Aradhana – A Synonym For Awakening The God Within…

Sunday, April 2nd, 2017

The Sri Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsava as declared by Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations is on and many deserved souls are into a special special spiritual journey unto Sai within, making attempts to practise His precepts. Sri Jullie Chaudhuri writes on the occasion detailing individual perception about Sri Sathya Sai Aradhana.

Awaken to Divine Love…is Aradhana Mahaotsav…

All negativity…cleanse and repulse…reach out, rise above…extolling the triumph of  divine love…the transition from the superfluous to the mellifluous…

Personally, the Aradhana Month is a time to attune and commune, contemplate, cogitate, meditate, envisage, ponder and wonder – How can we awaken the God within us…so as to reach out to the God/s around us?

Thus, this specific time set aside for Aradhana alludes to an eternal way of life…for it is all about stirring an awakening…awaking to the inner illumination…awakening the God within. This elevated period is all about opening up to and enveloping all life…all fellow beings with His Divine Love. The heart contains sublime love enough to embrace the cosmos…we only need to be aware of it…wake up to it…and allow it to swirl and flow, gush and grow…nourish and flourish…refurbish the outlook the spirit once forsook while associating with and falling prey to the outward glitter of material living.

The forthcoming span from the last week of March to Thursday, 27th April 2017 lovingly bears an exclusive title – Aradhana Month. Aradhana is a wilful expression of devotion…a deliberate dedication…ardent adoration that caresses the sweetly cherished softer-than-satin Lotus Feet…by way of multihued blossoms having churned the rusted mould…and overcome certain rigid outdated views, thereby enhancing an open perspective, sensitivity, sensibility…which consciously adapts to the harmony of oneness with all of creation as desired by the Supreme Beloved through His oft repeated dictums. Surely the goal of existence should be to live so as to solely please Dear Swami…and thereby avoid being a mere statistic upon the Cosmic Chart. Wouldn’t putting into action the notion of doing our utmost…so as to establish a harmonious co-existence…please our ever blissful Lord…? Wouldn’t that be the transcendental awakening to Divine Love…awakening the God within us…so as to reach out to the God/s in innumerable forms, shapes and sizes around us?

During March – April 2011, Beloved Bhagawan resolutely determined to enact sequential incidences that had a colossal impact on all. On 28th March, our most Precious One chose to admit Himself into the SSSIHMS. He then firmly resolved to withdraw His Divine Form from the physical sphere on 24th April. None in this created world can fathom or decipher His Decisions or Actions. The quest for answers has a simple conclusion – Accept His Will for He writes the Script, He is the Divine Director and the Drama of Creation, suffice to say, is His Leela, His Sport and Exclusive Play.

The yearning to see His beauteous Appearance,
To be in His immediate enchantingly soothing Presence,
Is a constant tug at the heartstrings…
Yet,
When the mind is cajoled to seek, experience…
…and behold the Beloved One…
…in every bit and being around us,
A wonderful journey unfolds…
…to a great extent the soul is suitably consoled…
…growing in awareness that in each heart that beats…
… it is Beloved Bhagawan Who is enthroned.

Aradhana is a devoted flow of worship and adoration. How can we express our adulation to Him Who is the Divine Indweller of one and all?
Isn’t He happy when all beings are happy?
Didn’t Bhagawan assert – ‘Happy, happy, happy…be happy…happy, happy, happy, make others happy…all will be happy, God will be happy’?
These profound lines were part of the theme song that echoed during the 90th Birthday Celebrations of our Loving Lord.

When selfless actions reach out to those in need, be it man, bird or animal…in the air, on land, in flowing waters or in the deep sea, it reverberates as vibrant energy…pulsating as a song of devotion touching that Vishal Hrudaya…a most exalted aradhana…and…the Lord smiles. It is akin to bringing soft sun rays of spring, warmhearted indulgence for anyone frozen from the chilling winds of winter, cold and alone.

Deeply earnest individual and collective efforts,
To adore and pay homage to our Beloved Lord…
…are like droplets in a stream of Sadhana…
…evolving into waves of fervent worship…
…gushing towards the Endless Ocean,
Streaks of lightning that shimmer…
…only to merge in the Eternal Ether,
Shooting stars and comets that blaze a trail…
…in the magnificent panorama of the Cosmos…
…culminating as a Prem Vandana…
…that adoringly embrace and greet…
…those most sacrosanctly treasured Lotus Feet.

To understand this interlude of special Aradhana better, we need to know about the period of Lent which culminates on Easter Sunday, fêted globally for being the day Jesus Christ resurrected Himself. Traditionally, the forty days in Lent are marked by Prayer (justice towards God), Fasting (justice towards self), acts of Penance and Almsgiving (justice towards neighbour/others). However, many devoted ones practice the all-encompassing compassion of Christ, forgiveness, being kind, giving up something they enjoy, introspecting, doing things that will bring them closer to God, as well as donating time or money to charities.
Quite significantly Dearest Bhagawan’s crucial enactment in 2011 took place during this period of Lent.

It certainly is a time of Sai Lent, of silently practising His Maxims, of steadfastly following His Exemplary Examples, of allowing our moments, our breaths…to convey His Kindness, His Benevolence, His Magnanimity…His Patience…the gentle sentiment of sensitivity, compatibility, amity and unity…the fond expressions of tender empathy, sympathy and ‘fellow feeling’ for all living beings…for as Hrudayavasa…He is the core of all sentient beings…since each heart is the temple where He eternally does dwell.

Our act may commence as a drop…
…yet every drop enhances the Ocean.
It may be a tiny spark but it can warm a lonely heart.
It may appear as a solitary grain,
However,
For a soul starved of care and love…
…it may represent a feast grand enough.
If you don’t attempt to fly, how will you soar?
The Lord recognises the intent…
…more than the fancy wrappings or the extent of the contents.
So, this duration is a time of paying respect and reverence to Sathya, to Dharma, to Prema, to Shanti. It is a time to honour the Bhagawan in all beings through the practice of Ahimsa, of encircling each living being with ‘maitri bhav’, exuding harmony for every atom of creation.

HE…
H – Heaven…E – Earth…
HE…represents Heaven and Earth…
Heaven came to Earth…
Heaven walked on Earth…
Heaven became earth…
…and Earth a haven…
He spoke and taught us so much…
…we heard…but did we listen and learn?
He gave us so much,
We received…
…but what did we…
…and do we have to offer…
…to the Sai in all that exists around us?
He shielded us, He protected us and still does so…
He took on so much on His Mortal Frame for our sake,
What can we forsake,
…how can we mould our thoughts…
…words and deeds in a befitting manner…?
What activities can we engage in…
…to serve Bhagawan in every bit of creation…?
How can we shield and protect earth…
…while responding to His Call to Love all and Serve all…
…all creatures both great and small?

With all that Beloved Bhagawan has placed inside of us…how can we make a difference to all life around us? The ‘all life’ refers to the environment too…everyone qualifies, strong or meek; naive or wise, ailing or healthy; impoverished or wealthy…in the mineral, plant, animal or human world.
It certainly is a time to applaud and offer deep, devout gratitude to Beloved Bhagawan, His Almighty Grace…His Timeless Communiques…His Teachings Of Love And Peace For Every Atom The Cosmos Through, His Unconditional Love and Just Generosity…His Impartial Magnanimity, then to live in resonance with His Essence…to reach out beyond any confines…beyond any binding boundaries to be boundless…beyond self-centredness to selflessness…promoting human values and humaneness…a blessed Oneness through the true practice of Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu…Samastha Jeeva Sukhino Bhavantu…for that is when we raise ourselves to please the Beloved One in all of creation…in me and you.
Let Aradhana Mahaotsav…awaken us to Divine Love.

May our Aradhana truly be a divine synonym…a sanctified hymn…a holy reflection of Him Whom we are attempting to adore…ushering in an awakening of the God within…

 

 

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