The week began with the grand finale of the Veda Purush Saptaaha Jnaana Yajna followed by the ten day long Karma Yajna, Sri Sathya Sai Grama Seva.
In a glittering ceremony marked with religious fervour, the seven day long Dasara Jnana Saptaha Yajnam concluded on 28th morning with Bhagawan receiving Poornahuthi as Yajna Purusha, witnessed by thousands in a jam-packed Poornachandra Auditorium. Bhagawan who presided over the Yajna blessed the occasion while the final offerings were being made into the pit amidst the holy Vedic Chantings.
This was followed by the final lap of Grama Seva 2009, wherein women students from the Anantapur Campus of Sri Sathya Sai University along with staff members from the University and Primary School distributed Prasadam to all inmates at their door step inside the ashram, marking the end of ten days of Karma Yajna, started on the 19th of September.
2nd October is celebrated all over India as Gandhi Jayanthi. Falling on friday and a national holiday, the weekend became a holiday pacakage for many with a Saturday followed by national weekly holiday Sunday following. …And Prasanthi felt the onrush with surge of devotees capitalizing the three day package joined by a huge chunk of over 2000 youth from Kerala joining in a Parthi Yatra adding up to the regular devotee inflow.
Bringing back the past glory of ancient civilizations seemed to be a task Bhagawan has set as a mission and one could see clear indicators or progress in this area with various groups presenting thematic cultural presentations representing the great cultural heritage and glory of Bharat. This week witnessed two such presentations, on the illustrious life and realization of two of the greatest sons of Bharat, Philosopher Saints, Adi Shankaracharya and Saint Tulsidas.
Devotees from Region 5 came in a group and they had the illustrious life story of Adi Shankara to present as an offering at His Feet. Unknotting series of events from the celebrated life of the Saint Philosopher, the Japanese sent home the message propagated by Adi Shankara, the doctrine of Advaita as often supported and preached by Bhagawan in many of His Divine Discourses. The group had a mix of devotees numbering over 400 from countries namely, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Taiwan. It took them long schedules of hectic, dedicated preparation to get ready for the presentation that included tongue-twisting Sanskrit Slokas as part of Veda chanting.
From the story of Adi Shankara to the Story of Philosopher Saint, Sant Tulsidas, who was the exponent of Bhakti Marga. Two thousand strong youth from Kerala came on a Parthi Yatra and put up a programme, a dance drama on the illustrious life of Tulsidas, whose work Ramacharita Manas is considered to be one of the foremost treatises on the life of Lord Rama, which is recommended as a remedy for various malefic influences. His story was the story of transition from infatuation to worldly pleasure to pure unsullied love for the Divine, Lord Rama.
The real drama started after the presentation wherein Bhagawan spent considerable time with the cast chatting up with them blessing them profusely, granting coveted photo sessions separately calling out various characters onstage.
Finally came the big Sunday…and the Sunday was a special day for Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital. Saturday being the 53rd Anniversary of the hospital, Bhagawan blessed the hospital on the weekend holiday to make it a Holy Day in the annals of the illustrious institution.
Bhagawan reached the hospital at around 11:00 a.m. for a traditional Poornakumbha Swagatam (welcome) and Veda Chanting. Bhagawan spent over 90 minutes moving around the hospital and conversing with the medicos and paramedical staff blessing them profusely. Delivering the welcome address, the Superintendent of the Hospital, Air Vice-Marshal Dr. Vinod Kumar Verma thanked Bhagawan profusely for the wonderful gesture of Divine Benediction. He later introduced the youngest doctor from the hospital, Dr. Sameer Nandan who made a brief speech in Telugu. This was followed by a Divine Chatter, blessing the medicos and paramedical staff profusely, talking individually, asking, listening followed by Divine Assurances.
The Week's Rose Beneficiaries were Mr. Avinash Agarwal, SSSST, Publications Division, Mr. C.S.Krishna Swamy, Mr. Adi Sesha Reddy, Dr. Lakshmikantha Reddy, Dr. Krishna Murthy, Mr. Narayana Reddy and Mr. Narasimhan, all from SSSST-Sahayak Division.
Apart from the Kerala Youth contingent and the Region 5 group from Japan, there were small group visits during the week which included 110 members from South Central Railway, 108 devotees from Karur Samithi, Tamil Nadu and 54 member group of Samithi Conveners from Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Andhra Pradesh. After the Dasara and Grama Seva students from Brindavan and Ananatapur Campuses have returned Whitefield and Anantapur respectively.
The weekend was marked with a lengthy Bhajan session lasted for more than two hours. Bhagawan spent most of the time inside interview room granting interviews. The week moved passing the baton to the fresh one...