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January 5th 2005
The first major function for this sacred year
of the 80th Anniversary of the Avataar is coming
closer - the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet of the
SSSIHL. The practice sessions are on in full swing. The students
were praying that Bhagawan should come to the
Stadium and watch their rehearsal sessions. This
evening, their prayers were answered. Our most
compassionate Lord came in the car to the stadium much
to their delight! It was an expected but yet a surprise
visit with very short notice. An announcement was made
in the Hostel and all boys ran to the stadium leaving
all activities at the Hostel.
A chair was kept ready for Swami to the right of the
Shanti Vedika stage on the grounds at a point where He
could view the programmes if He wished to. After
spending some time at the Primary School grounds,
Bhagawan's car rolled into the stadium. As He
approached closer, some event members got prepared to
make their presentations. The car approached the stage
area. The Gun Drill boys were ready to show their
event to Bhagawan.
The Gun Drill is a novel item being presented for the
first time in the Sports Meet. It is a drill
performed by the Military Personnel in Singapore as
part of 'Beating the Retreat'. It involves quick and
rapid movements of the limbs and the body holding a
rifle in the hand, in a highly coordinated fashion,
projecting a display of grace through harmony.
Swami sat in the car itself that was halted in an
inclined position between the stage and the Gents
gallery on the main road. The Gun Drill boys performed
very well. The coordination and harmony was fantastic!
After that event, the car took off and all boys ran as usual
and stood on either side of the main road to have a
glimpse of our Lord. Bhagawan's visit to the grounds
charged all the students and staff alike and they got
into their practice rounds once again with additional
vigour and Josh!
January 6th 2005
Yesterday, Swami had indicated that He would come to
the grounds the next day again. But, in the afternoon,
it was indicated that there would be a programme in
the Mandir. Bhagawan arrived just after 3 pm.
He has been coming of late in the new Golf
Cart. There was a backdrop arranged in the centre of
the Kulwant Hall. It was a beautiful painting - a
scenery of Krishna's House in Gokul, a very serene and
soothing piece of art!
Bhagawan came and sat on the sofa. The Vedam stopped
after a while. Then began the most beautiful Dance
Drama entitled 'Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum', by the
students of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Visakhapatnam.
It was a professionally directed and produced dance
ballet. The Lyrics and Direction was by M. S. Prakasa
Rao and Choreography by Jagan.
The dance ballet depicted how Loving Krishna reveals
the secret of His incarnation to Divine Mother Yasoda
and the Gopikas, while enchanting them with his
mischievous acts.
The ballet began with Yasoda searching for Krishna
with her aides. Hearing her call of love, Krishna
appears before her. Meanwhile, the Gopikas complain to
Yasoda that Nandakumara has become a Navaneetachora!
A butter-thief!
How to question Krishna's misdeeds is a dilemna for
Yasoda. Yasoda does not, even from the depth of her
heart, want to punish or hurt Krishna. So, she
carefully plans her dialogue with Krishna.
With all the sweetness of a Mother's love, she asks
Krishna if the Gopikas were right in their complaint
against Him. Krishna prefers to keep silent and
pretends to be asleep. At this, Yasoda with a little
anger, chides Him that because of His misdeeds, she
has to bow her head before others. At this, Krishna
reacts and teases Yasoda that she is blaming Him
believing in some false complaints. He requests her to
show at least a little love as a foster mother. This
accusation brings tears into Yasoda's eyes and she
declares that Krishna is everything for her in her
life. The role of Krishna was played by a very young
child and he/she danced so well that all of us were
enraptured with the rhythm and grace. The songs were
very melodious and meaningful and the music recording
too was very professional.
Krishna declares that He had every right to be a
Navaneetachora, because, He had protected the entire
Gokulam by punishing Kaleeya, by killing the demons
and by lifting the Govardhana Giri. At this point in
the ballet, there were two sets on either side of the
backdrop. On one side was a duplicate Krishna mounted
on the Kaleeya and on the other side another Krishna
lifting the mountain. The boards covering these sets
were dropped all of a sudden, and the sets came into
full view coinciding with the lyrics of the song.
There was thunderous applause.
Finally, the young little Krishna declares that He
incarnates in every age to punish the guilty and the
evil, to revive Dharma and to shower Divine Love and
Grace on humanity. He proclaims that in Kaliyuga, the
Jamuna would become Chitravati, the Gokulam would be
Puttaparthi, the Gopalas and Gopikas would form the
devotees, and He Himself would advent as Sri Sathya
Sai!! Instantly, there was loud applause from the
devotees!
The ballet concluded with Yasoda and the Gopikas
realizing Krishna as the Lord of the Universe and with
singing and dancing His Glory!! The dance was
performed very well. All dancers were dancing so
spontaneously with a sense of ease and naturality.
Especially, the little lad/lass who danced as Krishna was
par excellence! Swami called him/her in front. The Chinni
Krishna went to Swami. Bhagawan created a gold chain
and put it around the neck of the child!! After that,
all the participants got group photographs with Swami.
Swami even stood up from His chair to pose for the
photographs! The children were delighted!!
The programme concluded with Aarti and Prasadam
distribution to all. It was 3.50 p.m. Bhagawan went
towards the interview room and the students dispersed to
the Hostel for their event practice. Even as they were
reaching the Hostel premises, they got the information
that Bhagawan had started for the Hill View Stadium, so
they took their positions at the stadium.
Bhagawan's car parked again at the same place like the
previous day. This evening, even as He was coming
along the straight stretch of the road towards the
stage, Swami was watching the Roller Blades boys
performing on their massive U-structure. Roller Blades
forms one major event of the Prasanthi Nilayam programme and a massive
U-shaped metal structure has been installed in the
corner of the ground facing the Ladies gallery.
After the car was halted, the Carabining students, who
call themselves 'the Hawks' started their
presentation. One Hawk glided down at full speed right
from halfway up the hill, above Zoroaster's statue, right
to the centre of the ground. Carabining as you may
know is the technique of sliding down a rope - held in
tension - from a great height, with the help of a
pulley.
This time, the Carabining is of a very novel type.
Whereas, one end is anchored tightly at the top of the
hill (halfway up), the other end is mobile and is tied
to a tractor that can be parked anywhere in the
stadium. There are few boys who can brake the speed of
the carabiner and slow down his landing, by mere
pulling of the ropes. Special coaches from
Singapore were training the boys for Carabining as well as
for Roller Blades.
After the Carabining event, the Wheels Display
commenced. This is similar to the Prasanthi Wheels
that the Prasanthi Nilayam campus had performed a few years back.
Bhagawan was keenly observing the performance from the
car - but with the window glass closed!! After the
Wheels, the Shiva Tandava dance boys got into their
position. The Parthi Campus is going to open its
presentation this year with a Shiva Tandava dance. The
participants (including Shiva and Parvati) were lucky
to perform the whole piece in the Divine Presence! The
next item to be presented was a Stick Dance by the
School boys. However, as they started, Bhagawan's car
also started and He was off on His way to the Mandir!!
Once again, Swami had pumped in enthusiasm and
inspiration in the hearts of all the students. Was it not that one
glance and one smile for which all these efforts were
being put in!! What else could one have asked for?
January 7th 2005
This evening again, Bhagawan came very unexpectedly to
the grounds. Brother Satyajit was driving the car and
Swami was expectantly looking for the Carabining boys.
However, they had just retired for the day as the
Anantapur campus students were getting ready to take up their
slot for practice. The Brindavan students are arriving
tomorrow and then the whole of Parthi will be bustling
with hectic activity marking the eve of the Annual
Sports and Cultural Meet.
Thus everything goes on as usual at Prasanthi Nilayam.
Nothing changes. The same Bhagawan, the same
involvement, the same interest, the same Love!! As it
is said, the Lord is the Still Point in the Turning
World!!
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