Global Rudram Chanting

By admin on Sep 7, 2009 | In Prashanti Nilayam | 3 feedbacks »

On Thursday 3rd September 2009, Swami came along the top verandah and Uncle Haji immediately pursued Swami again about the Rudram Programs. The previous time he asked in Tamil if it can be performed in Sathya Sai Nivas and Swami smilingly answered in Tamil "Yes". We are praying now that He will grace us with the date for the event. I took Namaskar and showed Swami the letter on seeking permisssion to conduct Global Rudram Chanting on the 26th September 2009 as that was what i had immediately at hand. Planet Saturn will be entering its last house Virgo at 3.22pm that day before it goes into exaltation two and a half years later. Golden Age presumably begins as Jupiter also enters into exaltation a year after that. Many calamities are prophesized during that period. Swami looked at the letter for a long time while I explained about the program. He looked at it so long as if waiting for something. I then took out proposal to seek the date for the Rudram Yagna to be held in Malaysia. He blessed the report twice and moved on. His love, omnipotence and omnipresence were clearly felt. I recalled few days back when I sent a letter to Swami expressing our prayer to Him to grant us the date. In the letter I wrote the reasons why we were seeking permission from Him to conduct Rudram Prayers stating that “much disharmony and enmity is happening in many Southeast Asian countries. Fear and Insecurity is rampant. Government, Organizations and the Financial System seem unstable. Many are turning to unethical ways and are hurting each other to survive. Countries like Thailand and Malaysia are going through political turmoil. Lots of people are dying daily as a result of epidemics." We have also been approaching Swami on issues like Nibiru (planet x), global shifts and prophesized calamities as there has been growing concerns. In the meantime, info on the updated dictum reached the ears of a senior devotee sitting at the front row. He became worried and was thinking intensely about the possible events. Swami was sitting at the dais and He knew the thoughts and worries running through the devotee's mind. With His infinite Mercy and Compassion, Swami called him forward, looked into his eyes and asked sweetly, "Why did I come?” Feeling assure and knowing that there is no fear when He is here, the devotee returned to his seat.

Few days later, I stumbled upon a book which clearly responded to devotee’s concerns. The following was what Swami said:

“People tell Me that mankind is on the brink of destruction, that the forces of hypocrisy and hate are spreading fast over all the continents, and that anxiety and fear are stalking the streets of every country. There is no need to tell me this, for I have come here for this very reason. When the world is on the verge of chaos, the Avathara comes to still the storm raging in the hearts of man”. “I have come to restore love among mankind, to cleanse it of narrowness and restrictive attitudes… I shall scorch the wrong doer for this wrong and soothe the virtuous for his righteousness… Justice shall be meted out to all… I rescue all who worship and adore Me… I will never give up those who attach themselves to Me… All your sins are forgiven the moment you have My darshan. Fortunate are you, that now, in this very life, you have a chance to experience the bliss of the vision of ‘The Form of all Gods in all form’… The arrival of the Lord is anxiously awaited by saints and sages. Sadhus prayed and I HAVE COME. The time is not far off when seers, sages and saints from all over the country will assemble in Puttaparthi to receive the blessings of the Lord Incarnate”

“Every one should prepare now for the change, for I promise you that it will come, and only those who are ready will survive. I have given you the warning. I have given the message a thousand times and no one who hears my words can claim ignorance… The day of awakening is not far away and when it comes, these will be a revelation of the omnipresence of the Lord. This will be the signal for a great forward leap and the weeding out of those who are not ready to accept the challenge of the moment. It will be so, mark My words. But few will listen, very few!... After the storm there will be a new beginning and the atmosphere will be completely different. It will be like a New Age, the Age of Love, Harmony and co-operation replacing the age of war, fighting, hatred, jealousy, greed and all those negative aspects of life”.

“When I appear in a dream, it is to communicate something to the individual. It is not a mere dream as generally known. Do not think that these incidents you experienced in your dream are stretches of your imagination. I was giving answer there to all your doubts”. “I do not need publicity, nor does any other Avatara of the Lord. What are you daring to publicise Me. What do you know about Me? You speak one thing about Me today and another tomorrow” I have come to instruct all in the essence of the Vedas, to shower on all these Precious gifts, to protect Sanatana Dharma, the Ancient Wisdom and preserve it.” “Not even the biggest scientist can understand Me by means of laboratory knowledge”. “This is a great chance. This chance will not come your way again. Beware of that. If you cannot and do not cross this sea of grief now, taking hold o this chance, when again can you get such a chance? Be confident that you will be liberated. Know that you are saved. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THIS DHARMASWARUPA (EMBODIMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS), THIS DIVINE BODY, HAS NOT COME IN VAIN. IT WILL SUCCEED IN AVERTING THE CRISIS THAT HAS COME UPON HUMANITY”.

Despite the assurances given by Swami, my monkey mind still jumped everywhere and was worried about how to manage two large scale events like that. Swami with His All Compassionate Mercy got me in touch with some key people who are also very keen on encouraging more prayers and Rudram Chanting for the welfare of the worlds. In no time, they are already travelling to Malaysia themselves to finalize the Rudram programs in Sathya Sai Nivas! It all happened so fast that the next thing I know, the Global Rudram Chanting Initiative has evolved into a 3 month program. The Rudram Programs to be conducted in Sathya Sai Nivas also merged into the Global Event as Swami took the letter on the September 14th to seek permission to conduct the prayers in Sathya Sai Nivas on the 1st to 11th November 2009. The response was very good and soon the entire month of September and November was filled!

I was very touched by the Divine Intervention. It has also become clear that nothing can happen without His Will. Even the very fact that we can chant Rudram! Just like the chanting of Aum, Gayatri, and the Vedas, which used to be restricted only to a certain group of people. Now Swami has made it available to all of us! And that too one of the most difficult and highly regarded amongst the Vedas! These are all possible only because of His Great Love and Compassion for His Children. Lets make good use of this privilege and great gift Swami has given us. We can only offer it back to Swami with as close resemblance of the sweet love which Swami has given us with as possible.
We pray for a smooth transition into the Golden Age.

The Arrival of Sathya Sai Rudra Paduka

By admin on Aug 30, 2009 | In Prashanti Nilayam | 2 feedbacks »

The arrival of Sathya Sai Rudra Paduka into Prashanti Nilayam on 29th August 2009 has been very electrifying for me. I could not sleep the few nights before when I came to know that it is finally coming back here after the long journey. This Paduka is truly having a life of its own. It had to be in Malaysia a bit more than a month. When the tasks are done and the time is right, it arrives with such Grandeur and Auspiciousness.
On the evening, Swami gave a powerful speech on Ethics and Love. Towards the end of the speech, He said, “Today is a very special day. Remember this day.” and He sang two bhajans! We have no idea what Swami was referring to. But all we know is that Swami declared that this day is a very special day.

In the next morning, the Rudram Chanting reminded me that the Rudram Registry was finally completed and it is ready to be launched tomorrow, as forecasted. Since it was completed only yesterday, I didn’t have time to report to Swami and to prepare anything to seek His Permission to launch. So many questions came to my mind. “If I were to write a letter to seek His Permission to launch now, will we need to postpone the launching if we can’t get His Permission as there are only two Darshan left before 31st August? Swami has not come for the morning Darshan for more than 2 weeks already. This means that there is only one Darshan left till tomorrow and that too, Swami has not been coming to the upper verandah.. the chance of Him coming this way is very very slim!” Just as I was thinking all these, suddenly there are a hush everywhere and I saw people running. Swami is coming to give morning Darshan! I immediately wrote a small note stating the launching of Rudram Registry. He came to the lower verandah and proceeded to the front to listen to the beautiful bhajans. I thought there goes the chance as He would usually take Aarathi there and proceed back to His Residence. After a few songs, He suddenly came back towards the Mandir to give interview to a family room without signaling for Aarthi! As He was inside the room, a thought came to me that I should write a very nice card to seek Swami’s Permission to Launch the Registry. Just as that thought came, all the previous doubts starting flooding in again now with greater intensity adding; “it is very usual that Swami proceeds straight into the car upon coming out the interview room. People can’t register if Swami didn’t come to bless”.. and so on. Suddenly a loud voice came to my head and said, “DO YOUR DUTY AND LEAVE THE REST TO ME!” I immediately pulled out a beautifully decorated A4 card that I coincidentally have with me and wrote somewhat like a certificate seeking His Permission to launch the page.

In less than 5 minutes after completion of the card, Swami came out of the interview room, looked directly at me (I was seated last at the end of the upper veranda at the moment) and proceeded straight towards me! As He reached me, I took Namaskar, told Swami about the Rudram Registry and seek His Permission to launch it. He smiles and said, “Yes, yes” while holding the card! I am not sure if the feelings were rubbed into me from Swami but I felt so happy and blissed out after that. He then proceeded to the dais, took Aarathi and went into the car.

After that, me, Brother Sai Nath, Uncle Haji and Dr Ravi did a 3 hour Pradakshana around larger Puttaparthi paying homage to Swami’s primary school, Swami's class room where He made the teacher got stuck on the chair, the temple where He, Ramesh and Suresh used to go to sing, the lake where they used to play, etc. It was so blissful to travel with Uncle Haji as he seems to know so much info which were kept secret. He told about the inner significance and deeper meanings into why Swami did certain things and why things were as they are. I have been here for so many years and I do not know many of what he said! It was a very enlightening and joyful trip. I felt lots of love pouring out of me after the trip. Uncle Haji is truly a very divine soul. The sight of Uncle Haji carrying the Sathya Sai Rudra Paduka above his head and entering my room still stay imprinted in my mind. How appropriate that a person with such purity and love be the one chosen to bring it back into Puttaparthi!

Nectar of Immortality

By admin on Aug 24, 2009 | In Prashanti Nilayam | 1 feedback »

Dear Followers of Sai,

The past three weeks experience in Prashanti Nilayam has been eye opening. The Leelas of Swami is truly great and liberating. I am still absorbed in bliss and ecstasy as I write. Truly the humanity can be rest assured that the Avathar has not come in vain. He will succeed in His Great Mission to evade humanity from the catastrophes’ created upon themselves.

The week began with the shocking news that the one who proposed the program of Ati Rudra Maha Yagna could not meet up to his promise of providing the priests for the program and thereby only committed to providing the materials for the program. Our hearts and spirit dropped. As we are survivalist, we picked our hearts up that very night and came up with the next course of action. The presence of the Stage 3 priest was a boon that night as he actively provided us information on what are the alternative ways of conducting the Yagna. Swami gave us a terrific but challenging plan.

Firstly, we needed to gather a large group of Rudram Chanters; at least 111 of them. Since Sathya Sai Nivas is not affiliated to the Sai Council of Malaysia, we didnt get a good responds when we approached them. We prayed to Swami for guidance and grace. We started identifying all those from other countries who could get involved. In the meantime, few of us proceeded to Bangalore to meet Nanjunda Dixit (the main priest who conducted Ati Rudra Maha Yagna in Parti). We were so happy upon meeting each other. We spent the whole night catching up and sharing experiences. He graciously agreed to take part as the main priest in the program. We spent the rest of the night planning out the most effective and cost efficient way to conduct the Yagna. His keenness to make sure we understand everything touched our hearts. We managed to make very good progress. As I left, I recalled the time when me and him proceeded back to his village together after the grand program in Parti, when I invited him to come to Malaysia and he said, “I will surely come soon!” There seems to be good affinity between him and Malaysia!

We then proceeded back to Whitefield. There, I bumped into a few youths who approached me with regard to Vibrionics. As we chatted, it slowly became known that they are members of the group of 1000 Rudram chanters from Karnataka who performed Rudram Chanting in front of Swami few months back! I informed them about the event and our need for Rudram Chanters. They were so excited and they started contacting all the chanters! By the time we reached Parti, they have estimated that almost 100 Rudram Chanters are interested to come to participate! We were very touched by Swami’s Grace and Love.

Another shock came when the person who withdrew from providing the priest, is withdrawing from providing the materials too! He mentioned that he don’t have the time to get involved and that we should go ahead without him! We recovered faster this time as three of us immediately pledged to sell our cars to raise the entire amount. At the same time, just like how the other 3 Stages begun, all those who were meant to get involved in Stage 4 continued to flow into Parti and get blessings from Swami. This naturally unplanned phenomenon has become a familiar sign to me. Swami seems to draw all those that He wants for His Divine Mission at the perfect timings! Soon, we have an entire team working on the program. Rudram Chanters like armies, seem to arise everywhere from Singapore, Thailand, US to China responding to the call! We all could clearly feel that something great is happening and that we are surfing on this Great Sai Wave.

On 22nd August, I was ready with a short letter to Swami printed last minute confirming the Ati Rudra Maha Yagna date in Malaysia. I was not seated at my usual place as it was taken. Within, 15 minutes, Swami came directly towards that place and starting looking at me from 5 feet away! He took the letter and read it thoroughly. As He completed the reading, I slowly pulled out the ARMY report. He knocked on it twice and moved on. By the evening, this news went to the Rudram youths all over india. Calls came in but I had to tell them to neither apply for leave nor purchase flight tickets as we need a double confirmation from Swami first. Suspecting that Swami may expect a better report, the team immediately set to work that night adding all the materials provided by Nanjunda Dixit. We communicated extensively with him that whole night finalizing the 15 page fax he sent for the program earlier. By the next day, we were having a beautiful report at hand covering all aspects of the events in detail from schedule of the programs each day, prayer materials and quantity needed, to names of participants. The report was filled with pictures and colors. It was Ganesha Chaturthi and I felt strongly that Swami will give indications on the Yagna on this auspicious day. Moreover, since it is also a Sunday, it will be a good time to inform the rest who are eagerly waiting for the news to the event in Malaysia as they have Bhajans on that night. The Sai flow was so strong that I was so sure that we will get some indications from Swami before bhajan ends in Malaysia so that we can get the news announced there in time. I even got ready the phone and had the sms typed out so that it is just a clicked away to provide Brother Steven the announcement. True enough, Swami came out early that day and by 5.30pm (indian time), He was coming right towards me! I was overcome by an extraordinary sense of joy as He approaches. He looked so graceful.. I took Namaskar.. He looked directly into my eyes.. I presented the new report to Him.. Just as I said, “Swami…”, He gently knocked at the report three times at the same time saying slowly and sweetly, “Keep it” each time. He then stayed in front of me for another minute or so. I felt a tremendous overflowing of love coming from Him and from within me at that moment. I was seated beside His chair and I got to hold His arm. The students were singing beautiful Ganesha group songs at the background. It was an incredible moment. I felt as though I have finally come home.. to Him. I could still feel the closeness to Him even after He proceeded towards the dais. The clock at the pillar showed 5.45pm. The time in Malaysia would be 8.15pm and the devotees in Sathya Sai Nivas will usually be celebrating with offering of festive songs to Swami at that time. I felt Swami’s compassion and love showered onto the devotees there as if witnessing at all the prayers and Sadhanas done for the past month for Universal Peace. I felt as if the environment in Sathya Sai Nivas merged with the devotion and beautiful songs sung by the students in Sai Kulwant Hall at that moment. Tears flowed continuously for more than half an hour as I clearly felt Swami’s joy and happiness with all the prayers, dedications and His acknowledgement of the prayers. I saw through my mind’s eye Swami showering His Grace and Blessings on all those who tirelessly and devotedly conducted the prayers, and all those involved in the Yatra in other countries and states. Nothing else mattered at that moment. Swami’s love was all that mattered. The Ati Rudra Maha Yagna can happen anywhere and anytime. It is all up to Swami how He wants the prayers to be conducted. It may not be Ati Rudra Maha Yagna or it may be some simple prayers. But we have done our part and will not proceed with any anything until Swami gives us a clear green light. It is His program that we are interested and not our whims and fancies. Amidst the songs and tears, all I can hear echoing from the hearts of all those involved in Stage 4, is “We are ready Swami. We are Yours”. I felt His Presence and Love everywhere. At that moment, I looked down on the floor, and there lays a book which titled, "Nectar of Immortality". How appropriate that title is.. To be finally with Him IS the Nectar of Immortality.

Jai Sai Ram

Back at the Divine Lotus Feet of Beloved Swami

By admin on Aug 3, 2009 | In Prashanti Nilayam | Send feedback »

Sai Ram Dear Devotees,

With the Divine Blessings of Beloved Mother Sai, we reached Prashanti Nilayam safely on the 25th July. We managed to show Swami and Chakravathi albums of the trip on the 27th.

A Sathya Sai Rudra Yatra Stage 3 report was presented to Swami on Thursday 30th July, 2009. The report was placed behind some letters since Swami has seen the larger album. As He took the bunch, He seems to slowly reach out for the report under the letters. I immediately got on my knees to help Him take out the report and flip the pages. He intensely looked on and raised His Hands to bless every page as it was flipped. I went on explaining the pictures to Him (as if He didn’t know anything about it). He then put His Fingers on few pages for quite awhile as if He entered into the pictures and was doing something or experiencing the events in the pictures! After a while, Swami handed the report back to me. He also accepted the "Thank you" card expressing our appreciations for guiding us and for allowing us to come back safely to Prashanti Nilayam.

The second Rally Car used for Nepal, Bhutan and India broke down in Hyderabad so we entered Parti without it. But that night, we got a call from the mechanic in Hyderabad that the car is miraculously repaired! Some of us immediately left for Hyderabad that night itself and came back with it on 1st August. The news spread and the next thing we knew, it came out in every Newspapers in Anantapur the very next day. Swami has said that only if He Wills can anyone enter Prashanti Nilayam. It has become clear that even the vehicles that enter have to be approved or Willed by Him too! On 4th August, Swami looked again at the Yatra album for almost 15 minutes. Bro Subba Rao explained thoroughly each page. He looked intensely at each photo and was doing the same finger meditation on each of the pictures.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all well wishers who prayed for the success of the Yatra. We have acquired invaluable experiences through this trip. We are constantly humbled at the Divinity and Love of Swami prevalent everywhere. He is truly the One behind all. We pray that all will get to experience His Divine Leelas and Unconditional Love directly. May there be Peace in the Worlds.