Ramadan Mubarak… Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 The very root of Islam has been based on Love and Surrender, echoed Prasanthi offering a comprehensive presentation on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr on August 20, 2012 in Prasanthi Nilayam. Eid-Ul-Fitr marks the end of Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Wishing the august assembly greetings on the holy auspicious occasion, the presentation began with postgraduate students enacting a conversation involving an enthusiastic and curious youngster by name Hemant with some of his Muslim acquaintance. As an innocent Hemant grew curious to know the finer aspects of Ramadan festivity, the conversation prolonged converting Sai Kulwant Hall into a ‘virtual’ classroom, where ‘Ramadan and its finer aspects’ was discussed most comprehensively, helping the august gathering enlightened about the subject.
The word Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word Ramida, meaning scorching heat and dryness, symbolic of fire of hunger and thirst at a physical level while spiritually it connotes to intense spiritual yearning. It is only when one is turned away from senses, he is turning towards God; main principle behind Ramadan is the control of the mind. Discussing what entails the festivity, a group of turbaned boys clad in typical Islamic wear got into offering ‘Namaz’, the Muslim prayer, to the backdrop of recital of Holy Qur’an. The ambient chanting that emanated with a soothing and heavenly touch wafted like a rhythmic music lifting every ‘heart’ presented in the august assembly. Ramadan is a penance that is undertaken to make it habituated in life, firmly engraving the same in character. Fasting is the external side of the festivity, while real significance lies in the transformation within. Mind should be singularly focused like the star on the crescent, said an enlightened Ahmed Bhai answering the curious youngster. Fasting entails crossing the gross ‘body’ aspect to get the mind absorbed in peace, get it fixed on Allah, the Almighty. A beautiful story about a painting competition was quoted from the Holy Qur’an, illustrating this point. Singing His glory, the students soon burst into a Quwwali ‘Rahanuma Rahanuma Thujhse Roshan Hey Jahan…,” accompanied by soulful musical score. The five pillars of Islam, the five important tasks Allah has instructed for every true Muslim to adhere to, were discussed next. The five pillars are: Shahada, declaration of faith in Allah, as One God and Mohammed as His final messenger, Salah, the five-time prayer offered as per Islamic faith, the 3rd one is the month-long fast observed, and Hajj, the fourth pillar, holy pilgrimage to Holy Mecca. Fifth and final Pillar is Zakat, charity offered during the holy month as the very religion is based on love and surrender. Enacting an episode involving two youngsters, Faizal and Rafeeque glorifying the fifth pillar, Zakat, the musical troupe burst a soul-stirring rendition, singing the popular Quwwali, Parvar Digare Alam… Depicting the most important virtue desired by a Muslim, Faith, an anecdote from the life of Mansoor, great saint from Benares was enacted next. When the young lad Mansoor, refraining from going for academia, moved around the streets shouting Analhaq, Analhaq, meaning ‘I am God…” none could understand his holy nature. When the lad was taken to the king, despite the king’s wise counselling, Mansoor declared that he knew he was God and so was with the king and everyone else. An enraged king ordered to take Mansoor to the ordeal room to chop his organs and limbs one by one as an act of punishment. At the end, when the king entered the room to assess the situation, he was shocked to see that every drop of blood of Mansoor’s body was chanting Analhaq…Analhaq…”I am God…I am God.” Singing paeans to Allah, the programme reached its final phase declaring: Each individual is a spark in the Supreme Consciousness and different religions are different paths leading to that one destination. Today’s world is divided into many by people who have not understood the purpose of religion. The presentation ended on a glorious note affirming that Prasanthi Nilayam endorses the sentiments of Oneness of all Religions, Oneness of Humanity; Prasanthi Nilayam is the destination of all our destinies. Singing the final song, Shirdiwale Sai Baba aaya hai tere dar pe sawali the students wound up the fifty minutes presentation. Bhajans continued for sometime and Mangala Arathi was offered at 1800 hrs. II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2012/08/ramadan-mubarak/ Radio Sai @ 10 Sunday, August 19th, 2012 With the spectrum of waves from Radio Sai linking and syncing the globe to Prasanthi Nilayam, the world amalgamates to become one room. ‘We are always tuned to Bhagawan through Radio Sai’, is one such response relating to the mass appeal Radio Sai enjoys among the Sai fraternity. Since its inception a decade ago, Radio Sai, the Digital Radio Channel from Prasanthi Nilayam has grown in leaps and bounds, taking the reins in disseminating Bhagawan’s teachings around the world. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of this ‘digital life line’ Team Radio Sai offered an extremely absorbing two-hour presentation at Bhagawan’s Divine Lotus Feet on the evening of August 19, 2012 at the Divine Abode at Prasanthi Nilayam. The presentation began with a lucid introduction by Ms Karuna Munshi, an alumnus from the Anantapur Campus of Bhagawan’s University, currently an active voice on Radio Sai. Taking the audience down memory lane, to the foremost instance of the Divine signal given to Prof G Venkataraman, asking the Professor to peruse through a brochure by World Space Corporation, Ms Karuna’s anchoring script touched upon the sequential events in precise details, leading up to the epochal day, of commissioning and dedicating the digital channel by the Lord Himself on 23rd November 2001. Clips of proceedings of the momentous occasion was aired as part of the introduction which included the inaugural announcement made by Prof G Venkataraman followed by an inspiring speech delivered by Dr Michael Nobel, representing the World Space Corporation. The scene soon changed to a gripping sequence of anecdotes from His chosen instruments – former students of Bhagawan, who were hand-picked for the job by Bhagawan Himself! How Bhagawan assumed the role of a perfect HR Manager, instilling much needed confidence in the youth who were fresh graduates, thereby helping the team to grow into a well-knit unit, was lucidly narrated by a set of boys who are currently assigned with key responsibilities in taking the mission ahead. While for Sai Prakash and Prakash Bharatkar, two of the first recruits, it was Bhagawan Who offered an off the cuff ‘job interview’ in the presence of Prof G Venkataraman, enlisting them directly; for the next pair Aravind and Dhananjay, it was again Bhagawan Who had kept up His promise, providing guidance to join Radio Sai, the very evening they had finished their academic stint at the University. Vinod, a Post Graduate in MSc, always cherished his dream behind the cameras and when his turn came to offer a Rose of Love to Bhagawan, he preferred to pen down and pour forth his prayer in a letter beseeching Bhagawan. Personally picking the letter straight from his pocket, while going on to glance through the last line, where Vinod had mentioned his desire to join Radio Sai, Bhagawan blessed this student, inducting him into Radio Sai, much before his final examinations. For two of the latest recruits Aravind Sai and Anirudh, it was again Bhagawan Who showered His blessings, guiding them through vivid dreams, asking them to join His band of students in Radio Sai. “Swami, if I am still able to keep a smile upon my face and hope in my heart, despite my physical handicap, it is because of You, Swami; You have given me a life far fulfilling and meaningful by giving me a chance in Your mission by working in Radio Sai Global Harmony,” said an emotional Raghu Bhat, speaking from a heart drenched in love and gratitude. Raghu Bhat, a key member of Team Radio Sai, is stoically enduring quadriplegia, after a fatal accident that injured his spinal cord, paralyzing his body below the chest. Intertwining the narration, with hearts full of love and gratitude, the participants soon burst into a beautiful melody, posing themselves as His most endearing children, imploring Mother Sai, ‘Poocho Naa Kysi Hey Meri Maa…Ek Sachchey Dosth Jysi Maa…(…Oh! Ask not what my Mother means to me, inept am I, unable to express nor my sentiments qualify…my sole true friend…the life force within this body, my very soul is Beloved Mother Sai…) The enchanting melody with its captivating tune and lilting musical score poignantly touched all hearts, moistening many eyes in the august assembly. Anecdotes with regard to Bhagawan’s personal response after listening in to Radio Sai programmes on many occasions; as well as the manner in which Radio Sai became a worthy instrument connecting ‘heart to heart’ internationally, while bringing timely succour for needy ‘souls’; so also the successful launching of the ‘Prema Jyothi’ exhibition, were narrated prior to putting the spotlight on the mysteriously miraculous tale of Radio Sai, still being functional and airing its programmes, albeit the hosting client – World Space Corporation – closing down its India operations long ago. Narrating the successful staging of “Prema Pravaham”, as an 85th Birthday offering at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet, the troupe delightfully reproduced the theme song of the programme bearing the same title, bringing to the fore nostalgic memories of the glorious 85th birthday twilight celebrations at the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium, in the immediate Divine Presence of Beloved Mother Sai. View the video: http://vimeo.com/32767600 If it was a legendary Prof Kasturi who was Bhagawan’s chosen instrument, ordained to take the up the task of setting up the maiden publishing unit in Prasanthi Nilayam over five decades ago, now, in a much advanced modern age of path-breaking technological revolutions, when the time was right for further enhancement of His mission, airing His profound teachings in a wider global proportion, it was an industrious and studious Prof G Venkataraman to whom Bhagawan had opted to hand over the mighty task, to imbibe the Divine inspiration fostering it to soar to limitless glory. Referring to his distinguished status and high credentials, when Prof G Venkataraman was called to share his thoughts and feelings on the occasion, the Professor began in his usual relaxed, confident and witty style sharing the interesting morning story from the inaugural day of Radio Sai. Calling Radio Sai a ‘very big Radio Family’, that is ever expanding, Prof Venkataraman thanked all the listeners around the world for their support, conveying that he would like to serve Radio Sai with much more vigour in the years to come. The final speaker for the evening was Sri SS Naganand, who is a Chartered Accountant by profession, as well as a practising Advocate at the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court of India. Sri Naganand is currently a Member Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation, the officiating body of Radio Sai Global Harmony. Speaking of the administrative and legal tasks entrusted upon him by Bhagawan prior to the formation of Radio Sai, the speaker hailed the able stewardship of Prof Venkataraman complementing the band of students for their single focused commitment towards the mission at hand. Prior to the vote of thanks being offered by Bishu Prusty, Kulwant Hall resonated with two more songs rendered by the core team. Quite apt, the grand finale of the day was a bhajan in Bhagawan’s Divine Voice, Hari Bhajana Binaa Sukha Santhi Nahin…the very signature tune or anthem Bhagawan had selected for ‘His Own’ Digital Radio Channel. Truly a unique evening that left the audience wonder-struck at the brilliant saga of Radio Sai sailing a decade long journey…while creating waves of harmony…upon the Ocean of Ultimate Grace that was its base. Prof Kasturi, who was blessed to coin the most appropriate metaphor baptizing India’s official Radio Channel, All India Radio into ‘Akashvani’, who was Bhagawan’s first and foremost instrument in spreading His message through His publishing house and Sanathana Sarathi, would have been the happiest person on Planet Earth on this day, had he been alive, cheering Radio Sai, lauding its efforts, watching its enviable evolution into Bhagawan’s ‘Global Ambassador’ carrying His messages across every nook and corner of the vast expanse of our world. VIVA RADIO SAI…WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!! II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2012/08/radio-sai-10/ Latest Updates from AravindB1982 Hub Way to God - Should it be Karma, Bhakti or Jnana for me? http://aravindb1982.hubpages.com/hub/Should-it-be-Bhakti-Jnana-or-Karma-for-me Aum Sri Sai Ram
