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Index of earlier Bulletins
Monday, December 31, 2007
This evening, Bhagawan came to Sai Kulwant Hall as the Bhajans went on, and made a round of the verandah after His darshan round in the car. He moved through the Bhajan Hall entering from the rear door, and made a round of the ladies' side in His chair. Then He sat onstage as the Bhajans continued, accepting Arati there itself at six o'clock. Yesterday, Bhagawan came as the bhajans went on at 5.30 pm, and instead of going into the Bhajan Hall, sat onstage for twenty minutes before accepting Arati there itself. He returned to His residence at around 6 pm. On Saturday, the Union Civil Aviation Minister had come for Darshan.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Yesterday was the 100th birthday of Mr. Gopal Rao, former chairman of Andhra Bank and a resident of the Ashram for many decades. Bhagawan Blessed him yesterday, and today arranged for a felicitation ceremony. Swami came in the evening at around 5.20 pm, moving onstage after a brief interaction with some devotees on the verandah. Mr. Gopal Rao was also brought onstage by his son. Prof G. Venkataraman spoke for twenty-five minutes, then Mr. Gopal Rao spoke, seated on his wheelchair, for half an hour, about how he came to Bhagawan and how Swami instructed him to do seva in the canteen. Mr. Chakravarthy, Secretary of the Central Trust, garlanded Mr. Gopal Rao. Swami Blessed him and interacted with him while prasadam was distributed. Swami returned to His residence after accepting Arati at 6.35 pm.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
This evening, devotees from Southern California and Hawaii presented a short play and a programme of songs. Bhagawan came onstage at 5.15 pm after His darshan round the the programme commenced shortly thereafter. SSE children presented the first fifteen minute play, "Boy Jesus", with traditional carols sung by the group forming most of the sound-track. Bhagawan Blessed one of the participants with a chain. The song programme then began, with songs like Ronan Keating's "Hello Again" and Josh Groban's "You raise me up" rendered very well and with great feeling by the devotees. Bhagawan went into the interview room during the last song of their performance and came out with clothes for the singers and chocolates shaped like gold coins for the children. After distributing the coins and the clothes, He accepted Arati and retired for the day.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
In the morning, while the Bhajans went on, Swami went to the Vidyagiri stadium where the students were practising the Marchpast for the Sports and Cultural Meet in January. He returned to the Mandir moving through the Primary School and later accepted Arati.
This evening, Bhagawan came onstage and interacted with Mr. John Behner, then asked Prof. Veerabhadraiah the college Telugu professor to speak on Jesus Christ. The professor spoke in Telugu for fifteen minutes till 5.20 pm. Then Bhagawan stood up to speak.
Bhagawan declared that there is peace everywhere, and only the restlessness inside is reflected outside on our vision. He reminded us that our real name is "Aham Brahmasmi" and not the names "kept" by parents. To illustrate how everything happens by Divine Will, He materialised a chain and hung it on the mic, and later, at the end of His Discourse, called up a student and put it around his neck. Swami narrated the story of Jesus and commented on the need for Faith with Love. Bhagawan made all the devotees joyful by saying "All of you are in Me; I am yours, you are Mine".
After Bhagawan's 75 minute Discourse, there was a bhajan as prasadam was distributed, then He accepted Arati and left for His residence.
The Book Trust website has pictures of the Christmas celebrations.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas morning celebrations commenced in Sai Kulwant Hall with Bhagawan arriving at 8.20 am. After He came onstage, the Primary School violins performed for a few minutes, followed by a ten minute performance by the University brass band. Carols and other Christmas songs by the students was the concluding item of the morning. Santa Clauses appeared on the scene during the "Jingle Bells" renderings by both the Primary School violins and the students' carols. Swami accepted Arati at 9.45 am after prasadam was distributed.
In the evening, Bhagawan arrived at 5.10 pm and the programme of talks began at 5.20 after He came onstage. Mr. John Behner of Latin America introduced the four speakers of the day - Ms. Inez from Argentina, Mr. Sumeet Tappoo from Fiji, Ms. Poppy Hillcoate from Australia and Dr. Michael Congleton from the USA. The first two Youth speakers spoke of the transformation Sai has brought in their lives. Ms. Hillcoate spoke of the joy she experienced in past Christmases at Prasanthi Nilayam, and Mr. Congleton spoke of the joy derived from selfless service. After the four speakers, Bhajans commenced. Bhagawan accepted Arati after a Bhajan and returned to His residence at 6.30 pm.
Monday, December 24, 2007
This morning, Swami came to Sai Kulwant hall as the Bhajans went on at 9.45, accepted Arati after a couple of Bhajans, then went on a drive before returning to His residence. Christmas eve was celebrated in the afternoon session with the traditional singing of Christmas songs by children and devotees from overseas. The Sai Kulwant Hall was beautifully decorated with seasonal decorations. Bhagawan arrived at Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.40, and came onstage after His darshan round in the car. The children's choir performed first for half an hour, the overseas choir with 600 ladies and 300 gents began at 5.20 pm. Bhagawan blessed the conductors of both choirs before each performance. Bhajans by the overseas devotees went on as prasadam was distributed to the choir singers. One of the ladies who played the cello was Blessed by Swami with a chain. After twenty minutes of Bhajans, Swami accepted Arati offered by the overseas devotees and returned to His abode.
The Book Trust website has pictures of the Christmas eve programme.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Bhagawan had asked for a drama presentation by the students incorporating the story of Shravan Kumar from the Ramayana. This evening, the students got ready with the drama and were seated inside the Bhajan Hall with costumes. Swami arrived just after five o'clock and came to the Bhajan Hall after His darshan round in the car. He interacted with the students in costumes, asking about many of the main characters like Rama, Sita, Shravan Kumar, Lava, Kusa and so on. After ten minutes of interaction, Bhagawan moved to the stage area. But He asked for a change in the presentation. Instead of the students facing the Mandir with Swami seated onstage, He asked them to face the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall so that all of them could see the drama. Swami moved down from the stage and sat among the students in the middle of the Hall.
The forty-five minute presentation had dances, songs and touching dialogues. The stories of Shavan Kumar, Sabari and Guha the boatman were highlighted. Sai Rama appreciated the narration of Sri Ramachandra's devotees and stood up to grant the participants group photographs. Then He again interacted for fifteen minutes with the participants while wafers were distributed to them, and then accepted Arati at 6.30 pm.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
This evening, Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.45, and came into the Bhajan hall after His darshan round in the car. There, He interacted for a few minutes with the students and teachers seated in the front, moved down the aisle and back, then went outside and sat onstage as the Vedam went on. Prof. Veerabhadraiah, the Telugu professor at Prasanthi Nilayam campus, was asked to speak. He spoke in Telugu for half an hour, narrating many thrilling experiences. Prasadam was distributed as Bhajans were sung for fifteen minutes. Swami accepted Arati at six o'clock before returning to His residence.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
This evening, the youth from Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh had the chance to present their programme in front of Bhagawan. Their programme got underway at 5.45 pm, after Bhagawan came onstage and Blessed the various cards and bouquets offered by the youth. A drama "Manava Seva is Madhava Seva" was the first item. The story of a golden plate appearing at Kasi with the injuction that it belongs to the dearest devotee of the Lord was presented, with the dearest devotee turning out to be a Sai Youth engaged in selfless social service. The drama concluded with a group song on Seva. Sri Gautam Kale, a Sai Youth from Indore and a disciple of Pandit Jasraj, presented some songs after the drama. Bhagawan asked for Bhajans to be sung after aound 20 minutes of songs. Prasadam was distributed and Swami Blessed the singer and the drama participants who came up to Him one by one, before accepting Arati at 6.55 pm.
The Book Trust website has pictures of this programme.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Yesterday, Bhagawan came to Sai Kulwant Hall at around 5.30 pm as the bhajans went on, and after an anti-clockwise round of the Hall, went out for a drive. He returned after 6.15, came to the Bhajan Hall, accepted Arati and returned to His residence.
This morning, Bhagawan went for a drive at around 10.40 and returned to His residence after eleven o'clock. In the evening, He came to Sai Kulwant hall just before the five o'clock Bhajans commenced. After nearly forty-five minutes of Bhajans, Swami came into the Bhajan Hall and saw the three students dressed for their Burrakatha programme. He asked for the Arati after a few minutes, then moved to the stage and asked for the Burrakatha to commence, telling the three performers to stand facing the audience instead of facing Him. The hour-long Burrakatha on Mother Eswaramma concluded with Swami accepting Arati once again at seven o'clock.
Monday, December 17, 2007
This evening too, Bhagawan had a surprise in store for all. Students were ready with a Burrakatha programme yesterday and today, but their programme was not being held since Swami was coming after the five o'clock bhajans began. This evening, Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall after the Bhajans began, but did not come to the Bhajan Hall - instead, He moved around in His chair, sat onstage, and at 5.55 pm, the Bhajans were asked to stop, and Prof G. Venkataraman was asked to speak. After the Professor's half-hour extempore speech on how we should live up to Bhagawan's appellations "Embodiments of Love" and "Embodiments of Divine Atma", Swami asked for the Vedam chanting to commence. Ten minutes of Vedam concluded with Arati and Swami returned to His residence at half-past six.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
This evening, Bhagawan Blessed the group from California to present their Bhajan programme in His presence. The group was seated in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall and began their performance at a quarter past five when Swami was seated onstage. They sang bhajans in a medley style for around 45 minutes, and concluded with Arati. But Bhagawan did not move away from the stage, and instead asked Mr. Bozzani to speak! After his five minute talk, Swami asked for the mics - He was going to address the gathering! Bhagawan spoke for nearly 45 minutes, stressing on Divine Love and the need to realise our own Divinity. He asked us all to continually remember the Divine Name of the Lord, and concluded with "Bhajan Bina...", accepting Arati once again at seven o'clock before returning to His residence.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Bhagawan came to Sai Kulwant Hall both in the morning and the evening today after 45 minutes of Bhajans had elapsed. Yesterday, Swami went on a second darshan round in His chair as the evening Bhajans went on, moving through the gents' side and around the students. Among the devotees who came for Swami's darshan over the last few days at Prasanthi Nilayam were the Vice-Chief of the Indian Army, the Governor and a minister of the state of Sikkim, and cricketer Rahul Dravid.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The musicians from Srikakulam presented a concert this evening. Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall a few minutes after five o'clock, and the programme got underway when Swami came onstage after 5.15 pm. Forty-five minutes of light-music and semi-classical vocals followed, and then the musicians prayed that Swami allow them to present an instrumental ensemble playing Thyagaraja kritis. Bhagawan Blessed one of the singers and allowed them to begin the instrumental piece with more than five violins and mridangams, and then went into the interview room. From there, He sent clothes for the artistes. Around ten minutes later, He came onstage, accepted Arati and left for His residence after 6.45 pm.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Groups of devotees from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, Hungary, Singapore and Malaysia are here along with a group from the USA. On Friday evening, Bhagawan gave an audience to the Russian Ambassador to India. Last evening, after the Bhajans ended at 6.15 pm, the Srikakulam devotees had a procession outside the Ashram. This evening, the Srikakulam Balvikas children presented a drama featuring many dances. The 40 minute Telugu drama began shortly after Swami came onstage at 4.30 pm, an hour after He came to Sai Kulwant Hall. The story of an idealistic Sai Youth was presented, highlighting the upholding of values in modern life. Bhagawan Blessed the protagonist even as the last dance was going on, and later Blessed the group by coming down from the stage and sitting on the Jhoola (swing) they had prepared for Him. After group photos with the children, Bhagawan asked the co-ordinator of the group to speak a few words. As he concluded his five minute speech of gratitude, Swami started giving sarees and safari cloth pieces to the children who took part in the drama. After 10 minutes of Bhajans by the group, Bhagawan accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 6 pm.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
This evening, Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall just before five o'clock. When the five o'clock Bhajans began, Swami moved in His chair around the verandah, and near the interview room, entered His car and proceeded to the Indoor Stadium complex. There, He inaugurated the second phase of the complex - gyms and a tennis court. From the Stadium, He returned directly to His residence at around 5.45 pm and the Bhajans concluded with Arati.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The youth from Haryana and Punjab who are here on their Parthi Yatra presented two dramas in Sai Kulwant Hall this evening. Bhagawan arrived onstage shortly before five o'clock and the Haryana drama "God is the only Creator" began with a Vedic invocation. The "Sai Punjab" drama which followed presented the cultural heritage and history of Punjab. Bhagawan Blessed both the groups with photographs and clothes, interacting with almost all of the participants. After a couple of Bhajans by the youth, Bhagawan accepted Arati and returned to His residence at 6.20 pm.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
This evening, the students of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Niketan, Bagepalli, got the chance to present a drama in Sai Kulwant Hall, entitled "Shirdi Nivasa Sai". Bhagawan arrived onstage after His darshan round at 4 o'clock, then went back to the interview room and again returned to the stage at 4.30, after which the programme commenced. Various episodes in the life of Shirdi Sai were depicted with dances in the half-hour presentation. Swami Blessed the children with group photographs and clothes after the drama as the Karnataka devotees sang Bhajans.
The Book Trust website has pictures of the Karnataka devotees' programmes.
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