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‘God’s were present’…, Vedic Chants
reverberated… Scriptural Rituals were observed…, Percussive
Intonations sang backdrop melody… and Lord Sri Ramachandra tied
Bridal Mangala Sutra on Mother Sita… thus Prasanthi witnessed
the commencement of week-long Birthday celebrations…
Twin functions, Celestial Marriage of Sita – Rama, the Divine
Couple, and Rathotsavam, the Chariot Festival, marked the
commencement of the week-long 89th Birthday celebrations of
Bhagawan here in Prasanthi Nilayam today. The Celestial Wedding
was performed to the Deities of Lord Sri Ramachandra and Goddess
Sita, witnessed by thousands of devotees.
Commencing at just after 0700 hrs., the auspicious Sita Rama
Kalyanam was performed observing all ritualistic rites, lasting
two hours. Held on a make-shift platform in the Sai Kulwant
Hall, the Bridal Mangala Sutra validating the marriage was
offered to the Bride at 0900 hrs. marking the fulfilment of the
Divine Marriage.
Earlier, amidst Vedic chanting and to the background musical
scores of auspicious Nadaswaram, the Kalyanam started with
Ganapathi Aradhana, followed by various rituals relating to the
Marriage, including Upanayanam – the sacred thread ceremony
Kanyadanam – giving away the bride, Mangala Aradhana before the
most significant ritual of offering the ‘Bridal Mangala Sutra (Mangalya
Dharana). The marriage function concluded with Poornahuthi.
The celestial Marriage is aimed at establishing Universal
Harmony.
Subsequent to the Marriage ‘The Divine Couple’ were escorted out
in a royal procession along with Lord Venugopala Swami, as part
of the annual Rathotsavam. ‘The Gods’ mounted on the chariot
were taken out along the road in procession.
Beating drums and dancing ecstasy took over soon. The procession
made its way through the main road, moving towards the Pedda
Venkama Raju Kalyanamantapam. Ecstatic mood of the village folk
dancing to the tune of drumbeats, breaking coconuts and offering
Mangala Arathi enroute, was evidential of the religious fervour
attached to the festivity. Vedam and Bhajans group from
Prasanthi led the procession.
As per the tradition, Lord Venugopala Swami stays back at the
Kalyanamantapam while, The Divine Couple returns, being escorted
back to the Mandir with religious fanfare. Villagers then escort
Lord Venugopala Swami in a procession covering the entire
village before returning to Mandir in the night, a customary
practice ever since the inception of Rathotsavam.
Back in the Mandir, bhajans continued and the session concluded
with Mangala Arathi at 0950 hrs.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
Devotional ‘Musical’ Sandhya
by Ms Kaajal Chandiramani…
Tuesday, November 18th, 2014
On the first evening of the week-long 89th
Birthday celebrations of Bhagawan, talented Hindi/Sufi singer Ms
Kaajal Chandiramani offered a ‘Musical Sandhya’ today here in
Prasanthi Nilayam. The offering had an assortment of popular
devotional numbers.
With a host of prayerful invocations, the graceful singer began
singing “Mere Sai Teri Moorat Rahe Man Mein…”, enough to haul
out hidden emotive feelings of Divine Romance with Mother Sai.
Continuing in the same vein the singer continued crooning for
the next almost an hour, singing for Sai, engrossing the
capacity audience with devotional fervour.
Watch
the Special Live HD VIDEO Webcast of the Musical
Presentation by Ms. Kaajal Chandiramani as a part of
Bhagawan’s 89th Birthday Celebration direct from Sai
Kulwant Hall at Prasanthi Nilayam today evening at
around 5pm (IST) – 18th November 2014.
O Palanhare Nirgun O Nyare…, Man Ke Lahare Andhiyaar Mein…, Man
Ke Gehre Andhiyare Mein…, Jai Jai Sai Sai Sri Sathya Sai…a
stirringly inspiring fast-paced Bhajan, Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya
Namah Shivaya…, concluding with another inciting number, Dama
Dam Mast Qalandar…
The artiste was accompanied by Sarvasree Ashok Jain on Keyboard,
Tahir Khan on Tabla, Tarashankar Chakravarthy on Guitar,
Prajapati on Dholak and Sai Prasad on Cymbal.
“It was a life-long dream” announced the artiste in humility,
commenting on the opportunity to croon Bhagawan’s Presence in
Prasanthi Nilayam.
All the artistes were felicitated at the end of the programme.
The session continued with Bhajans and ended with Bhagawan
singing “Rama Rama Rama Sita…”. Mangala Arathi at 1815 hrs.
marked the end of the day’s proceedings.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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