URGENT REMINDER for those who are donating Books and/or carrying them to Muddenahalli during Birthday Celebrations | | Library Books for Swami's Campuses in Karnataka, India Providing Education for Life | | It has come to light that there is a great need for books to fill all the libraries in all the new Educational Campuses that have been built in the State of Karnataka over the pastfew years by the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Trust. As part of the Each One Educate One, School Library System, a 'Library Books Seva' is being set up. Please view helpful suggestions here: Guidelines for Book Donations | | If you wish to donate books and/or have space in your luggage to take books to India during the Birthday events: Please sign up here. Even bringing one book would be wonderful. | | | | Library at Sri Sathya Sai Niketanam in Gulbarga, Karnataka | | The 'Education for All' initiative provides free, values-based education for rural children. In cooperation with Prashanthi Bala Mandir Trust (PBMT) they are supporting the construction of a beautiful new campus for boys in the village of Tumkur, about 80 Miles from the city of Bengaluru. This is a special program of the USA Region which is building the infrastructure of the much-needed campus. It will provide 6th to 12th grade education and will feature all needed facilities to provide the highest level of character and academic education, including the most up to date computer labs. | | | Bhoomi Pooja for the Hostel Building was performed on August 5, 2019 This will be completed by the beginning of the next Academic Year. | | The Campus is named Sri Sathya Sai Karunya Niketanam (Abode of Compassion) and is located on more than 40 acres of land. The 120,000 square feet of buildings will provide classrooms, living accommodation for students and staff, conference halls, dining facilities and a kitchen for food preparation. Additionally, there will be parks and a number of sports fields for the student's physical development. | | Sri Sathya Sai Karunya Niketanam is already in operation. Currently, temporary structures are housing and educating 105 students in grades 6 & 7 with the help of 10 staff members. The first phase of the permanent school and hostel construction has begun. The final phases are estimated to be completed in 3-5 years. As in all the Loka Seva Group of Institutions, education will be imparted free of cost. Additionally, all students from lower income families will be given room and board, clothes, books and other necessities, free of cost. | | | Yoga and Meditation | | This Campus project will require all amenities such as secured boundaries, roads, drinking water facilities and a sewage treatment plant. Like all of the Loka Seva Group of Institutions, the Tumkur Campus is designed to be as "green" as possible and will also feature solar power generating facilities and rain water harvesting! Click here for 'Education For All' website and to participate | | Doddaballapur Campus For Girls | | Doddaballapur is a full fledged, residential school planned for girls in the rural district of Kolar, 30 Miles from Bengaluru, India. The school when fully built, will have classes from 6th to 12th grades. Like any other school operated by Prashanthi Bala Mandir Trust, this school will also have all the facilities including hostel, playgrounds, prayer hall, dairy farm, science and computer labs and other amenities. | | The process of acquiring 30 acres of land has begun following which the first phase of construction will begin. Initially, the school will facilitate the first batch of students and then will gradually expand. | | Navaratri and Dussehra Celebrations September 29 - October 8, 2019 | | The Navaratri Festival is celebrated to proclaim to the world the power of the Godesses. The supreme Shakti (Energy) manifests Herself in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Durga grants us physical, mental and spiritual energy. Lakshmi bestows on us wealth of many kinds; not just money, but also the wealth of character and many more. Even health is wealth. Saraswati bestows on us intelligence, the capacity for intellectual enquiry and the power of discrimination. One's own mother is a combination of all these Divine Beings. She provides us energy, wealth and intelligence. She constantly desires our advancement in life. So she represents all the three Goddesses we worship during the Navaratri festival. Recognizing one's mother as the very embodiment of all divine forces, one must show reverence to her and treat her with love. This is an important message that Navaratri, the nine-night festival gives us. — Sathya Sai Baba, October 14, 1988 | | The nine-day celebration began in the morning of September 29th, 2019, with Ganapathi Homa at the Sri Sathya Sai Hrudaya Mandiram. The grounds were beautifully decorated, including different Rangoli (sand painting) designs each day, that were meticulously created by the priests officiating at the Homa (fire ritual). The rituals in Swami's presence raised the vibrations to Divine levels! After Devi Pooja (ritual worship of Mother Goddess) and the Poornahuti (complete offering of Oneself)) of the Homa, Swami proceeded to the Hrudaya Mandiram Hall to witness the traditional, Bengali style Arati for Mother Durga. The Homas during the subsequent days were each dedicated to a different aspect of Divinity. Explanations were provided in both Kannada and English. Each day, the Arati for Mother Durga was preceded by music and dance performances. | | | Devi Pooja (Ritual Worship of Mother Goddess) | | | The idols of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya were specially made for this occasion and brought in from West Bengal | | | Ritual Dance Worship in the Bengali tradition called Dhunuchi was performed each day to the beat of the Dhak drums | | On the 7th day, in the early hours of the morning, the Hiranyagarbha Lingam was taken in procession from the Sri Sathya Sai Premamrutham Hall to the Yagashala (temporary structures constructed for worship) for Maha Rudra Yagna (ritual worship of Lord Shiva). This special yagna was performed for four days, for the betterment of humanity. The final offering was made on Vijayadashami/Dussehra Day after which Madhusudan Sai sprinkled everyone present with holy water from the Lingam Abhishekam (oblations). | | | Hiranyagarbha Lingam in Procession | | | Decorated Lingam after Abhishekam (oblations) | | | Maha Rudra Yagna (Ritual Worship of Lord Shiva) | | Each day concluded with a cultural program in the evening at Premamrutham Hall. Students from various classes chanted Vedas at the start of the program. Many dignitaries from various States in India and leaders from several spiritual establishments were invited to speak. 'Institute of Human Values' was launched by the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human excellence, to benefit students, parents and professionals. Teachers were felicitated for their dedicated service. Swami's discourse was followed by music and dance performances by well-known artistes and students of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions. | | | The Students of the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Group of Institutions after their Music Performance! | | Important Links There is so much happening in the world of Sai that it is almost impossible to keep up with everything. Below are a few links to sites that provide updated info, videos, summaries of talks and much more. What a delight it is to be a part of Swami's ongoing mission of love and service. - New Divine Will Foundation Facebook page: Facebook
- Updates of events at the Muddenahalli Ashram/Campus: Muddenahalli
- Latest photos and summary articles about Swami's travels: Travels
- Videos of events at Muddenahalli and around the world: Videos
- Electronic Divine Booklets of Swami's international travels: Divine Booklets
- Subscribe to Muddenahalli Free Newsletter: Ananda Vahini
- Divine Will Foundation previous newsletter list (right click on links to open in new window): Previous DWF Newsletters
- Information about local Satsangs in the USA: USA Local Satsangs
- US Academy for Human Excellence Website: USAHE Website
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