Om Sairam dearest Sai Family, The "most sad day" of life of Sai Family did arrive. This morning, around 5:30 am, As soon as I entered the mandir, I saw Swami's divine body was brought into the centre from Bhajan Mandir. The morning was very silent, serene, but was definitely not the morning that we were looking forward to and I also thought this "morning" was not expected that soon. The Maha Samadhi was dug right in the middle of the dais, where Swami used to sit and give darshans in Sai Kulwanth hall. The grave would be about 7 feet wide and 12 feet length(approximate). The walls of the Maha Samadhi were covered with marble stone on all the four sides. Looking at the grave was not a good feeling at all. It was difficult to digest the fact that, from same place, Swami "taught" us the Highest knowedge, taught us human values and many HIStoric discourses were delivered from the same platform as Prof.Anil Kumar translated in english. Even this day og Maha Samadhi He was still "teaching", that any one who came with human form have to leave the form one day or other and even an Avatar has to abide to this rule but what remains permanently is ones own noble deeds and good name. The day started with alap from Pandit.Jasraj, Veda chanting and then students started singing bhajans. Before leaving for Sai Kulwanth Hall, I said to my self, no crying today. Swami is not a person, who will abandon us, He is God and He has to be felt from with in. It was all fine untill the students started singing, O Maa, O Maa O Maa Sai Maa. Tears were about to come but stopped them successfully not until few minutes as the next bhajan that followed was Too Pyar ka sagar Hain, Humko tumse Pyar Kitna... This song, especially the lines We Love You Dear Sai We Love You, usually brings tears even if Swami is seated on the dais and today, as His body lies "life less' definitely made things worse and cried from the bottom of my heart. For some time, i felt, my whole body was aching thinking of the separation. >From the bottom of my heart I was thanking Swami for His kindness to allow me >to be born in Parthi, that Swami who was just a "walkable" distance from now >on would not be found (on a physical level). My mum tells me that she took me >for darshan when I was just few days old. The journey with a span of 30 years >had been fantastic. All the beautiful darshans, interactions, pada namaskars >etc were just His grace. All the memories would be cherished for the rest of >my life and I never dreamt even in my wildest dreams that the Swami would call >it a day that soon. But this "divine script" was written long ago and He can >only "adjust" some things here and there but cannont "cancel" the main events >of His glory. Swami's message of Unity in diversity, prompted to have multi faith prayers starting from Judaism, hymns from holy quran, from holy bible, hymns by Buddhist monks and also Sikh guru requested every one to stand up when he chanted holy hymns from Gurugranth before His body was brought to the Maha Samadhi area.. The chantings started at 8.10 am for about 30 minutes.. For records, the last bhajan, which was sung in the immediate Physical presence of Sri Sathya Sai Avatar was "Prema Eswar Hain Eswar Prema Hain". As Swami (on a physical level) belonged the holy land of Bharath, four guards covered Swami with Indian National Flag and He received guard of honour with three round of gun salutes from the Indian police. After this ceremony, some students and family slowly lifted Swami along with the glass freezer coffin, on to the dais. As this was done, there was a huge cry from the ladies side and every body broke down. All were screaming "Swami please don't go, be with us" but it was too late by then. Brother Ratnakar, Swami's nephew, was blessed to perform final rites in the position of Son to our beloved Lord and also on behalf of the entire Sai family. As the priests chanted mantras, brother Ratnakar was guided to perform the final rites. "Godana", a ritual of gifting a cow was also performed. Since Swami has attained sidhis and being an Avatar, He was buried in a different way by putting 9 food grains, 9 precious stones as a symbolic representation of 9 planets, waters from 9 sacred rivers have been brought in and vedic hymns from the four texts were recited. As brother Ratnakar was doing this ritual, he couldn't stop his tears. Every minute was emotional to him and why not, when people who were watching live in Sai Kulwanth hall, and the millions who were watching live telecast in various TV channels broke into tears he being born in the same clan, spending so many memorable moments with Swami, will definitely feel the vaccum in his life.. Later, a new cloth was placed on Swami's divine body and that gave a signal that the final moments of having darshan of Lord of Kali Age's physical form, was fast approaching. As it is a tradition, women are not supposed to see the ritual after this, the priest apologising every one, asked for the curtains to come down as every one of us broke down one more time. We couldn't believe that we would no longer see Swami in His physical form. Sai Kulwanth Hall which made every one of us dip in the ocean of bliss made us completely sorrowful this time and it won't be the same happy feeling the next time we will visit Sai Kulwanth Hall. Between 9.45 to 10 am Indian Time, Swami's body was laid to rest in Maha Samadhi with His head facing South. Apparently, they put sandal wood powder, mud from holy shrines in India and also Vibhuthi was smeared on Swami's body. While this ceremony was on, Sai Gayatri was chanted thus ending the glory of Sri Sathya Sai Avatar, who came all the way to the earth, to teach us the highest knowedge, to teach us how to love all and serve all, to remind us how fortunate we are to come in human form, He taught us many beautiful ways of leading a fruitful life, the best TRIBUTE to Sathya Sai Avatar would be practice the same in our day today lives. Puttaparthi, where the living and loving God used to move amidst His chosen devotees is now another Shirdi. Even though, the "feeling" won't be the same, but I am sure there will be millions of His devotees who would be visiting this holy Samadhi Shrine year after year. All our answers from now on, would be answered by Swami from the samadhi. Not sure, what kind of programmes would be practiced in Sai Kulwanth Hall, but I think the "daily Prasanthi routine" of suprabatam, veda chantings, two bhajan sessions will go on. After the "Maha Samadhi", one would be wondering what will happen to all the beautiful festivals that were celebrated in His immediate presence. Sankranthi, Shivarathri, Gurupoornima, Dasara, Birthday and Christmas will lose its glory. Christmas used to be a very busy affair in Parthi. Thousands of overseas devotees used to throng to this little hamlet and stay for a month or so practicing christmas choir. Swami used to love all the songs sung by devotees and after every song, sister Silvia used to bow down to Swami and wait for His permission to go to the next song. all these beautiful scenes will be a history now. Christmas 2010 in particular did leave a remarkable experience for the kind of decoration South Africa put up. It was only Swami's grace that South Africa got this opportunity to decorate Christmas 2010, which unfortunately happened to be the last Christmas our Lord would be celebrating. All those fortunate devotees from SA would be happy on one side but also sad that they cannot see that sweet smile of Swami any more. Being born here, I had the great privilege to meet so many noble men who came for His darshan. every one of us here are His chosen ones and equally fortunate. For being bestowed with this "rare opportunity" to be born in the same time as Avatar, to get to have His darshan. It is our duty to carry the Sai Torch for future generations. No doubt we will miss Swami, but Swami will never miss us. He is very much with us. He is going to "work" with much more force and yes the GOLDEN AGE will shine with its splendour from now on. Sisters and Brothers, lets all stay united and work hand in hand to "complete" the mission of Sri Sathya Sai Avatar. As told earlier, Swami has left tons of work to be completed by us. It is a real test, but with His helping hand and divine guidance, nothing is difficult. Please keep on doing all the good work, keep visiting Puttaparthi to get the spiritual batteries recharged. (attached here are some photos of Maha samadhi where you can see brother Ratnakar doing the final rites...) Jai Bolo Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji ki JAI.... with pranams at the Lotus feet of our beloved Lord, R.Satish Naik
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