Ashadi Ekadashi: Sant Gajanan Maharaj- Musical Ballet - 4th July 2009

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Sant Gajanan Maharaj

....a musical ballet on the life of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj

July 04, 2009

“Maharashtra

is rich with Gaatha of Bhakthiâ€, echoed the Balvikas Children during

the previous day’s cultural programme titled, Maharashtra Bhakti

Gaatha. With her rich spiritual tradition, by virtue of being the birth

land of many an illustrious spiritual giant, the state of Maharashtra

brings to introduce glorious illustrious lives of great saints and

sages belongs to the land, every year during the Ashadi celebrations,

in the immediate Divine presence of Bhagawan.

 

On the 4th evening, marking the Grand Finale of the three day

celebrations, the Bal Vikas children from the satellite city of Navi

Mumbai presented a scintillating Musical Ballet on the life of Shri

Sant Gajanan Maharaj.

A

number of glorified saints have made Maharashtra, a “Sant Bhoomi†and

one such highly revered and largely worshipped saint was Sant Gajanan

Maharaj of Shegaon, who was a contemporary of Bhagawan’s previous

incarnation at Shirdi. Shri Gajanan Maharaj first appeared at Shegaon

on the 23rd February, 1878, as a young lad. He was spotted by one

Bankatlal while eating waste food from a public dustbin. Thereafter,

the Maharaj remained in public life for 32 long years, teaching

humanity, often correcting their follies, transforming them through

miraculous acts. Das Ganu Maharaj, who has authored Shirdi Sai

Satcharita, the life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi, has also

chronicled a biographic poetry of the great saint, titled Pothi.

 

 

 

 

Sai Kulwant was resonating the beauty of the

mysterious mantra, “Gani Gana Ganath Botheyâ€, that used to be the

constant companion of the great saint. Completely oblivious of his

surroundings, the saint would lie down anywhere, eat anything, and wear

any piece of cloth, while preaching to see and seek God in everything.

 

The musical ballet commences with a narration by Das Ganu, expressing

grateful thanks for the “yet another†opportunity granted, to have His

holy darshan, after having blessed to be with the previous incarnation

at Shirdi. The narrator often appears during interludes talking of the

greater glory of the saint, mixing the same with the greater import his

life and teachings signified, often talking from a spiritual

perspective.

Bankatlal,

who spots the saint eating leftovers abandoned on the road side,

growing inquisitive, questions the saint about his identity. Retorting

to the layman, bouncing back with the question with an advice to ask

“who am I†before asking such foolish questions, the Maharaj blurts out

into a ‘discourse’ talking on the principle of Self.

 

Interesting anecdotes from his illustrious life were shown depicting

the transformation he brought about in individuals bringing in societal

transformation. In an interesting incident showing his mysterious ways

of bringing in transformation, the Maharaj entered a village asking for

a pot-full of water to quench his thirst. Enraged at the severe drought

that hit the village very badly, with the only well in the village

going dry for almost twelve years, the villager showered abusive words

at the saint asking him to work hard to understand the pain and

suffering of the villagers. Nonchalant, still showing greater concern,

he reached out the ultimate refuge with his sincere prayers. …And yet

another miracle! The well that had gone dry for twelve years overflowed

to the astonishment of the innocent villagers bringing in greater

transformation in them. Faith sprung the villager’s heart and repenting

for his infantile outburst, the villager promised to use the Maharaj’s

name as a sword to preach goodness and godliness. …and the village

erupted in joy, singing, “Jai Ho…Jai Ho…Gajaanan Maharaj…â€

 

 

 

 

In

two incidents, the Maharaj showed his spiritual powers to bestow the

boon of liberation on his chosen disciples, Bhaskar followed by

Peetambhar. When Bhaskar was bitten by a rabi dog and defying all

suggestions to go to a doctor, Bhaskar sought to come to his Master.

The Master, pleased with his faith and devotion granted him two more

months of life after which he would be liberated. Taking the disciple

to Trimbakeshwar, the seat of one of the twelve Jyothirlingas, the Guru

asked the disciple to sit facing east, to meditate and amidst the

chanting of “Vittala..Vittla†sent his disciple to the world of

absolute freedom.

In

another incident, another celebrated disciple Peetambhar was ordained

to leave his village to spread the message of his Guru. Entering into a

village, Kondoli, Peetambhar was bit puzzled as to where he would take

rest. Finally seeing a dried up tree, he decided to take shelter on the

same. Passerby villagers, having seen the odd sight, doubted the

integrity of Peetambhar, calling him names and asked to surrender all

his belongings. In vain attempt to prove his identity, he was

challenged by the villagers to prove his identity beyond doubts by

bringing back the dead tree into life. The simpleton in Peetambhar

expressed his inability to do so, but prayed to his Master to save his

name which was at stake. …and there bloomed yet another miracle! The

dead tree came back to life and the villagers turned into devotees.

 

A self styled Brahmajnani, who out of his folly and arrogance,

completely hypocritical was exposed by the Maharaj, guiding him to lead

a life adhered to principles. Though the hypocrite dared to insult him,

dared to call him names, the Maharaj was ever the cool compassionate

persona, his original self.

 

The master spoke about the three paths leading to liberation, namely,

karma, bhakti and jnana.Visiting an evolved soul in neighboring

village, he would often get into spiritual discussions and even advised

the householder devotee, who was very much evolved, that, despite

following grihastha dharma one could still reach the exalted state of spiritual ecstasy.

“Recite

the Name and the Named will be before you†was one of the slogans

adorning the Sai Kulwant Hall, depicting the greater significance of

Namasmarana. True to this saying, the parting scene of the musical

ballet saw the Lord of Pandharpur appearing before the great Maharaj in

response to his heartfelt yearning. Reaching out Pandharpur, the

Maharaj prayed to the Lord that he had done his part of duty

successfully that now he should be allowed to return to the Lord during

the auspicious month of Bhadrapad.. The Lord was happy to grand this

boon. But, Lord Vittala had a desire to be fulfilled in turn from the

devotee. He wanted the Maharaj to sing with Him “Gani Gana Ganath

Bothey…†Despite the villager’s grievances at the Master’s proposed

parting, the Master convinced the devotees with his usual discourses

making them spiritually aware that he would be always be with them and

there was no birth and death for an immortal soul.

 

 

 

 

The

participants joined in chorus to sing the glory of Lord Sai, whom they

hailed as Siddhi Raja, Siddhi Rupa, Siddhi Pradaya, Siddhi Sankalpa,

Yogeshwra, Yogendra Vandita, all in ONE.

The Youth team members from the state had an

opportunity to show Bhagawan a presentation on the various Youth

Awareness programmes conducted across the state. They also detailed

Bhagawan as to what entailed in the service activities for the 114

adopted villages in the state. In a village where drinking water

facility was scarce, getting potable water once in seven days, Sai

Organisational units initiated sending drinking water; taking a cue

from this noble deed, some other organizations also joined the activity

making it a full week drinking water scheme, much to the joy of the

villagers. Sathya Sai Seva Organisation’s (Maharashtra) upcoming

website was also shown to Bhagawan seeking His Divine Blessings.

 

Delighting the jam packed audience, the 132 participants (72 boys and

54 girls) and the entire Maharashtra contingent, Bhagawan moved down to

the first block, granting paadanamskars and a coveted photo session to

the participants. Prasadam was distributed and Arathi was offered at

5:30 p.m. before Bhagawan retired to Yajur Mandiram.

 

Still, the mysterious Mantra, the eternal companion of the great

Master, “Gani Gana Ganath Bothey†was ringing in many ears, bringing in

a soothing spiritual evolution revealing the truth that Ekoham Bahusyam, the One willed to become many...The Atma is one and one alone, that originated from the Paramatma…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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