Photo source: sssbpt.org - layout design saibabaofindia.com
 

Video President Obama's Diwali Message
"Lead me from unreal to real.
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from mortality to immortality"

Seshan and the Governor of Rajasthan Sri Shilendra Kumar Singh who have been here for the last couple of days. In the evening, He came for darshan at half-past five and accepted Arati at six o'clock after prasadam was distributed.

the Hospital and spent more than an hour interacting with the staff there. In the evening, He came for darshan at 5.50 and went to the interview room after a few minutes onstage. He emerged at seven o'clock and blessed prasadam for distribution before again moving to the interview room. At 7.15, He came onstage to accept Arati and return to His residence.
More details below from Swami's hospital visit

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...."

Videos and more details – Divine Visit to the General Hospital, Prasanthi Nilayam
 

The Anniversary day of the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital arrived on October 4 and hopes of a Divine visit ran high. Swami had assured them that He would visit the hospital anytime after 10:00 a.m. but needless to say, the staff was all geared up well in advance from 8:00 a.m. itself. These dedicated people are the heart of this hospital who have been a witness to many a miracle of love on a daily basis. It would be thrilling to relive these tales and for getting that joy please visit our stories on General Hospital from H2H Archives.

At about 10:15 a.m., as bhajans went on in the Sai Kulwant Hall, Swami started towards the General Hospital. He was welcomed into the premises by women chanting the Vedas with the poornakumbham. Swami alighted at the entrance and moved to the Department of Dentistry which has grown a lot since its inception. We present to you a short clip that makes description unnecessary!

From the dental department, Swami moved through the maternity corridor where He blessed the doctors and nurses. He accepted a rose from one foreign nurse and then moved into the elevator. He arrived on the first floor and into a hall where everyone had assembled.

A song struck up melody in the air filled with devotion as Swami moved into the hall collecting letters. Everyone took namaskar and Swami moved to the centre. Then, began an hour long interaction which the staff will not forget for a very long time to come. Swami began by asking, "What news?" None spoke anything but everyone asked Swami to speak. A mike was also placed before Him. Swami literally began to reel out the 'news' as He spoke about the floods that are devastating the state of Andhra Pradesh. He spoke of the rising waters of the Godavari and Krishna and said that a "mini pralayam (deluge)" had descended.

Swami then began to ask about what they needed at the hospital - equipment, staff - whatever. After some hesitation, they said that they needed more beds. Swami asked, "How many more?" There was no answer. So Swami enquired and found out that there were 26 women doctors, 13 men doctors and 1200 patients on an average everyday. Swami said, "So many patients. They come from everywhere. Because nowhere are the doctors so good. But we need more place and all round here buildings have been built. If I build on top of the hill, how will patients come? Let us see... if necessary, we will make some space for it in the Mandir." Swami also advised them to have separate rooms for emergency and complicated cases.

Swami then asked for the new doctors who had joined the hospital. They raised their hands and Swami spoke and interacted with some of them. He told one of them that her husband in Mumbai was not satisfied with the work in that hospital. He further stated that the joy and satisfaction 'here' is to be found nowhere else. Some of the doctors and sisters who had been working in the hospital for years got the opportunity to give Him letters and talk personally to Him.
 

They all pleaded with Swami, "Swami if you keep coming like this we all get inspiration to work harder and harder." Swami said, "You called Me and I came. If you call again, I will come. But see everyone is not there." Everyone said, "Swami all are here." Swami retorted, "That is because I am here. On other days everyone is in their own places!"

Thus the interactions went on. The youngest doctor gave an impressive speech in Telugu. Before him, the superintendent of the hospital also gave a short welcome address. Towards the end, all the ladies formed a beeline to His feet and offered letters and prayers to Him. Swami sat patiently accepting everything and blessing all. The whole session since Swami entered the hall had lasted more than an hour. Swami also popped in a few groundnuts into His mouth from the various offerings that were made. Then, saying that it had got late already, Swami began to move out. He was thronged on His way out by everyone and He graced all. Finally, getting into the car, He left for the Mandir.

source:h2h.org

 clothes for the participants and called up some of them for photos onstage before going down for a group photo with all of them. Prasadam was distributed and Swami interacted some more with the youth, asking them to chant Vedam. After a bhajan by the students, He accepted Arati and returned to His residence at seven o'clock. Read more details below

Posted at 1030 Hrs. on 5th Oct 2009
A Dance Drama by Kerala Youth on 3rd Oct 2009

Just within a month from the Onam celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam, a batch of around 2000 Youth from Kerala arrived in Prasanthi Nilayam on a Parthi Yatra to celebrate the proximity of the Lord in physical. Sublime themes in most simplistic style has become the hallmark of Kerala presentations over the years and keeping up this ‘tradition’ the Youth from the state had a musical dance drama entitled “Sant Tulsidas”, on the illustrious life of the philosopher saint Goswami Tulsidas lived over 450 years ago.

Tulsidas, the poet, the philosopher, the saint and more importantly a celebrated devotee of Lord Sri Rama is considered to be one of the best poets ever to have graced the land of Bharat. He was considered to be the reincarnation of Sage Valmiki born with the mission to spread the nectarous story of Lord Rama in the language of the common man.

One word spoken by his wife brought him a realization of his true goal and he persisted with his ‘killer-instinct’ to achieve his goal, to have the darshan of Lord Sri Rama. The dance drama began in the backdrop of this illustrious incident.

Infatuated with his wife Mamathadevi, suffering from pangs of separation even for a day, Tulsi followed her to her father’s house despite his mother’s consoling and pleading that she would come the next day and he should not venture in the dead, thunderous, rainy night. At her father’s house Mamathadevi was equally uneasy, at being away from her husband. She was lovingly teased by her friends for her part of suffering of separation. During the conversation, her friends advised her difference between love and lust, mentioning names of celebrated women of Bharat reminding her that a real wife is a Sahadharmini. Grasping the rightful advice of friends Mamathadevi prayed to God to free her husband from infatuation and his craziness for worldly pleasures.


 

In the meantime Tulsi, wading through the dreadful night reached out to Mamathadevi. Having heard Tulsi’s narration of the trials he had undergone to reach out in the dreadful night Mamathadevi advised him the greatness of Brahmacharya and the precious nature of human life. She went on commenting that instead of attachment to her filthy body, if Tulsi had a fraction of that love for God, he would have attained liberation. These words hit Tulsi like an arrow and he was a changed man ever since. He made a bold declaration that then onwards he would see his wife as his Guru and Mother, which was received with shocks by Mamathadevi. Grieve stricken, she pleaded at his feet, but Tulsi was adamant, this time he was smitten by his heartfelt love for Lord Rama. He became totally detached to be an ascetic. And he was relentlessly after Rama for his darshan.

One day, with the touch of Tulsi’s holy feet, a genie that was in the form of stone under a curse, got liberated. And the genie was ready to grant any boon. Tulsi, whose goal was fixed had only one boon to seek and that was to show him the

path to Lord Rama. The genie revealed to him that Hanuman would be coming at a particular place in Kashi everyday to listen to the nectarous story of His Master, Lord Rama and Hanuman could help him to find a solution to his puzzle.

At the ashram Tulsi recognized Anjaneya in the guise of a frail old man; the old man laughed and ridiculed at him for having identified him with Hanuman! Persistence with heartfelt devotion finally yielded result and Anjaneya revealed himself to Tulsi and promised him to help having Lord Rama’s darshan.

Hanuman, having promised Tulsidas, proceeded to Vaikunta and requested Lord Vishnu to grant Tulsi the darshan of Lord Rama. Explaining to Hanuman that He had granted darshan to Tulsi in various other forms and it would take its own time for Him to grant Tulsi the darshan of Rama, Lord Vishnu appeared not appeasing. Relentless pursuance by Hanuman met with continuous test from Lord Vishnu who was relishing in testing his faith and confidence.
 

Finally after several attempts at Maha Vishnu, Hanuman declared that it would a disgrace to His Master Lord Sri Rama, if he failed in accomplishing the task of granting Lord Rama’s darshan to Tulsidas as promised. To keep up his word and thus to avoid disgrace upon Lord Rama, Hanuman sought permission to lift up Vaikunta and transport the same to Kashi. Pleased by Hanuman’s staunch devotion, faith and self-confidence, Lord Vishnu decided to put an end to His leelas granting Tulsidas his long cherished dream of Darshan of Lord Rama.

Upon attaining darshan of Lord Rama, Tulsi desired to leave his mortal coil, but the Lord advised him to perform his assigned task teaching Bhakti Marga (the path of devotion), spreading His story, upon which he would be granted liberation.

Immensely pleased with the presentation, the cast had a wonderful time with Bhagawan on stage. He called out various characters in groups to have separate photo sessions, onstage, upon which He moved down the stage to have a group photo with the entire cast. Bhagawan spent quite some time chatting up with the Youth promising, assuring and giving away Himself to their dedication and devotion. Entire cast was presented with safari pieces. Arathi was offered and prasadam was distributed before Bhagawan retired to Yajur Mandiram.
 

On the evening of 2nd October 2009, devotees from Japan (Zone 5) staged a drama on the life of Adi Sankara in the Divine Presence. Bhagawan came to the Hall at 4.55 p.m. to the chant of Vedas by the students of the University. After Bhagawan came to the dais, the devotees from Japan started playing on their traditional Japanese

 instruments. What followed was immaculate chanting of the Vedas by the Japanese devotees. Starting with Ganapati Prarthana (Ganesh invocation mantra), they continued with Saha Navavatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu, Saha Veeryam Karavavahai, Tejaswi Navadhitamastu, Ma Vidvishavahai. (May the Lord protect and nourish us. May we grow in intelligence and valour working together. May we live in friendship without any conflict!). They even chanted Narayanopanishad to perfection.
 

After a few Japanese Bhajans dedicated to Bhagawan, they began the drama on the life of Adi Sankara. The drama had a beautiful backdrop of a stream meandering its way amidst lush green pastures. It began with an announcement that Adi Sankara composed the famous Bhaja Govindam consisting of 31 verses. One has to put these into practice in one’s life to attain the divine.

 

Being a celibate all his life, Sankara had a burning desire to become a Sanyasi. In spite of repeated attempts, his mother dissuaded him from taking to the path of Sanyasa. His mother wanted Sankara to follow his father, get married and earn name and fame like him. One day Sankara went to the nearby river and pretended as if he was unable to extricate himself from the clutches of a crocodile. His mother came running hearing his call. Sankara told his mother that unless she gave him permission to become a Sanyasi, the crocodile would not leave its grasp. Then the mother expressed her desire that it was her wish that he should perform her last rites in spite of his renouncing the world. Here the river is compared to worldly life and the crocodile to sensual pleasures. Man in this world is driven by the crocodile of sensual pleasures.

After becoming a Sanyasi, Sankara mastered the Vedas and Sastras. One day after taking bath in a river, on his way back, he was accosted by a low caste person, who was considered an untouchable. Sankara wanted him to move away. The untouchable replied that the Atma was the same in both of them and one Atma cannot tell another Atma to move away. Adi Sankara was aghast at the wisdom of the untouchable. He fell at the feet of the untouchable. It was then that the untouchable revealed his true form of Lord Viswanatha who had come in the guise of an untouchable.
 

Sankara resolved the doubts of many in his short span of 32 years. During one of his travels, a famous scholar by name Mandana Misra challenged him for a debate. It was Sankara’s contention that one should be away from bad company. Mandana Misra’s argument was that bad people would not be reformed if one eschews bad company. Sankara told him that one should have the strength of resolve to reform bad people. Otherwise, even the slightest good qualities one has would be tainted by the bad people. Sankara gave the example of a goldsmith. The goldsmith hammers the gold to make it pure. In the same way, God removes our impurities by putting us to test in the cauldron of difficulties. Hardships and difficulties are like passing clouds. Satsangatwe Nissangatwam, Nissangatwe Nirmohatwam, Nirmohatwe Nischalatattwam, Nischalatattwe Jivanmukti. (Good company leads to detachment; detachment makes one free from delusion; freedom from delusion leads to steadiness of mind; steadiness of mind confers liberation.) It was then that Mandana Misra comes to know about the profundity of wisdom in Sankara. He realises that he had found his preceptor. He falls at the feet of Sankara and accepts his defeat. He becomes the disciple of Sankara, after which he is called by the name Sureshwarachari.
 

One day suddenly Sankara told his disciples that the time had come for him to fulfil the promise he had given to his mother. Sankara travelled homeward. His mother recognised Sankara and wanted him to stay with her the rest of her life. Sankara reminded her of the promise he gave as a young boy. She remembered the incident, but for a moment became sad that Sankara came only during the last moments. She prayed to God to shower His grace on Sankara. After her death, Sankara wanted to perform the last rites, but the villagers were unwilling to cooperate. Their argument was a Sanyasi should not perform the funeral of his mother. It was against the Sastras, they opined. Sankara said, “My mother will never leave me, nor will I leave her. Our bodies maybe different, but with respect to the Atma, we are one.” Bhagawan says, “Forgetting mother is equivalent to forgetting God.” Sankara himself performed the cremation of his mother in the backyard of his house.
 

The drama ended with the verse of Sankara from Bhaja Govindam, “Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam, Punarapi Janani Jathare Sayanam, Iha Samsare Bahu Dustare, Kripayapare Pahi Murare. (Oh Lord! I am caught up in this cycle of birth and death; time and again, I am experiencing the agony of staying in the mother’s womb. It is very difficult to cross this ocean of worldly life. Please take me across this ocean and grant me liberation.)

Then an announcement was made: “We are born in the land of Buddha. After Buddha, God sent Adi Sankara. We by Your grace could learn the philosophy of Advaita (non-dualism). Oh Swami, please bless us all to attain Advaita.”

All the cast of the drama converged in the central part of the hall. Bhagawan materialised a chain for the lead actor who played the role of Adi Sankara and put it round his neck. Then Bhagawan went amidst them to be photographed. Prasadam was distributed to everyone present in the hall. After a few Japanese Bhajans, Arati was offered to Bhagawan at 6.15 p.m. Thus, concluded the day of 2nd October 2009 at Prasanthi Nilayam.

 

Text & photo source: Heart2Heart Team (Prasanthi Diary), sssbpt.org - radiosai.org - Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation - h2hsai.org- saibabaofindia.com & SBOI group.