Grand Auspicious Night-Long Vigil Of Maha Shivarathri in Prasanthi Nilayam…

The auspicious Night Of Lord Shiva, Maha Shivarathri, was observed last night in Prasanthi Nilayam with great devotional fervour marked by Night-Long Vigil of Akhanda Bhajan. The Night-Long Vigil that began at 1800 hrs previous evening came to a grand conclusion at 0600 hrs this morning with Maha Mangala Arathi offering to Bhagawan.


Subsequently, special Prasadam, tamarind rice and sweet pudding, was served to the packed, devout assembly. Earlier, prior to the commencement of the Akhanda Bhajan, a Maha Rudrabhishekam to the sanctified ‘Saieeswara Lingam’ was offered in presence of a packed devoted assembly.

In the evening, commencing the proceedings at 1630 hrs, the famed Saieeswara Lingam, sanctified by the Divine Hands during the 2006 Atirudra Maha Yajnam, was brought to the venue in a regal palanquin procession amid Vedic incantations, ably supported by auspicious Panchavadyam notes.

Lord Shiva Who is hailed as Abhisheka Priya is mightly pleased with sacred offerings. Last evening’s Maha Rudrabhishekam had 18 types special offerings to the Saieswara Lingam. The offerings included milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, fruits, tender coconut water, flower, yellow rice, sandalwood paste, vibhuti, bilwa leaves, sugar candy juice, rudraksha, darbha grass, gold, turmeric, kumkum (vermillion) etc. with each individual offerings bear spiritual religious significance. These 18 offerings are meant to appease the Indweller within, Who is verily Sai Shiva.

Post the abhishekam even as the Saieeshwara Lingam was being decked up, Rudram, Chamakam chantings continued followed by the offerings of Sathya Sai Ashotharam and Lingashtakam. Mangala Arathi to the Saieeshara Lingam marked the auspicious end of the Rudrabhishekam. The Rudrabhishekam is aimed at Universal Peace and Global Harmony.

Divine discourse exhorting the esoteric significance of the auspicious night, Linga Tatwa and Shiva Tatwa was aired for the next twenty minutes. “Sathyam Jnanam Anandam Brahma …” at the end of the Divine discourse in Bhagawan’s mellifluous golden voice marked the commencement of the Akhanda Bhajan.

Earlier, reminiscing the great good fortune of celebrating Shivarathri in the immediate Divine Presence, students of SSSIHL offered a musical devotional offering at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet on the 7th March morning at the Sai Kulwant Hall.

Commencing the proceedings with the auspicious Panchavadyam notes by the University Percussion Band, the session flowed on with hymns and musical offerings presented with great devotional fervour, surcharging the surroundings with auspicious Sai-Ambience.

Interestingly the Night-Long Vigil came to a grand culmination with Bhagawan’s bhajan… “Shiva Shiva Shiva Shambho…Hara Hara Hara Shambho…” ending with the climactic line “Jaya Kailasha Girisha Nivasa Giridhara Gopala”.

Prasanthi Nilayam stands for Supreme Peace and ‘Her’ perennial pursuance is on… aiming to establish Universal Peace.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II