One day a jeep-driver crossed the river bed and walked the streets of Puttaparthi, trying to locate Swami. His master, a young English sub-divisional officer, had gone for Shikar (hunting) to the forest on the other side of the Chitravathi, and while returning to Anantapur the vehicle had stopped right opposite Puttaparthi village.

The driver did his best, as did the officer, to get the vehicle moving, but failed. The driver suggested that there was a ‘Boy’ at Puttaparthi who could materialise Vibhuti (sacred ash). Yes, “create, by a circular movement of His palm, the very panacea for all ills, even for the jeep!” Stranded halfway, the Englishman agreed and let the driver go to the village, while he himself sat in the jeep.

The driver bumped into the Boy at last, but was astounded to hear Baba say, “I Am coming, myself, to the jeep.” He walked across the sandy bed, and on reaching the road, peeped into the vehicle and saw the carcass of a tiger that the officer had shot barely two hours ago.

Swami’s deep love for all beings could not tolerate animals being killed or tortured. He said, “I stopped the jeep at this place, for it is a mother, whose three small cubs are at this very time loudly wailing and calling out to her, that you are carrying. Go back! Recover those cubs and gift them to some zoo where they will be well looked after. And do not shoot wild beasts again, for they have caused you no harm. Why do you kill them, surround them and lay traps to catch them. Shoot them instead with a more superior weapon, your camera. That won’t maim or kill them.”

The Englishman was at once enlightened, and he never carried a firearm again. Shooting wild beasts armed with a camera, he discovered, was far more adventurous and sathwic (pure). He presented the orphaned cubs to the zoo, and when the tiger skin came back from the taxidermist, he brought it to Puttaparthi. Prasanthi Mandir was then under construction. He met Baba and placed the skin at His Feet. Sakamma of Coorg pleaded with Him to sit on it in Yogic fashion, with a rosary between His fingers. She had a photographer ready. And Baba obliged, though He has never sat in Dhyana (meditation) or held a rosary!

(PS: Tiger skin in Indian spirituality signifies overcoming animal, beastial tendencies, vasanas.)

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Every human being has a heart. This heart is filled with love. With how many are you sharing the love in your hearts? …With none at all. What, then, is the use of that love if it is not shared? You must share with all the love in your hearts, not with humans alone, but with all beings in creation. Love, which is the gift of God, has to be shared with everyone in the world.

All human troubles arise out of the failure to share this love with one and all because of selfishness. Everyone repeats the benediction: “Lokaas-Samasthaas-Sukhino Bhavanthu!” (Let all the people of the world be happy). To how many are you giving happiness? You are repeating the words mechanically, but are you praying from your hearts for the well-being of the world? …No, not at all. You are concerned only with your selfish interests. The day you root out selfishness from within you, Divinity will blossom in your heart.

People talk about Sakshatkaram. What is it? It is not something external. Sakshatkaram is contemplation of the Divine at all times and in all states within one’s self. “Sarvadhaa Sarvakaleshu Sarvathra Hari Chinthanam” (Thinking of God at all times, in all places continuously). People do recite the Name of Rama incessantly. But will liberation be got by this repetition? To gain liberation, to win Rama’s grace, it is not enough to repeat His Name; you have to act up to Rama’s principles.

Rama sacrifised everything for the sake of Dharma. You have to make a similar sacrifice. Keep Dharma as your ideal. Engage yourself in righteous activities. Only then will Rama shower His grace upon you. If, on the contrary, you perform no Dharmik acts but only repeat Rama’s Name, it is tantamount to abusing Rama.

Likewise, there is no meaning in repeating Krishna’s Name. What the devotee should do is to experience the ecstasy of Krishna Consciousness. …Nor is that all. You should develop the equal-mindedness of Krishna. Krishna maintained the same serenity of mind whether He was in a Yoga- Bhumi, or a Yuddha-Bhumi (battlefield) or Smashana-Bhumi (a cemetery). He was always in a state of bliss. You should aspire to experience such bliss; only then can you be said to experience Krishna Consciousness. Whatever deity you may worship, you should experience the lessons of the deity within you.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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When…

Millions upon Millions and Gazillions

Of

Truthful

Hearts

Engaged In

Righteous, Soulful Sadhana…

Then Came The Most…

Endearing and Enchanting…

Absolutely Humble…

Simple To The Core…

Worshipful…

Adorable…

Reverential…

Angelic…

Magical Mother…

Mother Divine, Who Is Verily…

AmmA! AmmA!! EaswarAmmA!!!

Yes, Mother Easwaramma was The Chosen Mother Who was destined, who was ordained to bring the Divine Bundle Of Supreme Joy called Sri Sathya Sai upon planet Earth, over 95 winters ago, on the most auspicious 23rd November 1926 in the most blessed hamlet of Puttaparthi, The Land That Did ‘excruciating’ Penance.

‘I resolved on My Birth; I decided who should be My Mother” said Bhagawan once in answer to a heap of curious questions by the editor of a Bombay Daily. He went on to add: ‘Mere humans only choose the one who is to be the husband or wife. But the Mother was chosen by the Son in the Rama and Krishna incarnations…”

One can go on writing fantastic tales of such a blessed mother, Whom the world of God’s call ‘The Chosen Mother’, but none of these human descriptions can ever be matching, coming anywhere near the above emphatic statement by The Supreme Divine, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai, Who, summed up the tale declaring that When He Resolved On His Advent, He Decided On His Mother Too.

Avataric folklore of Bharat is replete with stories of such magical mothers, beginning with the Sathya Yuga tale of Mother Anasuya, the blessed Mother Of Lord Dattatreya, Mother Kausalya from the Treta Yuga along with the most ‘sacrificial’ Mother Kaikeyi’ and Mother Sumitra (as Lord Rama’s incarnation is complete with the presence of His siblings who were borne by these sacred mothers), Mother Devaki and Yasoda from the Dwapara Yuga, Mother Sumati, hailed as the Mother of SriPada SriVallabha, the first of the triune Dattatreya incarnations happened over 700 years ago in Pitapuram, Andhra Pradesh, to Mother Devagiramma, the chosen one for the Advent of Bhagawan at Shirdi, leading to the grand finale, our most endearing Mother Easwaramma.

These Mothers by their infinite virtues have earned the eternal privilege and blessing to host the Advent of The Divine in repeated Yugas (different ages) bringing unto Earth the most sacred and ‘Joyous Bundle Of Pack Of Gods’, ensuring blessings infinite.

Discoursing on The Chosen Mother and the greater glory of virtuous mothers Bhagawan has once sung in chaste Telugu, before continuing to explain Who Mother Easwaramma Is?

Rama’s Divinity blossomed under Kausalya’s loving care,

 Lava and Kusa could become powerful and famous

 due to their noble and virtuous Mother Sita,

 The love and care of Jijabai made Shivaji a great warrior,

 Fostered with the love of his Mother Putlibai, Gandhi became a Mahatma.

 For all the beings in the world, there is nobody greater than Mother,  

 Who gives them birth and brings them up with love and care.

Who is Easwaramma? Bhagawan paused this question to the public in one of His Divine discourses, HimSelf answering the same most aptly. She is the Mother of Easwara, revealed Swami then, reiterating the tellingly infinite significance of The Chosen Mother.

As we are commemorating the Mother Easwaramma Day ‘today’, let’s remember what Bhagawan has spoken of the glory of Mother in the above-illustrated poem. Bhagawan said:

For all the beings in the world there is nobody greater than Mother who gives them birth and brings them up with love and care.

Bhagawan’s life has been the most significant practical message of the absolute power of the practice of love and reverence for one’s ‘own’ Mother. Bhagawan in all His actions did epitomise, did characterise His physical Mother as the most reverential one, sending out the Message of His Life, to treat one’s Mother with utmost love and reverence. He did not stop there, but went on giving credit to His Mother for the development of Puttaparthi, by initiating the triple boons of Medicare, Educare and Sociocare, granting full credit to Mother Easwaramma.

On this holy occasion of Mother Easwaramma Day, let’s have this take away message to follow this as practised by Bhagawan HimSelf, worshipping every single Mother with utmost reverence. …And let’s affirm in our collective voice of gratitude, singing unto Her, Mother Easwaramma…

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Oh! Easwaramma…through the ages that was…

 …through the present times…

 …and the epochs yet to come…

 …your Sai Is…and will remain…

 …the most loving, benevolent and compassionate Cosmic Czar…

 He will be consistently acclaimed, applauded…

 …admired, adored and appreciated…

 …as The Sampoorna Avatar!

 Oh! EaswarAmma…Tera Sai Iss Yug Ka Avatar…

 Oh! EaswarAmma…Tera Sai Yug Yug Ka Avatar…

Oh! EaswarAmma…Tera Sai Sampoorna Avatar!

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Truly, all that He speaks become Truth, for He Is verily Truth in human form… Who can fathom the mysterious mystery of The Master Supreme, Who plays His cards at an all-encompassing… supra-conscious level, far…far…way far…beyond any human imagination??? For an earnest seeker, every single moment with Him is a revealing moment… revealing His endless mystery… that is often done in His most inimitable style. A flashback into a beautiful December evening in 1995, with Swami and His students, wherein the last but one batch of Masters in English Literature students at SSSIHL, Prasanthi Nilayam, had this profound Sai-tale of experience.

“Name the book, SAI VANI”, Swami told the students on 28th of December, 1995. But that is not the complete story. The students had assembled in the Mandir that evening with a photograph of Bhagawan and the list of contents of the book. They had sent a letter to Swami that afternoon regarding the book. On seeing the boys carrying the paraphernalia in a tray, Bhagawan gave a curious and mischievous smile.

The occasional glances and smiles continued till some of the boys started wondering if Swami would come near them at all.

At last, Swami came, asking, “What is that?”

The students told about the book and pleaded Swami to suggest a name.

“Peru Enduku?” (Why Name?) Then Swami asked, “Did you think of any name?”

“No, Swami”, the boys replied in a chorus, “You have to give the name”

Graciously, Swami said, “Sai Vani Pettandi” (Name it Sai Vani). “Please write it with Your Own Hands Swami”, pleaded the students.

“No, No” said Bhagawan and moved away. He would have gone a few steps before He paused. Sensing that Swami may agree to bless the book by writing down the name, a few students went up to Swami and gave Him the photograph and the list of contents.

Swami gently wrote: “Sathya Vani”, and after a moment’s pause, He said, “Oh I have written ‘Sathya Vani’ instead of ‘Sai Vani’. Well, Sai Vani is better. Name the book Sai Vani”…. and thus the christening of the book left a mirthful impression on the students assembled there.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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She once asked me with all-motherly concern and virtuous wisdom, and with all-out love for her ‘Beloved Mother Sai’… reposing faith in His pronouncements…, ‘have you ever understood the purport of the Mantra, Samastha Lokah…, that Bhagawan modified and given to us.’ Until that moment, it was yet another happening in His Presence, worthy of announcing to the world, though I was very much personally seated in The Mighty Presence, watching the transition. …And ever-since this ‘motherly nod’, it has been a different journey for me, understanding the purport in letter and spirit. 

The day was Sunday, 31 August 2008… the venue was Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai’s sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam, to be precise, hallowed Bhajan Hall in Prasanthi Nilayam. The congregation was that of 150 odd ‘former students’ of ‘Bhagawan’ employed at various Sri Sathya Sai institutions, in Prasanthi Nilayam – Puttaparthi, Brindavan, Muddenahalli, etc. … and The Host Was the ‘Infinitely Divine’, The Lord Supreme, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.

That blessed afternoon inside the Bhajan Hall, The Lord Supreme moved amongst them,  attending ‘everyone’, glancing, smiling, speaking, chiding, …granting HimSelf out and out. As the session was coming to a grand-closure, He ‘gathered’ HimSelf in the center stage for a ‘talk’, flanked by the entire lot like a swarm of bees on a honeycomb. In His inimitable style, He started revealing something infinitely profound, a would-be-revision of the Maha Mantra, ‘Lokah Samastha… ’ that comes from the Vedic lore.

Thus Spake Sai then: “At the end of the bhajans, you are chanting ‘Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’. It is great and expansive.  As you chant this, you are thinking of only this world, in which you are living in, implying an individual feeling. This is not correct. It is ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’, which is an expansive, all-encompassing feeling, covering all the worlds.” Saying so, He asked His ‘swarm of bees’ to intone after Him the revised format…and thus, for the first time in ‘His Story’ and in the history of His creation, the new Maha Mantra reverberated … ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’.

Perplexed and having no clue, the world outside the ‘hall’ was caught unaware of, listening to the booming echo from The Ultimate Presence. Further, Bhagawan asked the ‘boys’ to commence the official chanting from the next ‘holy’ Thursday, 4th September! ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’ is the elixir for all, all that needs to be set right, at all levels, in all the worlds… truly, the ‘Elixir Divine’ for His creation at large.

Why ‘Samastha Lokah…?’ and what is Its added significance?? …and why this transition from ‘Lokah Samastha…‘ into ‘Samastha Lokah…’??? What, Why and many a question can be raised by many minds that dwell in doubts and resort to arguments, but the very fact that the Maha Mantra was borne of The Lord Supreme, in His natural flow sans any pretense, negates all arguments, simply surrendering to His Will Supreme. Does not The Mother know the need of Her child?

If the Maha Mantra was introduced by Bhagawan with His Divine Sankalpa (resolve) of Cosmic, all-embracing expansion, Samastha Lokah… does cover anything and everything, most unconditionally, rightfully endorsing the legacy of Sri Sathya Sai, that being Love… all-embracing Love…Unconditional Love… Love That Conquers… simply L-O-V-E!!!

“Samastha Lokah…” is undoubtedly the One-off Universal Maha Mantra that claims credit to Its being from Bhagawan in His physical form. Most of the other Mantras claim their origin from the Vedic time, perceived internally by great and elevated souls. …And such a Maha Mantra that claims its origin from the Divine Resolve Of the Supreme-Most Avatar, One Who Is hailed as Sarvadevathaatheetha Swarupa, (The Divine Form beyond all other forms) must be power-packed with Intention Of That WholeSome Divinity – The Supreme Resolve.

What could be this power-packed intention from human perception? The Supreme Lord, from Whose Resolve sprang out this vast creation that includes human beings, made humans, the highest of beings concerning conscious expansion, in His own image… and thus, does want humans to rise to His level of vastness… expansion… becoming That… by Becoming and thus Be, His True Self, Embodiment of Love.  This is clear from His ‘own’ words, wherein He spelled out God’s single-most desire in no uncertain terms….

Concluding His Dasara Divine discourse in 2009, Bhagawan spoke thus:

“God illumines the entire universe as the Atma Tatwa (Innate Divine Principle) immanent in all the living beings and objects. Even though God may appear to be involved in so many activities in the world, it is verily for the pleasure of His devotees. He has no desire of His own. He has only one desire – Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu!”

This Mantra stands as the Mantra beyond all other Mantras… as it is completely selfless and cosmically vast… Pointing to His physical body, He said once that, He Is ‘top-to-toe’ selfless. Indeed, it can be rightly perceived that this Supreme Lord, Who created man in His own image, does ‘desire’ man to be unmade and remade as His own, reflecting The Truth beyond all truths, The Essential Sai Para Brahmam.

At a time when Kali is raging to its peak, The Supreme Godhood introduced this Maha Mantra as the panacea for all universal and cosmic maladies. Bhagawan, Who Is verily The Pulse of time, delivered it to the humans at the right time, for him to use it most effectively.

Anyone who tries this Mantra with an innate feeling of Love is sure to experience EXPANSION soon… and thus entitled to ‘Become and Be’, becoming One With Him… The Master Supreme! Sri Sathya Sai – The ‘True’ SadhGuru!!!

Can we hear The Divine Whisper: “Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu”!!!

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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As Bhagawan HimSelf has said many a time, if at all you want to call Me by some name, call Me Prema Swaroopa. Sai’s Love, the Absolute Purest form of Love that can ever be, is so perfect and blemish-less that with His Love and Love alone that He conquers the hearts of all. Every preceding Avatar has come with one weapon or insignia of Their own. For instance, Lord Sri Ramachandra had brought with Him the Kodanda, the Divine bow and arrow; Bhagawan Sri Krishna His Chakra, the Divine discus. In that accord, what weapon has Lord Sai Rama, this Sathya Sai Avatar come with? His Supreme, all-conquering Love is His only Divine weapon. Sri Sathya Sai’s Love conquers the unconquerable inner foes, which otherwise cannot be conquered so effectively and easily.

The Love that flows unceasingly, like the celestial Ganga, the Sai Prema Ganga flows uninterrupted towards one and all sans any discrimination, filling all the gaps and embracing all, no matter who or what we are. Mother Sai, with His Absolute flawless unsullied Love, accepts anyone as he or she is, with all limitations and shortcomings, as Mother Sai Is verily The Universal Mother Supreme.

The Supreme Divine Love of Sai inspires, motivates and encourages one and all, to transform oneself and become a better person by all means. Swami has forever been giving and forgiving. His Love is so purifying and reassuring that we are so enthused and inspired to become verily Sai ourselves. Once touched by the Divine Supreme Love of The Cosmic Mother Sai, it is impossible for anyone to resist that Love…All-encompassing. After having said ‘Yes’ to Mother Sai and Her Love That Conquers, we become powerless to resort to our old habits and practices that do not fit the new us. We pleasantly undergo the entire process of unmaking and remaking in the Divine Hands of Sai. The life experiences of every Sai devotee across the globe is a classic testimony to this Truth.

Does the physical absence of Sai make any difference at all when it comes to experiencing His Love? No doubt we miss our Beloved Bhagawan’s most beatific form and the utmost enthralling blissful experience of ‘The Beauty Beyond Compare’ – His Divine Darshans, what can be best termed as Sri Sathya Sai Darshana Mahotsavam!!! Nevertheless, we have been immensely blessed by our Beloved Bhagawan with His priceless legacy of His Pure Love. With the greatest treasure of boundless Sai Love, we have absolutely no reason to fear or worry about being lost in this temporary, transient world of dualities, for our Ever-Living, OmniScient, OmniPotent and OmniPresent Sai Is ever around us, ready to wrap us within His orbit of Supreme Love. So long as we hold on to The Divine Lotus Feet, cherishing Sai in every single thought, dedicating every microsecond to our Beloved Mother Sai and being fully functional in the Name of Sai, offering every single thought word and deed to Him, thereby transforming mundane Karma into Karma Yoga, we can breeze through this purification process without any difficulty.

It is the Love of Sai that burns, that purifies, breaks our Ego Empire brick by brick, in the meantime unmaking us completely, just to be remade all anew in the likes of Sai. We gain so much fortitude, forbearance, courage and self-confidence that illusion and disillusionment become a thing of the past. With the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom of Oneness, gained in the Light of Love of Sai, we begin to see this Creation through the Sai Lens. So all and everything appears clearly as the mirror reflection of The Absolute One, Para Brahman – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. There is no more duality and distraction of me and others. All that exists is the Absolute One.

The flame of Love burning within our hearts and souls help us and all around us to tread the path of perfection, embracing The Oneness, which essentially is Liberation. As Swami becomes our sole, soul motto, there are no more petty desires and dualities. The one and only desire is to continue to experience the self-same Oneness all through and become one with the Very Source of Ever Shining Brilliant Light and All-Abiding Love, Prema Swaroopa Sai and eventually transmute into That, The Eternal Para Brahma Sai, from Whom Is our origin and unto Whom do we return.

His Was The Love That Ever Was… The Love That Ever Is… And The Love That Ever Will Be… Love That Conquers!!!

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Announcing the dismissal of Maya, announcing His True Truth, Sathya, The ‘little’ Divine at 14, bestowed upon the humanity the first blessing and in fact, the Ultimate Blessing… Prayer For Liberation, Manasa Bhajare… While revisiting the epochal happening on the 20th October 1940, man should ponder upon as to what does The Mantra entail? It is simpler than the simplest. The mind that serves as a mirror for the individual jeeva need to be purified with the everlasting presence of the Guru, The SadhGuru, Who Is nothing but the purest feeling of I Am…SAI…I Am… Bhagawan says, the ‘I’ represents The Brahmam, and He…Sathya Sai Is the very Source of this Brahmam…Para Brahmam…The True Truth, The Absolute!!! It is this Truth that the then 14 year old ‘Little Divine’ pronounced to you and me and to one and all, to His creation at large! The Mantra that becomes the essence of human life, that contains the Secret For Liberation!

A recap of the epochal happening on the Annunciation Day, as penned by Prof N. Kasturi.

On the 20th day of October, 1940, the day after they all returned from Hampi by special bus, Sathyanarayana started for school as usual. The Excise Inspector of the place, Sri Anjaneyulu who was very much attached to the little Baba, accompanied Him, as far as the school gate and went home, rather reluctantly. He seemed to see a superb halo, round the face of Baba that day and he could not take his eyes away from that enchantment. Within a few minutes, Baba too turned back to the house. Standing on the outer doorstep, he cast aside the books He was carrying and called out, “I Am no longer your Sathya.” “I Am Sai.” The sister-in-law came from the kitchen and peeped out; she was almost blinded by the splendour of the halo, which she saw around Baba’s head! She closed her eyes and shrieked. Baba addressed her, “I Am going; I don’t belong to you: Maya has gone; My bhaktas are calling Me; I have My Work; I can’t stay any longer.” And, so saying, He turned back and left in spite of her pleadings. The brother hurried home on hearing all this; but, Baba only told him, “Give up all your efforts to ‘cure’ Me; I Am Sai; I do not consider MySelf related to you.” Neighbour Sri Narayana Sastri heard the noise; he listened and realised that it was something serious; he ran in; he saw the splendour of the ‘halo’ and fell at Baba’s Feet. He too heard the Historic Declaration, “Maya has left; I Am going; My work is waiting.”

Seshama Raju was nonplussed; he could scarce collect his wits to meet this new situation. A boy, just fourteen, talking of bhaktas, work, maya, and the philosophy of belonging! He could think of only one plan: Sathya was entrusted to him by the parents and it was therefore his task to inform them; Sathya could leave the house, only after they came to Uravakonda.

But, Sathya would not step into that building again; He moved out into the garden of Excise Inspector’s Bungalow, and sat on a rock, in the midst of the trees. People came into the garden from all directions bringing flowers and fruits; the tope resounded to the voices of hundreds, singing in chorus the lines that Sathya Sai taught them. The first prayer that He taught them that day was, as many still remember,

Maanasa bhajare GuruCharanam
Dusthara bhava saagara tharanam

“Meditate in thy mind on The Feet of The Guru; that can take you across the difficult sea of samsara.”

His classmates wept when they heard that Sathya will no longer attend school, that He was much beyond their reach, that His company was hereafter only for those upon whom He showers His Grace. Many came to the garden with incense and camphor, to worship Him. Some came to sympathise with the family, some to congratulate them. Some came to learn and some, alas, even to laugh!

Three days passed thus in that garden; three days of bhajan and namasankirthan. A photographer came with a camera; he wanted Baba to remove a crude stone that was right in front of Him but Baba did not pay heed to that prayer. He clicked nevertheless and lo! As can be seen ‘above’, the stone had become an image of Shirdi Sai Baba! But only in the photograph, not for all assembled there.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Emerging at 1730 hrs, Bhagawan, after completing a full round of darshan, went for a repeat round, only to take a detour after finishing the ladies’ side to come onstage at 1752 hrs through the right of Ganesha. As bhajans went on, Bhagawan continued to sit presiding over the session. At 1805 hrs, Bhagawan gestured to stop the bhajans, indicating for the mike, after a pause of 3…4 minutes, at 1810 hrs. An impromptu Divine discourse was in the offing! What a surprising delight and delighting surprise!

Delving on the greatness of Bharat’s ‘celebrated women’, Savitri, Chandramathi, Mother Sita, Draupadi and Damayanthi, Bhagawan discoursed for the next fifty-five minutes, translated by Prof Nanjundaiah, formerly, Controller of Examinations at SSSIHL (who was also His former translator) in the absence of the regular translator.

Everyone is afraid of death; however Yama goes everywhere discharging his duties, said Bhagawan in an apparent reference to Savitri’s victory over the Lord of death, who, with the Power of her Chastity won the Lord’s grace to bring her dead husband back to life. Lavishly Nowhere else in the world, other than in Bharat, one could find such stories of revival of a dead person and hence God’s special love for the land of Bharath. Power of Chastity is equivalent to Power of Penance. Scary Lord of death, Lord Yama is scared of Chaste Woman, thundered Bhagawan emphasising on the Greatness and Power of Chastity.

Shifting to the story of Raja Harischandra, Bhagawan continued in detail emphasising how Lord HimSelf was pleased with Harischandra’s adherence to Truth that finally won him everything. Harishchandra was totally selfless, said Bhagawan, urging one and all that ‘i’ and ‘mine’ should be eschewed to understand the Self.

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Delving on the story of Mother Sita and the Power of Her Chastity followed by mentions from the illustrious lives of Draupadi and Damayanthi, Bhagawan highlighted that, all of them who lived their lives for their ideal husbands were known for their Power of Chastity. With unity between husband and wife anything could be achieved, reminded Bhagawan.

Power of Chastity and Dharma is not confined to women alone, man equally has to follow the same, but women should never transgress their limits, disobeying their husbands. On Bharat’s greatness, Bhagawan sent out a strong message that opting to those who leave the nation, moving out that He termed as a waste.

Bhagawan concluded His Divine discourse at 1905 hrs with a promise to discourse in detail in the following day. A  Rama bhajan followed upon which Mangala Arathi was offered before Bhagawan moved off the stage at 1915 hrs. Spending the next five minutes inside the interview room, Bhagawan retired to Yajur Mandiram at 1920 hrs.

As if celebrating the unexpected ‘bonus’, the Divine discourse, as Bhagawan moved off the stage after ending His Divine discourse, outside Sai Kulwant Hall, Wind God was in a celebrating mood, blowing across the hamlet with unusual enthusiasm.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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With a ‘bit of inner perception’ one will be able to understand that every single act happening in Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam serves a pointer towards this unity, harmony, oneness. Umpteen times Bhagawan has personally asserted about Unity, Harmony, Cooperation, crowning it all with His Teachings on Love and Peace to all of creation. He has time and again exhorted that ‘Love’ is the undercurrent of everything, be it human or other forms of existence. The Lord Who has ever spoken in the most easily understandable language – the language of the heart, always referred to everyone as Divyatma Swarupulara, Premaswarupulara, meaning ‘Embodiments of Divine Atma’, ‘Embodiments of Love’, certainly serving an indicator towards man’s exalted position of Godhood.

The theory of Ekoham Bahusyami has an interesting ‘tale’ wherein the Supreme Godhood, The One and Only Param Atma, Who, while manifesting HimSelf into many, creating countless ‘jeevatmas’, had given the promise to man that he is made in His Own Image with the same Essence, the essence being that of Oneness and the image being all the virtuous attributes, of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love, Compassion, etc.

Every single act endorsed by Bhagawan, be it in His ever alluring Physical Presence or now in His most astounding subtle omnipresence, is pointing towards this supreme truth of Oneness. He is preparing His loved ones towards this ‘Truth Beyond Truth’, enticing them in His most inimitable way to become ‘True Truth Aspirants’. Be it the everyday spiritual sadhana of Prasanthi Nilayam that includes Prasanthi’s own Sai Bhajans to the multifarious activities running through the calendar year, namely, the Dasara Jnana Saptaha Yajna, various functions and festivities, the Summer Course for students – the tailor-made educational curriculum of Sri Sathya Sai Institutions with its steadfast stress on human values, every single enterprise summits towards this goal of Oneness, script-writer being The Timeless Supreme Lord called Sri Sathya Sai.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai’s famous revelation on His creation is recorded thus:

“There was no one to know Who I Am until I created the world at My Pleasure, with one word. Immediately mountains rose up, oceans, seas, lands and water shades, sun, moon and desert sands sprang out of nowhere to prove My Existence. Then came all forms of beings, men, beasts and birds, speaking, hearing, flying, all powers were bestowed upon them under My Orders. The first place was granted to mankind, and My Knowledge was placed in man’s mind.”

The famous dictum of Bhagawan on Life, which begins with ‘Life is a Game Play It…’ and ends with ‘Life Is Awareness…’ indicates this subtle truth of Sri Sathya Sai that, He, Who has created this world as His past-time has definitely meant it to be a game. The same could be accepted with the spirit of challenge, so as to realise the dream, while blending it with love unsullied, finally to manifest the true truth that Life is an Awareness, that of Oneness.

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The epochal Divine discourse after Sri Sathya Sai ‘healed’ HimSelf of a paralytic stroke way back in 1963 has a subtle, yet profound pointer. This was the discourse wherein Bhagawan revealed to the world of believers the ‘Bharadwaja’ story involving Lord Shiva, revealing HimSelf as “Shiva-Shakthi’ Avatar. Shiva here stands for the Eternal Purusha, and Shakthi refers to Adi Parashakthi, moulding into One as Para Brahma Sri Sathya Sai, the Supreme Resolve. The subtle indicator here is, on 6th July 1963, while delivering His Divine discourse, His Voice had turned ‘feeble’, barely audible to the anxious, devout assemblage. He asked, again and again, over and over again, “Vinipisthundhaa?” meaning ‘do you hear Me?’ He, Who Is the Cosmic Canvas, keeps sending us gentle reminders, gentle taps from His Greater Heaven, reminding His dear ones of The True Truth Behind Truth. But, is man ready? It has to be accepted that He is loud and clear, loud enough to hear, but He can act ‘helpless’ if man turns a deaf ear, drooping in darkness, only to teach him a better lesson.

Prasanthi Nilayam is a ‘workshop’ with a unique curriculum, teaching ‘Sai Yoga’ or the ‘Sai Path’, which is a fine blend of all the paths described in the scriptures, be it the Karma Yoga, the Bhakti Yoga or the Jnana Yoga. Every action here leads to ‘That Oneness’, be it the various service activities that come under the ‘Karma Yoga’ or the everyday bhajans that can be exemplarily classified as a mode of the ‘Bhakti Yoga’, every single activity here leads on to the Jnana Yoga of Oneness.

The One Who has embodied as Sri Sathya Sai has His definite agenda, antidote for the world in Him, and His game is on… The Karma and Bhakti modes of worship promoted by Prasanthi Nilayam will definitely help man to expand, by practising to behold the Beloved One in every bit and being around him, and thus to expand to Infinity.

When He becomes The Supreme Resolve, every single religion, every single scripture, every single master and teaching becomes His, belonging to Him, and thus this final quote credited to Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, one of the illustrious masters of India, an eternal beacon radiating the supreme reality of Oneness.

“I Prostrate To MySelf Who Am Within All Beings, The Ever Free Self-Abiding As Inner Consciousness.”

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Prasanthi Nilayam, The Haven Of Peace, The Chosen Abode Of The Almighty Supreme, boasts of ultimate unparalleled blessings… and how fortunate it is to be a part of the chosen land that did penance to win His ultimate grace?… Let’s tune into Sathya Sai Speaks revealing the supreme significance of being in close proximity to HIM… from Peddabottu’s Autobiography.

“Of what use is so much learning?
Is it possible to erase the fate, written on your forehead?
If evil feelings are harboured in the head,
It blunts the mind and dries it up to a trickle!”!

These sentences are proved in our Prasanthi Nilayam. “Ksheene Punya Marthya Lokam Vishanthi.” (When merits are reduced we are sent back from heaven to earth?” If the merits were increased then whatever merit was in store would not decrease. Because of previous merits one gets close to Swami. For those who makes efforts to receive His grace by staying in His proximity, this merit too will be added to their store of previous ones, and they will get closer to Him. As they do not do that, they will stay in My proximity only until the previous merit is finished. As soon as that is over, they go away. This is the prapthi (destiny) of people in Prasanthi Nilayam. At least now they can realise and act accordingly. There is no barrier. If you think and make amendments now, it is good. If you have no luck then there is nothing else left to do. How foolish people are, who ruin their lives.

“You can fill an empty head easily
When there is nothing inside.
You cannot fill a head full of all sundry things.
Is it possible to empty the head,
Full of all sorts of things of the Kali age?
Is it possible to fill the head with holy feelings,
Unless it is emptied completely?”

“Like trees that do not bear fruit and
Cows that do not yield milk
What is the use of being born and of dying?
You are born to realise the result
If you die without realising it,
Then what is it that you have realised, and
What is it that you have gained?
These are heartbreaking deeds
To Sai Who knows all your hearts.”

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II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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