Onam
Celebrations
"Krishna Kripa
Sagaram", Dance Drama
August 25, 2007 & Music Programme
August 26, 2007
Onam updates from Puttaparthi: ".The moment Swami entered the verandah,
one elderly devotee, aged about 75,... ...collapsed on the floor no
one knew what was going on or what would happen except Swami..." read more
Click on pic thumbs to enlarge -
source: sssbpt.org
As always, this year too,
the festival of Onam was celebrated with grandeur and
gaiety at Prasanthi Nilayam in the Divine Presence of
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. This sacred festival marks
the occasion when the mighty Emperor Bali performed the
supreme act of surrender to Lord Vamana, the Avatar
(incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. The legend goes that Lord
Vamana, disguised as a little Brahmin, asked Bali for
just three paces of land. But soon He assumed a gigantic
size, and with His first two paces covered the earth and
the heavens and asked Bali for the third step. And Bali,
who would never go back on his word, offered his own
head for the Lord to place His Feet on, and thus
attained liberation. However, he prayed to Vamana for
one last boon – once every year Emperor Bali wished to
see his beloved subjects. This day, when Emperor
Mahabali comes to visit his people, is celebrated as
Onam by the people of Kerala. The celebrations commenced
on 25th evening with a drama by the Balvikas students
from Calicut entitled ‘Krishna Kripa’. The drama
eulogized the love and compassion of Lord Sri Krishna
for His childhood friend Sudhama. After having lived a
life of abject poverty, when Sudhama goes to meet
Krishna to seek His favour, he is so overwhelmed by the
Divine love that he forgets the very purpose of his
visit. But when Sudhama returns home, he sees a grand
palace in place of his humble hut, and his wife and
children are dressed in regal attire. Then he realises
that his beloved friend Sri Krishna had fulfilled his
wishes unasked. At the end of the drama, Bhagawan
materialized a gold chain for the student who played the
role of Sudhama and granted photos to all the
participants. Thereafter, there were Bhajans by the
youth of Kerala. Bhagawan retired to His residence at
5.15 p.m. .
Music Programme
August 26, 2007
Click on pic thumbs to enlarge -
source: sssbpt.org
On 26th
evening, there was a rendition of devotional songs by
the famous Malayali playback singer Smt. Ambili. She had
the audience immersed in her music for close to half an
hour with many popular songs like “Yenna Tavam
Seidhanai”, “Bho Shambho”. Following this, there was a
Carnatic vocal recital by Sri Ranganath Sharma. Bhagawan
then continued the musical treat by asking Shri
Veerabhadraiah, a telugu professor in the Sri Sathya Sai
university to give a performance in the Veena.
"Saint Tyagaraja ", Skit by Sri
Sai Vidya Vihar, Aluva
August 27, 2007
On the
morning of 27th, Bhagawan arrived in Sai Kulwant Hall at
8.30 a.m. and granted Darshan to the eager multitudes.
Thereafter there were Bhajans and Arati. In the evening,
the students of Sri Sai Vidya Vihar, Alwaye presented a
drama on the life of saint composer Sri Thyagaraja. The
main theme of the presentation was that allegiance to
the Divine is our highest duty. While Thayagaraja’s
elder brother urged to him to use his musical talents to
win riches and fame and the patronage of the ruler of
Tanjore, he spurns all these as being a travesty of his
devotion to Lord Rama. The enraged brother takes away
the idol of Lord Rama that Thyagaraja had installed and
worshipped at his home, and throws it into the waters of
the River Kaveri. Thyagaraja is plunged into agony at
this separation from the Lord. In answer to his ardent
prayers, Lord Rama reveals to him the location of the
idol. Thyagaraja joyfully retrieves the idol and breaks
ecstatically into song, “Kanugontini Shri Ramuni Nedu”
(I have found Shri Rama today!) in Bilahari Ragam.
Having chosen the saintly life, he becomes dependent on
the Lord for his daily bread even having to go hungry on
some days. On one such day, three pilgrims come
visiting, two brothers accompanied by their servant.
Custom dictated that Thyagaraja offer his hospitality to
these pilgrims, but with not even a morsel to feed his
own family how could he honour his guests. He confesses
this helplessly to his guests, but they comfort him
saying that they had brought their own food. The servant
serves them all a sumptuous meal. After the guests
leave, Thyagaraja is filled with gratitude to Lord Rama.
Even as he prays in front of the idol, it is revealed to
him that the guests who had visited him that day were
none other than Lord Rama, his brother Lakshmana and
Lord Hanuman come to remove the suffering of his family.
Thus his every need was taken care of by Lord Rama
Himself as Thyagaraja had completely surrendered himself
to Him. His life of devotion is crowned by merger with
the Lord at the end of his earthly sojourn. The drama,
interspersed with many soulful songs composed by
Thyagaraja, was a veritable treat to music lovers. The
dialogues, costumes and acting were excellent. The drama
highlighted not only the musical genius of Thyagaraja,
but also his intense and steadfast devotion to Lord
Rama. At the end of the drama, Bhagawan granted
photographs and distributed clothes to all the
participants. This was followed by Bhajans by Balvikas
students from Kerala.
28th evening
witnessed a musical presentation based on two incidents from
the Shiva Purana (collection of mythological stories related
to Lord Shiva) by the students of Balvikas from Wayanad,
entitled ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. The first one was the story of
Markandeya who was destined to die at the age of sixteen but
by the virtue of his devotion changed his fate and became
immortal. The second episode depicted the vanquishing of
Daksha. The presentation was characterized by well
choreographed dances, pleasing music and colourful costumes.
The day’s programme concluded with Bhajans and Arati.