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Index of earlier Bulletins
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Bhagawan went to His parents' Samadhi in His car on the last two days, and this morning, arrangements were made there for the Eswaramba day celebrations. Vedam procession began from the beginning of Samadhi road after nine o'clock as Bhagawan arrived and proceeded to the Samadhi in His car. Swami went inside the Samadhi with some relatives, and after the function, Arati was offered around half an hour later. Bhajans went on in the Sai Kulwant Hall, and Bhagawan proceeded there where Dhoties and sarees were distributed to the village folk assembled in the Mandir. Prasadam was served in leaf plates, sweet rice and tamarind rice along with laddoo. Bhagawan sat onstage watching the distribution past ten o'clock and then retired to His residence as the food distribution went on.
In the evening, Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall just after four o'clock. After He came and sat onstage for a few minutes, Prof. Venkataraman was asked to speak, and he spoke about the stature of the mother. Bhagawan then delivered His Divine Discourse, stressing on the importance of love and reverence for parents. After the Discourse, Bhagawan accepted Arati at the end of a few Bhajans and returned to His residence at 6.10 pm.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Last evening, Bhagawan delivered a Discourse at Brindavan, stressing on the need to love and respect one's parents and to love all to get inner peace. This morning, He left Brindavan in His car at around 6.45 am and arrived at Prasanthi Nilayam around three hours later. He had indicated that He would celebrate Eswaramma day on May 6 at Prasanthi Nilayam.
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.
Monday, March 31, 2008
The students have completed their examinations and their summer vacations start today. In the evening, the students of the Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music presented their gratitude programme. Bhagawan arrived at 5.50 pm, and after a round of the verandah in His chair, moved to the stage for the programme to commence. The fifty minute programme had songs as well as short speeches and a sitar recital. Bhagawan Blessed the items brought up to Him by the students before accepting Arati and returning to His residence at seven o'clock.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Yesterday, students of the X class and the music college had prayed for a chance to present two programs. Bhagawan saw their cards in the Bhajan Hall while the Bhajans went on, and Blessed them. He said that the X class students could put up their drama on Sunday, and the music college students could present on Monday. So, this evening, the Bhajans did not begin at five o'clock, and a back-drop was put up in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall, with the title of the drama "Follow the Master". Bhagawan arrived at 5.20 pm, and came into the Bhajan Hall to interact with the students in costumes there. The programme got underway just after 5.30, with Bhagawan coming onstage. The story of Nachiketa was woven into the story of transformation witnessed by some Sai students. After the hour long drama, Swami Blessed the participants with group photographs, walked down from the stage for another set of group photographs and also had a group photograph with the school teachers. The students sang one Bhajan before Bhagawan accepted Arati and returned to His residence just before seven o'clock.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Bhagawan came "early" both in the morning and in the evening today - He came to Sai Kulwant Hall at 8.15 am for morning darshan and at 3.50 pm for evening darshan. In the evening, after reaching the verandah, Bhagawan moved through the Bhajan Hall and took another complete round of Sai Kulwant Hall in His chair. Coming to the Bhajan Hall at 4.30, He asked for Bhajans to commence. At 5 pm, He accepted Arati and returned to His residence.
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra had come for an audience with Bhagawan on Friday. Today Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living Foundation had an audience with Swami in the morning. In the evening, the concluding day of the Holi celebrations by the Bihar and Jharkhand devotees had programmes by the Sai youth. Bhagawan arrived at 5.20 pm, and after a round of the verandah, moved in His chair towards the Primary School children. Moving in front of them, He took a round of the students before returning to the interview room, emerging just before six o'clock for the cultural programme. The Sai youth sang songs for half an hour, then presented a half-hour skit on the transformation brought about by the Sri Sathya Sai Village Integrated Programme. Prasadam was distributed while Bhagawan accepted Arati and returned to His residence.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The second day of Holi celebrations by devotees from Bihar and Jharkhand was marked with a drama on Shabari by balvikas children. Bhagawan arrived at 5.45 pm, and went into the interview room as the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall was being arranged for the drama. When He emerged a few minutes later, He first called up some Primary School children and gave them cartons of Easter Eggs and other confections to distribute. The fifty-minute drama then began. Bhagawan was pleased with the performance, and Blessed "Shabari" with a chain, granting group photographs to all the participants. Prasadam was distributed as Bhagawan accepted Arati and returned to His residence at seven o'clock.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Devotees from Bihar and Jharkhand had arrived at Prasanthi Nilayam for Holi celebrations, and this evening was the first day of their programmes. Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.45 pm, welcomed by small children bearing lamps. Once He reached the stage, the programme commenced, with a dance by children while a song on Gayatri was being sung. The musical offerings continued for the next 45 minutes. At the end, Bhagawan Blessed the performers with group photographs and asked them to sing bhajans. Fifteen minutes of their Bhajans followed, till Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Students of the Post-graduate classes at the Sri Sathya Sai University had done well in the All-India GATE exams - Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. Out of the 30 students who wrote the exam, many got very high percentile scores, and the Sai University students also secured All-India Rank numbers 2 and 4 in Physics and 7 in Biosciences. These students were seated in the Bhajan Hall as Bhagawan came while the Bhajans went on. After interacting for a few minutes there, Bhagawan asked them to move to the stage area, and He went there, asking for the Bhajans to stop and for the Vice-Chancellor to announce the good results of these students. One of the students and Prof. Anil Kumar also spoke, and Swami Blessed one of them with a chain.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The final year undergraduate students of Prasanthi Nilayam were ready with their "gratitude" programme this evening, but since Bhagawan had not explicitly asked them to begin, they sat in the Bhajan Hall with their costumes as the Bhajans began at 5 pm. A short while later, Swami came into the Bhajan Hall. Seeing the boys in costumes, He enquired about their programme, and then asked them to move out to the Sai Kulwant Hall and stage it, stopping the Bhajans with a gentle wave of His hands. The III UG students then performed with Bhagawan seated onstage, for an hour from 5.15 pm. A Skit, short speeches and a dance were all included, along with many songs. Bhagawan Blessed them with group photographs after their programme, then gave a bonus - group photographs for the Hostel teachers too.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Bhagawan has been coming to the Sai Kulwant Hall after Bhajans begin on most days. This morning, He came at 8.45 am and called a group for interviews. In the evening, He went for a drive at 5.20 pm, and returning at 5.50 pm, accepted Arati after ten minutes more of Bhajans. This evening, the sky was unexpectedly overcast, and there were some unseasonal showers after Arati. Yesterday, the Vedam students were instructed to start chanting from 8.30 am, and Bhajans began at 9 o'clock, but Bhagawan arrived only at 11 o'clock, accepting Arati around 11.15.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Bhagawan arrived in His chair this morning a few minutes past seven o'clock, and moving through the Hall, came onstage as the Bhajans went on. After twenty minutes more of spirited Bhajans, Swami asked for the Arati and the Bhajans concluded at 7.45. Prasadam of Tamarind rice and laddoo was distributed to all as Swami watched. He returned to His residence after most of the Sai Kulwant Hall had been served.
In the evening, Bhagawan had a surprise in store for everyone. He arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall while the Bhajans went on at 5.15, and moved around the Bhajan Hall and the verandah in His chair. Later, He moved out to the stage area, and at around half-past six, asked for the Bhajans to stop, and for Mr. Ajit Popat of the UK to speak. After Mr. Popat's twenty minute speech, Bhagawan asked for the microphones and spoke for an hour from His chair. Swami's Discourse stressed on the necessity to do good in order to yield good results. At the end of His Discourse, He asked for a Bhajan to be sung, after which He accepted Arati. After Arati, Swami spoke a couple of words more, on the importance of the "Loka Samastasta Sukhino Bhavantu" chant, and Prof Anil Kumar translated them into the mic before Bhagawan left for His residence.
You can see pictures of the Shivarathri celebrations at the Book Trust website.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
This morning, Bhagawan did not come for darshan. The morning bhajans commenced at 9 o'clock and ended after 45 minutes with Arati. So the Shivarathri celebrations got underway in the evening. Video screens had been set up in Sai Kulwant Hall and a large LED screen was mounted on a truck next to the Ganesh temple, to enable the devotees to see the festivities. Bhagawan came at 5.15 in a new mobile chair and took a round of the Hall while Nadaswaram and Pachavadyam were played by the students along with the Vedic chanting. Just after 5.30 pm, Bhagawan asked Sri V. Srinivasan, the All-India President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, to speak. After his twenty minute talk, Bhagawan stood up to speak.
Bhagawan spoke standing for ten minutes, then sat down to continue for an hour. He spoke about the trend to divide people based on culture, caste and country, and said that soon all would grow united on these three fronts, in the time of Prema Sai.
After Bhagawan's Discourse, the all-night Bhajans commenced. Swami sat onstage for a few minutes before returning to His residence in the chair. The microphones were switched off at 9 pm, after which group Bhajans continued till morning.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
A dance ballet was planned by the students for the Shivarathri celebrations; Bhagawan instructed that the ballet be performed this evening. As the Bhajans went on in the Sai Kulwant Hall, Bhagawan visited the Bhajan Hall twice and interacted with the performers who were getting ready there. The half-hour programme in Telugu depicted the Puranic episode of the churning of the Ocean, with Lord Shiva consuming the poison to save the world. At the end of the programme, Swami came down from the stage to grant group photographs, interacted with the students and then left for His residence after Arati at around 6.40 pm.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj performed in front of Bhagawan this evening. He was seated in the front of the Bhajan Hall. The Bhajans commenced as usual at 5 pm. Bhagawan arrived in the Bhajan Hall as the second Bhajan was going on, and at the end of that Bhajan, the Hindustani vocal concert began. At the end of the hour-long performance, Bhagawan Blessed the singer and also his accompanists, giving a chain to one of the lady accompanists and interacting with all of them. Swami then asked for Meera Bhajans sung by the music college students. After twenty minutes of their singing, He accepted Arati and returned to His residence.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Hyderabad youth were Blessed by Bhagawan to have their musical programme today. Arriving in Sai Kulwant Hall just before five in the evening, Swami moved to the stage after His darshan round and the programme commenced. The hour-long presentation was interspersed with short commentaries in Telugu. Bhagawan Blessed the group profusely after their programme for half an hour, Blessing two of the participants with chains and giving clothes and group photographs to all of them. It was past 6.30 when He returned to Yajur Mandir after Arati.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Bhagawan went for a drive at around ten o'clock this morning, and on His return graced the Poornachandra auditorium where a pictorial exhibition of 50 years of the Sanatana Sarathi magazine had been arranged by the Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust. Bhagawan Blessed the Book Trust staff by moving around the exhibition for an hour and also interacting with them. In the evening, the group from Hyderabad who had come to pray that Bhagawan visit their city was asked to sit on the verandah. Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall by 3.15 pm, and exiting through the main gate, took a round of the Ashram in His car before returning to the Mandir and entering the interview room. He emerged from the interview room at 5.30 pm for programme presented by the final year post-graduate students of Prasanthi Nilayam. Expressing their love and gratitude to their Sai Ma, the students had an hour-long presentation of short speeches in different languages, dances and songs. Bhagawan came down from the stage and took group photographs with them, then returned to His residence after Arati.
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