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Index of earlier Bulletins
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Over the last few days, the heat at Prasanthi Nilayam was increasing, but so was Bhagawan's grace in moving around in His chair almost for every darshan session among the sparse crowds. Trayee Brindavan at Brindavan was being readied for Bhagawan's arrival, and there was much speculation on when Bhagawan would leave for Bangalore. His departure was finally this evening, when He arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall in His Mercedes just before 3.30 pm, accepted Arati and drove towards Bangalore. Our next update will probably be after Bhagawan returns to Prasanthi Nilayam.
Monday, April 14, 2008
A traditional altar had been placed in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall on the occasion of Vishu, the New Year of Kerala. Bhagawan arrived for darshan at 4.40 pm, and once He came onstage after moving around the Hall in His chair, the programme for the evening got underway. Balvikas children from Kerala presented ah hour-long drama on Bhadrachala Ramdas, with quite a few songs and a dance. As the actors came to their final formation with the Mangalam song, Bhagawan Blessed the boy who played Ramdas' role with a chain. He came down from the stage and Blessed the group with photographs. After He moved back to the stage, He went to the interview room and returned with clothes for the participants. He then asked them to sing a Bhajan. After that, He posed for another set of photographs with the actors who played Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, before accepting Arati and returning to His residence at 6.30 pm.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
This morning, the Tamil Nadu devotees, including thespian Rajnikanth, were ready to greet their New Year with the Lord. Swami arrived at the decorated Sai Kulwant Hall at 8.45 am to the music of Nadaswaram and the Vedic chants. After a round of Sai Kulwant Hall in His chair, Swami came to the verandah and went around there before moving to the stage area. The Vedam chanting stopped in a few minutes, and Mahila singers from Tamil Nadu began with devotional songs. After a couple of songs, Bhagawan asked the students to continue with Bhajans. After half an hour, Prof. Anil Kumar was asked to announce that this evening, Bhagawan would Bless the gathering with His Divine Message. At 9.45, Swami accepted Arati and returned to Yajur Mandir.
In the evening, Bhagawan arrived for darshan in His chair at 4.10 pm, and after a round of the Hall, once He came onstage, the proceedings got underway with an introduction by Sri. V. Srinivasan, All-India President of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. The speakers to follow him were Justice Ramasubramanyam of the Madras High Court, and Dr. V. Mohan, Convenor of Tamil Nadu State Trust. After their speeches which recollected many Sai experiences, Bhagawan rose to speak.
Swami started by mentioning the greatness of Bharat, with many perennial rivers. Unfortunately, in spite of all these, men today struggle to fill their bellies. Feelings of mine and thine are responsible for this unfortunate state of affairs. After stressing the oneness of all creation, Bhagawan moved to the Ramayana story, to commemorate Ramanavami. Bringing out the ideals exhibited by the characters in the Ramayana, Bhagawan concluded His hour-long Discourse by mentioning the drama to be presented by children from Tamil Nadu.
The drama "Prema Vahini" then got underway. Interspersed with a few "Burrakatha" songs, the drama presented the story of the Chennai Water project as seen by one of the managers of the construction team. After the 45 minute drama, Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence after 6.30 pm.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The celebrations of Vishu, Tamil New Year and Rama Navami began this evening, with Bhajans and songs by Balvikas children from Kerala. Bhagawan arrived in His chair at 4.45 pm, and after His darshan round, came to the stage area and asked the children to begin. After half an hour of their songs and Bhajans, He asked the students to continue Bhajans, accepting Arati at 6 pm after prasadam was distributed. While the Arati was being done by two small girls, the camphor fell down and the younger girl started crying. One of the elders retrieved the camphor and they finished the Arati. Then Swami called up the small girl and Blessed her with a chain!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Bhagawan had said He would inaugurate the new canteen complex at the Super Speciality Hospital at Prasanthi gram today. In the evening, He came in the car into Sai Kulwant Hall by 4 pm and moved out through the main gate. Proceeding to the Hospital, He formally inaugurated the new complex and moving through the kitchen and the dining rooms in His chair, spoke a few words to the staff members seated there. He also Blessed some of the food items prepared for Him. After the programme there, Swami returned to the Mandir at 5.30 pm as the Bhajans were going on. Accepting Arati at 5.45 pm, He returned to His residence.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Sai Kulwant Hall was decked for Yugadi with cloth decorations. Auspicious kumbhams and other materials lined Bhagawan's path through the hall. Swami came in His chair just after nine o'clock, and the music programme by the students began as He was going around the Hall. The music programme was interspersed with brief interludes of talks and enactments, bringing out the significance of the festival and highlighting Bhagawan's message. As the programme concluded at 10.30 with the song "Barso re", Bhagawan came down from the stage and started sprinking sacred water on the singers! Swami moved till the Vedam students doing the "Prokshanam", then asked the Pujari to continue for the rest of the devotees. Bhagawan then moved to the verandah, and after Prasadam was distributed, accepted Arati and left for His residence. In the evening, devotees from Andhra Pradesh presented a musical programme. Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.30 pm, and after His darshan round in the chair, moved to the interview room. After an hour, He asked for the music programme to begin, and soon emerged to sit onstage for the 45-minute song presentation which had short Telugu commentaries between the songs. A few bhajans followed the songs, and Bhagawan accepted Arati to return to His residence at 6.30 pm.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Bhagawan has been graciously coming in His chair instead of the car on many occasions over the past few days. This morning, He arrived as the Bhajans went on at 9.20, and went into the Bhajan Hall after reaching the verandah. A couple of Bhajans later, He moved out in His chair and went on another full round of Sai Kulwant Hall, coming to the stage area and sitting there for a while before accepting Arati there itself at 10 am. In the evening, the Prasanthi Nilayam students were to present a dance-drama "Bala Ramam" on the story of the Ramayana upto Sita-kalyanam. Bhagawan arrived in His chair and came to the Bhajan Hall just before five o'clock, and interacted with the students in costumes there for nearly ten minutes before asking them to go out and present their programme. The fifty-minute dance drama had music and dialogues in Telugu, drawing inspiration from Bhagawan's "Ramakatha Rasavahini". After the presentation, Swami went down from the stage and Blessed the participants with group photographs before accepting Arati at 6.30 pm.
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