When Little Champs Regaled Prasanthi Nilayam 22 Nov 2009

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When Little Champs Regaled

Posted at 16:40:12:12 Hrs. IST on 23 Nov 2009

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23rd Nov 2009

Sathya Sai Baba Birthday Photos & Update

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It appeared that they have started from where they had stopped last time. The “Little Champs” from Pune had an opportunity to sing for The Divine at

Hadshi

, Pune during Bhagawan’s

recent trip

. These “Little Champs” were yet again seen in action, this time in Prasanthi Nilayam, singing for Him, on the eve of the 84th Birthday, on the 22nd Nov 2009.

L’ll Champs are the winners of the Zee TV sponsored Reality Show for kids in Marathi. The participants were Arya Ambekar, Rohit Raut, Prathamesh Laghate, Mugdha Vaishampayam and Kartiki Gaikwade, all from Pune.

These L’ll Champs are no ordinary folk. They were in Prasanthi Nilayam on a personal invitation from Bhagawan Himself. Impressed by their natural talent show at Hadshi, Bhagawan had asked them to come to Puttparthi to perform in Prasanthi Nilayam. …And one could not wait for a better opportunity than the auspicious occasion of celebrating His Divine Advent.

The Champs were welcomed with thunderous applause. With an air of silence and air of great expectation prevailing, the “five-some” commenced the show radiating confidence, with their mellifluous voice wafting in to each ear, cooling the hearts, raising the temper of excitement, to an unknown realm of ecstasy.

Starting with a Ganesha Invocation, they continued to sing patriotic and devotional numbers. A tiny tot in the group, cute champ Mugdha Vaishampayam was at her best singing melodiously, enacting to her best. Singing the famous number “Sai Tero Naam Easwar Tero Naam…” in His presence, with a pointer at Him as Allah, was a feast to the eyes and ears and the crowd went ecstatic, swaying to the tunes in merriment. Every song was received with thunderous relentless applause.

These tiny tots made the

Birthday

eve a most memorable one…all with their skills to bring the best in the most natural style.

It was obvious that Bhagawan wanted to felicitate these L’ll Champs the best of the gifts. After several rounds of iteration, seeing the items, Bhagawan finally settled for the best He deemed fit, “honouring” the children with “Shawls and Sarees”, boys and girls respectively.

Earlier, the evening session began with bit of suspense. There were expectation galore, as an announcement was made in the morning about the scheduled music show by the “L’ll Champs”. L’ll Champs after their enchanting performance at Hadshi has become so dear to the fraternity that there was great expectation in the air, to watch them live, in His immediate presence.

Upon completing His darshan rounds Bhagawan went into the Bhajan Hall and interacted with the L’ll Champs and while all were expecting the Champs to take on the stage. Bhagawan had some other plans.

He moved on to the Primary Block for a brief interaction with the kids and upon coming back asked popular Carnatic vocalist, Bombay Jayasree to take the stage. After her brief Carnatic vocal session, Bhagawan blessed the singer and accompanists paving for the climax session.

L’ll Champs were called…and it was like a live audition, a reality show in the Divine Presence…

L’ll Champs Sung…L’ll Champs Regaled…L’ll Champs Conquered…

23rd Nov 2009

Sathya Sai Baba Birthday Photos & Update

Posted at 21:05:00 Hrs. IST on 23 Nov 2009

It was the time when my film 'Uncle Bun' was being shot at Kodaikanal, years ago. Sri Sathya Sai Baba was camping there at that time. Every day I would think of going to Baba's place and having 'darshan' of Him at least from a distance. But, in that film, I was acting the role of an abnormally fatman. After a days work, I would take long hours to free me from my costume. By then, it would be part midnight.

Baba left the place, before our shooting was over. Thus, though Baba was at arm's length, I couldn't meet Him. I was left alone.

To tell the truth, I was greatly grieved. I found solace in the adage that 'Guru appears only when the Sishya (disciple) is ready'. Perhaps at the moment, I may not have been fit.

Later, as many occasions I was called to go to Puthaparthi and once the trip was almost settled; but it fell through, on account of the unequal mental equation with the sponsors who offered to take me to the holy place.

Recently, a relative and childhood acquaintance of mine, Dr. Vipin Chandran (Kuttan) of Changiath Ayurvedic Hospital, who is my mother's physician, invited me one day, to go to Puttaparthi with him. Impressed by the sincerity of his words I accompanied him to Puthaparthi. It was my good luck that I reached there when Prasanthi Nilayam was gearing itself to celebrate the 84th birthday of Bhagawan Sai Baba. May be, the earlier opportunities slipped through my fingers, just to give me the bliss of this moment.

The first day after my arrival, I went to the Kulwant Hall and took my seat there to have the afternoon 'Darshan' of Baba. It was the annual 'Ladies’ Day' in Prasanthi Nilayam and all the functions and programmes of Prasanthi Nilayam are conducted exclusively by women on that day. Next day I went there again.

Prof. E. Mukundan, President of Kerala Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Dr. Venugopal and others led me to the front part of the Verandah of Prasanti Nilayam and helped me to take my seat there. Looking around, I saw a large number of elderly people, squatting on the floor, and I felt embarrassed to sit in a chair in front of them. I offered to squat too, but those affectionate souls did not permit me to do so.

Baba passed by, in front of me and cut the cake. My companion took me to His presence. I sat at His Feet and presenting to Him a red rose, I said slowly 'My name is Mohanlal. I come from Kerala. I am a film actor.' A broad smile appeared on Baba's face. I took His smile as a blessing and placed it on my head.

After meeting Baba, I was asked, by phone, by so many people, what my experience was. I cannot explain that, because, it was my first meeting with Baba; I was experiencing that coolness for the first time. That flower will grow into a spring in my coming lives. I wait for that patiently.

I went to Puttaparthi not to gain anything, not to ask for anything, but just to see a pure holy soul resting on a lofty pedestal, much higher than all. I saw Him. I saw the child like smile and eyes.

That vision continues to haunt me. Let it lead me hereafter. Let it support me when I fall.

(Originally Published in Mathrubhumi, Malayalam Daily, Kerala on 23rd Nov 2009, on the occasion of Bhagawan's 84th Year of Advent)

23rd Nov 2009

Sathya Sai Baba Birthday Photos & Update

<< 84^th Birthday page