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Index of earlier Bulletins
August 27, 2006
The Sai Kulwant Hall was decorated quite simply but aesthetically for Ganesh Chaturthi. Buntings were hung underneath the dome. In the middle of each were hung a floral chandelier, made out of fresh flowers. The chandeliers were shining with the brilliance of natural illumination as the source was the sunlight!
Swami came out of the Yajur Mandiram at around 8:10 am to the majestic Nattai (Mahaganapathim) that was being played by the Nadaswaram troupe. The Ganesh Chathurthi had begun in Parthi, with the arrival of Sai Ganesha, the Sai Vigna Nasha, the remover of all our obstacles. Swami came and spoke to the tiny tots of the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School and admired their craftwork which showed small Ganesha idols in different altars made out of thermocol. Swami sat to the resounding chants of the Prasanthi Vedam Group which was at that time chanting the Ganesha Atharava Shirsham, in sync with the occasion. He called the various 'pujaris' (students chosen from various classes-I UG, II UG, III UG, I PG, II PG) and blessed them. It is tradition that every class takes a Ganesha, made out of mud, performs the rituals in accord to that of the festival until the day of immersion. The mood was upbeat in the student community. Then as if to get His children into an even more excited state He permitted the students to sing stotrams and songs on Lord Ganesha which they had prepared.
The atmosphere was filled with the melodious music for around forty minutes suffused with interim commentary in English and Telugu at the start of every song. A special mention needs to be made to the Hamsdwhani raga which came out in the form of 'Vatapi Ganapthim'. It was sung at a higher tempo than usual making it tougher for both the singer and the accompanist. But the tabla player seemed to ward of that challenge with effortless ease as he raced through the song almost matching the singer's notes with his each stroke. As the Shadjam hit in the higher and lower octaves it could be heard even off the tabla! The singer also was excellent providing an escalating series of Swaras and gammakas which was a treat to the ears of connoisseurs of classical music. The audience were left enthralled.
After the songs Swami accepted Aarti and retired to the Yajur Mandiram at around 9:35 am. In the evening, Bhagawan went into the interview room at three o'clock after finishing His darshan round, and came to the Bhajan Hall at around 4.40. There, He interacted with some of the students and teachers of the Bhajan group, and created a chain for the singer of 'Vatapi Ganapathim' mentioned above. Bhagawan asked for Bhajans to begin at 4.50, took Arati at 5.30 and retired for the day.
August 26, 2006
There was a lot of excitement in the air at Swami's imminent visit to the Institute to inaugurate the new Multimedia Video Conferencing Room (MVCR). All the students were at the Institute by 6:45 am. The MVCR was a hub of activity and so was the MVCR at Brindavan too. High profile guests from the ongoing economics conference, teachers and research scholars were in the MVCR.
At 7:45 am, news reached that Swami had left the Mandir towards the Institute. Sure enough, Swami came in through the gate in front of the Primary school main gate in a matter of minutes. He was welcomed by the poorna-kumbha and the Vice-Chancellor and the Principal offered roses. Swami looked fresh and was smiling as He came out of the car. He cut through the Institute foyer and also collected letters from the students who were seated neatly in two blocks there. He emerged into the Institute main corridor in front of the MVCR. There He was presented with a remote, depressing a button on which, the curtain in front of the plaque was drawn. Then He entered the room and lit the lamp to mark the beginning of the proceedings. Mr. Gopal Srinivasan from the TVS group of companies offered Swami the first manuals. He also spoke on some aspects of the new facility and then dedicated the IT marvel at Swami's lotus feet. He also implored Swami to give more such opportunities to serve Him.
This was followed by a presentation by the research scholars of the Institute on the various uses of the MVCR. First and foremost, video clippings of Swami inaugurating an OHP projector in the very same room! Also excerpts from Swami's discourse were played. The Brindavan campus then came online and Swami saw the students and teachers there on a screen in front of Him. The principal of the Brindavan campus spoke on their behalf. He expressed gratitude to Swami and said that the wonderful technology had enabled them to have His divine Darshan in Brindavan. A hand went up on the screen and a student from the Brindavan campus got up and asked a question. It was answered from Puttaparthi by the presenters here and thus another wonderful aspect of the technology got high-lighted. The presenter also made notes on a scratch pad and it was broadcast on a screen here and in Brindavan in real time. Another boy from Brindavan was also asked to read out what had been displayed on a power-point slide put up here and he did so perfectly.
The Brindavan warden too spoke and expressed his gratitude. This was followed by a few words from Mr. C. Srinivas. The Warden and all the students at Brindavan called out, "Swami please come to Brindavan" in unison and Swami's face wore a smile. Then He received Aarthi and blessing everyone and speaking with the presenters and a few delegates to the Conference, left. On the way back to the car too, He collected letters from boys in the foyer.
After this, Swami went over to the new Humanities building next to the library. He inaugurated it by cutting an orange ribbon. He also went around the classrooms in the building thus sanctifying them with His Presence. After blessing all the teachers from the economics and English departments, Swami received Aarthi and left for the Mandir. The time was 9:20 am.
In the evening, once again Swami went for a drive upto Gokulam after His darshan round, and saw the activity at the construction site of the Indoor Stadium.
August 24, 2006
After the Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam, Prasanthi Nilayam has been quietening down - getting ready for the next festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, let us say! Bhagawan did not come for morning darshan today, but came in the evening and walked onstage, sitting there listening to the vedam chanting by the students for fifteen minutes till 4 o'clock. Then He proceeded to the interview room and later came to the Bhajan Hall for the bhajans as usual.
Yesterday, Bhagawan had gone to the construction site of the Indoor Stadium immediately after His morning darshan round at 8.30 am. Bhagawan asked for His car to go right into the site. Parallel construction technique is being used there, with concrete casting going on simultaneously at several places. Bhagawan turned back to return to the Mandir before Bhajans began at 9 am.
Another conference is underway at the Prasanthi Nilayam campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, this one hosted by the Economics Department. The conference, titled "All India Economics Conference on Economic Growth with Equity and Stability" has brought several luminaries in the field to Prasanthi Nilayam.
August 21, 2006
The School of Business Management, Accounting and Finance (SBMAF) at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning is hosting a four-day Management Workshop on 'Financial Services' in connection with their department's anniversary celebrations, from August 21st to the 24th. Bhagawan had blessed the Dean of the SBMAF yesterday, while he presented Bhagawan with the programme sheet. This morning, Swami did not come for darshan. In the evening, He came straight to the interview room at 3.55 pm. After alighting from His car, He paused for a few minutes talking to some of the elders seated there, and thereafter went inside the interview room. At around five o'clock, Swami came out on His mobile chair with Sri. Vinay Kumar, the leader of the Karnataka Youth, and blessed the youth who had assisted with the Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam arrangements who were seated together in the Sai Kulwant Hall as a group. Thereafter He went into the Bhajan Hall where Bhajans had started as usual, sat for around half an hour, received Arati and returned to Yajur Mandiram.
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