September 23, 2009 – Day Two of Dassahera Yagnam
It was at about 8:45 in the morning when Swami arrived from Yajur Mandir into
the Sai Kulwant Hall. The hall had large empty spaces and more than 90 % of the
students were away doing Grama Seva. Swami had brought vibhuti packets with Him
and as He moved through the lines, He gave a packet each to the people who
needed them. Moving to the gents’ side, Swami spoke to the co-ordinators of the
sevadal group who had just completed the duty.
Swami blessed all of them and then proceeded. As He passed by the ex-students
block, He beckoned to one of the boys and handed a vibhuti packet to him!
Moving via the few students and the Veda contingent, Swami moved past the
Primary school students and then arrived on stage.
He sat on the stage listening to the Vedas being chanted. After about 10
minutes, Swami told the students to start moving towards the auditorium. He too
followed soon and within the next few minutes all the focus and crowds shifted
to the auditorium. Swami arrived and sat in the eastern corner of the stage for
sometime. He accepted the floral offerings of the priest performing the
suryanamaskars. Then Swami moved across the stage to the western end where the
"Brahma" among the priests sat with his wife in worship.
Swami witnessed the worship there for a while as the ladies gathered there
basked in the beauty and joy of His darshan. The priest and his wife offered
garlands to Swami and after that aarthi was performed. The Veda chanting
reached a crescendo with the Mantrapushpam. As a conclusion, the "Brahma"
priest knelt before Swami and sang the bhajan, "Easwaramba Priya Nandana"
dedicating everything at His lotus feet. Moving across the stage once more,
Swami saw the priest who was deeply engrossed in the suryanamaskar. Swami then
moved into His residence.
The afternoon session was the day 2 of the Prashanti Vidwan Mahasabha. As per
tradition, that day was the day reserved for the worship of Mother Lalita, the
Universal Mother. It is believed that the dust from her feet constitutes the
holy sindhur (vermillion) mark on Mother Gayathri's forehead. That is the
position granted to Mother Lalitha.
Though Swami had indicated the previous day that He would be speaking, He
blessed three speakers to address the assembly. As Prof. Anil Kumar came
forward to introduce the speakers, Swami asked him what the bandage on his
right eyebrow was about. He answered Swami and on Swami's behest narrated to
the whole audience as to how he had fallen from a scooter and it was sheer
Swami's grace that he escaped without any hurt to his eye!
Coming after the day when Dr. Ravikumar had narrated his "eye-opening"
experiences, it immediately made a thunderous impact with the audience. The
speakers were then introduced and the first speaker for the day was a student
from the MBA school, Aman Jhaveri.
Mr. Aman Jhaveri, a student from the MBA
school, Sri Sathya Sai University
Mr. Robin Sharma, research scholar
from the University
Aman spoke on how Swami means everything to the students and takes care of them
in His own ways. Narrating how Swami had healed him of a terrible backache in a
dream and then had commanded him to join the University, Aman thanked Swami for
all that had been bestowed upon him.
He narrated a few more experiences, quoting extensively from the scriptures. He
concluded with the bhajan, "Sai Mata Pita". Swami was very moved with his talk
and lovingly patted him on his cheeks as he went to take padanamaskar after the
speech.
The second speaker was a research scholar from the University, Mr. Robin
Sharma. Robin narrated how Swami has been a loving mother and guide to him ever
since he applied to get into the undergraduate programme years ago. When he
relived the initial agony that he underwent when his mother was in her final
moments, Swami was visibly moved.
Swami's 'emotions' seemed to reflect what He had felt two years ago as Robin
narrated how Swami consoled and assured him that his mother had merged into
Him. Robin too concluded with a song that stated his heart's desire of staying
forever with Swami. Bhagavan blessed him too with a loving pat on his cheeks.
Mr. B. N. Narasimhamoorthy, the warden of the Brindavan campus
The final speaker for the evening was Mr. B. N. Narasimhamoorthy, the warden of
the Brindavan campus of the University. He began with a stanza from the Lalitha
Sahasranaama and another Sanskrit stanza that had arisen spontaneously in his
heart in response to a scholar's question "Who is Sathya Sai?" The
knowledgeable speaker narrated experiences from his rich and fulfilling life
which portrayed the Mother aspect of Swami.
Particularly moving was his experience at Muddenahalli when he had damaged his
knee while playing Volleyball and Swami decided to personally stop by his room
on His way to Bangalore! In between his speech, Swami went to the interview
room and returned after 5-10 minutes. As the speaker continued, Swami said with
a smile, "I did not get a chance to speak!" The members in the students'
audience who understood what He was saying empathised with Him with smiles!
Soon the speech concluded and Swami said, "Sing one bhajan" The Ganesh bhajan
was sung after which Swami said again that He did not get a chance to speak!
Receiving aarthi and blessing everyone assembled, Swami retired for the day.
With love and light
Sai Ram
