With
Ashadi and Guru Purnima coming up in the next week, on 30th
June and 3rd July respectively, the epochal and
Spiritually Potent Meditation Tree, planted by the Divine Hands on
29th June 1959 is turning 53 tomorrow, June 29, 2012, and
a function is being organized
commemorating the special occasion. As a part of the
developmental plan, a facelift is being given to the “Tapovanam’,
first phase of which is completed, to facilitate devotees visiting
the place for spiritual evolution. As
per the programme chart, the 45-minute programme would commence at
0945 hrs. with rituals propitiating Lord Ganesha followed by Punyaha
Vachana, Circumambulation of the Tree, Recitation of Sai Ashtotharam,
Special Ritual called “Vriksha Puja”, Bhajan, Meditation followed by
Mangala Arathi and prasadam distribution.
Mentioning the significance of the Meditation
Tree, Prof. Kasturi wrote in Sathyam Sivam Sundaram thus:
The Banyan that
is growing in the grove has a peculiar sanctity of its own. In April
of 1959, while talking one evening on the sands of the Chitravathi
River to a gathering of devotees, Baba spoke of Buddha and the Bodhi
tree, the “Tree of Wisdom,” and of the Sadhakas (spiritual
aspirants) seeking some specially favorable spots for their
austerities. Even as He was speaking thus, He “took” out from the
sands a thick copper plate about fifteen inches by ten inches in
size which contained mystic markings and letters of many known and
unknown alphabets! He said that such mystic plates, cryptograms
written on copper or stone, are planted under trees where aspirants
engage in austerities so that they may be helped to develop
concentration of mind and control of the senses. He announced that
He would be placing the copper plate under a Banyan tree that He
proposed to plant in the grove. This was actually done on the
twenty-ninth of June, 1959, and Sai Baba declared that Yogis who
have reached a certain stage of spiritual progress will
automatically come to know of this tree and this mystic plate, and
they will be drawn by the mysterious force of these toward the
meditation grove which will then fully justify its name!
…And here comes the Spiritual Significance of the
Tree, in Prof. Kasturi’s own words:
The Banyan tree,
known as Nyagrodha, “down-grown,” and Vatavriksha, “enclosure tree,”
is famous in Indian sacred literature and history. Lord Maha Vishnu,
the great God of Preservation, or Siva, God in the Form of the Guru,
is described as sitting under a Banyan tree, and expounding by His
very silence all knowledge to His disciple. This tree may be said to
symbolize Sanathana Dharma, the Eternal Wisdom, for its branches
reach out in all directions and draw sustenance from every type of
faith and spiritual striving. It is also called Rahupada,
“many-footed” in Sanskrit, for the series of roots that its branches
send down toward the earth strike the ground and seek food therein
and make the branches independent even of the parent trunk. The tree
is therefore immortal. There are in India Banyan trees that have
been worshipped for thousands of years, such as the one at Triveni
at Prayag, Allahabad, or the one called Akshaya-vat, the
“Indestructible,” at Gaya.
In the meantime, a steady stream of devotees is
expected in the coming days as the Dindi Procession , from
Dharmavaram to Prasanthi Nilayam, is expected to arrive tomorrow
evening. With Ashadi Ekadashi scheduled for Saturday, 30th
June, hundreds of devotees are expected to join the Dindi Yatris,
with the States, Maharashtra and Goa are set to celebrate the
occasion in the immediate Divine Presence.
The Dindi Procession is symbolic of the time
tested tradition – Vaarkari Sampradaya – dates back to
centuries. Every year lakhs and lakhs of devotees walk on foot in
huge processions to Pandharpur, the Abode of Lord Vittala singing
abhangas of Sant Thukkaram and Sant Jnaneshwar to have the
darshan of their chosen deity.
II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
--------------------------------------
The Lord Who wrote a Divine Treatise on Meditation, titled Dhyana
Vahini, with His Divine Fore vision had planted a small sapling on
the idyllic hillock at the eastern side of Prasanthi Mandir five
decades ago, precisely on the 29th June 1959.
Bhagawan then declared that Yogis who have reached a certain
stage of spiritual progress will automatically come to know of this
tree and the mystic plate of inscription, materialized by Him on the
Chitravati banks, and they will be drawn by the mysterious force of
these toward the meditation grove which will then fully justify its
name! This epochal Meditation Tree turned 53 today.
Commemorating the occasion, a function was held atop the Hill, in
the Meditation Grove this morning, attended by Senior Trust Members,
officials, students and devotees.
With the special ritualistic offering commenced and continued
close to 0930 hrs. in the morning, a steady stream of devotees
arrived post Bhajans and Mangala Arathi in the Mandir, comfortably
occupying slots at various vantage points upon the hill behind the
grove, and the area around, watching the proceedings.
After the special ‘Vruksha Puja’ even as Veda chanting by the
officiating priest continued, students chanted Sai Ashtotharam that
was followed by Arathi to the Tree. Three Bhajans followed, that
began specially invoking Bhagawan with the particular Ashtothara
Namavali referring Him to ‘Vatavriksha Pratishtapaka’, One Who
planted the Meditation Tree. The programme culminated with Mangala
Arathi at 10:30 hrs. Prasadam was distributed to the entire
assembly.
As part of the developmental plan, the first phase of facelift of
this grove has been completed. Fenced around with lighting poles,
the grove now has a tiled circular space around where devotees can
sit and meditate, at ease. Tiled steps have been laid, leading to
the grove from the road, and facilitating wheel-chaired as well aged
devotees, a tiled ramp has also been provided leading to the grove.
Also read -
Lord Ganesha was installed this morning
Also read:
Colourful Ashadi Morning…Saturday,
June 30th, 2012
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