The states of Punjab, Haryana and Jammu-Kashmir presented their cultural programme today. Bhagavan came for darshan just before half-past five this evening. The programme commenced at 5.45 with an introduction by the State President of Punjab. A dance to a sufi song was followed by a Bhangra dance. Smt. Kailash Mehra Sadhu of J&K then presented some devotional songs. Bhagavan then asked the students to sing a couple of bhajans with alap before Arati at seven o'clock. Swami then moved down from the stage to give clothes and group photos to the participants. Accepting Arati once again at 7.10 pm, He returned to His residence.
The Balvikas children from Sikkim were to make a presentation this evening. Bhagavan emerged from His residence at half-past five and after His twenty-minute darshan round, came onstage to begin the programme. Commencing with vedic chants, the programme of colourful dances went on for forty minutes. Swami blessed the choreographer with a chain and went down for group photos with the children. At seven o'clock, Bhagavan accepted Arati and returned to His residence.
This morning, Bhagavan came for darshan just after half-past ten. After an extended bhajan session, it was 11.50 when He returned to His residence. In the evening, darshan was in the car once again, due to a drizzle. The students of the Music college here were ready with a musical presentation as instructed by Swami yesterday. Once Bhagavan came onstage, they began their performance at five o'clock. After half an hour of Carnatic and Hindustani vocals, Swami asked Sri Ajit Popat from the UK to give a speech. As his half-hour speech concluded, Swami blessed him with a ring before accepting Arati. While returning to His residence, Swami once again came into the bhajan hall for a short while.
This morning, Bhagavan came for morning darshan at 10.20 am. After a short while onstage, He moved to the verandah and then to the bhajan hall, where He gave instructions about the idols used in the Alwar festival with the Ganesha idol among them moving into the Mandir altar. During today's evening darshan also, Bhagavan came into the bhajan hall to inspect the idol in the altar. Evening darshan was in the car since it was raining, and Arati was just before half-past six. Prasadam was distributed to all.
This evening, Bhagavan emerged from His residence at 5.45 pm and moved straight to the interview room. When He came out after a few minutes, He moved through the bhajan hall to the stage and sent word for the group of housing beneficiaries from Orissa to be seated separately. Once they were ready on the ladies' side, Swami moved down in His chair to go among them, giving them sarees one by one. He continued with the gifts of grace to the men also, giving them dhoties. Swami came onstage after the distribution and Arati was offered at ten to seven.
Bhagavan emerged from His residence at a quarter past eight this morning and moving to the verandah in the car, went into the interview room. He asked for the Malladi brothers to be ready for a concert onstage, and arrangements were made for the programme. Emerging from the interview room at nine o'clock, Swami first felicitated the artistes with shawls and their accompanists with clothes before asking them to begin their musical presentation. An hour and fifteen minutes of Carnatic vocals concluded with Arati just before half-past ten as prasadam was distributed. Swami moved to the interview room briefly before returning to Yajur Mandir.
In the evening, Bhagavan came for darshan at ten to five as the Vedic chants went on. Half an hour later, as He came onstage, the artiste for the evening commenced his presentation. Whistle Wizard Sri Siva Prasad from Guntur presented Carnatic music by whistling for more than an hour. Swami blessed him with a chain and gave clothes to his accompanists, following which they performed two more songs before Arati at a quarter to seven. Chess champion Vishwanathan Anand was also among the congregation this evening.
Bhagavan arrived in Sai Kulwant hall this Gurupoornima evening clad in a maroon robe just before half-past four. The hall vibrated with the sounds of the Panchavadyam and Nadaswaram troupes as well as the singing of Stotrams by the students and Bhagavan moved on His darshan round. Blessing the cakes arrayed on the verandah, Swami came onstage as the students' singing concluded with a Quawwali. A 90-minute Carnatic vocal concert by the Malladi brothers followed. After Arati at half-past six, Swami blessed the Malladi brothers, their accompanists and family members onstage for ten minutes. He then moved slowly to the Poornachandra auditorium, interacting with many devotees on the way. At the Poornachandra, Bhagavan gave darshan from the stage to the gathering who could not be accommodated in Sai Kulwant hall, and then returned to His residence.
Balvikas children and youth from Tamil Nadu presented a drama this evening, "Sai Yugam Prema Yugam". Swami went on a drive to the Super Speciality Hospital at ten to four and returned an hour later to His residence. At 5.10 pm He emerged again from Yajur Mandir and after His darshan round, the drama began with an introductory speech by Sri T. G. Krishnamurthy. A video screen formed the backdrop for the colourful hour-long drama. Swami blessed one of the participants with a ring and granted group-photos to all. After Arati at ten to seven, Swami moved slowly towards His residence.
Devotees from 12 Latin American countries sang group songs here this evening. Bhagavan arrived for darshan at ten to six and arrived onstage twenty minutes later. The Vedam chanting went on for another ten minutes before Swami asked for the programme to begin. The hour-long session of music began with Vedic chants and ended with Arati at 7.20 pm. Prasadam was distributed to all before Bhagavan returned to His residence.
This evening, children from Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Mandir Dharmakshetra presented a drama on Samarth Ramdas. Bhagavan arrived for darshan just before half-past five. Twenty minutes later, He was onstage and the programme commenced. The fifty-minute drama was followed by distribution of clothes to the participants. Swami conveyed His appreciation to the organisers and blessed one of them with a ring. He asked for bhajans to commence just before seven, and after a couple of bhajans accepted Arati. He blessed the troupe with group photographs before returning to His residence in the car.
Last evening, the Varkaris or traditional pilgrims from Maharashtra were seated in the centre of Sai Kulwant hall. As the bhajans commenced at six o'clock, the heavens poured down rain. Swami made sure that the devotees would not get wet by asking those who were standing in the rain to move inside the hall. Before returning to His residence, He blessed prasadam for all.
This morning, Bhagavan entered the Sai Kulwant hall at 9.30 am to the strains of a song by the Maharashtra devotees about Veda Mata Gayatri. When Swami came onstage, the devotees from Maharashtra came up with a palanquin for blessings, and then began their drama on Mother Gayatri. After the programme, Swami sent clothes for the participants. After Arati, He went down from the stage for group photographs with them and prasadam was distributed to all. He then moved for one more round through the ladies' side, returning to the stage again to take Arati once more at 11.20 am before returning to His residence. Lunch was served free for all comers at the North Indian canteen by the Maharashtra devotees.
The evening presentation by the Maharashtra devotees was a dance ballet called Natya Veda. Bhagavan came to the hall in the car just before six o'clock as the rains continued at Prasanthi Nilayam. After the forty-five minute presentation, Bhagavan moved down for group photographs and came onstage. Prasadam was distributed and Bhagavan asked for the Arati at 7.20 pm.
This evening, Bhagavan moved to the Poornachandra auditorium just before five o'clock. Devotees from Maharashtra who were engaged in Medical seva all over the state with 29 mobile clinics were gathered there. Swami moved around the hall and inspected the Medical vans arrayed there. He sat for ten minutes while a short video was screened on the seva being done, with recipients sharing their joy and gratitude. Mr. Nimish Pandya gave a short speech expressing their gratitude for being instruments in Bhagavan's hands. Swami left for the Sai Kulwant hall at 5.30 pm after Arati, blessing the gathering of sevaks.
In the Sai Kulwant hall, over 200 beneficiaries of the artificial limb (the so-called Jaipur foot) seva done by the Maharashtra devotees were gathered. The Maharashtra devotees chanted vedam as Bhagavan moved among all of them. Two of the beneficiaries demonstrated walking with the Jaipur foot. At ten past six, Swami asked for the bhajans to begin. Half an hour later, He accepted Arati and returned to His residence.
This morning, the half-hour floral worship Pushpabhishekam began after the bhajans concluded at 9.40 am. In the evening, the Sai Kulwant hall was filled with more than a thousand couples who were ready for the Sri Sathya Sai Sathyanarayana Vratam Puja. The rituals began just before four o'clock and concluded in 45 minutes. The congregation then chanted the Sai Gayatri, waiting for darshan. Swami arrived at ten to six, led in procession by the Nadaswaram troupe and priests with royal paraphernalia. Moving all around the hall not once but twice, Swami blessed the gathering and then came onstage at a quarter past six.
The last part of the ritual worship consisted of the retelling of the story of Lord Sathyanarayana. Today, the story of Sri Sathya Sai was read out in English for half an hour. With the last few rituals being completed, Arati was offered just before seven o'clock. Prasadam of Kesari, Sweet rice, Tamarind rice and Bobbattu was distributed to all. Swami sat for a while onstage watching the distribution and moved to the interview room at 7.15 pm. Emerging after nearly half an hour, He moved to His residence at a quarter to eight.
The Sudarshana Homam began this morning in the centre of Sai Kulwant hall, with chants from the sacrificial pit commencing at a quarter to nine. Bhagavan arrived an hour later and spent a few minutes onstage after His round of the hall. Spending a few minutes in the interview room, Swami returned to the stage and then moved to the sacrificial altar in the centre of the hall at a quarter to eleven. The final offerings were then made with offerings blessed by Bhagavan and final Arati was offered a few minutes past eleven. Prasadam of Tamarind rice, sweet rice and curd rice was then distributed to all.
In the evening, Bhagavan emerged from His residence at 5.10 pm as the Vedic chants went on. After His darshan round, Swami sat onstage for a while and then asked for a bhajan with alap at a quarter to six. After that bhajan, the speaker for the evening, Sri Srikantha Rao, commenced. Concluding the narration of the stories of the Alwars, the Telugu talk went on till a quarter to seven. Bhagavan had moved to the interview room just before the talk concluded. Swami emerged in a short while and accepted Arati. As prasadam was distributed, Swami sat onstage till seven o'clock when He returned to His residence.
This morning's worship included Kalasa puja for the Sudarshana homam tomorrow. In the evening, Bhagavan arrived at 5.20 pm and after He came onstage, the ritual worship there was completed. The Vedic chanting went on till six o'clock when Swami indicated for the speeches of the day to commence. After an introduction by Sri Srikantha Rao, the speaker for the day, Dr. Lakshmanaiah, commenced his Telugu talk on three of the Alwars. When he concluded at seven o'clock, Swami had moved to the interview room. Bhagavan emerged after a few minutes, and after a few minutes of interaction in the bhajan hall, came onstage to accept Arati at a quarter past seven.
Bhagavan came for evening darshan by 4.25 pm this evening. He moved to the verandah after passing the centre of Sai Kulwant hall and went into the interview room to emerge an hour later. Once He came onstage, the speaker for the evening, Sri M. Mohan, was introduced. The scholarly speaker's hour-long Telugu exposition was on the three Alwars featured for this evening. Swami blessed him with a chain when he concluded, and accepted Arati at a quarter to seven.
The five-day Alwarula Bhakthi Samrajya Mahotsavam got underway at Prasanthi Nilayam today. Statues of the twelve Alwars and Lord Ranganatha were installed onstage in the Sai Kulwant hall and worshipped. The rituals began at 6.20 am and concluded before the Vedam chanting at 8 am. Bhajans were at 9 am as usual.
Bhagavan arrived for darshan at 5.10 pm. Moving up the central ramp to come onstage after His round of the hall, He waited for the priests to conclude their worship before moving to the interview room. Half an hour later, He came onstage and sat for a while as the Vedic chants went on. At five past six, the speaker for the day commenced. Sri N. Srikantha Rao from Bangalore spoke in Telugu for fifty minutes on the importance of Bhakthi which the Alwars epitomized. Three of the Alwars will be featured in talks over the next four days. Bhagavan accepted Arati at seven o'clock and returned to His residence after ten minutes, interacting with many on the way.
Today was the second day of programmes by the Russian-speaking devotees. Bhagavan gave darshan just before half-past five, and the drama for the evening entitled "Hallowed be Thy Name" got underway at six o'clock. The drama consisted of many songs about the Lord, and the group songs by the devotees continued even after the drama. Swami blessed one of the participants with a ring. The devotees sang songs of their respective regions as well as bhajans till Arati at seven o'clock. Bhagavan gave clothes to the participants and accepted Arati once more before moving to His residence twenty minutes later.
Devotees from Russian speaking countries have gathered at Prasanthi Nilayam, and this evening, they presented a musical programme in the gaily decorated Sai Kulwant hall. Bhagavan gave darshan at 5.20 pm, interacting with some of the ladies of the group and blessing them with Vibhuti on the way. Their presentation began at 5.40 pm with a procession of flag bearers in native costume marching up to the dais bearing the flags of the twelve countries participating in the programme. After singing choral songs for the first half an hour, the group started singing bhajans. On Swami's command, they sang a couple of songs again before shifting again to bhajans after Swami blessed one of the ladies with a chain. After accepting Arati, Bhagavan returned to His residence at seven o'clock, interacting with devotees on the way.
This morning, Bhagavan arrived for an extended darshan session at 10.10 am as the morning bhajans went on. Spending some time near the Primary School children during His round of the hall, Swami reached the stage at half-past ten. He sat there for an hour before accepting Arati. It was 11.45 am when He returned to His residence after some interactions on the verandah. In the evening, the American SSE children presented a drama "All our Relations" on a Native American theme. Swami came for darshan just before 5.30, and their fifty-minute programme began at ten to six. After a photo session with the children, Bhagavan came onstage and accepted Arati. Prasadam was distributed, and Swami asked the students to begin bhajans. Accepting Arati once again after a couple of bhajans, Bhagavan returned to His residence at a quarter-past seven, blessing a senior Native American devotee on the way.
The large group of devotees from the United States presented their Sathya Sai National Choir here today. Bhagavan came for evening darshan just after half-past four and moved to the interview room after a brief while onstage. Emerging half an hour later, He began their programme at 5.20 pm. 45 minutes of choir singing was followed by 45 minutes of bhajan singing by the devotees, during which Swami blessed one of the ladies with a chain. After Arati, Bhagavan moved to His residence after some interactions with devotees on the way.
This evening, the Sai youth and Balvikas children of Rajasthan staged another drama in Sai Kulwant hall, "Khwaja Garib Nawaz". Swami came for darshan at ten to six. After His darshan round, He sat onstage for a while with the Vedam chants going on, before starting the programme at 6.20 pm. After the 45 minute Hindi presentation on the life of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Bhagavan sent clothes for the performers and went down for group photos with them. At 7.20 pm, He accepted Arati and moved briefly to the interview room and the bhajan hall before returning to His residence at half-past seven.
This evening, the Sai youth and Balvikas children from Rajasthan put up a drama in Hindi on Maharana Pratap. Bhagavan came for darshan at ten to five. He paused near the Primary School children who were chanting Vedam loudly before He came onstage. The 45-minute programme got underway at 5.20 pm with the leader of the group announcing the drama. Swami went down from the stage to grant the participants group photographs before He accepted Arati. Spending some time on the verandah and the bhajan hall, Swami went into the interview room for a while before returning to His residence at seven o'clock.
Bhagavan came for morning darshan at five to eight, and after His round of the hall, moved to the bhajan hall. There, He had interactions with the priest and a long session with some Karnataka youth who were making arrangements for a function to be held in the coming weeks. Moving to the stage after half-past eight, Swami sat there listening to the Vedic chants for half an hour before asking for the Arati and returning to His residence.
In the evening, Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant hall at half-past four and moved among the ladies a second time before coming to the verandah. In the second and concluding day of programmes by the East Godavari district devotees, aged devotees who had accompanied Swami in His trips to the region in the 1960s were blessed by Him. A website of the Sri Sathya Sai Village Integrated Project was inaugurated, followed by a speech in Telugu by a leader of one of the villages which have benefited from the project. Songs and dances by the children of the area followed. At ten past six, the children commenced bhajans and Bhagawan moved to the interview room. He emerged twenty minutes later with clothes for the children and watched as the clothes were distributed. Swami moved down from the stage and spent some time moving among the devotees and children as prasadam was distributed to all. Accepting Arati a few minutes past seven, Bhagavan returned to His residence in the chair.
A large number of hill-folk from East Godavari district have come to Prasanthi Nilayam, and have programmes in the decorated Sai Kulwant hall over the weekend. This evening, the devotees presented a dance-drama, "Nava Vidha Bhakti Sumanjali". Bhagavan emerged from His residence at 6.35 pm and came onstage after His darshan round. The programme commenced with the offering of various items for blessings including a photo album with Swami's visit to their region in the 1960s. As the programme concluded at 7.45 pm, Arati was offered. Swami went down from the stage for group photographs with the group, and returned to His residence as prasadam was distributed.
This evening, the students of the University put up a Burrakatha performance. This set of students were performing this folk-art for the first time in front of Bhagavan. Swami emerged from His residence at 5.15 pm and gave an extended darshan for half an hour, moving twice all around the Sai Kulwant hall, pausing near the Primary School students who were chanting Vedam full-throated. Once He reached the verandah, He moved to the bhajan hall where the Burrakatha troupe was waiting in costumes. After a short interaction with them, Bhagavan moved to the stage and asked for the programme to commence just after six o'clock. After the fifty minute performance, Swami called up the artistes and blessed one of them with a ring. He gave vibhuti and sweet prasadam also to the students and had group photographs with them. He accepted Arati at 7.15 pm and then returned to His residence, pausing on the verandah for ten minutes of interaction with some devotees and blessing prasadam on the way.
