Annual Events
New
Year
The
dawn of the New Year, January 1st, attracts thousands of devotees to
Prasanthi Nilayam who throng to listen to Bhagawan's Divine Message on the day.
Bhagawan says that every day, every moment, a new year is born and every moment
has to be sanctified with noble thoughts, words and actions. Referring to
devotees who wish him a Happy New Year, Bhagawan replies that He is always
immersed in Happiness, and it is they, who need happiness should be greeted. He
exhorts everyone who comes to Prasanthi Nilayam to take home the Love and
Happiness which He is ready to distribute to all who come to Him.
Annual
Sports & Cultural Meet
Bhagawan
has always emphasised that active sports and upholding of the Indian Culture are
essential parts of an Integral System of Education in Human Values. On January
11th every year, the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, Sri Sathya Sai Higher
Secondary School and the three University campuses at Brindavan, Prasanthi
Nilayam and Anantapur come together for this Annual Sports & Cultural
Festival. The Meet is marked by a March Past by the students of all campuses,
extraordinary feats of adventure, colourful and artistic group performances by
small children and well co-ordinated, rhythmic group drills. The various
cultural, sports and games competitions in the campuses culminate in the
Valedictory and Prize Distribution Function which coincides with the Makara
sankranthi on January 14 , in the Divine Presence.
Mahasivarathri
Sivaratri
is an auspicious night observed on the fourteenth night of dark half of the
moon. Moon is the presiding deity of human mind which has sixteen aspects. On
this night fifteen phases are absent, and with no influence on agitation of the
mind it is possible to get full control of one's mental faculties. It is the day
when Siva, the Supreme Wisdom, takes the Linga form for the benefit of the
seekers. In Margshirsh month, Maha Sivaratri is celebrated by performing Akhand
Bhajanas throughout the night culminating early morning Darshan and Discourse of
Bhagavan Baba. Sivarathri in the new Mandir gained great significance. The
supreme Ishwara, Sai, willed that he would reveal to groping humanity that he
was Ishwara, the Lord of the universe. And so it began with Swami materializing
the Sivalingam from within his being. At the appropriate time, when the bhajan
would have risen to its pitch and the name of Siva would be resounding
everywhere, usually between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Swami would bring forth lingas
from within; and they would tumble out on to a plate held by a devotee.
Sometimes it would be a translucent crystal linga, prismatic in its beauty;
sometimes seven or eleven small crystal lingas; at times, two or five, according
to his will. Once he manifested the Atmalinga and the Jyotirlinga. They were
matchless in their splendor and Swami himself brought them around to show them
to the devotees. The whole cosmos with the stars and the planets were seen in
the Atmalinga and the subdued bluish glow in the Jyotirlinga made it look
celestial. Within it were indescribable wonders for one could see there in Rama,
Krishna, Hanuman and Swami himself, which left us all speechless and dumb in the
cognisance of his might and glory. Reports of this indescribable miracle of
lingodbhava reached the far corners of not only India but the world and people
started pouring into Prasanthinilayam in countless numbers. This gave rise to
accommodation problems and the compassionate one, out of concern for his
devotees, has now stopped performing this divine act.
Bhagawan
Sathya Sai Baba's Birthday
"
Today you are celebrating birthday. No benefit accrues from celebrating the
birthdays of noble personalities unless you put their teachings into practice.."
-
Baba
The
Advent of the Divine in human form is celebrated on 23rdNovember
every year with intense devotion. Millions of devotees from all over the world
throng to Prasanthi Nilayam on this day to catch a glimpse of the Divine and
listen to His Divine message. The week-long festivities commence with the
Rathothsavam on the 18th wherein the idols of Sri Rama, Lakshmana,
Sita along with Hanuman are carried in a procession to the Old Mandir. later in
the day Narayana Seva is conducted at the Vidyagiri Stadium where thousands of
poor people are fed sumptuously and given clothes by Bhagawan. The
19th of November is celebrated as Women's Day. All the programmes on
that day are organised entirely by women. Distinguished women devotees
participate wholeheartedly to make this day a success. Every evening, until the
23rd of November, cultural programmes are staged by different groups
from around the world which include artistes of repute, Bal Vikas children and
students of the University. November 22nd marks the Convocation of
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.
The
arrival of Bhagawan, on the morning of the 23rd, clad in an
enchanting white robe, seated in a majestic chariot led by a ceremonial
procession that includes Sai Gita, students chanting Veda, festive dance by
school children and the Institute Brass Band is indeed a sight for the gods. The
Birthday Celebrations are also used as an opportunity by devotees all around the
world, to hold conferences, convention of chairpersons etc which culminate on
the 23rd. Bhagawan blesses all these important occasions with His
Divine Benedictory Discourses.
Birthday celebrations
during early days :
God
has been called as Anadi and Ananta: without a beginning and without an end. But
human beings love to celebrate the birthday of God because it gives them joy.
The morning of 23rd November in the old Mandir would dawn with the auspicious
notes of the nadaswaram. The little compound with the pitched tents, the
colorful festoons, the artistic rangoli and the floral decorations was indeed a
feast for the eyes. In the morning, at about eight, elderly sumangalis and some
other ladies would be chosen to go in a procession with the nadaswaram to the
house of Swami's parents in the village. They would carry silver plates full of
auspicious saffron powder, kumkum, flowers, fruits, sugar-candy and dried
fruits. One of the ladies would carry a typically traditional silver container
like a 'kalash' , filled with water and with auspicious mango leaves and a
coconut. This is known as the Poornakumbha. New clothes for the father and the
mother would be placed in a silver tray covered with a silk cloth. The
procession would slowly wend its way from the Mandir to the house of the parents
and invite them with love and reverence for the birthday celebration of their
divine son. The feet of the parents would be worshipped with these holy
materials and they, as well as their eldest son, his wife and his sisters would
come along with the procession to the Mandir. The great Lord would already be on
the throne on the dais and bhajans would be going on. The parents would slowly
walk up to the dais. A chosen devotee would be holding a silver plate with a
silver container of oil. The mother would first anoint the Lord with oil by
dipping a flower in the oil and gently smearing it on his head. This would be
done three times. Then would follow the father the elder brother, his wife,
sister Venkamma, her husband, sister Parvathamma and finally, the younger
brother. After the family had finished, would come the old couples and then the
younger devotees. This indeed was a rare privilege. Everyone was also blessed
with the fortune of garlanding Swami and touching his divine feet. Devotees
would sing bhajans. intoxicated with rapture, touching his delicate feet with
their soulful and melodious obeisance Swami would arrange a feast and the
devotees would themselves cook and serve the food. It was a blissful oblivion of
the world and its enticing snares as Swami moved amidst them, lovingly
encouraging them.
As the years rolled by, the birthday celebrations assumed
grander proportions. The usual anointing ceremony continued. The celebrations
would stretch over three days. Dummy horse dances, Burrakatha and cultural
programmes in the evenings were a part of the celebrations. The divine
discourses were there to tone us up and remind us of our divine heritage. The
jhoola ceremony was usually the next day after the birthday; and in recent years
the elegant silver one has replaced the floral swing. Swami, in a white robe,
wearing a garland of lovely flowers, reclining against the bright blue cushions
and swinging gently to the rhythm of mellifluous devotional music, was an
enthralling sight, fit for gods to see. After his mother passed away, Swami
discontinued the anointing ceremony on his Birthday. He would go to the Samadhi
of the parents in the morning, place garlands on their tombs, distribute gifts
and sweets to the children assembled there. The privilege of garlanding him on
this great occasion was gradually restricted to a few chosen ones, and now he
does not accept them any more. The jhoola ceremony continues but the Lord has
discarded the flower garlands.