Story Behind this Photo: 81. At a Tender young Age, Bhagavan asks His father “Worship Me”. Bhagavan Baba started showing signs of his Divine Powers, even at a tender age of 12 years. Unable to comprehend the Divinity, the father raises a cane to beat Him, and angrily asked the boy, ‘Who are You?” Pat came the reply, “I am Sai Baba”. The next question was, “what should we do?”. Bhagavan replied in a cool manner, WORSHIP ME !”. But all these years, I had never seen, Bhagavan Baba ever been worshiped, as we worship other God forms. Just routine Bhajan chanting and then Arathi! Strangely in some countries, they just sing Arathi song and do not even light camphor. It is more than one year since we lost the physical body of our beloved Bhagavan, and devotees all over the world, are all hoping that an nice idol of Bhagavan Baba would soon be installed in the “Sannithi”, and Pooja rituals would commence as in Shirdi. Today, on the 26th September 2012, it all happened in Prashanthi Nilayam. Devotees from Karnataka state had brought a beautiful golden Idol of Bhagavan Baba, and conducted the full fledged Pooja with all religious rituals. Scores of highly qualified purohits started the rituals at the day break. 1008 Khalasams were installed, filled with Holy waters, which were brought from various holy rivers in India. Water from many rivers such as, Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery were brought for this purpose. The learned purohits, then sanctified Khalasams holding the river waters, by chanting many Vedic Mantras. Elaborate rituals such as Sankalpam, Dhyanam Aavahanam, were followed with meticulous care and attention. After hours of veda chanting, the Abhishekam for the Idol of Bhagavan Baba commenced. Devotees qued up, and each one lifted one Khalasam, and proceeded to offer Abhishekam to the Sacred Padhuga and the wonderful golden Idol of Bhagavan Baba. It took more than two hours to complete the Abhishekam ceremony, amidst chanting of Rudram, chamakam, Purusha Sooktham, Sri Sooktham and many other Vedic scriptures. I am seeing for the first time in Prashanthi Nilayam, Archana being conducted chanting 108 names of Bhagavan Baba. The enthusiastic devotees joined the chanting the Ashtotharam. This was followed by Shodasa Upachara Pooja, 16 types of adorations. Arathi containing Multi layered oil lamps were waved and after a brief Bhajan session Camphor Arathi was offered singing “Jaya Jaya Deesahare…..” The 0rgnisors of this great event had arranged to distribute the Holy water of Abishekam to all devotees in plastic containers. The devotees firmly believe that this event is an indication of what is in store for future. They pray and hope such Pooja rituals will soon become a daily event and a reality, in Prashanthi Nilayam.. Sai ram. Mumbai Srinivasan With Love & Regards,
