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Index of earlier Bulletins
August 17, 2006
The ceremony started with 'Arunaparayanam' at 5 A.M (prayer to the Sun God) and was followed by 'Mahanyasam' and Abhishekam to the Lingam, 'Saieeshwara'. This was followed by 'Rudra Parayanam', which is the recital of the 'Rudram' 11 times by 121 ritwiks. At 7:42 A.M, our beloved Lord arrived, much to the joy of everyone. He sat on the sofa at 7:55 A.M and watched the proceedings. Parayanam got over at 8:10 A.M. The head priest took Swami's permission to begin the Homam. At 8.25, Rudra homam commenced and shortly thereafter Swami went to the interview room and called one of His students (a dancer) for an interview with his parents. Meanwhile, on completion of the Rudra Homam, 'Sai Gayathri Homam' followed at 9:13 A.M. Swami came back at 9.22. He permitted His students to distribute 'Prasadam' to everyone. The cover of each of the sweets distributed today had this quote: "What God gives never exhausts, what man gives never lasts." During every Prasadam distribution Bhagawan makes sure that no one is missed out in the thousands who gather there. But truly speaking, His grace reaches not only those who attended the Yagnam, but to all regardless of geographic location. For what God gives can never be exhausted and there's more than enough for all of us to partake. This message was driven home subtly. This was followed by the rendition of beautiful hymns from 'Thiruvaasagam', a Tamil epic which portrays the glory of Lord Siva. The memorable morning programme concluded with Mangala Aarathi to Bhagawan at 9.40 A.M.
Swami came out from Yajur Mandir at 2.45 p.m. Vedic hymns and the musical nadaswaram welcomed Him. His car passed amongst the devotees and as per His command it went straight towards the interview room over the slope. Swami came out of the interview room at 3.03 p.m.and sat in all His majesty overseeing the proceedings of the various rituals. Pooja ended at 3.10 p.m. Swami then called the head priest and enquired about the pooja and about other rithwiks. As per Swami's command, Sri. Vinay Kumar introduced the two speakers for the day.
The first speaker was Dr. N. Gopalakrishanan, Director of the Indian Institute of Scientific and Cultural Heritage located in Trivandrum. His speech was a display of authority over the ageless Vedas and the mastery over the modern science. He said, "Since times immemorial science and spirituality stood united in this land of Bharath which is overseen by Shiva of Himalayas facing Parvati located in Kanyakumari, who in turn is gazing back at Her lord....... Swami is an inspiring integration of science and spirituality...Today I am the Happiest of all beings for I could touch the feet of the Lord with my forehead. My prostrations to Thee for your compassion ...My prostrations to Thee for your uniqueness in integrating science and spirituality".
The second speaker was Sri. Ajit Popat from London. His astounding eloquence brought forth many important points worthy of deep consideration. He said, "We have not come here to see the smoke of yajna, but we all came here to realise that we have a role to play in the mission of the Lord. Swami can change the world in an instant but in His compassion He is endowing us an opportunity to be His instruments. .... The real yajna in reality commences from the day of Poornahuthi (formal ending ceremony of the Yajna). This yajna shall blaze forth from each heart that sat in His presence and heard His teachings and witnessed His miracles of Selfless Love." He then dealt upon the various facets of intellect that one should possess for being an effective instrument in His hands. His speech came to an end with the divine command.
Then the devotees witnessed an act that silently roared about the compassion and the limitless love of the Lord. Swami instructed Sri. Vinay Kumar to call upon all the ritwiks (priests) in order. He then tirelessly went on distributing beautiful watches to all of them personally. 132 priests were called upon in order and the Lord blessed each one in His unique way. Some with His look, some with a word, some with His abhayahasta and some with a nod, but in all as they walked back the twinkle in their eyes and the beaming smile on their lips told the masses that they were touched by God. He then personally enquired from the head priest whether everyone had got the watches. Lovingly Swami then gave a watch to Vinay Kumar and the house acknowledged this beautiful act with a thunderous applause.
Then there was a pleasant surprise for His students. Swami called all the dancers and gave them the watches, His tokens of blessings and love. He then called all the vedam boys and gave them too the watches personally. After this outpour of Love, Swami asked all the ritwiks to chant Vedam. He went inside the interview room at 4.45p.m., and He came out at 5.05.p.m. .There was an entertaining musical concert by the singer sisters from Chennai, Ranjani-Gayathri. Swami blessed the singers with sarees. Aarati was given at 5.40 p.m. Prasadam was then distributed and Swami left for His residence at 5.45.p.m.
Images from 17th August as well as the text versions of Bhagawan's Discourses on the 9th, 10th and so on are available at the Book Trust website.
During the Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam, Radio Sai will be broadcasting special half-hour capsules daily: The schedule page lists this programme as "Sounds from the Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam being conducted at Prasanthi Nilayam." We have also started a download service, with these programs forming a pilot run: these programs are available for download from http://stream.radiosai.org/ our download site.
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