On
the extreme right of the stage is performed
the worship of the Mother Goddess. That
place is also reserved for performing
the daily Arati after all the ceremonies
are over for each day at noon. |
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Everyday
in the evening, the Sai Kulwanth hall
is filled to capacity. There is the
Prasanthi Vidwan Mahasabha where Swami
blesses some selected students and Elders
to address the gathering on various
spiritual topics. Above all, He himself
speaks everyday elucidating the most
sublime of spiritual topics in the simplest
possible way! |
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The
eighth day is the Ayudha puja when all
the instruments of work are worshipped.
Swami comes to the garage in the Kulwanth
hall where the drivers are waiting,
their cars decorated with beautiful
garlands. Swami gives each one of them
a chance to drive Him in their respective
vehicles. But the moment to watch out
for is when he ascends the golden chariot.
A sight for the Gods! |
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The
Final day of the Yagna is on Vijaydashami,
the Tenth day, wherein the Poornahuti
or the Valedictory offering is made.
The day begins with an extraordinary
manifestation of spiritual fervor among
the pundits and the participants of
the Yagna. Everyone in the Poornachandra
Hall is expectantly waiting to see Baba
accept the final offering of the Yagna.
When the prescribed numbers of offerings
have been completed, the priests sit
on either side of the sacrificial altar.
Swami ascends the stage amidst the chanting
of the Vedic hymns and seats himself
on a pedestal behind the sacrificial
fire. |
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When
the chanting reaches a crescendo, Swami
with a sudden wave of His hand manifests
a number of precious gems. As they shine
in brilliance, he offers them, one by
one, unto the sacrificial fire. Everyone
present in the vast hall is filled with
awe on witnessing this most sacred and
divine act, the Poornaahuthi! The priests
then make their grand offering to the
Veda Purusha. |
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The
priests circumambulate Swami and one
by one, prostrate at His feet. Grateful
indeed they are for having been selected
to officiate in a Yagnam conducted by
God himself! |
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A
few minutes later Swami comes down the
stage, with a priest following him holding
sacred water in a bowl. Swami, holding
a big brush in his hand, dips it in
the holy water and sprinkles it on the
devotees. As Bhagawan goes around the
place sprinkling holy water, the students
and the staff, the young and the old,
the men and the women, seated inside
and outside the Poornachandra, in short,
everyone is blessed by this holy shower
of Divine grace! The crowd simply goes
delirious on receiving this great blessing!
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As
a grand finale, in the yesteryears,
on the Poornahuthi day, there was also
the famous Vibhuthi Abhishekam where
Swami churned an upturned empty vessel
to bathe the statue of Shirdi Baba in
a continuous shower of sacred ash
unbelievable, but true! |
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Thus
comes to a close the Yagna and Dussera
but
the message that Swami gives, through
this enchanting festival, is engraved
forever in the hearts of those who,
witness it or even read about it:
"
The heart of man itself is the sacrificial
fire altar. The pangs of desires are
the tongues of flame; the evil that
is in man is the offering that goes
into the fire and the treasure of unruffled
Ananda is the ultimate gain. That is
the real Yagna that you have to perform
everyday in your life." |
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