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Bhagawan Sri Krishna, who came out to help a wailing Draupadi at a time when her modesty was at stake, wanted to prove yet again that He was with the Pandavas. In a pre-planned game Duryodhana sent Sage Durvasa along with his disciples to the hermitage of the Pandavas asking for food. Pandavas had no option that to call out their eternal friend Krishna.

When Durvasa arrived that day, there was no food left to serve him, and the Pandavas were very anxious as to their fate should they fail to feed such a venerable sage. While Durvasa and his disciples were away bathing at the river, Draupadi prayed to Lord Krishna for help. Krishna immediately appeared before Draupadi saying he was extremely hungry, and asked her for food. Draupadi grew exasperated and said she had prayed to Krishna precisely because she had no food left to give. Krishna then told her to bring the Akshaya Patra to Him. When she did, He partook of the lone grain of rice and piece of vegetable that He found stuck to the vessel and announced that He was satisfied by the "meal". This satiated the hunger of Durvasa and his disciples, as the satisfaction of Krishna.

When the Kauravas failed to stick to Bhagawan Krishna’s plans for an amicable settlement to the property issue, war became imminent and the entire Kaurava clan was annihilated in the epic battle followed as a consequence.

Bhima’s exuberant exhibition of satisfaction at the killing of Dussasana, a revenge he had taken upon when Panchali’s modesty was threatened, was depicted well, a lesson to the traitors of modesty of woman for all time.

Ashwathama who in an irrepressible act of revenge killed the entire progeny of the Pandavas, wiping off the entire clan save the Pancha Pandavas, was let off at the mercy and wise counseling of Panchali, who advocated that killing would not serve the purpose.
 

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Finally, when Krishna having finished in earthly mission, vanished from the physical plane, Pandavas understood the folly of a life without Krishna and started their final journey…and on the way, Panchali dropped herself down…

It was a fine portrayal of the crowning glory of Indian womanhood, organized by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.


Panchali was at her best with natural emotional acting and Bhagawan sat through the entire session of more than ninety minutes watching the epic, re-enacted in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Immensely pleased with the performance, Bhagawan materialized a chain for the girl who enacted the role of Panchali. Coming down the aisle, Bhagawan posed for photographs. Each and every participant, numbering sixty were called on to the dais to receive special gift from Bhagawan.

Earlier, Bhagawan came into the Sai Kulwant Hall just before five for a complete round culminating at the dais. It was a marathon sitting for the Lord, for more than two hours, feasting thousands of eyes.

The first programme for the evening was a Musical Offering by the Greek Choir. …And the splendorous evening was made into a musical delight by the magical tunes weaved by Christos Kotsmonis, a professional playing the traditional Buzuki for over forty five years.
 

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As he tuned his music on the instrument accompanied by two guitarists, the chorus sang in praise of greater heaven. They had three songs for the evening, Intelligible Sun of Justice by Odysseus Elytis, Around the islands of Aegean Sea, Joy to the Eyes that Cry for Someone Else in Pain and finally the famous “Tuu Pyaar Ka Saagar Hey…”, a composition by Sathya Sai Students.

Buzuki is a long-necked plucked lute of Greece, resembling mandolin. The buzuki has a round wooden body, with metal strings arranged in three or four double courses over a fretted fingerboard. The musician plucks the strings over the sound hole with a plectrum held in the right hand, while pressing on the strings on the fingerboard with the fingers of the left hand. It is also played in a variety of musical genres throughout the world, including jazz, bluegrass, rock and folk music.

This was followed by a European Choir conducted by Alma Badings, from The Netherlands, a familiar face in Prasanthi during the Christmas season.
 

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The little girl in the group was exceptionally good in the dance and was fortunate to be blessed by Swami with a golden chain.
Later it was the turn of Indonesia, Fiji and Thailand sai school children. The masterpiece of this morning's programme was the dance by the children from South Africa. The whole atmosphere in the hall changed when the music was played. The Zulu dance had a very fast beat where in brother Karthigesan played the drums. The song seemed bit FASTER for Puttaparthi standards, but the dance was celestial. The dress in particular was so neat and the children danced with lot of confidence and devotion. These are the children who come from Malagazi ( a poor area dominated by blacks) near Isipingo, Durban. These are the children who, without Swami's grace would not have heard or seen Swami.. They are the ones who were handpicked for their intense devotion to Swami and regular attendance to Bal Vikas sessions conducted on Sundays. Financially they are very poor but spiritually
they are the richest that they made it to the Abode of our beloved Lord. Words of praise are also due to Mrs. Michelle Singh (malagazi center) for the intense training and also Mrs. Manormani Govender (phoenix center) for co-ordinating dance movements and brother Kriss of serendipity. The songs chosen were a bit disco type reminding the Hindi movie songs of Bappilahari in late 80s. but there was so much of devotion and love in those children and Swami enjoyed the dance to His heart content.

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South Africa is such a country which has maximum number of Sai Devotees out side India and the kind of EHV teachers the country has is world-class and there are four Sai Schools giving quality education to the children of this beautiful country.
There are thousands of devotees who come to Parthi every year, but never they had any programme in Swami's presence and let us hope this will be a new beginning for more activities from SA.
A brother once shared an incident that happened in late 90s. Swami came walking towards a big group from South Africa and asked His most FAMOUS question WHERE ARE YOU FROM? in no time the reply came South Africa and Swami with a smile asked but where are the Africans? 99% of South Africans who come to Swami are all of Indian Origin and Swami's wish to see the AFRICANS was fructified today with the presence of those 12 little sweet children.
After the programme, Swami came down the stage and spend more than 30 minutes with the children giving them gifts, padanamaskar and speaking to them so lovingly..and very sure, those momentous moments with our Lord will be cherished by those CHOSEN ones, and who knows, they might be the leaders of tomorrow, whom Swami decided to appoint..
The morning programme came to end just after 11 and it was one of the most beautiful SAI mornings, a sweet morning with our Lord, by our Lord..
AFTER NOON DARSHAN..
In the morning Prof. Anil Kumar announced that there would be a drama in telugu titled "Draupati Charitra". Swami blessed the august gathering with His divine darshan while the primary school bagpiper band took the lead. Little girls from Swami's primary school were standing with lamps on either side of Swami's path welcoming our Lord..

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There was a choir by devotees from Greece and later it was the turn of Draupati Charitra drama.. Excellently done and written. It was performed by devotees (mostly children) of Andhra Pradesh. Draupati is the wife of five Pandavas and the drama depicted as how she ended up being the wife of five Pandavas. When you think of Draupati the first tragic incident that comes to our mind is the Draupati Vastraparanam. King Dharma Raju had this weak ness of gambling. In the gamble with Duryodhana and Dusasana, he promises to give away Draupati if he loses the gamble. Shakuni, the mastermind behind the Kauravas makes sure King Dharma Raju loses.
When it happens, Dussasana catch holds of Draupati's saree and tries to handle her physically by pulling her saree. Then Draupati cries and prays loudly to Lord Krishna and then Lord Krishna enters the scene and as Dussasana removes her saree, Lord Krishna with His power sends more saree and at the end Dussasana gets tired pulling the never ending sarees and Draupati thanks Krishna for saving her..

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This particular scene is very well known and in hundreds of mythological movies in different languages, depending on the creativity and skill of the director this particular scene of Krishna sending unlimited sarees with His hand was perfectly shown. It was very interesting to see how this will be shown in Sai Kulwanth hall and if you have to believe me, this scene was THE BEST surpassing all the technology that is used in cinemas. Just before this scene happens, the way Draupati acted to save herself from the evil men was so touching. The dialogue delivery brought tears in every one and some where in the heart, there was some pain as how cruel the Kauravas were to insult a woman in front of her husbands and other ministers of the kingdom.
Back to the drama.. As the sentimental scene was in progress The Krishna character very quickly climbed over the iron rods and was ready for the scene to come. There was one more man just below the Krishna Character with sarees nicely folded so that it fits the area between Krishna's index finger and the thumb. Below in the drama, suddenly the lights in Sai Kulwanth hall go off except the lights in the dias and there were some special effect lights placed on the characters and then the saree episode starts. There was a very tiny string in Dussasana's hands and as he pulled it hard, the man sitting below Krishna made sure the sarees went within the small space between His fingers and Draupati was in between them... Every one clapped in excitement as Krishna seated on the top send all the sarees to save Draupati.. It was a very well done drama and first of its kind SPECIAL EFFECTS and our Lord Sai Krishna couldn't stop appreciating this particular scene and not to forget the heart breaking acting of the girl who did the Draupati role. Swami called her and blessed her with a golden chain and it was the second materialisation of the day..

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Swami, like in the morning came down the stage to take group photos with the children and it was so nice to see Swami spending so much time with the children..
Puttaparthi is all geared up for the Birthday celebrations.. The birthday crowd is still expected. Surprisingly there are so many police men in the whole Puttaparthi. In the ashram every feet you will find Policemen with AK 47s. Many devotees were saying why so much security.. but the Police have their own reasons..
Let us all pray that the whole event goes on peacefully. Hope unlike last year, every one will have chance to get into the ashram to see our Lord and wish Him happy birthday..
With Pranams at the lotus feet of our beloved Lord... submitted to SBOI-Group