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Index of earlier Bulletins
July 7, 2006
Today was the holy day of Ashaadi Ekadashi-
celebration time for Maharashtra. Ashadi was being celebrated
over three days this year at Parthi - yesterday there were bhajans
by the Maharashtra devotees, and tomorrow some musicians are to
present concerts. Today was to be a very special day
for the students too. Swami had agreed to perform the bhoomi pooja
for the 5 acre indoor stadium to be built opposite the senior boys
hostel.
Swami came out at 7:30am. There was a Bal Vikas band
leading Swami from the Yajur Mandiram. Conches too were blown announcing His
arrival. Swami went all around blessing everyone with the gift of
Darshan. He came out walking from near the interview room. He lit
the lamp to mark the beginning of the morning's proceedings. There
was thunderous applause as Swami lit the lamp. After the
dignitaries and office bearers from the state of Maharashtra offered
their pranaams and roses to Swami, the programme began.
The programme was a musical entitled "The
Divine Commandment". Animals decry how similes based on animals are
being used to describe man's negative qualities. A conference of
animals convened by the king lion unanimously condemn the overtures
of man and put forth their case that they follow their Dharma
while man does not. Man has no reason or season for anything. The
colourful musical concluded with the wise elephant and sage Narada
extolling man as a reflection of God. It is high time that he
realizes "Aham Asmi Aham".
Swami went into the interview room after the programme.
Then getting into the Porte car, He headed towards the Bhoomi pooja. He first
went to the Planetarium where an elaborate shelter for Sai Gita had
been planned. As soon as she saw Swami, Sai Gita offered a salute
and offered a garland to Swami. (Swami had said earlier that Sai Gita
must get an ornate and well designed new shelter.) Swami wanted to
perform the pooja for her shelter before that of the colossal indoor
stadium! Swami blessed the building blocks and had them laid along
with cement, flowers, navadhaanyam (9 types of food grains) and
other articles of worship. Coconuts were broken and Aarthi offered
to Swami. Then Swami went to the site designated for the indoor
stadium. The plans and all the details had been put up. The stadium
would have an 8 metre-wide jogging track of 400 metres length, 2
shuttle badminton courts, 2 squash courts, a basketball court, 8
table-tennis courts, 2 volleyball courts and a lot more facilities
and amenities. Swami performed the Bhoomi pooja and blessed the
project. He showered the nine grains and had coconuts broken at the
site. He also went out (in the sun!) on the wheeled chair to survey
the area to be covered by the Satya Sai Sports Centre. It was about
10:30 am when Swami finally drove back and retired to Yajur Mandiram.
In the evening Swami came out at 3:20 pm. He
went for a full Darshan round and came out walking from near the
interview room. After a few minutes He asked for the programme to
begin. The Balvikas children put up a programme on the life of
Moses entitled "The Ten Commandments". It showed that when God is the focus of our lives, we become
perfect instruments in His hands. The scene where the Red Sea parts
to give way to Moses was very well depicted and drew applause from
all. Swami was very happy with the programme. After the programme
Swami went into the interview room. Then there were bhajans. At
about 5:45 pm Swami received Aarthi and retired to Yajur Mandiram.
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