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Gratitude Offering by Higher Secondary Students…

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Come February – March it is Gratitude season in Prasanthi Nilayam with passing out batches of students fondly remember the Divine Mother for His incomparable love of thousand mothers, as it is ‘fondly’ called.

The programme commenced at 1700 hrs. with Veda chanting by the Higher Secondary Wing. What followed next was a burst of rich tales of Bhagawan’s love interspersed with melodious music, instrumental violin and songs.

Every single soul coming to the hallowed portals donning a students’ garb has an individual Swami in him or her Who guides and guards him or her everafter. The experiences narrated in the evening stood testimony to this very fact.

The climax came when students recalled an ‘eventful’ episode from the climax day, 25th March 2011, the day that witnessed the ‘Final Divine Darshan’ of Beloved Bhagawan.

The day was scheduled to host a gratitude programme by the higher secondary passing out batch of students, a drama presentation based on a story as narrated by Bhagawan Himself long ago in Brindavan.

That evening, when Bhagawan emerged quite late, granting Divine Darshan, one of the students had the opportunity to narrate the story-line to Bhagawan. Bhagawan, upon hearing the story-line, commented, “Drama Has To Be Done…” Little did the students understood then that the profundity of the words from All Knowing Almighty Lord, as the story-line had a resemblance with ‘Bhagawan’s – thereafter – April 2011 Divine Drama’, Himself existing from the physical plane.

Grateful students then enacted the drama in essence, in the form of a skit, fulfilling the promise.  The presentation was the story of a young lad, whose relentless pursuit for a mantra, even after the guru sheds his mortal coil ahead of his promise wins him ultimate goal, salvation.

The young lad after pursuing the guru for over 12 long years, finally wins guru’s benevolence, when he offers him to grant him a mantra for salvation. As ordered by the guru, when the boy returns after a dip in the holy Ganges ready to receive the mantra, to his utter disgust, he finds the guru missing. Upon further enquiry, he finds from a passer-by lady, a dancer, that the guru had shed his mortal coil leaving the mantra on the holy sands. The lady dancer notes down the mantra, erasing it from the sands, and the boy in his earnest pursuit, relentlessly pursue the lady, despite hardships and sufferings, for many years.

The scene now moves to the Kingdom where the King calls to find out the holiest of the persons in the Kingdom. As advised by the wise and holy, the King arranges a feast,  condition being when the holiest partakes the food, the temple bell should ring.

The day almost passes without any positive results and the King turns frustrated not before the temple bell rings, at the nick of time. An excited King sends his men out only to find this young lad, famished and tired, eating leftovers from a garbage. Having invited to the Kingdom now, the young man narrates his woeful tales to the King who in turn offers to help. Playing wise, the King calls for the lady dancer for a dance programme. Acting quite pleased at her performance, even as the King decides to offer her precious gifts, he ‘finds’ precious jewels in her ear-ring.

Even as the King ‘acts’ diplomatically, the greedy lady throws away the ear-rings that contains the precious ‘Mantra Leaf’. Grabbing the opportunity even as the young lad opens the leaf to read the Mantra, he attains salvation, as Lord Krishna appears in front of him.

The presentation ended with a group song with the students burst into singing ‘Love’ for Bhagawan.

Even as bhajans continued students posed for group photo sessions. Hall tickets were offered at the Divine Lotus Feet by the School Principal followed by various groups of students with various greeting offerings.

Bhajans ended with Sunday Special “Govinda Krishna Vittaley…” in Bhagawan’s voice and Mangala Arathi was offered at 1840 hrs.

Loud refrain WE LOVE YOU SWAMI reverberated the hall as grateful students joined in unison, bursting into heartfelt feelings for Beloved Mother Sai!!!

The Sri Sathya Sai “Jev-O-Utsav 2013″ was a grand show of Swami’s grace and abundance on the youth of Nanded. Over 1000 students from 9 colleges in Nanded participated in a grand youth festival organised by the Youth of Nanded with the help of the senior office bearers of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva organisation (SSSSO), Nanded District, Maharashtra on 2nd & 3rd February 2013 . A youth festival of this magnitude was held for the first time ever in Nanded.

The Youth Festival was inaugurated by Sri D P Sawant ,Minister of State for Health & Technical education, in the august presence of Sri Bhaskar Rao Patil Khatgaonkar Member of the Parliament from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency, Sri Vasant Rao Chavan, Sri Om Prakash Pokarna, both MLA’s from Nanded, The All India Vice President of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Sri Nimish Pandya and the State President of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Maharashtra & Goa Sri Ramesh D Sawant.

In his address to the youth of today, Sri D P Sawant highlighted the values taught by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and the yeomen service rendered by Bhagawan to Humanity at large. Sri D P Sawant was all praise for the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learnings (SSSIHL) and the Super Speciality Hospitals built by Swami which he said is Bhagawan’s gift to the society.

Sri Bhaskar Rao Patil Khatgaonkar Member of the Parliament from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency also addressed the audience who had assembled in large numbers for the Youth Festival.

The All India Vice President of SSSSO Sri Nimish Pandya, welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. He spoke to the youth about the purpose and the agenda of the 2 day festival and also the power of youth. He addressed the youth to be responsible citizens of this great country, a good student and above all a good child to their parents. He cited the examples of some ordinary men who transformed to become great virtuous leaders and monks.

Initiated by Smt. Snehalatatai Khatgaonkar, an inter collegiate competition on Human Values and Awareness in the form of Skits and dramas were presented by all the 9 colleges spread over 2 days. The grit of the youth of today against the social evils prevalent in the society was very passionately displayed with a determination to transform the Society to make it a better place to live.

The students highlighted in their Skits and Dramas the negativities prevalent in the society, like alcohol abuse, malnutrition, hopelessness & despair, suicide, female foeticide, suppression of women etc.

The students were ably and whole heartily supported by their respective college managements and teachers.

Highlighting the importance of youth in nation building, Sri Nimish Pandya, stressed upon Swami’s teaching that “Youth is the time to Invest”. He urged the youth of today to realize that their power lies within themselves and not from any external force. Youth should listen to their inner voice in silence , which is God’s voice. Youth should not fritter away the “Present” which is “Omnipresent”. Going further he said, it was very important to control the mind which is the root cause for all illness both mental and physical. Control of breath , thought, word and deed is the hall mark of a good Youth. Sri Nimish Pandya, explained that the teachings of Swami aimed at spreading brother hood and Love towards to one and all. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba stood for benevolence & upliftment of mankind. The SSSO provides a fine platform for the youth to participate and serve the society thru the various social, medical, educational and spiritual activities undertaken by the Organisation. Sri Nimish Pandya welcomed the youth to avail of this great institution to serve the society and contribute to nation building.

Sri Gopal Rao and ex-student of the SSSIHL, spoke on leadership and the qualities of an Ideal Leader to the students of the participating colleges. He highlighted the importance of being integral in thought word and deed to lead by example.

The students presented skits based on values on day 1 followed by skits on social awareness on day 2.

A street play on the various government welfare schemes was presented by two teachers who had come from the Solapur District of Maharashtra. The play was presented as a typical “Natya Pathak”, a conversation between villagers.

Smt.Padmaja Phenani Joglekar, rendered an evening of Bhajans which was soothing to all those present.

Ms Chaitali from Chandrapur district of Maharashtra presented an one act play “Jijau”, conveying the importance and the will of Motherhood to raise a child like Chatrapati Shivaji, with all the values of a great statesman.

Later in his power packed address to the youth, Sri Nimish Pandya brought out the positive side of life by inviting the youth to be the instruments and cause in transforming the society. He brought out the teachings of Swami’s values and social causes and that “Sathya Sai way of Life” is the only hope for Transforming the society. Jev-O-Utsav is a festival of the inner spirit of each youth, he said.

The impact of the programme and the unseen hand of the Divine was evident from the furor & enthusiasm with which the students received the idea of formation of a JEVA Club in the participating colleges. Many students registered and committed themselves to serve humanity and be an instrument of change in the Society.

Sri Ashok Chavan , former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Chief Guest of Jev-O-Utsav 2013,gave away the prizes to the winners of the skits and dramas staged by the colleges.

In his address to the youth, he spoke of the high ideals and the teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba which was his source of inspiration and inner strength. Sri Ashok Chavan, also invited the SSSSO to conduct more such proactive programmes and guide the youth towards righteousness and well being.

The programme ended with Aarthi to Bhagawan followed by singing of the National Anthem.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II