December 23, 2009 – 5th Anniversary of the University Dance Group

The previous day, Swami had blessed the dancers from the Institute and told them to perform on Thursday. But Thursday was Christmas eve and the international delegates had their programme scheduled for that day. So, the news arrived on December 22nd night that Swami had told them to perform on Wednesday!

The way the Lord works is mysterious and every action has an inner meaning. Even as Swami had asked them whether they would perform on Thursday, they knew that it would be clashing with the Christmas eve programme. And then, they passed the test as they said, "We will put up the dance whenever Swami says." It reminds one of the anecdote from the Mahabharatha wherein Lord Krishna looks at a dove in the sky and calls it an eagle and Arjuna replies, "It is an eagle if you say so Lord!" Whatever the Lord speaks is the truth and whatever He does is righteousness for He is the Director of the Universal drama and everything is in His control!

The Veda chanting concluded at 5:00 p.m. and it was almost after 5:30 p.m. that Swami arrived for darshan. He blessed many children seated along the front lines in the ladies' side with Vibhuti packets. Reaching the centre, Swami had a look at the well designed backdrop.

Completing the darshan round on the gents' side, Swami moved straight into the Bhajan Hall where all the dancers waited ready in their costumes. After interacting with them and asking them about the dances they were going to perform, Swami moved out of the hall to the stage. On the way, He called for Prof. Anil Kumar and gave him instructions on an announcement that He wanted to be made.

As commanded, the announcement was made the gist of which is recorded below:

The start of the festive Christmas season, where merriment abounds, is going to be through a series of dances in glory of the Father of Christ - Sathya Sai! The dances you are going to witness are from the Post Graduate students of the Prashanti Nilayam campus. They will be based on the theme of Love for God, Fear of Sin and Morality in Society.

The names of the dancers were then read out one by one as they came forward, prostrated to Him and took their positions. Swami blessed them to begin and with a short introduction, the programme got started.

Entitled “Sathya Vaani – Nrithya Baani”, the programme had picks from rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Bharat. Dancing with dexterity, sense of devotion, and with a touch of aesthetics the students performed to the compositions of Bhakta Jayadeva and Bhakta Ramdas. Starting with a Vishnu Stuthi after Ganesha Vandana, through Shuklambaradharam Vishnum, sailing through the Dasavathara Stuthi and depicting the crux of the stories from the ten Avatars to the backing track of the legendary MS Subbulakshmi, the boys won Swami's heart. Few more songs and dances later, the programme concluded. The dance group of the students thus celebrated their 5th year anniversary of formation with a loving offering to the Lord.

The final dance featured the boys holding battery operated lamps and making a final formation. Swami said that He would move down the stage and pose with the students for photographs. Swami was all smiles as He sat with them. He told them that they did very well and He was very happy. Moving back to the stage, Swami called one or two boys and He spoke to them. He then immediately asked for the aarthi. After that, He raised His hands in loving blessings to everyone gathered and began to return to Yajur Mandir.

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