Posted at 07:00:34 Hrs. IST on Feb 08, 2010
A big group of 690 devotees from Ooty, Nilgiris have come on a pilgrimage
to Prasanthi Nilayam spanning over three days. The group comprising 350 ladies
and 340 gents had an extra day stay when Bhagawan asked them to have their
programme on the 7th evening, against the original plan of having the same
staged on the 6th evening.
The Nilgiris, popularly known as the fairyland of Tamil Nadu is a
marvellous natural wonder, an epitome of God’s creative craft in pristine
perfection, where mother nature bejewels herself with exquisite repertoire of
native boons. Passing through the times in several centuries, the Nilgiris, the
blue mountains of Southern India has been going through rich cultural evolution
from time to time, from the times of the Cheras and Cholas through to the times
of Pandyas, to the Hoysalas, to British to the present day.
After the rare initiative taken up last year bringing spiritually
elevated souls from the valleys of the blue mountains, this year the group had
the folk art form, Therukoothu, Street play of Tamil Nadu to present to the
Lord.
On the evening of 7th February 2010, devotees from Ooty, Tamil Nadu
presented a folk dance drama “Sathyavan Savitri” from the epic Mahabharata. The
folk art style of the artistes brought alive the hoary culture of Bharat.
Bhagawan came for Darshan on this evening at 5.05 p.m. to the chant of the
Vedas. After Bhagawan came to the dais of the Hall, the organisers sought
Bhagawan’s blessings and presented the programme for the evening to Bhagawan.
As is the tradition, the drama began with salutations to Lord Ganesh, the
remover of obstacles. There was a cast dressed in the costume of Lord Ganesh,
which made the presentation all the more realistic.
The inner meaning of the story of Sathyavan Savitri is that God protects
those who lead a life of chastity following the path of truth. The story runs
thus: The childless king of Madra, Ashwapati, lives ascetically for many years
and offers oblations to Sun God Savitr. He wishes to have a son for his
lineage. Finally, pleased by the prayers, God Savitr appears to him and grants
him a boon: he will soon have a daughter. She is born and named Savitri in
honour of the god.
Once Savitri reaches the marriageable age, she chooses as her husband
Sathyavan, the son of blind king Dymatsena, who after he had lost everything
including his kingdom lives in exile as a forest-dweller.
Sage Narada advises her father that Savitri had made a wrong choice of
marrying Sathyavan as he was destined to die in a year. In response to her
father’s pleas to choose a more suitable husband, Savitri refuses by saying
that she will choose her husband only once.
Three days before the foreseen death of Sathyavan, Savitri wears the
clothing of a hermit and takes a rigid vow of fasting and vigil. Her
father-in-law tells her she has taken too harsh a regimen, but Savitri replies
that she has taken an oath to perform these austerities, at which Dyumatsena
offers his support.
The morning of Sathyavan’s death, Savitri taking the permission of her
father-in-law accompanies her husband to the forest. While splitting wood,
Sathyavan becomes weak and swoons to death. Lord Yama comes to claim the soul
of Sathyavan. Savitri follows Yama as he carries the soul away. When he tries
to convince her to turn back, she discourses on Dharma to Yama, praises Yama
for his just rule and offers successive formulas of wisdom. Impressed by her
speeches, Yama accedes to offer her any boon except the life of Sathyavan. She
first asks for restoration of kingdom and eyesight for her father-in-law. Yama
instantly grants the boon. Secondly, she asks for a son for her and Sathyavan.
Yama agrees to grant even that boon. It is then that Savitri seizes the
opportunity and tells Yama that it is you who have praised me as Pativrata (one
of chastity). Now what am I to do? Unable to wriggle out of the tricky
situation, Yama agrees to give back the life of Sathyavan.
Sathyavan awakens as though he has been in a deep sleep and returns to
his parents along with his wife. Meanwhile Dyumatsena regains his eyesight.
Since does not know of the happenings, Savitri narrates everything to her
husband and parents-in-law. Joyfully the king and his entourage return to his
kingdom. At this happy turn of events, the drama too concluded.
Bhagawan materialised a gold chain for the lead actor Savitri and also
blessed the cast with a photograph session. Bhagawan also gave clothes to all
the participants with His own hands. After distribution of Prasadam to the
cast, Arati was offered to Bhagawan at 6.45 p.m. Thus, concluded the programme
of the devotees from Nilgiris.
The group has been coming regularly for the past 5 to 6 years. Sai
awareness programme is on aiming at having 108 bhajan mandalis during the 85th
year of His Advent. The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, over the years, has
been striving to bring the village heads of the Badaga community, main populace
of the valley spreading over 600 villages, to Bhagawan as a part of the ongoing
awareness programme.
sourced:
http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/ooty07022010.html
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Attachment(s) from Deepak Arjandas Bharwani
10 of 16 Photo(s) (View all Photos)
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