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SHIVARATHRI 2013 IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM
Om Sairam dearest Sai family
Shivarathri 2013 was a grand one filled with Divine energy of our beloved Lord. Words fall short to describe the glory and grandeur of this beautiful festival. Swami's divine Omnipresence was felt each and every second on this holy occasion.
Apart from Indians, there were quite a good number of over seas devotees majority from South Africa and Russia. Swami during His 2007 Divine Discourse during Shivarathri had showered His immense grace by openly acknowledging the love He has for Russia and Russians.
I am sure those blessed souls who were present again in the Divine Abode this year and those in their respective places would have become nostalgic remembering that beautiful morning's divine discourse.
Ever since His physical departure,Swami has been working on His mission in a steady phase and it is now a SAIlent work. Thousands and thousands of devotees are visiting the Holy Abode and one can see a clear cut silent inner transformation among devotees. Like before since there is no rush for the first rows, every one seems to be calm and composed.There is absolute peace and tranquility on the faces of devotees visiting Prasanthi. As soon as one enters the gates of Prasanthi, we tend to get lost in a silent conversation with the divine, either by remembering those beautiful darshans, sparshans and sambhashans or asking Swami for forgiveness for all the short comings.
When ever I pass by Sai Kulwanth Hall, my heart always asks, all these years, during non-darshan timings i would think Swami would be doing this or doing that in His House and now i wonder where Swami would be? We all know and He said it very clearly that He is the Hridaya vasi (resider of our hearts). Heart thrills with joy when this thought of Swami living in our hearts arises.
Shivarathri 2013 started with the ceremonial procession of the Sai Eswara Lingam being taken to the sanctum sanctorium and placed in the middle of Sai Kulwanth Hall. It is the same white lingam which was sanctified and blessed by Swami during the Ati Rudra Mahayagna in 2006. If i remember correctly this Linga (which is worshipped by Hindus) was made by a Muslim and as he came to know that it was for Swami he didn't take a penny for the same.
The Chief Preist Sri.Nandjunda Dixit of 2006 Ati Rudra Maha Yagna was the Chief priest for the Shivarathri 2013 Linga Abhishekam (Abhishekam, is conducted by priests, by pouring libations on the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of mantras. Usually, offerings such as milk,yogurt, ghee, honey, Panchaamrutam,sesame oil, rosewater, sandalwood paste are used for Abhishekam).
There was one priest who was explaining each and every ritual to the audience as Rudram was chanted by the priests.
Just before the start of Akhanda Bhajan Swami's divine discourse was played on the big screen and after listening to Swami singing Hari Bhajana Bina" the Akhanda Bhajan commenced at 6 PM.
The night long bhajan session was packed with the divine energy and the Sai Kulwanth Hall witnessed quite a good number of devotees. The current students, former students, various Canteen groups, overseas group took turns and sang during their respective alloted time slots. Many groups had been practicing rigorously for Shivarathri Akhanda Bhajan for almost a week and i am sure their hard work paid off as they had the rare chance to sing His glory sitting right infront of the sanctum sanctorium, closer to the Shiva-Shakthi Swaroopa on the holy night of Shivarathri. What more one can ask for?
After the night long vigil,like it is the tradition Tamarind rice and Sweet rice was served to every one as every one broke the fast at 6 AM, reminding those memorable days of Swami's physical presence, where He would watch every one partake the food and many a times we have seen Him directing the students pointing to a devotee seated way back in the last row to serve him. Swami was also asking His students to go for the second round of serving and insisted on checking with every devotee if they needed more food. Such is the kindness of our Mother Sai whose love is more than thousand mothers.
With respectful pranams at the Lotus feet of our beloved Lord and wishing and praying for every one in this world and all the worlds to remain happy, May Swami continue to inspire us, help us, guard us...
R.Satish Naik
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