for the drama to begin. This was a fantastic scene. There is very little space even to walk as all sit huddled and close with the desire of maximum divine proximity. At the same time, when Swami tells to get up and clear the area, everyone does it with the greatest enthusiasm, for

is that too not a chance to directly follow His command? However, as these two feelings combine, the apparent confusion it creates is hilarious at times! And Swami sits enjoying every bit of it. As the students cleared the area, Swami once again went into the interview room. He asked for the programme to begin. On His return after a few minutes, He sat watching the proceedings. The drama that was being performed was derived from the immortal epic, Ramayana. Its focus seemed to be on three characters whose lives were intertwined since birth - Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman. While Lakshmana was born of Kausalya's portion of the potion given to Sumitra, Hanuman too was born of the same potion which an eagle carried away and dropped in his mother's hands. The drama opened with the incident where Rama is so happy that Lakshmana won the game but Lakshmana is crying because Rama had lost the game purposely in his favour. Rama is the apple of the eye of

every queen. Seeing this scene, the Lord's eyes brimmed with tears. Seeing Swami at such times is such a revealing experience. Nobility has the power to arouse the pure heart very easily. And so, irrespective of the background score or the acting levels, the episodes from Ramayana seem to arouse in Swami such powerful feelings and emotions. And when we sit seeing the drama in a distant fashion, it inspires us to aspire for that purity that sweet Swami embodies. But whatever be the purity levels, seeing Swami makes everyone also feel for the drama being presented. Fast forward to the trio of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita in the forest. Rama tells Lakshmana to set up a hut in the place of his choice. This brings Lakshmana into tears! He asks, "Oh brother! What do you mean by the place which I like? My likes are exactly whatever You like. Dont you know that?" That sort of brotherly Love existed between them. Once again fast forward to the search for

Mother Sita. Lord Rama places all his faith in Hanuman. It showed so beautifully that the amount of faith the Lord has in His devotee is the reflection of the faith that the devotee has in the Lord! Hanuman completes the mission successfully by meeting Sita, conveying her Lord's message to her and then strikes terror into the hearts of the demons. Vibhishana comes over and surrenders to Rama. And Rama accepts him wholeheartedly saying that He will give refuge to anyone who asks for it irrespective of any distinctions. This part reminded everyone so much of our dear Swami who says, "If you need me, you deserve me!" The drama concluded with the famous pearl necklace incident where Hanuman breaks Mother Sita's gift to him saying that it is worthless as none of the pearls chanted Rama's name! When the courtiers think that it is the monkey in him manifesting, he plucks out a hair from his body and the resonant name of Rama is heard. The drama closure

took place in the grand palace. As all the participants gathered in a formation, Swami sat watching them and smiling. He told the two Ramas and two Sitas to come in the front separately. Then He moved down and stood amidst them posing for group photos. He patted many a child and said, "Very nice drama, very nice drama." Then He had sarees and white pant-shirt pieces distributed to all the participants. Prasadam also followed very soon. As all this was going on, singers from Kerala began bhajans. The bhajans were in a different style in the fact that they had portions which only the lead singer would sing and those demonstated his hold over the ragas and they also had portions which gave a chance for all the following devotees to sing out and vent their devotion and Love! After two bhajans, Swami received Aarthi. He sat through the entire Aarthi on the stage itself. Swami was so happy with the drama that He called the Kerala state president and

using him as a translator for Malayalam said, "I am very happy with this drama. This drama gets first prize. The dialogues, script, acting, role selection and dresses were all very good. The people who have trained the children have also done a fantastic job. When I come to Kerala, I will surely stay in your school. And when I come I will come walking! Sita especially did very wonderfully. She performed with a lot of feelings." At this time, very understandably, the girl who had donned Sita's role broke down and let a free flow of tears. That started tears from almost all the other actors' eyes too. Swami immediately said, "One should not cry! Swami is overwhelmed with joy and so all of you should also smile and not cry!" Leaving all in a state of great satisfaction and happiness Swami retired for the day. September 10, 2008 Today marked the beginning of the three day festival of Onam. Onam

is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala and it falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) marking the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. The carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best in Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam (design with flowers), ambrosial Onasadya(the traditional feast), breathtaking Chundanvellams (Snake Boats) racing through placid waters and the exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala. Most importantly, wherever the Malayali people are located, they return home for the festival. And it is this homecoming that sees thousands of devotees from Kerala flock the abode of highest peace at Prasanthi Nilayam. A central stage had been set up in the marble block in which the acting area had been demarcated with flowers. The sets were in place and wonderfully costumed children sat awaiting the

Lord's arrival. The staging area however had been filled with students. Swami came out for darshan at around 4:35pm. He was all smiles and so were the devotees. To see Swami is really a very special feeling. But that feeling seems to get enhanced especially when you see Him on a day that you consider as very special. And so, while the people in Kerala waited in eager anticipation for their king Mahabali, the Kerala devotees in Puttaparthi were welcoming the Lord Vamana Himself! Swami moved through the ladies side and coming to the centre saw the elaborate stage that had been set up. Seeing the tiny tots seated in regal costumes, the smile on His face widened. He asked them, "Are you doing drama?" All He got for a reply was hesitant and cute nods from a few kids and absolutely blank looks from the others! Smiling to Himself, Swami moved on. As He moved through the gents side, which experiences greater freedom for devotion due to the looser rope

of discipline being imposed on them, the devotees rose to various heights to catch a glimpse of Him. On His part Swami blessed all of them and His hands kept moving up and down, reassuring and calming them. Moving throug the students area, Swami finally came on to the stage. He asked all the students to clear the performance area so that the drama could immediately begin. He called the Kerala state president and asked him to introduce the program. The Balvikas students from Kerala would be performing a dance drama called "Dashavataaram". As that announcement was made, tiny children came forward with flowers to present to Swami! Swami also seemed to be amazed at how little the children were. Full marks to the children for the exemplerary discipline they exhibited and that discipline seemed to invite Swami to interact more with them. Swami blessed them and then told them to return to their place which they did so in the most reverential manner.

Then the programme began. It turned out to be more of dance and less of drama - a wonderful propostion when it comes to the children from Kerala who seemed to have learnt dance even before they were born! The programme traced all the 10 avatars of Maha Vishnu. Each avatar was introduced by the dance and then made its brief appearance. The avatar was then celebrated with another dance. The dances were such a pleasing sight and musically so rich and resonant. The choreography was perfect and it was incredible to think that children so small were capable of feats so big! The Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise) and Varaha (boar) Avatars were well depicted with 'manimals' shall we say! That is, people in disguise as a fish, tortoise and boar were seen on the backstage. The story of the Narasimha Avatar (half man - half lion) was briefly depicted and the actor donning the role of Hiranyakashyapu performed superlatively. The significance of Onam and some

of the festivities were beautifully depicted as the Vamana Avatar came onstage. The Parashurama and Rama Avatar arrived together and the greatest devotee Hanuman too got his share of the 'limelight'. The tiny toddling Krishna won everyones heart with his sheer presence on the scene! He looked so sweet and cute. The famous episode between of Krishna enriching Sudama's life in every way was depicted. Then going the Buddha, the programme turned to Swami. Swami went briefly to the interview room and returned having arranged for sarees which He wanted to gift the children with. On His way back, He stopped for a minute at the bhajan hall. Representatives of the students working in Central Trust were seated there. Swami, in all Love, had granted everyone bonuses and hikes in salaries and they expressed gratitude to Him. Swami blessed them and told them, "Continue whatever you are doing in the same way. Thats enough for me!" He arrived at the

stage and asked for the children to arrange themselves in a compact manner so that He would pose for group photos with them. As the boys and girls seated themselves separately, Swami moved down from the stage and posed for photographs with the children. He then asked for sarees to be brought. He personally gave all the girls sarees and along with each saree came a free smile too! The same procedure followed with the boys too, only that they were given white cloth pieces. After blessing them thus, Swami moved back to the stage and asked for bhajans to begin. During the bhajans, He blessed prasadam to be distributed. Later, receiving Aarthi and blessing everyone with beautiful smiles, Swami went back to Yajur Mandir. September 9, 2008 Life with the Lord is always full of novelty and a new freshness. No moment is the same and the fact that the ever-steady Lord is also the ever new is indeed a great

mystery. When Swami came out for the darshan rounds at 4:40pm, very few even dreamt of the wonderful gift that Swami had planned for one and all. As far as Swami was concerned, He came out in His usual sweet smiling self. Moving down the slope on the ladies side, He collected letters. One letter seemed to engross Him a lot and He began reading it then and there. By the time He completed reading it, He was already on the marble block in the centre. Passing by the students, He collected letters and moved into the gents side. Finally, finishing the complete round, Swami went into the interview room. In a few minutes time, He came out and sat in the centrestage. There was a gleam in His eye and everyone seemed to understand that something special was brewing! He called the lead Veda chanters and also asked for the podium and mike to be brought forward. He instructed them and soon the special news was conveyed to one and all over the public address

system. Swami desired that all the students learn to memory the chanting and meaning of the first part of the Sri Rudra Prasnah or the Namakam as it is popularly called. There is a significant point to note here. The Vedas are believed to be birth less and the term originates from the word "vid" meaning knowledge. Initially, the Vedas were not written down and the composers were actually seers, i.e. to say that the chants were revealed as intuitive flashes to all of them. And as Swami says, people falsely mistake that it pertains to Hinduism. It belongs to the Sanatana Dharma (the eternal way of life!).For ages, these chants, basically very powerful and positive vibrations, were simply taught to the disciples along with the pronunciation by vocalization. It is a very spiritual and wholesome prayer to Rudra, sometimes also referred to as Shiva. It is anthropomorphic visualization that gives a form to the Lord with various attributes. As

Swami keeps saying, "You are all God as much as I am God! Realize that!" Therefore, while the name Siva and the specific form attributed to Him are useful in their own way, we must really look beyond the form to the Formless aspect of God to reach the ultimate realization. First, one of the students thanked Swami for presenting all with this great opportunity to learn in His divine presence. Following that, everyone chanted the Gananaam twa mantra. And then the training began. Swami's desire was that all learn it before His birthday. He also promised in a very inviting manner, "Those who learn very well, I will call personally and reward all the efforts." So, in His presence, the class began. Each line of the first paragraph would be chanted and all would follow twice. Swami sat with a scrutinizing eye looking at every student and checking how well he/she was picking up! This was Vedic teaching in its past pristine glory, in the "Guru-Shishya

parampara" as its known. The special difference here was that the Lord sat in the Guru's position! As 25 minutes of 'coaching' elapsed, Swami turned and said, "Thats enough for today." And that too was so sweet about Him. He knows how much syllabus covered can be grasped! Swami had said on 31st August, "When I speak, it is with everyone, not to a particular individual." Everyone knows that though Krishna taught the Bhagwad Gita to Arjuna, it was meant for all of humanity for all times to come. And so, though Swami said that He wanted His students to learn this, it is upto us whether we want to be His students or not. He just says what He expects of His students and then it is upto us whether we are His students or not. As Swami Himself put it some years ago, "You are all University students but I want you to be Sai students." Only a few get the privileged chance to be the students of the University but Sai studentship is open for all who desire

and strive. Swami blessed the 'coaches' with padanamaskar and once again said that those who pick up the best would be amply rewarded! Swami moved into the bhajan hall and then bhajans began after which Swami moved to Yajur Mandir at about 6:20pm.

 

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