Sathya Sai Darshanam – The Beauty Beyond Compare!!! Sunday, August 11th, 2013 How many occasions Prasanthi witnessed the beauty of music, offered to The Supreme ‘Musical’ Divine!… over the past many decades artistes of name and fame earned life-time opportunities to present their ‘God-Given’ talent back unto the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan, the personification of Supreme Divine!!! On Aug 10, 2010, it was the turn of famous Sufi Singer Lakhwinder Wadali to sing in the hallowed Prasanthi Nilayam, in His immediate Divine Presence!!! Given below is an excerpt from the Darshan Story on 10 August 2010 in Prasanthi Nilayam as chronicled by The Prasanthi Reporter…Let’s read..assimilate…live with it and thus manifest HIM, our Beloved Mother Sai! Let’s re-connect to PRASANTHI DARSHAN UPDATES to connect to THE BEAUTY BEYOND COMPARE!!! Tue, Aug 10, 2010: Today, in the evening, emerging at 1700 hrs. to the chants of Vedam, Bhagawan came for a lengthy round of darshan before showing up onstage at 1720 hrs., marked by ‘heightened’ chanting. The evening was earmarked for Delhi & NCR to stage a cultural offering, a Sufi & Folk Song presentation by popular North Indian Sufi Singer Lakhwinder Wadali and troupe. Sufi rendering is an off shoot of Sufism, which in turn promotes religious harmony was in fact the best offering to the Great Master who is the greatest proponent of religious harmony. Sufi songs reflect the pure state of one’s mind and are focused on one’s love towards God. As Vedic chants continued, Mr. Jatinder Cheema, State President, Delhi & NCR, as per the command of Bhagawan presented a prelude to the programme introducing the singer to the august assembly. Profusely thanking Bhagawan for His nine days’ North Indian sojourn in April, Mr. Cheema called the evening’s presentation as an offering of gratitude for Bhagawan’s greater benevolence that took Him to Delhi and Shimla. Introducing the singer, he made a mention of the singer’s father, Padmashree Ustad Puran Chand Wadali, who had the blessed opportunity to sing in Bhagawan’s Divine presence 37 years ago, in Moga, Punjab. Commencing the programme, the blessed singer, singing from the depth of his heart to the heights of exalted heavens, rendering high pitched numbers reverberating the packed ‘amphitheatre’ in Prasanthi, took the entire audience with his special ‘twists and turns’, typical of sufi style, complete with meaning, to the accompaniment of high beat music, resulting an electrifying musical evening. The singing was so alluring that the verve in the air was catching up with the packed assembly tuning rapt attention onto the stage. Among the numbers included Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s popular Sufi Qawwali, Dama Dam Mast Kalandhar…enjoyed by one and all. An hour passed by when the singer was into his fifth number and at the end of the same Bhagawan moved off, asking the singer to continue. As he continued to make merry of the life opportunity bestowed upon, the twilight’s shadow was soon catching up engulfing Prasanthi, and adding to this splendour arrived The Lord, in fifteen minutes, onstage at 1855 hrs. …and the hall literally turned lit with His re-entry as the tempo was soon building up before the final whistle. The singer, who was by now into his seventh number and was repeatedly singing “Aaja Mahi…Aaja Mahi..”; bringing a sudden twist pausing the song He addressed The Lord: “Sai jab chale gayethe tho hamara man nahi lag raha tha…tho hum aapke jaane ke baad ye sab kahne lagi…” Loye Loye Aaja Mahi, meaning, when Bhagawan moved off, he was feeling odd (in the absence) and was repeatedly invoking Him, calling out Aaja Mahi..Aaja Mahi)…The tune was melodious and mesmerising and the love of the devotee was expressive in these lines, in a most catching tune, enticing the audience…and the singer continued ending the electrifying musical extravaganza to a grand finale. It lasted for ninety long minutes. Bhagawan called the singer unto Him to felicitate him by draping a shawl over him before blessing the whole troupe with safari pieces. It was 1910 hrs. and Bhagawan indicated for Mangala Arathi. Upon accepting Arathi, Bhagawan sat on and the session continued. The artiste on the Tabla who was vibrant with his ‘hand-finger-tabla’ combo won special acclaim as Bhagawan made a typical gesture indicating rhythmic beat of Tabla on his fingertips and as the artiste moved towards Bhagawan to receive his share of blessings, ‘crowd’ went into raptures in special appreciation. Next to come was an emerald ring for the singer and subsequently Bhagawan asked the State President to announce about the next evening’s programme. Time clock ticked to 1922 hrs. and Bhagawan indicated for an encore of Mangala Arathi. Upon accepting Arathi, after blessing the concourse with abhayahastha, Bhagawan sat for a while gesticulating the students and the youth to go and have food. They burst into ‘silent’ laughters enjoying every bit of His Love and concern! A short interaction with a bhajan singer ensued before Bhagawan went for the ‘final move’ to retire to Yajur Mandiram at 1930 hrs. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/08/sathya-sai-darshanam-the-beauty-beyond-compare-9/ a.. To React Or Respond…? Saturday, August 10th, 2013 To React Or Respond…what would you prefer, encountering a tricky situation? …Most of us often fail to respond, ending up reacting. Can’t we remain composed, ‘responding instead of reacting’ thinking “what would Baba like me to do?” Ajay Pant from Lucknow sought to do so, when faced up to a tricky situation, ending up sacrificing something, only to gain much more… Read on a small but significant incident during his college days in Lucknow. Extracted from Sanathana Sarathi July, 1980. The incident that I write about may be small but, it is, I believe, significant for me and for all young men faced with similar situations. On 27, 28 and 29 March 1980, a college in Lucknow had arranged a festival called “Bonanza 80.” I had also been deputed to represent my University in the Fancy Dress Competition. I was aware that it would be a tough job, for nine teams were competing, including I. I. T. from Delhi and Kanpur. I slogged hard and perfected my item. Originally, only one entry was allotted to each institution, but, later, two were allowed to participate. So, another student joined our team. The programme for the bonanza indicated that he had to go first on the stage and I had to follow him. But, when he was called, he was not ready with his fancy dress and so, I was sent first on the stage by the person in charge of the programme. Pardon me, for telling you the fact. My performance brought the roof down; the applause of appreciation was so thunderous. The photographers clicked again and again. Reporters surrounded me when I came down and plied me with questions. Next day, the papers praised my item very much. But, the name below the photograph was not mine! Since my team mate’s name appeared first in the schedule that was distributed, though my item was the first, the name beneath the photograph was that of the student who performed after me! The distribution of prizes was to take place that evening, during the concluding function of the Bonanza. I was very much upset. I was told by the college authorities that my entering the stage first had led to the confusion. I found that the other person was put down as the prize winner. His name was so announced on the Notice Board. I received a shock at all this blunder. On my way back from the college, I came across the other fellow! He was on top of the world, literally jumping with joy! At this, I thought twice… what would Baba like me to do. I wondered… can I make this fellow sad? No, I decided. The prize for me can be only a nine days’ wonder. But for him, it promises to be tremendous encouragement and coveted honour. I have earned the distinction of winning a prize, whenever I appear on the stage. So, it was a very difficult decision but I am glad I made it. I must confess that had I not met Sathya Sai Baba at Brindavan, Whitefield, and listened to Him during the Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality, I would never have decided so. He was the inspiration that led me to think, “Which is the prize you should seek—your companion’s happiness, or, the thing the Organiser’s give?” and to arrive at the conclusion, “Give up and Gain.” sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/08/to-react-or-respond/ -- When my arms cannot reach people who are close to my heart, I always hug them with my prayers -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "saimsg" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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