It was birthday time. A great occasion to be here. All the love coming from everyone and from Baba. He was happy that we came and blessed everyone.
The curtains surrounding the MahaSamadhi were changed from maroon to orange. The bunting on the first level of the Mandir were changed to white with orange. Many flowers were placed on the Samadhi.
An addition to the streamers over the center white marble was falling lights where the light travels down the streamer.
Kulwant Hall was filled. Everything went smoothly.
Security had increased in the past several days as some government officials and other people arrived. There were many officers outside the ashram and extra one inside. To get into the ashram there was police security and the usual one where the seva dals checked you over. Police were watching them.
Furthermore, to get into the Hall, there were also 2 layers of security check. The first one was police and the second was seva dals.
Wednesday – November 23. When the curtain parted at 9:00, the MahaSamadhi looked absolutely splendid radiating the Love of the people who arranged it. Replacing the regular Baba chair was a big silver one which Baba had used. It added to the grandeur of the days. (Photo).
The chief guest was Governor Konjeti Rosaiah who held several offices in Andhra Pradesh and is now the governor of Tamil Nadu. As a long time devotee of Sai Baba, he has made many trips to the ashram.
The first program was “Guru Vandana” love songs from the students to Baba. After about 30 minutes, it was time for the 2nd Program.
It was the Malladi Brothers who performed regularly at Baba’s request, such as on Birthday and Guru Poornima, for the past several years. Today they performed some of Sai favorite compositions including the Birthday Greeting Song. Their father was with them. He sang a solo in Telegu. Their last tune brought many people to tears as it spoke Baba not being in the physical anymore.
After which, there was a speech by V. Srinivasan, president of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations – India. He affirmed that Sai is with us, here and everywhere, now and forever. After praising the students for their wonderful drama of the eve of the convocation, he hoped that Baba would continue to guide these future leaders.
He asked them to rededicate themselves to following Baba’s ideals.
He pledged that our work has to continue until the last moment. We are workers first and later leaders.
Srinivasan explained the Central Trust determination to continue the legacy and mission of Sai Baba. The governor was asked to release the Trust’s Annual Report. There will be additional mobile hospitals, equipment for hospitals, staff infrastructure and facilities for research. Assistance to various schools, digital archiving facility and modernization of the South Indian Canteen and maybe other canteens too.. There are other projects that will happen including expansion of the Vidya Vahini Project.
It is exciting to hear all this. It shows that the ashram is doing well and that there is no funding problem. There are rumors to contrary. It is obvious that they are false.
The report will be on the internet soon. When it is, the report will be sent to you.
All of this was followed by a short talk by Governor Rosaiah. He spoke with humility and devotion. He made a point that whether people felt Baba was god or not, there is still this wonderful organization spread around the world in over 160 countries and millions of members. Baba was and is the force behind all of this. Rosaiah said his greatest achievement was not in the political arena but being a devotee. Prasanthi Nilayam is the holy abode of Rama and Krishna.
Next, it was time for Baba to speak. In ancient times people practiced sacrifice, love and truth to attain divinity. We should do the same as well as exercise equanimity with pleasure and pain.
Since Baba does not criticize anyone, we should do the same. We should always follow Sai’s teachings. We should have Love for god, fear of sin and morality in society.
Develop Love. Love is the only solution. Prayer is a solution.
The various bands played their music. Anantapur played the theme song from Love Story “Where do I begin to tell the story of how great a Love can be…” Prasanthi boys played “Happy Birthday to You”. Also playing were the primary school-both boys and girls.
Arathi was at 11:00.
Attached photo shows the special cake that Italians made for this occasion.
There was free food for everyone at the tents for lunch as there had been for breakfast.
The afternoon was even better. As we entered the Hall there was a big red enclosure on the center while marble floor. It was beautiful. We knew that the Jhoola was inside waiting for just the right moment to be revealed. The Hall was once again full.
The singing began for the curtain to open at 5:30. At the same time, the box came apart revealing the silver swing jhoola that Baba used to sit in. It was strategically placed so that it looked as though Baba was reclining on the swing. Also placed on the seat of the swing was a photo of Baba sitting on the same swing. (Photo 1). There were flowers and other items around the Jhoola.
It was awe inspiring. Everyone clapped and burst into joy. It was a reconnection of the past with the present. Baba was there sitting in the Jhoola. All were blessed.
People sat behind the Jhoola to push it as was done in previous years. As the swing moved back and forth, at intervals, a special video was shown of Baba sitting on that same swing enjoying the program and blessing us.
It was like we were transported to another era, another place. It was wonderful and it lasted until the music program was over.
The first program was a Mandolin Concert by maestro U. Srinivas and U. Rajesh. Their music was perfect. It was instrumental and raised our level of consciousness. The precise sounds of each instrument added to the joy of listening and feeling. They concluded with “Shankara Shiva Shankara”. (Photo 2).
The second program was a vocal concert by Ghazal and bhajan singer Anup Jalota whose specialty was devotional singing that he adapted to his special style. (Photo 3).
He met Baba 48 years ago as a 10 year old. Baba was responsible for him becoming a singer. The audience was ecstatic as he played and sung for the next 75 minutes.
The many twist and turns blending perfectly with his other players made for incredible listening and a special state of being.
The audience loved him and joined him with clapping or singing. Here was an artist who fine-tuned his abilities to perfection singing from his soul through his heart.
To end the evening, the grand finale was Baba singing “Subramaniam …Subramaniam”. Arathi and darshan followed.
Attached are photos of Baba serving food to people and animals.
You can hear audio only of some of the programs at http://soundcloud.com/86thbirthday-23november/
Seema had a message for us: “At the Step of Surrender”
Thought for the Day
14 January 2011
I am really filled with joy when I see people who have engaged in hardy toil and sacrificed their personal comforts in order to make others happy. What the world needs is work done in that spirit. Every one of you has divinity embedded in you, as well as truth and sweetness. Only, you do not know how to manifest that Divinity, how to realise that Truth, how to taste that Sweetness. Courage is the tonic for getting both physical as well as mental health and strength. Give up doubt, hesitation and fear. Do not give any chance for these feelings to strike root in your mind. By means of the inner divine strength with which you are equipped, you can achieve anything; you can even become Maadhava (God).
Baba
Thought for the Day
8 January 2011
Fools who cannot grasp the Truth, who cannot recognise Divinity and the power of God, who have no faith in God, live in the delusion that their plans will save them and that they can triumph through their own efforts! The fact is, not even the smallest success can be won without God's grace. Though this is true, we should not sit with folded hands, believing that a thing will accomplish itself if and when God wills. Human effort is essential, and everyone must make efforts. You must use the strength and skill that you are endowed with, and resolve to proceed with the work, laying the responsibility for success on God. For without the grace of God, all effort will be rendered fruitless.
Baba
Thought for the Day
25 November 2011
There are three types of Surrender (Saranagathi). The first one is Thavai-vaaham, where the devotee affirms "I am Yours" , the second is Mamai-vathwam, where one asserts "You are mine" and the last is, Thwame-vaaham which means "You and I are one". Each is a step that leads to the other and the last is the ultimate state. In the first stage, Thav-eva-aham, the Lord is completely free and the devotee is fully bound. Just like the cat and the kitten - the cat shifts the new born kitten about, as it wills; the kitten just mews and accepts whatever happens. This attitude is very gentle and is within easy reach of everyone. In the second, Mama-eva-thwam, the devotee binds the Lord in his heart and the Lord willingly remains bound. A devotee can tie up the Lord with Prema (love) that overwhelms and overpowers one’s own egoism. When one has this type of devotion (Bhakthi), the grace of the Lord fulfills every single need of the devotee.
Baba
