lete Birthday week news read below
18th Nov. 2007 - 23rd Nov. 2007
Ratotsavam (18th November 2007)
Photos: Rathoutsavam
Bharat has a rich tradition of
Chariot Festivals with religious fanfare and piety and famous among them is
the one that happens in the temple city of Jagannadh Puri in Orissa. Prasanthi
Nilayam, the holy abode of God in physical has its own version of Chariot
Festival that happens every year on the 18th of November, virtually kick
starting the Birthday celebrations of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The traditional
Ratotsavam (chariot festival) that has
been a regular fixture in the Prasanthi Festive Calendar over the years during
the Birthday Celebrations was held on the 18th November with piety and
religious fervour coupled with much deserved pomp and ceremony marking the
beginning of a weeklong festivity celebrating 82nd year of His Divine Advent,
His illustrious sojourn on earth.
Two palanquins decorated
aesthetically befitting the occasion carrying the idols of Lord Sri Rama, Lord
Sri Krishna, Mother Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman were taken out in a procession
from the Bhajan Hall in the Mandir to the Peddavenkama Raju Kalyana Mandapam,
as has been the custom over the years. Bhagawan’s little pet elephant lead the
procession followed by Nadaswaram,
Veda chanting and Bhajan singing groups from the University and schools.
Adding on to the hype, fanfare and devotional enthusiasm of thousands
congregated in Sai Kulwant Hall and on the road leading to the
Kalyanamandapam, Bhagawan came out to
the Gopuram Entrance ceremoniously blessing the occasion of mounting the Idols
on to the chariot. Bhagawan returned to Sai Kulwant Hall after receiving
Mangala Arathi and blessing the procession to commence.
Ladies’ Day (19th November 2007)
Mother Easwaramma’s greater virtues have often been found getting the
much-deserved mention in Bhagawan’s Divine Discourses that serve as benchmark
for the women folk around the world in setting their life in the Ideal path.
International Ladies’ Day that has been a regular feature in Prasanthi Nilayam
ever since its inception in the year 1995 was celebrated on the 19th November
in the Divine Presence. Ensuring the grandeur of the occasion, the venue, Sai
Kulwant Hall was aesthetically decorated that had an array of hues of
decorations ranging from multi-coloured parasols to multilayered floral
arches, from buntings to festoons to lighted candles giving the resplendent
look of Heaven on Earth.
Bhagawan was accorded a grand
traditional welcome by Veda Chanting girl students,
Nadaswaram band from Anantapur Campus
and Scottish Bagpiper Group from Sri Sathya Sai Primary and Higher Secondary
School – Girls Wing.
‘GO’ which denotes cow in
Sanskrit, occupies a very important place in Hindu mythology. It is believed
that all the Gods and Goddesses occupy different parts of
Gomata and with that belief
Gomata is worshipped all over India
during various auspicious occasions. The morning of 19th November saw a
function organized by Easwaramma Women Welfare Trust founded with an objective
of women empowerment giving away cows in charity to selected village women
folk. Bhagawan most magnanimously came down the aisle to the middle of Sai
Kulwant Hall to bless the recipients on the coveted occasion. Fifty cows and
fourteen calves were given on charity on the occasion. Earlier, before the
function Bhagawan came on to the dais to light the lamp officially marking the
beginning of the day’s activities. Morning session had a bouquet of melodious
bhajans by women devotees which was followed by prasadam distribution.
The evening session became
virtually a resplendent twilight musical and dance extravaganza with
celebrated carnatic singer Nithyasree Mahadevan enthralling the audience
followed by a dazzling musical drama presentation titled SAI LEELA based on
the life story of Bhagawan by children from Sri Sathya Sai Primary School,
Prasanthi Nilayam. Immensely pleased with the stupendous display and devotion
of the tiny tots Bhagawan came down the aisle to pose for a group photo
session.
Earlier before the commencement of the cultural programmes, two senior
speakers addressed the gathering sharing their thought with the audience. The
first speaker, Dr. (Mrs.) Hymavathi Reddy chose to speak about the
unfathomable love of Bhagawan. Asserting her faith in Bhagawan’s Motherly
love, she narrated a beautiful experience of her own as to how Bhagawan cured
her illness by a mere glance and attention that had happened way back in 1984.
Dr. (Mrs.) Reddy urged the audience to resolve to expand their love and make
our life His Message.
The second speaker was Mrs.
Sowcar Janaki, well known veteran film actor from South India. With a speech
with modesty, rich practical experience and conviction, Mrs. Sowcar Janaki
gave an engrossing rhetoric stressing yet again her unflinching devotion to
Bhagawan, her only God. Make use of the golden opportunity at being in His
Institution and become instruments…come out with flying colours and get
certified by Bhagawan as 24-carat gold. Empowerment and freedom of a girl
does not mean that she is certified to do anything…freedom means greater
responsibility…answerable to God…to our consciousness…concluded the veteran
speaker receiving loud applause from one and all.
An all India Workshop on
Parenting was inaugurated by Bhagawan on the 20th morning. The conference will
be attended by Balvikas coordinators from different states. In the evening
the stage was set for a musical offering by Gazal Singer of fame, Pankaj Udhas.
Taking cue from Bhagawan’s message that youth should not resort to move out of
the country with fancied interest and instead should stay back to serve the
Mother Land, the singer broke out with his well known music piece,
Chitti Aayee Hei…to the delight of one
and all. Charismatic voice coupled with devotional fervour rendered the air
in the twilight with Nada Brahma Himself accepting the offering. It was indeed
heavenly! Apart from the hit song the Gazal artiste came out with some of the
best compositions including a Sufi poem compeering intermittently giving
details about the songs. This was followed by a
Jhugalbandhi by the accompanying
artistes in the evening.
The evening session was one
with an enthralling music session by Sri T.M. Krishna, one of the leading
voices in the field of carnatic music. Hailing from a family of music
connoisseurs, this young artist exhibited great talent enthralling the
audience with rich musical offering coupled with resonant and mellifluous
voice with strict adherence to classicism. Immensely pleased with the offering
Bhagawan spent quiet sometime with the artistes and three of them were blessed
with materialized rings apart from shawls and coveted photo session for the
entire group. The dazzling performance was followed another mellifluous
carnatic recital by His students that sent continuous raptures from the
audience to the delight of one and all.
20th & 21st Nov.:
Music
concert by renowned vocalist Sri Pankaj Udhas & Workshop on
Parenting
Annaual Convocation (22nd November
2007)
22nd November is a very
special day in Prasanthi Nilayam as this day has a date with something unique
in the field of moral and spiritual education. The epoch making Sathya Sai
University, that moulds youth of character as future ambassadors of the
country and for the world in general holds its annual convocation, the passing
out parade for the graduates of the year on this day every year, on the eve of
Bhagawan ‘s Divine ‘Birthday’.
The 26th Annual Convocation of
Sri Sathya Sai University was held on the 22nd November 2007, in a glittering
ceremony that had its grandeur, richly deserved for the yeomen service it has
been rendering in the field of education for a quarter century. This
prestigious institution that is undoubtedly the one of its kind that has won
attention and accolades for simple reason that it promotes value education
with spiritual orientation helping in engendering students whom Bhagawan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba prefers to address as future ambassadors, has thousands of
such students in its alumni list who are engaged in relentless service
activities in different part of the world, following the invaluable inputs
that they received before leaving the portals of this great institution.
Sri Sathya Sai University,
formerly Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning was instituted in the
year 1981 to provide value based education, absolutely free of cost and has
the unique distinction of being one of the very few institutions that impart
emphasis on total value based education. Besides education, the students are
taught human values, morality and spirituality with the five cardinal human
values of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa being the backbone of all
teachings. The Institution has three campuses, a Women's Campus in Anantapur
set up in the year 1968, Men's Campus at Brindavan in Whitefield, Bangalore
set up in 1969 and the Men's Campus at Prasanthi Nilayam set up in 1981. This
institution has the unique distinction of being accorded Double Plus Level
Higher Rating (Highest Grade) certification by the National Accreditation and
Assessment Council.
The Chancellor of the
University, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was ceremonially led to the venue,
Sai Kulwant Hall in a grand procession by the Institute Band, from Anantapur
Campus for Women and Prasanthi Nilayam Campus for Men, followed by group of
boys chanting Vedam, followed by the academic council members. The Convocation
stage was set on the dais in Sai Kulwant Hall that was decorated to perfection
suiting the occasion.
After Bhagawan declared the
Convocation open, the Vice Chancellor Mr. Anil Gokak welcoming one and all to
the Convocation gave a brief narration of the progress achieved by the
University during the past one year. Referring to the dismal system of
education in the country, he said: the universities in India have ceased to be
centres of learning and lost their strings of creativity and innovativeness…in
the midst of all these ruins Sri Sathya Sai University stands out like an
oasis, an island of excellence and a beacon of light. Students of this
University are not merely aspirants of professional degrees to acquire
professional skills, but also pilgrims of eternity in quest of Truth. While
congratulating the graduates of the year his advice to the students were to
leave the portals of the university with the blessings of the Divine
Chancellor as ambassadors of love and peace and radiate the light of the
spiritual lighthouse and be the harbingers of a golden age to come…
After the gold medals and
doctors of philosophy were conferred to the qualified students Vice Chancellor
read out the pledge to the student to repeat after him.
The stage was set for the
Divine Benedictory Address. Referring to the business oriented education in
the world outside, Bhagawan drew the attention onto the free education that
the University is imparting. If the educated one lives an ordinary mortal
life what is the use of education? asked Bhagawan while stressing on the
greater significance of leading a life based on the five human values. True
form of education lies in acquiring the fundamental principle of five human
values. Ending His Divine Discourse Bhagawan exhorted the boys to continue to
earn good name and make their parents happy which would in turn make Bhagawan
happy. At His Divine instance brief talks by Dr. Michael Goldstein and Hon’ble
Justice (Retd.) P.N. Bhagawati preceded the retreat of convocation procession.
A wonderful drama presentation
by the students of the University titled
Hridaya Vani that had a clear message for the youth of the day to have
faith, devotion and dedication and serve the Lord and thus the humanity in
general was the highlight of the extended twilight session in the
Poornachandra Auditiorium. A touching presentation laced with dance and music
that would definitely carry a message home for one and all…follow your heart.
Divine Birthday (23rd November 2007)
23rd November, the day
destined and privileged to rejoice His Advent broke out on the eastern horizon
with Prasanthi Nilayam bubbling over with festive exuberance at the imminence
of the great event. The whole Prasanthi Nilayam wore a festive look with
lighting, flowers and festoons compounded to decorate every possible area
projecting the greatness of the occasion. Bhagawan who arrived at around 9:00
was ceremoniously led in a procession by the regular paraphernalia comprising
of bands from Primary School, both boys and girls, bands from Anantapur campus
and Prasanthi Nilayam campus of the university, group of Veda chanting boys,
the Ndaswaram troupe of the University, a bedecked little pet elephant…a regal
procession in style and essence...man’s humble effort in reciprocating to the
Greater Heaven’s Greatest Boon…His Divine Advent!
Famous Carnatic music duo
Malladi Rama Prasad and Malladi Ravikumar, popularly known as Malladi Brothers
took the centre stage of the morning proceedings along with their father and
accompanying artistes. But, the most highlighting part of this year’s Birthday
celebrations was the reinstatement of the anointment ceremony that used to be
a part of birthday celebrations in early years, especially during the times of
Mother Easwaramma. Six distinguished couples were specially chosen for this
ceremony and the couple, came on stage one after one anointed Bhagawan’s head
with flowers dipped in scented oil while Veda was being chanted in the
background with Prof. Anil Kumar compeering the show introducing the couple to
the public and explaining the significance of the occasion. Malladi brothers
continued their recital. It was a quality concert with warmth in their music
and enthusiasm in their presentation while their devotion to Lord was to the
fore.
The evening session was turned
to another twilight music session under the lights and yet again it was
Malladi Brothers who got the Divine consent to perform. They sang with much
vigour and enthusiasm raising the tempo to match with the expectant devoted
hearts filled the entire Sai Kulwant Hall and outside the premises. Then, the
stage was set for the singer who vowed over lakhs and lakhs all across the
land, the Colonial Cousine fame Hariharan. Hariharan seemed to have started
from where he had stopped during his concert on Ashadi Ekadashi evening in the
Divine Presence. …Coming out with variety of devotional pieces, the singer
created the right ambience for a grand finale for the 82nd Birthday
celebrations. Janani Maa…Sai Janani Maa was again sung that had a rapturous
following by the capacity crowd of devotees in the Hall, setting a high tempo
of devotional fervour and enthusiasm. The artistes were blessed with coveted
photo session with Bhagawan and the curtain was drawn for the 82nd Birthday
celebrations with Bhagawan accepting Arathi and returning to Yajur Mandiram.
Sai Baba Birthday News
+ latest photos
Nov. 23, 2007:
" On this auspicious occasion of Divine birthday ( 82nd) our beloved Bhagawan
Sri Sathya Sai Baba came out of Yajur mandir at appx 9.25 a.m. Swami was in His usual orange
robe" read more
