ARADHANA MAHOTSAVAM CONCLUDES IN PRASHANTI

Aradhana Mahotsavam concludes in Prasanthi… Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

The Valedictory Session of the Colloquium, "Experiencing the Divine – The Form to the Formless" was held on the evening of 25th April 2012. The proceedings began at 5.15 p.m. after the Vedic chants. Sri Srinivas Srirangarajan introduced the two speakers who dilated at length on the above mentioned topic. The first speaker was Sri Sai Giridhar, a research scholar, who is also a seasoned speaker and versatile actor from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and the second to address the gathering was the eloquent speaker, Dr. G. Venkataraman, a renowned physicist, 5th Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and presently the head of Radio Sai Global Harmony. Sri sathya sai Aradhana Mahotsavam Videos   Apr 23, 2012 Morning Program     Apr 23, 2012 Evening Program       Apr 23, 2012 Drama by youth from Orissa   Apr 24, 2012 Morning Program         Apr 24, 2012 Evening Program         Apr 25, 2012 Evening Program Sri Sai Giridhar began his speech with a Sloka from the Bhagavad Gita: Mookam Karoti Vachalam Pangoom Langhayate Girim Yatkripa Tamaham Vande Parmanand Madhavam (Salutations to the ultimate One, by whose grace, a dumb man becomes the most talkative and a physically disabled man crosses the highest mountain)   Speaking on the purpose of an Avatar, Sri Giridhar opined, Bhagawan came to establish Prema Dharma, to establish love in the hearts of devotees. Bhagawan set up marvellous models like Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences for humans to emulate. But his ultimate objective was transformation of human heart. Narrating a wonderful experience of a gentleman from Indonesia, who had come as part of a team to study the Sri Sathya Sai system of education, Sri Giridhar said after hearing a teacher speak in the moral class, the person who had not seen Bhagawan before came to the speaker and asked, "Does Sai Baba often come to you and give such beautiful benedictions?" The speaker was a bit nonplussed. Then the person told him what he had experienced, he saw Bhagawan sitting in the chair placed for Him, and also conferring His benedictions at the end of the speech.     Continuing further, Sri Giridhar told another experience he had when he went with a group to Badrinath. This happened after Bhagawan left His mortal coil. The saint in an Ashram in Badrinath welcomed them to his abode, and said, Bhagawan has not gone anywhere, He is not far away. "Fill your hearts with love, purify your thoughts and call out once Sai Ram, He will be there right in front of you." Sri Giridhar ended his enlightening speech by saying that we should make a conducive atmosphere in ourselves so that Bhagawan will see, speak, listen through all of us. Padmashri Dr. G. Venkataraman began his speech by offering his loving salutations at Bhagawan's Lotus Feet and thanking the Trustees for giving him an opportunity to speak. The erudite speaker quoting from the film Mira said, M.S. Subbulakshmi posed a question in a song, "Oh the One, who is everywhere, where have you disappeared?" Mira posed a question, but there was no answer. In September 1984, Bhagawan gave a series of Discourses on the Bhagavadgita. In one of the speeches, Bhagawan said, "Now, right here, you are able to see Me, but when you go out of this place, you will neither see Me or the people in this gathering." Dr. Venkataraman said, the essence of Swami's remark can be taken in the context of the present scenario. "The absence of Swami is only at a physical level. If we restrict him to a form, it is our weakness. Whether we like it or not, we should move forward. The time has come to look for Him inside than outside." Speaking further, the learned speaker said, the term legacy is interpreted in the form of something inherited from generation to generation. But Bhagawan's legacy is His Legacy of Love.     After the inauguration of the Anantapur College in 1971, Bhagawan said, India is being converted into a Bhoga Bhumi (a land of pleasures). Bhagawan had said this much before the advent of Internet and Smart Phones. Describing a revealing experience, Dr. Venkataraman said that one occasion in the year 1998, Bhagawan took him along with Him in His car in Brindavan, Bengaluru. In the course of the ride, the speaker posed a question to Bhagawan, "Why there is so much Adharma (unrighteousness) in the world?" Then Swami posed a counter question to the speaker, "What is the mood in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall before I come for Darshan?" Dr. Venkataraman replied, "Swami, there is absolute silence, everyone waits with bated breath for Bhagawan." Then Bhagawan asked, "When a child cries, what happens?" The speaker promptly replied, "Everyone's attention is diverted towards the child." In the same way, Bhagawan said the media and everybody's attention is focused on Adharma, when there are so many people following the Dharmic path (righteous path). Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Venkataraman said, when Bhagawan visited Mumbai in 1968, Bhagawan paid a visit to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The Kulapathi was Sri K.M. Munshi. Sri Munshi asked Bhagawan, "Should India go nuclear?" Swami gave a succinct reply. Comparing U.S.A. to Arjuna and Russia to Bhima, Bhagawan said, India is like Dharmaraja. Though Dharmaraja is not so proficient in warfare like Arjuna and Bhima, but both Arjuna and Bhima go to Dharmaraja for any wise counsel. In the same way, India is like the engine, which will lead the other nations in the spiritual path. Dr. Venkataraman concluded his speech by saying, "Let us pick up the torch of Prema and march forward valiantly. At the end of his speech, Youth and devotees from West Bengal presented a bouquet of nine well-knit songs to the delight of the devotees. The songs in Hindi were well choregraphed with soothing music. For about half an hour, the youth and devotees, both ladies and gents presented the songs with matching visuals of Bhagawan's Darshans which added a beautiful aura to the programme. After these songs, there were a few Bhajans. Sri Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam concluded with distribution of Prasadam and Arati at 1920 hrs. II Samasta Lokaaha Sukhino Bhavantu II

Remembering Sai with love… Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Can we ever pay gratitude adequately for all that Bhagawan has bestowed upon us? asked His students singing rich tribute to their Beloved Lord this morning on the second day of the ongoing Sri Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam in Prasanthi Nilayam. Video 24th April Morning - Evening video click here Highlights of morning programme on 24 APRIL 2012 ... The programme consisted of group songs sung by the students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning with visuals of Swami on the screens ... talk by Mr. V Srinivasan, trustee, SRI SATHYA SAI CENTRAL TRUST ... " MIRACLE OF PURE LOVE " - a 3 volume book authored by Padmasree Prof. G Venkataraman , was released by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh ,Mr. ESL Narasimhan , chief guest for the function followed by a talk by the governor. It was this day an year ago that Prasanthi wailed bidding adieu to its Soul, Beloved Bhagawan, when He chose to transcend into His omnipresent reality.     On this auspicious day of Adoration and special worship, marking the ascent of the Avatar of the Age, special programmes were held in the venue, Sai Kulwant Hall. The proceedings began at 0820 hrs., after 20 mts. of Rudam chanting, with students offering Guru Vandana. It was a collective offering of gratitude to their Beloved Swami Who defined their lives donning the role of Divine Parent. Interspersed with commentary, narrating His glory and grandeur, students produced five gems, including Prasanthi's evergreen number  "Tuu Pyaar Ka Sagar Hey…" bringing nostalgic memoirs of their golden days with Bhagawan. Picking relevant anecdotes from His Story and the lives of some devotees, these grateful students took the audience to the nostalgic world of Sai, showing rare glimpses of the glory of the Avatar. Commenting about the physical proximity they were fortunate to have, students summed up, reminding that they have had their share of His Love, in abundance, bestowed upon by Bhagawan not out of deservedness, but out of sheer Love.     Welcoming the Chief Guest, His Excellency Governor of Andhra Pradesh ESL Narasimhan and other distinguished guests, devotees and students, All India President of SSSSO, Sri V Srinivasan in his address reminded the audience that it was Bhagawan's Sankalpa that the world witnessed last year when the Infinite One resolved to end His finite state on earth and return to Himself. In His infinite form He continues His Divine Mission, continues to be with His devotees, He continues to manifest Himself whenever and wherever He wills…there is no corner of this universe where Sathya Sai is not…He will be there for time eternal…fortunate are those who had experienced His leelas and blessed are those who continue to enjoy His communion…Truly Sathya Sai is the resurrection and the life…a life of Love, Compassion, Life for Service to the poor and needy…a Life Eternal. This is not an occasion to grieve, but to rededicate in His mission. His mission is ever expansive and each one of us has a role to play, reminded Sri Srinivasan.     Reiterating that all Sai institutions founded by Bhagawan are continuing to function as it were when Bhagawan was physically present, Sri Srinivasan announced the happy news of Muddenahalli Campus of SSSSIHL being cleared by Govt. of India, granting the 4th campus for SSSIHL. He also mentioned about the Trust's new initiative in expanding its coverage of  water project providing drinking water to another 118 villages in Anantapur district costing additional 80 crores. A MOU signed between Radio Sai Global Harmony and Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations in disseminating Bhagawan's Teachings was placed at Bhagawan's Lotus Feet during the occasion. Prof. G. Venkataraman who spoke next, gave an introduction about his treatise on Bhagawan, Miracle of Pure Love, that was subsequently released by His Excellency Governor of AP Sri Narasimhan.     This was followed by the Chief Guest's address by Governor ESL Narasimhan. Equating Bhagawan with Sun, who shines all the time without any beginning and end, the Governor said, Bhagawan has no beginning and end, He is eternal. Sun grants happiness to everyone without any discrimination and Bhagawan is the same, granting happiness to the entire creation. Referring to Bhagawan's physical absence, the Governor said, Bhagawan is someone Whom one should experience. He recalled his response to the news of Bhagawan's physical departure, same day last year. When the message reached him informing that "Light has gone out of our lives", his instant response was that "Light has not gone out of our lives; light has come into our lives". By His physical departure Bhagawan made His devotees even stronger, reminded the Governor.     Elucidating on the uniqueness of Bhagawan, He called Him as 3-in-1, as Baba, Swami and Bhagawan. Commenting on the expanse of the service activities being done under Bhagawan's banner, an inspired Governor promised the audience that the current government will do something for the people of the state. Thanking Bhagawan profusely for the opportunity to be in His presence and for His unceasing grace, Governor ended his inspirational speech with a promise to Bhagawan to deliver his best discharging his duties.   Music concerts by Bombay Jayshree and Ayan Ali Khan ...   24 APRIL 2012 - Evening prog Excerpts from Bhagawan's Divine discourse followed. Beginning with the man's eternal quest, Who Am I? Bhagawan exhorted the audience to give up animality, and transform the humanness into Divinity. His discourse continued with Bhagawan talking on Self confidence, Love etc. Bhagawan ended His Divine discourse with the bhajan "Hari Bhajana Binaa…"     Bhajans continued for a short while before Mangala Arathi offering at 1030 hrs. Prasadam was distributed to the entire audience. On the auspicious occasion Narayana Seva was conducted at the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium attended by hundreds of devotees from nearby villages. Free food was distributed to all the devotees inside the ashram. II Samasta Lokaaha Sukhino Bhavantu II

Soul-stirring Carnatic and Sarod Recital… Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Music aficionados were treated to a soulful symphony of music in Sai Kulwant Hall on this evening as part of Sri Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam. The first performance was by the acclaimed carnatic music artiste Bombay Jayashri. The second performance was by Ayaan Ali Khan, younger son of Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan. One can call them purists in Carnatic and Hindustani styles of music.    Bombay Jayashri began her performance with the song Jagadisha Sureesha… and followed it up with Gopala Gokula Vallabheeyam… and then the song that struck the chords in every heart, the melodious Vuyyala Luguma Sri Sathya Sai… One could well imagine our dear Lord Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba swaying in the swing to the song. The artiste topped her performance with the song Krishna Nee Begame Baaru… After this song, Bombay Jayashri and her accompanying artistes were honoured with clothes and mementoes.     The second performance for the evening by Ayaan Ali Khan, who made his solo debut at the age of eight, won plaudits from everyone in the hall. It was a soul-stirring performance from the young artiste. Having performed all over the world in front of varied audiences, the artiste was at ease in handling the Sarod. The recitals were in Raag Shri. One piece after the other had a cascading effect on the audience. At the end of the performance, Ayaan Ali Khan and his accompanying artistes were honoured with shawls and mementoes. After a few Bhajans and distribution of Prasadam, the session ended with Arati at 7 p.m.     II Samasta Lokaaha Sukhino Bhavantu II

Aradhana Mahotsavam begins… Monday, April 23rd, 2012

Three-day Sri Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam, commemorating the ascent of the Avatar from the physical plane, commenced this morning  amid heartfelt remembrance of the enchanting Lord Who walked the Prasanthi soil for over eight decades. Proceedings for the morning began with an introductory talk by University Controller Of Examinations Sri S. Rangarajan who dwelled on the difficult phase of accepting the reality of His changing over from the physical to the omnipresent all-pervading reality. Calling the year gone by a tough one, challenging His devotees to refocus on His subtler dimensions of eternal existence, Sri Rangarajan invited the speakers for the colloquium on the theme "Experiencing the Divine – From the Form to the Formless". The speakers were Dr. Samuel Sandweiss, a familiar name among Sai fraternity, a long-time time devotee, eminent practising psychiatrist from San Diego, California, USA and Swami Suddhananda Giri of Yogoda Satsanga Society, founded by revered Sri Sri Paramahamsa Yogananda. Dr. Samuel Sandweiss, elucidating on the theme, spoke on the subject based on facts of his own experience with Bhagawan spanning over four decades. Experiencing Divinity from form to formlessness is to experience and celebrate Swami's all-embracing love that brings us together as one family. About the aspect of "Formlessness", he said, "my understanding of the formless is that it is infinite silence, eternal peace, emptiness of desires and attachments: pure love, which is everything". Quoting Bhagawan, "Everything is Nothing and Nothing is Everything", the speaker claimed there is no separation, there is only One and that One is Everything, that One is Love. With the help of a couple of actual stories, with video clips, Dr. Sandweiss presented his theories of Swami's Omnipresence and how Bhagawan is the Ultimate Truth, Parabhrahmam. The second speaker Swami Suddhananda Giri started off in typical Yogoda style as taught and practised by Paramahamsa Yogananda, with an prayer visualising Bhagawan at the brow-centre, visualising various Divine aspects, calling attributes seeking Divine guidance. His speech was centred around how the difficult phase of Paramahamsa Yogananda's physical departure was dealt by the followers when the Master shed his mortal frame six decades ago, in 1952. Invisible, impersonal God can be projected in a personal form by devotion…however, it is foolish to limit God in a form and forget His omnipresence, said the Swamiji  narrating the example of how Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa attained it, crossing from his dearest Mother Kali's form to the formless Mother Divine, with the help of sword of Wisdom. Sharing anecdotes, experiences of Yogananda followers, the Swamiji expressed hope that Bhagawan's devotees would find it easy to cross over from the form to the formless. He ended his speech with a prayer, joined by all, a prayer awakening the God within. A couple of bhajans continued before Mangala Arathi offering at 1030 hrs. II Samastha Lokaaha Sukhino Bhavantu II Scholarly Exposition and Drama Presentation… Monday, April 23rd, 2012 Continuing with the colloquium, "Experiencing the Divine – the Form to the Formless" organised to commemorate Sri Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam, two programmes were slated for the evening session of 23rd April 2012. The first was a scholarly speechby Sri J. Jayaraman from the Ramanashram followed by a play by the youth of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Odisha, "A Pilgrimage to Myself." Sri Jayaraman gave a scholarly exposition delving into philosophical truths. Paying his salutations to the Self-effulgent, Self-sporting light Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the speaker spoke of his inner experiences. Sri Jayaraman opined that one cannot expect the form to be always there. One has to withdraw to go to a higher plane. One has to withdraw from the outer and travel to the inner plane. The inner subsumes the outer.     Sri Jayaraman was also blessed with two interviews with Bhagawan. When he asked Swami in one of the interviews for Balam (strength), Swami gave a succinct reply: "Atma is Balam." He concluded his speech with a Sloka (verse) of Ramana Maharshi. The second presentation, "A Pilgrimage to Myself" had the pertinent theme of a youth who is distraught at the physical separation of Bhagawan. But he soon realises that Bhagawan has not gone anywhere. He is present everywhere, in the heart of everyone.     The play was a dramatic presentation of some real life incidents of persons placed in different spheres of human predicament. It highlighted how Swami even after He left His mortal coil, continues to perform loving miracles and transforms lives and has become integral to their lives. A hair-raising incident of a youth who is confined to his wheelchair is cured of his disability when he has the vision of Bhagawan in his sleep.     Another revealing incident of a convict who is transformed after coming to know of Bhagawan is exonerated and released from jail two years prior to his completion of the term for his good conduct was the highlight of the drama. The play was interwoven into eight scenes and ended with the youth breaking into a song. The day's programme concluded with Arati and distribution of Prasadam. II Samastha Lokaaha Sukhino Bhavantu II

'SRI SATHYA SAI ARADHANA MAHOTSAVAM' PROG RAMME Schedule April 23 - 25, 2012 April 23, 2012 (Monday) - Morning Programme     1. 8:00 a.m. Veda Recitation   2. 9:00 a.m. Lighting the lamp for the Colloquium on "Experiencing the Divine - From the Form to the Formless"   3. 9:05 a.m. Introduction of the theme and address by Dr. Samuel Sandweiss 4. 9:30 a.m. Address by Swami Shuddhananda of the Yogoda Society 5. 10:00 a.m. Bhajan   6. 10:30 a.m. Mangala Arati April 23, 2012 (Monday) - Evening Programme     1. 5:00 p.m. Address by Sri Jayaraman of the Ramanashram 2. 5:30 p.m. Cultural Programme - Drama by Youth of Odisha 3. 6.15 p.m. Bhajan 4. 6.45 p.m. Mangala Arati April 24, 2012 (Tuesday) - Morning Programme 1. 8:00 a.m. Veda Recitation 2. 8:20 a.m. "Guru Vandanam" by University Students 3. 8:50 a.m. Address by Trustee 4. 9:00 a.m. Release of Book on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba 5. 9:05 a.m. Introductory Remarks by the author Padmashri Dr. G. Venkataraman 6. 9:10 a.m. Address by His Excellency the Governor, Mr. E. S. L. Narasimhan 7. Bhajan and Aarthi April 24, 2012 (Tuesday) - Evening Programme     1.   5:00 p.m. Cultural Programme - Vocal Concert by Bombay Jayashree and Sarod Recital by Ustad Ayan Khan   2. 6:30 p.m. Bhajan and Arathi   April 25, 2012 (Wednesday) - Morning Programme     1. 8:00 a.m. Veda Recitation   2. 9:00 a.m. Bhajan   3. 9:30 a.m. Arathi   April 25, 2012 (Wednesday) - Evening Programme     1. 5:00 p.m. Veda Recitation   2. 5:20 p.m. Talk by a University Student   3. 5:40 p.m. Address by Prof. G. Venkataraman   4. 6:00 p.m. Cultural Programme - Songs by Youth of West Bengal   5. 6:45 p.m. Bhajan   6. 7:00 p.m. Arathi     Please do inform all your family and friends about this ceremony. Thank you,