Maha Purnahuthi offered at Brindavan Ati Rudram…
Thursday, March 12th, 2015
The Sacred Fire Pit at the centre stage in the Sai Ramesh Hall, Brindavan has consumed with great relish a series of offerings marking the grand finale, Maha Purnahuthi, of the epochal Ati Rudra Maha Yajna this afternoon. The final session later in the evening was marked by the Celestial Wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
It’s been 11 days since the grand epochal Ati Rudra Maha Yajna began. The grand event of boundless spiritual significance at Bhagawan’s Brindavan Ashram, Whitefield, Bengaluru came to its grand finale this afternoon with the offering of Maha Purnahuthi at 1230 hrs., witnessed by a multitude of devotees. For the past 11 days, the “Trayeeshwara Lingam” that adorned the sacred Sai Ramesh Hall has been the cynosure of all eyes, worshipped every day with a set of regular rituals as part of the Yajna. One Ati Rudram consists of 14641 Rudrams that include 14641 Namakams and 1331 Chamakams alongside Rudrabhishekam, Rudra Homams conducted by 121 priests in 11 Homa Kundas, embellished by a regular set of spiritual routine.
On the ‘grand finale’ morning, the venue was packed with a huge concourse of devotees filling every inch of available space, spilling over. Exuding great serenity, filled with spiritual ambieance, with Vedic chanting resounding unabated, the blessed venue was a virtual scene of auspiciousness, anticipating the grand culmination of the 11-day ritual.
The proceedings began quite early and continued with a set of custom rituals. Being the concluding day, the session was packed with opulent rituals, namely Sama Veda Parayana, Panchamrutha Abhishekam, Rudra Parayana, Rudrabhishekam, Rudra Homam, Sri Gayathri Homam, Agni Samyojanam, Jayati Homam, Dasha Dana and Uttaranga Godana… donating and worshipping of ‘Gomata’, ‘holy cow’, all performed in the backdrop of unabated resonance of sacred Vedic hymns.
A series of offerings continued to all the eleven fire-pits ahead of the Maha Purnahuthi. The sacred Rudram chanting reached a crescendo just after 12 noon ahead of the ensuing Maha Purnahuthi offering. At 1220 hrs. the Chief Priest sought Bhagawan’s blessings before commencing the final proceedings of the Yajna. Maha Purnahuthi was then offered amidst high-decibel Vedic chanting from hundreds of vocal cords, joined by multitudes with prayer-attuned hearts. After the Maha Purnahuthi offering, even as the rituals continued, with the fire flame still blazing high, Kumbhabhishekam with the holy ‘kalasha’ waters from various sacred rivers was offered next, worshipping the sacred ‘Trayeeshwara Lingam”. Mangala Arathi to the “Trayeeshwara Lingam” followed next, marking the grand culmination of the eleven-day ritual.
Samprokshanam, sprinkling of holy ‘abhishekam’ water was done next, partaking the bliss and blessing of the event with the devoted assembly.
Maha Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan marked the end of the morning proceedings.
Celestial Wedding – ‘Shiva Parvati Kalyanam’
Marriage is termed an auspicious ceremony in the physical plane; a Divine Marriage of Universal Divine Couple in presence of the Supreme Avatar does gather the supreme significance! On the sidelines of the just concluded Ati Rudra Maha Yajnam, in the evening, the sacred Sai Ramesh Hall at Brindavan, Whitefield witnessed another auspicious event, the Celestial Wedding Of The Divine Couple, Lord Chandrasekhara with Goddess Parvati, in the immediate Divine ‘Omni’Presence of Beloved Bhagawan.
The solemnization of the Celestial Wedding happened in a grand ceremony, held in a makeshift podium, officiated by Prof Nanjunda Dikshit along with a host of priests.
Beginning the proceedings with Ganapathi Puja, the ceremony passed through various associated rituals that include Kalyana Sankalpam, Kanyadanam, Mangalya Mahalakshmi Puja culminating in Mangalyadharana, tying of the sanctified Mangala Sutra on the Celestial Bride, marking the completion of the event. After the Divine Marriage, Gowri Kalyana Vaibhavam rendered the air, singing “Shiva Parvati Kalyanam Anandame…” sharing express joy at the grand auspicious occasion. Akahsatas (sacred yellow rice) and Flowers were then offered to the Divine Couple followed by Vastradanam.
Setting a sacred precedent, Bhagawan had conducted ‘Chandrasekhara – Parvati Celestial Marriage’ in the holy Prasnthi precincts in Sept 2010.
Bhagawan’s Divine discourse was then aired through the public address system. Speaking on the importance of Navavidha Bhakti that ends in Atma Nivedanam, Bhagawan ended His spirited discourse with the bhajan “Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam Govindam Bhaja Moodamathe…”
Adding up to the lustrous holy ambience at the auspicious twilight, Sai Bhajans rendered the air. Mangala Arathi at 1930 hrs. marked the end of the proceedings.
Earlier, the proceedings for the evening commenced with a grand, regal procession ‘carrying’ The Lord in a palanquin, accompanied by Veda chanting – Purnakumbham group. As The Lord arrived at the venue, the programme then continued with two talks, by Sarvasree SS Naganand and RJ Ratnakar, Members of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. The speakers shared their thoughts and perspectives about “Swami” and the sacred event, thanking everyone including the Rithwiks for the dedicated service that made the event a grand success.
Speaking first, in a mix of English and Kannada, Sri Naganand expressed the collective tinge of ‘sadness’ at the closure of the grand happening that gave blissful ‘unparalleled’ experience to every single devotee for the past 11 days.
Sri RJ Ratnkar, in his inspiring speech, recollected how Brindavan was Bhagawan’s Home, where He ‘played’ around most relaxed, parting unparalleled blessings to devotees. At every other temple, devotees go in line to meet The Lord, often making offerings to The Lord, whereas, in Bhagawan’s Abode, Bhagawan would come in person to devotees, with Handful of offerings to them…this happened only in Sathya Sai story, recollected Sri RJ Ratnkar in a grateful tone. The speaker also recited a short 4-liner poetic piece in Kannada that Bhagawan conveyed to him vide a dream a couple of days before, for the day’s occasion. The message conveyed was to the tune of… Love Is God and God Is Love and God and Sathya Sai Are One!
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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