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"Keerthana-Narthana"
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| About 100-200 students from Swami's school and University have stayed
back in Prashanthi Nilayam to sanctify their vacations with the Lord. It is such an
inspiring and heartening thing to see these students brave the torrid heat and give
up the pleasures of a vacation to stay with Swami. And what do they do during the
vacation? They plan programmes to present before Swami! At an age when elsewhere the
youngsters fill their time seeing movies, roaming places and checking out the latest
fashions, these students dedicate their time for God! What greater miracle can one
ask for in this age of rampant materialism? But if you tell all this to those
students, they will flatly deny any "sacrifice" that is being attributed to them.
They will tell you about how it is such a blessing that they are getting this
opportunity to stay back with Swami. And that is because of the Love Swami showers
on them. Swami's "summer showers" always have something very special about them. Yesterday, Swami had seen the members of the dance group, all dressed and ready to dance for Him. Swami had told them to perform on the morrow as it was a Thursday. So, today, they were once again ready and awaiting His arrival in the bhajan hall. It looked as if Swami was eager to watch His children perform as He arrived at 4:10pm itself. Since, on an average, Swami comes out for Darshan at about 4:45pm, the hall was quite empty. As someone rightly said, "Swami is never early or late. He is always perfect. It is only we who are early or late!" Swami moved slowly and gently through the entire hall. Completing the darshan rounds, He moved towards the interview room. Seeing the students in the bhajan hall, Swami entered it. All the dancers in their costumes thronged around Him and many had letters with them. Swami began to collect their letters and spoke to a few of them. He asked them as to what the evening's performance was all about. Seeing the uniformity of their dresses, Swami asked them as to from where they got so many symmetrical dresses. He had with Him a vibhuti packet which He gave to the lead dancer who had trained all the boys and asked him, "How many days did you need?" Three days was the answer. Swami seemed happy and He promised them that He would definitely see their dance and then moved on stage via the veranda. The Veda chanting was on and Swami sat on stage listening to it. After a while, Swami moved to the interview room. on His way, He told the dancers in the bhajan hall to move out and take their positions and be ready. The marble block was cleared for the dancers. Soon, Swami arrived and asked for the programme to begin. There were two compares, one speaking in Telugu and the other in English. As the English one was speaking, "...thank you for this opportunity Swami...", Swami asked, "What did you say?" The boy repeated it and both, him and Swami, exchanged meaningful smiles. The first piece was of Swami chanting the poem, Khanda Khandantara, to which the boys moved and depicted gracefully. The poem was repeated twice and Swami seemed to ask as to why it was being repeated. The boys continued and Swami also began to lip the words of the poem when it was on for the second time. "Well dear Swami, that is the reason why it is being repeated," would definitely have been the reply in every dancer's mind for it was so beautiful to see Swami chant a few lines to which they were dancing. The poem ends with Swami addressing all the devotees reminding them of their duty. As that part came, Swami pointed towards all the devotees who had gathered. That was followed by 5 more pieces. Most of them were on Lord Rama and were composed and sung by the students themselves. There was a good variety and mix in the type of songs chosen and Swami was clearly happy. The themes of the songs were also so beautiful and different that everyone in the hall enjoyed the performance. As it concluded, all the dancers moved up to Swami. Swami called the lead dancer and asked him whethere they had eaten anything before coming. He replied in an affirmative and Swami smiled saying, "It would have all got digested by now." He seemed impressed by the fact that they had all prepared it in just three days. He also had a few comments on the wide and flowing dhoties of one of the dancers and He was assured that it would be rectified the next time. It is so wonderful to see Swami's attention to detail and His overflowing love on the children and so it is little surprise that many of them decide to "sacrifice" their vacation and stay with Him. The word "sacrifice" is so quoted because the students staying back feel that in reality they have made no sacrifice and that they are staying back because they are getting what they want! The lead dancer asked Swami for a group photo. Swami replied," All are the same old dancers. Why photo again?" He had nothing to reply and just went back to his place. Then Swami smiled and said, "Make a parting and sit as two groups. I will come in the centre." Wow! How beautiful that was! Swami slowly moved down and posed with photos with his dear children. Then, as bhajans began, Swami moved into the interview room. After a while, He came out again and sat listening to the bhajans. Three more bhajans later, He received Aarthi and left. |
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