EL DESPERTAR SAI. : A SOJOURN TO PUTTAPHARTI FOR MAHASHIVARATRI 2013 (INGLES)

domingo, 7 de abril de 2013

A SOJOURN TO PUTTAPHARTI FOR MAHASHIVARATRI 2013 (INGLES)

Post No.2

Life-size marble statue of Sathya Sai Baba at the Sri Sathya Sai Darbar Temple near Puttaparthi

Sai Ram once again and I hope Swami is always showering His Love and Blessings on you all!!!

Its been a while since my first post, but Easter came upon us, so I had a short break up in the mountains.
Its like a breath of fresh air, literally!
Being in nature is a wonderful medicine to relieve the stresses of life.
In the state of Victoria, where I live, it has numerous high mountains which are always covered in snow in the winter months.
Some of these mountains had recently uncontrolled fires burning on them for weeks during summertime (February and March) of this year, and have only just been extinguished.
So, alot of the sides of these mountains were affected.

Looking from the top (Horn) of Mount Buffalo, Victoria, Australia

Looking from the top of Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia
(2nd April 2013)

Fire affected forest

A short video of some scenes from some of these mountains

Before I continue with my sojourn in Puttaparthi, I thought I would take a few steps back.

Initially the plan was to arrive early around 3am, which we did, and wait in the taxi's until the
Ganesh Gates (Ashram's main entrance) opened around 4.30am.

(I think this is the right time they do this?)

Ganesh Gate
(It has two gates now. One for entering and one for leaving)

Some of the group had beforehand decided to pre-book into one of Puttaparthi's Hotels for the first night.
Knowing that they would be very tired once they arrive.
Also because its the day before Maha Shivaratri.

There might not be much accomodation within Prasanthi itself!

Maha Shivaratri usually attracts thousands upon thousands of devotees,

that come from all over India and abroad.

In past, Shivaratri was always amassed with people, that it was sometimes nigh impossible even to enter Prasanthi itself!

This is one of the most auspicious times of the year.

(I will explain in more detail about this abit later, if you don't know)

I had ummed and ahhh-d about this also, just before leaving Australia.
So I quickly emailed the hotel just before I left and made a booking for the first night also.

Thank God, I did!

I was totally exhausted by the time we reached there!!!

So we all had booked our individual rooms and crashed, as they say!

I was still thinking at that stage, that I will be able to get up for the morning darshan, which is around 8 - 9 am.

Well it did not happen!

Awoke at around 10.30am.

Looking East from the hotel room balcony with the Old Mandir in the foreground.

Looking North from the same balcony

Name plate on the room door, "SAI SHAKTHI"

The hotel consisted of 7 floors.
It was situated down near the
SRI VENUGOPALA SWAMY TEMPLE

This temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna was brought up in a community of cowherds or gopas and He is lovingly called Gopala. The history of this temple is intricately woven with the legend of Puttaparthi.

Not sure whether I should name the hotel?
It was very clean, very friendly staff and they were very devoted to our dear Lord Bhagavan.
They made you feel very welcome.
Highly recommended!!!

A dear friend of ours from Melbourne had also been staying there for a few weeks before we arrived.

She welcomed us all, even at that early time of around 3.30am in the morning.

So it was a great relief to relax and wind down after the long journey.

After a late breakfast and finally having the realization that we are here!!!
This dear friend told me to go and see the vibhuti manifestations in the Shrine Room of the hotel.
So I did!
The energy emnating from this Mandir is like being in the Sai Kulwant Hall itself!
They hold bhajans here every Thursdays.
As you can see Vibhuti manifested on Sathya Sai and Shirdi Sai.
(Noticed... some have already wiped some of the vibhuti from the pictures)

Swami's Lotus Footprints in Vibhuti under a glass frame

Ganesha

As the day progressed, I decided to take it slow, as did most of the others.
So I walked from the hotel to the Ashram Gates. It takes about 10 minutes to do so.
It was like being home. My real home!!!
I feel, I must of been here in a previous life, as the environs seem so familiar.
Not because I have visited this place before, but its a deeper feeling than that. Hard to explain!

Here's a video taken during one of those many walks through the main street of Puttaparthi.
p.s Holding the camera while walking inevitably causes camera shake.

Before entering Prasanthi Nilayam for the first time, I had read somewhere, that you should always pay homage to
Swami's Parents beforehand.
So I did!
I did not take my camera with me then, as I was going to enter Prasanthi itself afterwards.
(Video Cameras are not allowed to be used within the confines of the Ashram)

Here's some pics of Swami's Parents and their Samadhi, taken from the
Radio Sai Website