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Index of earlier Bulletins
November 17, 2006
This morning also Bhagawan visited the Indoor Stadium, returning to the Bhajan Hall at around 9.30 am. In the evening, after His darshan round, Swami sat onstage listening to the Vedic chants for around ten minutes. Since the sky was overcast, the Hall was somewhat dark, so the stage area chandeliers came on as Bhagawan sat down, highlighting the Lord flanked by the gleaming lions which had been newly polished. This evening's Bhajans also featured the singers from the UK youth group, alternating with the regular Bhajan singers. Bhagawan asked for Arati at 5.45 and retired for the day.
In the area next to Bhagawan's residence, decorative lights lit up the night - Bhagawan's residence in yellow and pink, the larger trees in green, and the smaller trees and bushes in variegated hues. The Hanuman statue, the Administrative Block and the Sanatana Samskruthi Museum on their respective hilltops stood out with brilliant spotlights focussed on them. Crowd control barriers are being erected along the road from Vidyagiri to the Ashram gates in view of all the VVIPs expected for the Birthday celebrations. The Mandir decorations are back, in time for the Rathotsavam tomorrow which will mark the beginning of the countdown for the Birthday celebrations.
November 16, 2006
This morning, the centre part of the Sai Kulwant Hall was occupied with bright red bicycles! The Anantapur campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning had arranged the distribution of 81 bicycles to needy girls in the vicinity of Anantapur who walked long distances to go to school. Bhagawan came for darshan at a quarter to nine, and as His car passed the bicycles, He sought some clarifications, pausing the car there. After His darshan round, Swami went to the stage area. Once He was seated there, some of the Anantapur teachers brought up some items for His Blessings, and the programme got underway with an introductory voice-over. The recipients went near Bhagawan holding roses in their hands, a student brought each recipient her bicycle and took her to the rear of the hall wheeling the cycle between them. After this ten minute ceremony, the Brass Band "Sai Melodies" of the Anantapur campus presented a few pieces. As they played the penultimate piece, Bhagawan went into the interview room and asked for Bhajans to begin in the Bhajan Hall. Bhajans began at 9.20 and concluded after half an hour with Arati to Bhagawan.
In the evening, Bhagawan went into the interview round after His darshan round and emerged a few minutes after four to sit onstage with the Vedam chanting in full swing. On two occasions, Swami asked the Vedam group to chant specific mantras and they did so. Bhagawan was watching the Primary school children as they chanted with gusto. After half an hour, as He was going back, Swami asked for prasadam to be distributed. Speaking to the UK group co-ordinator on the Verandah, Swami once again gave a chance to the UK group to sing bhajans, and they began at 5.10 pm when Swami indicated that they should begin. After 20 minutes of Bhajans, the students' Bhajan group took over. After one more Bhajan, Swami asked for Meera songs, and after two Meera songs, Swami retired for the evening after Arati.
November 15, 2006
This evening, Bhagawan asked a youth group from UK to sing in the Bhajan Hall. At 4.45, they came and sat in the front of the Bhajan Hall and the programme began as Bhagawan came in. They started with some quawwalis, then Swami asked them to sing English songs, so they sang two English songs, then a song in Tamil, followed by Bhajans. Bhagawan was pleased with their performance and told them He would give them another chance tomorrow.
November 14, 2006
This evening, Bhagawan graciously sat outside in the stage area of the Sai Kulwant Hall for nearly half an hour from 4.30 pm. He Blessed many 'Birthday Boys' and also took letters from some of the students. Just before five o'clock He came into the interview room, and later came to the Bhajan Hall for the Bhajans.
November 12, 2006
This morning the Akhanda Bhajan continued with group bhajans till the mics were switched on at 7 am. Bhagawan came to the Bhajan Hall at 10 am and sat there till eleven o'clock before returning to His residence. In the afternoon, at around 2.15 Bhagawan went directly from Yajur Mandiram to the Indoor Stadium and returned to the Sai Kulwant Hall at 2.45, coming into the Bhajan Hall and sitting there for around half an hour before going into the interview room. After a few minutes, Swami went back to His residence, and later returned after 5.15 pm, taking a full round of the Hall before going into the Bhajan Hall. The last minutes of the Akhanda Bhajan were filled with enthusiasm as usual, with the tempo going higher and higher till finally Swami signalled for the Arati plate and lit the camphor. Then came the prasadam distribution - tamarind rice (pulihora) and laddoos for all on leaf plates. Swami started the distribution by throwing a few laddoos to some of the Bhajan group members, and then went to the interview room. When He came out, He indicated to the Primary School students to begin, so they chanted Brahmarpanam in their unique style and then began eating as Swami returned to His residence.
November 11, 2006
Bhagawan had been continuing His daily visits to the Indoor Stadium construction site. This evening, Bhagawan's visit had a difference - He was supervising distribution of clothes, stitching charges, food and watches to all the L&T workers there. The food distribution was begun by the post graduate students at 3 pm inside the stadium where all the workers were seated in three bays. Bhagawan arrived after 3.30 and watched from His car as the materials were distributed. Some of the women workers with small children went up to Swami, and He materialized chains for the children! The workers were very happy with the distribution, and showed their appreciation by "Jai"kar to Swami.
Back in the Mandir, the 24 hour Global Akhanda Bhajan was to begin at 6 pm. After His return from the Indoor Stadium, Bhagawan went into the interview room, and later went back to His residence. Ten minutes before the start of the Bhajan, Bhagawan arrived in the Bhajan Hall and sat on His throne, speaking to some of the Bhajan group members. At six o'clock, He got up and went to the lamp at the centre of the Hall and lit it, beginning the Bhajan. Then Swami graciously sat in the Bhajan Hall for a full 90 minutes, till 7.30 pm, encouraging the singers to give their best. After Bhagawan left for His residence, the PA system remained on till 9 pm, and thereafter group bhajans went on throughout the night.
November 8, 2006
This morning too, Bhagawan visited the construction site of the Indoor Stadium, the Sri Sathya Sai Centre for Sports. In the evening, after darshan at 3.50 pm, Bhagawan came out on the Verandah at 4.10 and came into the Bhajan Hall through the rear door in His chair, going all the way to the front, taking letters and talking to many on the way. After a few minutes, He went out on His chair and took a full darshan round, returning to the stage area, and sat there for 10 minutes. At 4.45, Bhagawan came into the Bhajan Hall, and a few minutes later asked for the Bhajans to commence. Arati was as usual at 5.30 pm.
November 7, 2006
This morning, Swami sat outside listening to the Vedam chanted by the Brindavan students for around fifteen minutes before morning bhajans. The Brindavan students are here till Bhagawan's Birthday and have classes in the afternoons at the Higher Secondary School.
This evening also Bhagawan visited the Indoor stadium construction site as soon as He came for Darshan. On His return, after a few minutes in the interview room, He came into the Bhajan Hall and asked for Smt. P. Susheela (the singer). Once He was seated in the Bhajan Hall, He asked her to sing the song 'Andaraani Chandamaama', and she stood next to Him and sang. Then He continued the conversation, talking about the moon (which is the subject of the song) and called up the "Scientist" - Prof Venkataraman, the former Vice Chancellor. After a few minutes of animated discussions including a small astronomy quiz, the Professor was rewarded with a thick gold chain with a two inch pendant! Then the conversation moved back to songs, and Swami asked one of the singers to start with a song - he sang a song on the Mother Goddess, "Chamundeswari Paalaya Maam". After that song, which was with the mics, the conversation resumed. Another singer was summoned, and his songs to Swami began, this time sitting right next to Swami and without instruments or microphones. After his first song "Baaro Krishnaiyya", Swami called Smt. Susheela again, and commented on the similarity to her late collegue P. Leela's style. His next song was on the Sun god, "Kaarya Kaarana Swaroopane" with a scintillating Aalaap. Bhagawan was very pleased, and asked for Bhajans to begin - it was already 5.25! After the Ganesh bhajan, once again an aalaap and the Bhajan "Sai Pita aur Maata Sai" - Swami asked both the students He'd called up to sing it together. With that, Swami took Arati and returned to Yajur Mandiram.
November 6, 2006
This morning, Bhagawan came to the Sai Kulwant Hall after the nine 'clock Bhajans began. After Arati at 9.40 am, He left for a tour of the Indoor stadium construction site before returning to His residence. In the evening, Bhagawan sat in the Bhajan Hall at 4.10 and started interacting with some of the students and teachers there. The Director of the Super Speciality Hospitals, Dr. Safaya, also had some interaction with Swami. Bhajans began at 4.50 and concluded with Arati at 5.30 pm.
November 5, 2006
This evening, Bhagawan went to the Stadium construction site via the Ganesh gate at 3.30 pm instead of coming to the Sai Kulwant Hall. It was drizzling when He returned at 4.10. After alighting, Bhagawan went into the interview room for a few minutes and then came to the Bhajan Hall. Sitting on His throne, He spoke with some of the students and asked one of them for his book - it was a Likhita Nama Japam book. Swami went through the pages and talked to the student about it. Later, He called up and spoke to Mr. Chakravarthy, the Secretary of the Central Trust. Then He asked for a particular set of material to be brought for His inspection from His residence. While it was being brought, He spoke to the Principal of the Anantapur campus, asking her when the students were coming, how many of them were there and so on. The material He had asked for duly arrived - they were sarees. After checking them and choosing the ones He wanted, they were sent to the interview room. Bhajans began at 4.45 and concluded at 5.30 pm.
November 4, 2006
This evening Bhagawan came into the Bhajan Hall at 4.40 and asked for Dr. P. Susheela, the singer. Seated on His throne, He carried on a conversation with her for the next fifteen minutes, starting with pleasantries, moving to a more sombre note and finally finishing in a light-hearted vein. Bhajans began five minutes early on His behest, and continued till 5.30 pm.
November 3, 2006
This evening, Bhagawan came out of the interview room at 4 o'clock and proceeded in His car to the Indoor Stadium construction site. After He returned, He came into the Bhajan Hall at around 4.45 and spoke to a few of the students in the Bhajan group. He observed that Dr. P. Susheela (the famous singer) had come, and enquired of her about Smt. Anjali Devi (the thespian). After 15 minutes of Bhajans, Bhagawan asked the music college boys to sing Meera Bhajans. Accepting Arati at 5.45, He retired for the day.
November 2, 2006
This evening, as Bhagawan came into the Sai Kulwant Hall at 3.30 pm, there was a large boom crane with a camera filming him from near the front of the hall. It was the filmmaker Manishankar and his crew, who have been going around the Ashram and environs filming for the last three days. Yesterday, Swami had gone to the Indoor stadium construction site after sending word for some students to be available there, and had overseen the distribution of biscuits to all the construction workers by the students. After His site visit, Swami sat onstage for nearly fifteen minutes, and the film crew was filming right behind the students in front of Bhagawan.
Today Swami came into the Bhajan Hall at 4.40 and enquired after several of the students in the Bhajan group. After speaking to them, He called the Vice-chancellor Sri A. V. Gokak and spoke with him also about these boys, one by one. Then He asked one of them to call his parents for an interview, and left for the interview room five minutes before the Bhajans began, returning at 5.20 to sit for ten minutes and then retire for the day after Arati.
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