19th March 2010 - Bhagavatha Saptaaha Yajnam - Day 3

March 19, 2010

Text & photo source: Radiosai.org Prasanthi Diary, sssbpt.org - - Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation - h2hsai.org

<< February 2010 | Current Sai Baba News| March 2010 >>

Sai News Archive 2010: Jan.10 - Feb. 2010

Friday, 19, March 2010 - Bhagavatha Saptaaha Yajnam - Day 3

With the Bhagavatha Saptaaha Yajna continues in Prasanthi, every morning begins with a fresh note, with the Maharaj, the commentator, infusing and kindling greater awareness on the beauty, glory and grandeur of being in the Abode, listening to His stories, enjoying the Divine Sports of the Lord, in His immediate Divine Presence. The narrator quite often bursts into melodious tunes singing on the glories of the Lord and one that heard quite often is "Sriman Narayan...Narayan. ..Narayan. .."

PHOTO GALLEY

This morning's proceedings began at the scheduled hour at 8:30, after half-an-hour Vedam, with usual invocation. Exponation on the epic continued till 10:30 upon which bhajans by students continued for half-an-hour before Arathi was offered at 11, as Bhagawan did not come out.

In the evening, Bhagawan emerged just after 5 while the Bhagavatha Saptaaha Pravachan was on. Taking a detour from ladies' side, Bhagawan came directly onstage through the doctors' block. Bhagavatha Pravachan continued till 5:40 and evening's theme was centred around Ajamila's Story, as to how he earned liberation, despite having attachment with his child, just by calling out his son at his dying moment, who was a namesake of the Supreme Lord Narayana...

CLICK TO SEE PHOTO GALLEY

Upon the conclusion, Music Troupe from Sai Sannidhi, a forum of grateful alumni working with various institutions run by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, and the organisers of the Saptaaha Yajna, presented a musical offering bringing out the similarities between the two Avatars, Sri Krishna and Sai Krishna, culling out songs and poems from Bhagawan's Divine Discourses and from the drama "Radha Bhakthi" written by Bhagawan in 1960's. The forty minute programme had been interlaced with apt commentary on the significance of the composition and rendition and was laced with some of the original pieces in Bhagawan's own voice. At Bhagawan's instance three more songs followed, namely, "Deva...Namo Deva......", "Madhura Mohana Ghana Shyama Sundara Sai...Ananda Pradayi" followed by "Namo Sathya Sai Baba...". Arathi was offered at 6:40. Bhagawan chose to converse with the singers for the next ten minutes before retiring for Yajur Mandiram at 6:50. Prasadam was

distributed to the entire assemblage.

Thursday, 18, March 2010 - Bhagavatha Saptaaha Yajnam - Day 2

This morning, on the second day of the Bhagavatha Saptaaha Yajna, proceedings began at the scheduled hour, at 8:30, after half-an-hour Vedam chanting. After invocatory offering, commenting on the glory of the Avatar of the Age, the Maharaj went on expounding on the greater efficacy of Namasmarana, bursting out with a melodious rendering "Sriman Narayana Narayana Narayana..." , a keertan he quite often repeats in between the commentary.

Starting from where he had stopped last evening, he further went on elucidating the story of Raja Parikshit, as to how invited the evil deeds of Kali, which finally led him to earn a curse to die in seven days owing to serpant bite, and the king's greater urge to attain liberation in seven days.

As the narration continued, Bhagawan arrived at 10:10 for a complete round. After an elaborate, slow round granting Darshan, Bhagawan came on stage at 10:23 and sat through the entire session that ended at 11:30, when Arathi was offered. Subsequently, Bhagawan called an Iranian boy, studying in Primary School, onstage, asking him to chant Durga Suktam followed by Rudram. His little brother, another primary school child, was also called and Bhagawan interacted with the boys for some time. Moving off the dais, Bhagawan blessed sweets for Primary School, and as He was going back, He stopped for a while to watch the distribution, ensuring sweets for every student.. He came back to the Bhajan Hall to spent next fifteen minutes inside before emerging at 12:10 to retire to Yajur Mandiram.

In the evening, the proceedings began at 4:15 with presentation of the summary of the storyline for last two sessions, previous evening followed by that of this morning. The Maharaj began his exposition at 4:30, starting from where he had left in the morning, divulging the story of Dhruva, he went on narrating Dhruva's unflinching devotion to Lord Narayana, his desire to sit on the lap of Lord Vishnu and finally how The Lord satiated the little prince's desire that later led him to attain salvation.

while the narration had been going on, Bhagawan emerged at 5:17 to take a detour from the ladies' side to land on the dais at 5:20 through the doctors' block. Bhagawan continued to sit through the session till 5:45, when the exposition for the day came to an end.

Music Troupe was ready with their presentation of songs and as soon as the Bhagavatha session got over, Bhagawan nodded the boys to commence their programme. What followed was an hour of enchanting music. Starting with the meera bhajan, Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo..., what followed next was Darshan Deejo... to be continued with Purandharadas' s carnatic piece, Jagadodhdharana AadisidaLeyshodha. A telugu piece followed before coming up with enna thavam seydaney Yesoda.... Three more songs followed, two on Lord Rama followed by the last piece, Thyagaraja's composition Siva siva ena radha... Arathi was offered at 6:40 before Bhagawan moved towards Yajur Mandiram at 6:45. Prasadam, "egg shaped chocolates", were distributed to the entire assemblage.

Wednesday, 17, March 2010 - Bhagavatha Saptaaha Yajnam - Day 1

This morning, Bhagawan was ushered into the hall at 9:27 to the chants of Vedam. Being the inaugural day of the week-long Bhagavatha Saptaaha Yajnam, Vedam continued even after the scheduled hour at 9. Completing a full round of darshan, Bhagawan, upon ascending the verandah spent sometime outside the interview room before moving through the upper portico to come onstage at 9:35 through the right of Ganesha.The dais was aesthetically decorated, with illustrious Bhagavatham scenes prominently displayed around. Upon coming onstage, Bhagawan lighted the ceremonial lamp officially inaugurating the Saptaaha Yajnam. Pandit, Sri Ritu Raj Ji Maharaj and his escorts sought blessings from Bhagawan before the commencement of the Yajnam.

Programme commenced at 9:40 with invocatory prayer "Sayeeshwaraya Vidhmahe..." addressed to Bhagawan. This was followed by a bout of invocatory prayers addressed to various "Gods and Goddesses". Beginning his commentary, an intro on Bhagavatham, the Pandit attributed the epic to Bhagawan hailing Him to be the Soul fo the Epic. As the Pandit went on narrating the epical story, an introduction, with a mix of commentary on the greater importance of the ongoing Divine Mission set in motion by Bhagawan, Bhagawan moved indoors at 10 again to return at 10:25. Upon completing the Intro at 11:05, Arathi was offered to Bhagawan before He moved towards the Yajur Mandiram. The Pandit had emotional words of gratitude for Bhagawan. He said, somewhere at some point of time I would have prayed to grant an opportunity to come and have Thy Divine Darshan and Bhagawan has given me this great grand boon, that redeems many a life....

This evening, Bhagawan emerged at 5:35 while Bhagavatha Saptaaham was on. Negotiating a complete round of Darshan, Bhagawan came onstage at 5:47 through the right of Ganesha. Pandit ji continued with his elucidation of the story of Bhagavatham, narrating Raja Parikshit's episode. The commentary ended at 6:04 upon which bhajans started with an aalaap bhajan, "Sri Raghavam..." at His special instance. As Bhajans continued, at 6:40, Bhagawan asked for one more aalaap bhajan, this time "Allaho Akbar..." rendered the air bringing in the greater message of religious harmony. Two more bhajans continued before Bhagawan calling for Arathi at 6:50. After Arathi Bhagawan sat onstage for the next ten minutes, 'chatting up" with some bhajans boys before moving towards Yajur Mandiram at 7:05. Prasadam was distributed to the entire assemblage.

Earlier, Vedam started at the usual hour, at 4 and continued till 4:45. At 4:45, summary of the morning proceedigs was read out upon which, at 5, the Bhagavatha Saptaaham commenced.

Srimad Bhagavata Saptaaham - Prasanthi Nilayam

Day 1 - 17th March

Day 2 - 18th March

Day 3 - 19th March

Text & photo source: Radiosai.org Prasanthi Diary, sssbpt.org - - Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation - h2hsai.org- . com & SBOI group.

<< February 2010 | Current Sai Baba News| March 2010 >>

Sai News Archive 2010: Jan.10 - Feb. 2010