The week witnessed “God’s Own Country” making its presence felt in “God Owned Country”. Following an eventful week that witnessed history being made, as several honchos from the world of banking and finance made a beeline at Prasanthi Nilayam for blessings from Bhagawan on the sidelines of a conference on Ethics in the World of Finance, the relentless unflinching thirst of Kerala was seen brimming, with thousands upon thousands came in search of abundance…abundance of His Love, celebrating their prime festival Onam.
Leaving the comforts of home, spirit and joy of native festivity confining within the comfort zone of nears and dears, thousands made it to Prasanthi Nilayam to celebrate the festivity in the immediate Divine Presence.
Rightly echoing the spirit of thousands from the state, the speaker for the occasion, Mr. K.Jayakumar, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary, Home and Vigilance, Govt. of Kerala made a clear mention that while the native festivity was all about anticipation of abundance from the nature, Onam in Prasanthi Nilayam was a search for abundance of Love. And making merry of the occasion the children from the state had several cultural programmes, including that on the life of the illustrious son of the state, Adi Shankara, the philosopher saint who proclaimed the doctrine of Advaita. The other two programmes were on the life of Sant Thukkaram, a theme that staged many a time in Prasanthi, and the second one from the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, the story of greater faith and surrender of Bhakta Nandanar, a celebrated devotee of Lord Shiva, belonging to the famous Nayanar saints of South India.
However, the icing on the cake was the beauty of melody rendered by the Nightingale of South Indian Film Industry, K.S.Chitra. In a fifty minute concert that touched the lofty benchmarks of devotional rendering, the melody queen of South India sung her heart out winning accolades from the thousands and not the least, from Bhagawan. Bhagawan chose to spend considerable time with the singer, interacting, posing for photographs and blessing her child with a materialized chain.
Back in Kerala, while the entire state was relishing the native festivity feasting the occasion with traditional delicacies, Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed the most unusual feast, the feast of Thiruvonam Divine Darshan with an add-on, the Divine Discourse. The Divine Discourse had all essential ingredients of delicacies flavoured with mention on special Kerala delicacies in lucid details: an apt treat for the Keralaties whose hunger for abundance of love was satiated by Bhagawan on the most auspicious day, in His inimitable style. …And came the Divine Pat…Discoursing on the life and greater sacrifice of Emperor Mahabali, Bhagawan went on praising the great tradition and culture of the state, declaring: “The land of Kerala is the Gift of God!
Relishing on the rare feast, while the land of Kerala retreated, Prasanthi was still in a state of bliss with regular joyful darshans, often seeing Bhagawan beaming with abundance of love spending time out granting Darshan. And the eventful week had to sign off in no less than a grand fashion.
6th September, the final evening of the week was a joyous occasion for the 170 odd grateful students of Bhagawan who are employed in various institutions under the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. The occasion was the 36th Anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. In a private function held within the confines of the closed walls of the Bhajan Hall that lasted for ninety minutes, it was Bhagawan, the all encompassing Mother Sai, who was seen interacting quite closely with His children who sought His presence from the closest quarter.
Making several rounds, spreading His benevolent Grace, spraying His enchanting Gaze upon all, often interacting with many, He made the evening most memorable, filling the hearts and filliping the souls to greater devotional heights. Welcoming the Mother, singing His Glory, they sang four songs, while, in the meantime the anniversary cake was blessed and cut by Bhagawan. He moved on through the rows, beaming His all conquering smile, receiving letters, chatting up, blessing one and all. While zoom lenses were vying for the best of His expressions with the help of flash lights, it was a “merry-go-round” for Bhagawan, for He found faces beaming with joy, in express gratitude of the greater opportunity to be His instruments at His Lotus Feet, serving in His Mission!
A beaming Bhagawan upon ensuring that the entire assemblage was happy, blessed the concourse with raised Abhaya Hastha and what remained in the hundreds of hearts that were present was the beaming smile of their most beloved Mother Divine, whose presence and interaction took them to the nostalgic olden days when He would freely interact with students, often creating most informal productive session imparting greater lessons. Safari pieces were distributed to the entire group before the end of the ninety minutes session.
It was exactly an year ago, during the same occasion, to the same group of grateful students, that Bhagawan whispered the revised Universal Prayer, Samastha Lokaaha Sukhino Bhavanthu! …asking them to pray with a wider universal perspective.
The week's Rose Beneficiaries were Mr. Narendra from the Mandir, Mr. Dave, Mr. Lal, Mr. Vishwanathan, Mr. Venkataraman, Mr.Sitaramaiah and Mr. Gehani, all from Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Sahayak Division.
Thus the week signed off leaving cherished memories of Abundance of Love…that He is…Beloved Mother Sathya Sai!!!
