More Photos of Easwaramma Day Celebrations at Brindavan 2006

Easwaramma Day is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Bhagawan's presence every year. It commemorates the day when the mother of Bhagawan's physical body attained final merger with the Divine at the end of a glorious earthly career as the mother of the Divine Universal Mother - Sai. This year Easwaramma Day was celebrated at Brindavan in a grand manner amidst programmes by the Bal Vikas children.”On the morning of 6th May, Bhagawan arrived in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall as the Bal Vikas children were singing bhajans. Swami was seated on the dais listening to the bhajans for close to an hour at the end of which He accepted Arati. Then, Bhagawan proceeded to inaugurate the Narayana Seva (feeding of poor people) that was arranged next to the Sai Krishan Kalyana Mantapam and blessed the hundreds who had gathered there to receive the Prasadam and clothes.

The afternoon session commenced at 4.05 p.m. with bhajans by the students of Bhagawan's educational institutions. Bhagawan then blessed Sri Sanjay Mahalingam, a Research Scholar in the Department of Management, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam to address the gathering. He began by quoting a few stanzas from 'Guru Ashtakam' composed by Adi Shankara that speaks of the ephemeral nature of the material world and the utter futility of not having one's mind fixed on the lotus feet of one's spiritual master. For, without this, one can never achieve lasting peace and bliss that one aspires for. Sri Mahalingam then quoted from one of Bhagawan's Guru Poornima discourses where He assured that having reached the lotus feet of the Guru, all one has to do is to remain silent and to keep at bay such tendencies that take one away from His lotus feet, and He will look after all their spiritual and material needs. Elaborating on the meaning of silence, he said that it is only when one is established in the Self that one can be truly silent. He further said that what takes one away from the Guru is the frustration arising from unfulfilled desires, and therefore it is of paramount importance to keep one's desires in check.

After the inspiring talk by Sri Mahalingam, Bhagawan graciously rose up to deliver His Divine Discourse. He began with a Telugu poem that expresses the fact that all that one brings with oneself when one enters the world is a garland, not of flowers or precious gems, but of the consequences of one's deeds of previous lives. Hence, one should always discriminate as to what is good and what is bad and make use of the senses in the right way. Only if the senses are utilized in a sacred manner can one be called a human. Cultivating Sathya (Truth) and Prema (Love) alone can aid in the elevation of the human consciousness. Bhagawan then mentioned that it was Mother Easwaramma's three small wishes that have now taken the shape of the magnificent super-speciality hospitals, the mammoth water supply projects and a university that have conferred immense benefits on millions. Then Swami said that it is the duty of every child to make his/her mother happy. Swami concluded His discourse with the Bhajan "Hari Bhajan Bina Sukh Shanti Nahin …"

Later that evening, the Bal Vikas children of Bangalore presented a drama entitled, “Bhaktha Sudama” which depicted Sakhya Bhakthi (the form of devotion where one adores the Lord as one’s dearest friend). Sudama was Krishna’s fellow student at their Guru Sandipani’s ashram. On one occasion, Sudama greedily partook a portion of food meant for Krishna while the latter was asleep. After the completion of their studies, the close friends go their separate ways, Krishna to ascend the throne of Dwaraka and Sudama to the life of a Vedic scholar. As a result of the sacrilege committed by Sudama in giving in to his greed, his life was one filled with poverty, with the children often having to go hungry. Sudama’s wife persuades him to approach his old friend Krishna to help him out of their miserable condition, but he is loathe to misuse his friendship with Krishna for mere material gains. Finally, when their situation becomes dire, he decides to pay a visit to Krishna. He has nothing to offer Krishna except a handful of beaten rice. When he meets Krishna, He welcomes him with great affection. Lost in the love showered by Krishna, Sudama forgets the purpose of his visit and does not mention his woes to Krishna. He remembers this only after he takes leave of Krishna to return home. But, when he returns, he finds to his astonishment that where his small hovel once stood, there was a magnificent mansion where his wife and children were residing in great luxury attired in the finest of clothes. It is only then that he understands the boundless love and affection of the Lord who, unasked, fulfils the needs of those who are devoted to Him.

At the end of the play, Bhagawan blessed the participants with photographs and accepted Arati before retiring to His Trayee Brindavan residence.