Guru Purnima 2012
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012
When the Guru was placed in the Golden Throne of devotees hearts
Of all the relationships that exist in the world, from the mother and child to the doctor and patient, the purest and noblest of relationships is the unique bond between the Guru and the disciple. The disciple loves the Guru with all his heart and the Guru responds a thousand fold and yet the Love is intimately impersonal. While the Guru loves the disciple with compassion and empathy which none else could show, He also has an aura of dispassion allowing Him to stay unbounded by the perils of affection. Indeed, Guru Purnima is the celebration of this matchless Love story between the Guru and the disciple epitomised by the Love of our Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The Sai Kulwant Hall, that has witnessed the Love of the Supreme Master guiding, guarding and transforming innumerable lives once again witnessed a grand Guru Purnima Festival this year, celebrated on 3rd July. The hall was decked most beautifully and a Golden Throne shone on the stage with the purity of the matchless Love of the Guru.
The programme commenced with Vedam and Pancha Vadyam at 0800 hrs. Who better than the students of Bhagawan, to sing songs of their Love and Devotion to Him on this most auspicious day? In their offering titled “Guru Vandana”, students commencing with the Sadguru Sai Stotram, went on to enthrall the assembly with a beautiful Carnatic rendition, Rama nee.. Special songs for the occasion, Sri Sai Gurudev.. and Satguru Ashtakam followed. They concluded the programme reminding the audience of the simplest and most powerful Sadhana that Bhagawan has given us, Bajo Re Parama Naama Sri Sai.
In his introductory speech, Sri Sai Giridhar, Research Scholar of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, appealed the audience to turn their mind lit by the full moon towards the Lord. The speaker lavishly praised various illustrious masters like Buddha and Veda Vyasa who expounded the truth to the world, before paying gratitude to the Truth itself incarnated as Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sri Giridhar then introduced the speakers of the day.
Sri Kota Sivakumar, an alumnus of Bhagawan’s university; the founding director of a HR Consulting firm; a member, office bearer and trainer in the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations; a lyricist and a regular contributor to a monthly magazine dedicated to Spirituality and Nationality was the first speaker of the morning. Sri Sivakumar thanked all the selfless teachers who have guided him along in the right path before recollecting the direct teaching he obtained from Bhagawan. From his own personal experience and with help of many anecdotes the speaker explained how Bhagawan awakens, warns, encourages helping an individual to grow and elevate himself. He concluded the talk exhorting the audience to seat the Guru in our hearts.
The second speaker was Dr Narendranath Reddy, the Chairman of Prasanthi Council and Director of the Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation. After exalting Prasanthi Nilayam, the blessed ground where Bhagawan chose to take birth and establish His mission, He reminded the blessed assembly the expansion of Bhagawan’s Name as given by Himself, SAI BABA: See Always Inside – Being Awareness Bliss Atma. Dr Reddy then recounted various activities undertaken by the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations – Worldwide with a special focus on Medical Care. He made a special mention of the continuing efforts put up by the volunteers in earthquake affected regions of Haiti and Japan.
Sri Nimish Pandya, the National Vice President of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations, India, in-charge of the education wing commenced his talk saying that such is the miracle of Sai’s Love that the bliss of the devotee, no matter how much the debilitating force, never diminishes. While recounting the various manifestations happening around the world, Sri Pandya warned that it is a reminder that He is still watching us and that we should continue to live up to the name of a Sai Devotee. He concluded his talk saying that the Sai Organisation believes in the power of the youth and are confident that a new generation of office bearers will take the organisation even more forward by the Loving grace of Bhagawan Baba.
The talks were followed by an audio clipping of Bhagawan’s Guru Purnima discourse where He explains who a Guru is, and exhorts us to not salute Him as He is not different from His devotees; If one must salute, salute himself or herself, for the same Divinity is manifested in us too. He gave a special emphasis on the benefits of speaking less for the sadhaka and the control of desires. Bhagawan concluded His discourse with the Bhajan, ‘Prema Muditha Man Se Kaho Ram Ram Ram’. Arati was offered at 1030 hrs.
Carnatic Concert by Malladi Brothers
The Guru Purnima Celebrations came to a grand conclusion with a concert by Malladi brothers who have become a mainstay in Prasanthi Nilayam during the Guru Purnima festivity till 2007.
Commencing with Rama Nannu Brovara, they differed from their practice over the last year of repeating old favourites and performed many more new songs this time including Brahma Jnana Pradayaka, Sathya Sai Deva and Bangara Cherunuvu. However the highlight of the programme was the absolute fault less rendition of the Tyagaraja krithi, Brocheva . The rendition of the Malladi Brothers, Malladi Sreeramprasad and Malladi Ravikumar was much enhanced by the able accompaniment of ‘Kalaimamani’ Embar.S. Kannan on the violin and ‘Kalaimamani’ Mannargudi Easwaran on the Mrudangam.
In their characteristic style they concluded the concert with the ‘Mangalam’ song, Ramachandraya… All the artistes were honoured with gifts and Prasadam was distributed to the gathering. Arathi was offered at 1900 hrs.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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