Avatar Declaration Day 2011

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

This day, 71 years ago, in a small and unknown town called Uravakonda in the erstwhile Madras Presidency of South India, a 14 year old boy named Rathnakaram Sathya Narayana Raju returned from school in the afternoon, cast away his books in front of his sister-in-law, Smt. Susheela, and declared most emphatically – “I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai Baba! My devotees beckon me. I have my work to attend to. I am leaving!”  He moved into the garden of a neighborhood house, and to the people gathered there , he sang his  epoch making Bhajan – Maanasa Bhajare Guru Charanam, Dustara Bhava Sagara Taranam (Oh Mind! Worship the Feet of the Guru and cross the turbulent ocean of this worldly existence).

The day was spent in prayer and quiet contemplation by the devotees in Puttaparthi. They spent the day in remembering the often repeated statement by Bhagawan Baba, “I am Divine, but you too are Divine. The only difference is that I know about my Divinity and you are unaware of it”. There was an hour long Vedam session from 1630 to 1730hrs in the evening. This was followed by short talk by Sri Anil Kumar on the significance of this day.

On this auspicious day, the learned speaker choose to recollect some of the declarations, vows and assurances made by the Lord a few of which are listed below,

  • Prasanthi Nilayam is My Abode, My Heaven. It is from here that I operate, bless My devotees and protect them.
  • When a person comes here, all his burdens are lifted and Joy pervades his being.
  • The awareness of being in His presence guarantees success in one’s endeavors.
  • I love your Bhajans and Dance to their tunes in the shrine of your hearts.
  • I behave like a Human so that you can experience proximity to me.
  • I will never forget those who have taken refuge in me.

The translator of Bhagawan’s discourses further elaborated that the holy concept of “Vasudeva Kutumbakam” or One World Family finds fruition only at the lotus feet of Beloved Bhagawan. He said that if one were to ask the speaker what was it that Bhagawan did, his reply would be that He spread Bliss and Peace.

The talk was followed by an Excerpt from Bhagawan’s discourse given on the Avatar Declaration Day of 2002. The entire discourse titled ‘Reminiscence Of The Divine‘ can be read here. The discourse was followed by the Epochal Bhajan of Bhagawan, ‘ Maanasa Bhajare Guru Charanam, Dustara Bhava Sagara Taranam‘. The Bhajan can be downloaded here.

The programme concluded with Aalap Bhajans with students singing ‘Antaranga Sai’, ‘Tum Ho Anaatha Nath Bhagawan’, ‘Sai Pita aur Mata Sai’ and ‘Sai Humaara Hum Sai Ke’ with stirring aalaps. Prasadam was distributed to the gathering. Arati was offered at 1820hrs.

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