[Attachment(s) from Deepak Arjandas Bharwani included below]
Posted at 17:56:34 Hrs. IST on Feb 13, 2010
Shivarathri in Prasanthi assumes greater significance with the Lord in
physical frame preside over the day’s proceedings leading up to whole night
vigil with akhanda bhajans singing His glory. The auspiciousness tagged to the
festivity permeates the air with Divinity becoming a silent witness, immense in
nature, tranquil and silent, accepting the offering of singing through the
night.
The day’s long wait came to an end when the Lord clad in maroon came out
of His Abode heading towards the Poornachandra Auditorium wherein thousands
upon thousands had been seated for darshan. Blessing the vast concourse,
Bhagawan had a ‘trial inspection’ run of the special screen relaying
proceedings from the Sai Kulwant Hall.
Ushering into the Sai Kulwant Hall, the Lord was welcomed by the
auspicious sounds of Nadaswaram and Pachavadyam while Veda chanting by the
students was on. Bhagawan, upon completing the round, cut the special cake done
by a special Italian “cake-makers”.
Bhagawan moved through the verandah to come on the dais commencing the
proceedings for the evening. When all were clueless as to what would be the
programme before the commencement of the Akhanda Bhajan, the Lord signaled to
His students.
At the transitional phase between day and night on the auspicious
Shivarathri occasion, at the twilight, the Nataraja, the Greatest of the Dance
Masters, chose to dance in the minds of the devotees listening to the musical
excellence of His students. An hour long musical feast, started at 5:45 p.m.
with the Lingashtakam, the talented bunch of students brought out rare
repertoire of musical pieces, ranging from Carnatic to Hindustani, from Telugu
to Hindi, all at ease enthralling the Lord and the capacity audience that
filled the Sai Kulwant Hall to capacity.
As they continued with the song, "Mahaprana Deepam" raising the rhythmic
energy levels, enticing and tickling thousands upon thousands of vocal cords to
chorus, the subtlety of the auspiciousness tagged to the festivity was emerging
out bringing in beauty in the hearts of thousands in the immediate Divine
Presence of Sathyam, the Truth. Sai Kulwant was verily exhibiting Sathyam
Sivam Sundaram in reality. While the number "Om Namah Shivaya" in Hindustani
was a treat to the ears, the next piece that followed was a Carnatic one that
left lasting impressions. Immensely pleased with the rendering, Bhagawan called
the two singers onstage asking them to sing a “thillana".
Akhanda Bhajan started at 6:45 pm when the twilight was slowly giving way
to the auspicious night. As the boys and girls, in alternate turns continued
with the bhajans, Bhagawan sat through for quite long until He retired to Yajur
Mandiram after 8 pm.
Arathi was offered in between as instructed by Bhagawan but without
Shanti Mantra, continuing the bhajans with added vigour.
Upon the Arathi, an announcement was made about the Akhanda Bhajan to
continue as a whole night vigil, with various groups participating in alternate
turns, singing all through the night, until Mangala Arathi at 7 followed by
prasadam distribution.
In the night, the Sai Kulwant Hall was emitting powerful spiritual
vibrations with various groups in alternate turns singing His glory followed in
chorus by capacity audience, powered to keep vigil throughout the night. The
consecrated Sayeeshwara Lingam that was the centre of attraction during the Ati
Rudra Maha Yajna conducted in the year 2006 was installed in front of the dais,
surcharging the atmosphere infinitely.
The fresh and spiritually charged morning found the Lord coming out as
early at 6:05 am. Gliding through, He moved past the devotees, blessing the
special prasadam for the occasion in between before taking a detour, cutting
short to the dais. Bhagawan made several round through the verandah and Bhajan
Hall and a second round starting from the gents side towards the ladies side
finally ending in the verandah.
Arathi was offered at 7:10 pm upon which Prasadam, Tamarind Rice and
Sweet Pudding were offered to the vast assemblage of devotees. Bhagawan retired
to the Yajur Mandiram after 8 bringing the curtain down for Shivarathri 2010!
Huge populace of devotees attended the weekend festivity with thousands
upon thousands thronging to the spiritual capital invoking Divine Blessings. As
many as ten sheds have been demolished owing to the construction of new
dormitories with better fecilities, west and south block verandahs had been
occupied by the huge influx of Shivarathri devotees, well in advance, from 10th
Feb onwards.
sourced:
http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/shivarathri2010.html
