Dasara – Day 5
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011
The Veda Purusha Sapthaha Jnana Yajnam graced the Poornachandra Hall for the third day from 0700hrs to 1200hrs. 15 villages of the Bukkapatnam Mandal were covered by students today. The villagers welcomed the students with thoranams and banners of Bhagawan. Chairs with Bhagawan’s photographs graced many streets and presided over the distribution. Children of the villages had a great time as this was a day of festivity for them. Shouts of “Sai Ram” from the sweet voices of the kids, inspired the students with vigor.
The Grama Seva started with Nagarasankirtan in which the tiny tots joined the students with all enthusiasm. With great humility and grace the villagers accepted Prasadam and clothes with the complete understanding that it has come from their Own Mother. The students learned many important lessons about the hospitality of the Indian Villages. Young and old alike waved at the vans bidding adieu to the couriers of their Lord to welcome them again next year.
In the evening the proceedings began at 1630hrs with Veda recitation by Institute students. Sri Shashank Shah speaking on the glory of the mother and the eternal true mother, Sathya Mata, introduced the speakers of the day.
Kumari Lalitha Sarma, an M.Phil student in English from the Anantapur Campus of the University spoke on the theme, “Learning at the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan”. Beginning the talk with the starting verse of Soundarya Lahari, she spoke of Yajna and the detachment developed by that with the verse, “This is not Mine”. She warned us against the delusion that we have any contribution to the Sai Mission. She said, the Sai Mission contributes to our Chitta Shudhi or purification of the intellect. Quoting from the Upanishads and Tagore’s Geetanajali, she said that Bhagawan not only satisfies our physical hunger but also our spiritual hunger. She ended the talk on a personal note with her experiences with Bhagawan as a Nadaswaram player.
Sri Sai Giridhar SaiRam, a doctoral research scholar in Chemistry has had the unique privilege of speaking in front of Bhagawan on many occasions. On a previous occasion when Bhagawan spoke through him, the student said that The Lord blessed him with a ring that had 4S’s which Bhagawan expanded to theme, “Salokyam Sarupyam Samipyam Sayujyam”. Salokyam or residing in the Divine Abode of Prasanthi Nilayam he said is a rare chance that we are blessed with experiencing. Sarupyam or having the same form of the Lord is gained by following His footsteps and doing what He would do. Samipyam or nearness and dearness to Him is gained by surrender and accepting everything as His will. Finally Sayujyam or merger with the Lord was explained by Bhagawan Himself to the student. “I am not this body. I am not this Mind. Then where is the place for I?” The student further expounded when “I” is added to “Sa” or divinity, we get Sai and therefore Sai is our very own identity.
The talks of the students was followed by excerpts from the Divine Discourse where Bhagawan expounds, ” Follow the heart as it is the voice of the conscience. Bhagawan further explained how to pay tax to the Lord to whom everything belongs. Asking everyone to bring the hands together in tune with the beat, Bhagawan sang, “Madhura Madhura Murali…”
Music by students from the Anantapur Campus of the University was the next programme in the agenda. The songs were composed and rendered by the students themselves. Before the beginning of the programme, the students presented a miniature Golu to Bhagawan and took his blessings for Navarathri.
With concise introductions in chaste English, the students started the programme with the song, “Sri Saieshwaraya…” in Sanskrit to be followed by a Telugu and Hindi song to be followed by a multilingual song. Showing their Carnatic expertise, they then sang a thillana before concluding with a western piece. The programme was followed by Bhajans and Arati. 0rasadam was distributed to all.
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