9. ABHISHEKAM OF SHIRDI SAI IDOL

 

In Puttaparthi, on the sacred festival of Vijayadashmi (Dassera) and Maha Sivaratri, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba performs abhishe­kam (vibhuti bath) of a silver idol of Shirdi Sai, with His Oivine hands. Often Baba creates a Llngam which emanates from His mouth. Then with a circular wave of His hand, Baba creates a necklace of pure pearls and precious gems with which He adorns the idol. Thereafter an upturned urn is held over the Deity. Baba puts His right and left hand alternatively into this vessel and by a rotatory movement produces an endless stream of vibhuti, bathing the statue in an abhishekam. The writer had the extreme good fortune to have personally witnessed this wonderful, unique Divine Leela during the Maha Slvarathri celebrations in February 1977.

 

Baba thereafter goes forth into the entire concourse, sprinkling a nectarine fluid on each and everyone present, with a wand of Kusa-grass, dipping It repeatedly into the vessel containing the milky water. As Baba moves amongst the devotees, they seem to drink the everlasting and everflowing spring of purity and love, compassion and grace in an atmosphere surcharged with bliss.