As the auspicious morning dawned in this spiritual township, Prasanthi turned resplendent charged with Divine vibrations. Colourful parasols added beauty to the resplendent Sai Kulwant Hall, and the Sanctum Sanctorum had an added splendour with the special Seat Of The Divine adorning the centre. The Seat was covered from the top with a golden-silver umbrella, signifying the custom, umbrella over the deity.

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The morning programme began with the University Percussion Band of Nadaswaram and Panchavadyam, playing for half-an-hour heralding the auspiciousness of the occasion, while Veda chanting continued as scheduled, till 0830 hrs.

At 0830 hrs. beginning with offerings to Lord Rudra as Sai Easwara, boys began their rendition with Vishwanathashtakam followed by Lingashtakam and many other hymns that included some scintillating Carnatic pieces, lasted an hour. Some of the musical pieces were, “Charanom Mein Rakhle Oh Sai Baba…”, “Deva Deva Yama Raajitha Vanditha…”, “Sai Naatham…” a tamil carnatic piece etc.. Bhajans continued for next twenty minutes and special prasadam was distributed to the entire audience. Tiny tots from the Primary School made a beeline to the Divine Lotus Feet offering handy-work of Love at their Beloved Swami. Mangala Arathi was offered at 0950 hrs.

In the evening, the highlight was an auspicious “Maha Rudrabhishekam” to the sanctified Sayeeswara Lingam in the Sanctum Sanctorum in Sai Kulwant Hall prior to the commencement of Akhanda Bhajan.

The Sayeeshwara Lingam was sanctified by the Divine Hands during the epochal Ati Rudra Maha Yajnam in the year 2006.

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The proceedings began at 1610 hrs. with a procession carrying the “Sayeeswara Lingam” to the venue in Sai Kulwant Hall. Mounted on an elevated platform, decorated with flowers, mango leaves and banana stumps, Mahaganapathi Prarthana and Swasthi Punyaha and Avahana (purificatory rites) followed for the next five minutes before the commencement of Maha Rudrabhishekam.

The abhishekam was performed with eighteen different items and was officiated by Prof. Nanjunda Dixit, who was the Chief Priest for the Ati Rudra Maha Yajnam in Prasanthi Nilayam. The eighteen items offered to the Lingam are: milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, gandham, five types of cut fruits, five types of dry fruits, tender coconut water, special flowers, akshata, vibhuti, rudraksha leaves, sacred grass, gold, turmeric, kumkum and pure water.

As the Abhishekam with various items progressed, by the Chief Priest assisted by a set of four priests, chanting of Namakam and Chamakam continued.

Alankaram, decorating the Lingam, followed along with Sri Sathya Sai Ashtothara  Namavali followed by Sri Shiva Ashtothara chantings.

Dhoop (Fragrance) Arathi, Offering of Naivedyam and Ashirvachana, seeking blessings from The Lord, followed before Mangala Arathi offering to Sayeeshwara Lingam.

The Maha Rudrabhishekam was conducted for World Peace and the whole proceedings lasted ninety minutes.

Divine discourse exhorting the esoteric significance of the auspicious night was played for the next fifteen minutes before the commencement of the Akhanda Bhajan. Bhagawan’s discourse ended with His favourite Bhajan, “Prema Muditha Manase Kaho…” that marked the beginning of the Akhanda Bhajan.

Night-long Shivarathri Vigil continued with enthusiastic students along with various groups leading the bhajans throughout the night. There was a good turnout of devotees during the entire night and Sai Kulwant was vibrant with devotional singing. Simultaneously, a group of students was engaged in chanting Namakam eleven times, infusing added life into the Night Vigil.

At the scheduled hour at 0600 am final bhajans was played, a recorded mellifluous piece from Bhagawan “Subramaniam Subramaniam…” bringing nostalgic memories of His physical presence, when He would often sing Divine Melodies at the end of His Divine discourses.

Mangla Arathi offering was followed by serving sanctified Prasadam, tamarind Rice and sweet pudding, to the entire assembly of devotees bringing curtains down on yet another glorious Maha Shivarathri in Prasanthi Nilayam.

II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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The 30th of September 2011 was a historic day in Prasanthi Nilayam. This day we completed 50 golden years since the first Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajna was performed in Bhagawan’s Divine Physical Presence at Prasanthi Nilayam in the Navaratri of 1961. The ritwiks assembled at 0700hrs in the Bhajan Mandir of Sai Kulwant Hall. After the preliminary chants they accepted diksha vastram (new clothes) from the Ashram elders and invoking the blessings of Bhagawan changed into the same. The Kalasam was then taken in a procession to the Poorna Chandra hall where it was installed on the western end of the dais,. A special Kumkum Archana along with Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam was commenced by the Head Priest and his wife.

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At the venue in Poornachandra Auditorium the dais was most magnificently adorned fitting for such a solemn event. A large silver throne of Bhagawan which the Lord has blessed during many birthday celebrations presided over the stage on the left side. A large picture of Bhagawan with His most benign smile adorned the right side of the stage. Statues of Rama Lakshmana Sita stood in all readiness to the left of the stage as if guarding the Yajna Sthala against the 6 enemies of the mind: Desire, Anger, Lust, Greed, Attachment and Ego. The stage had the Yajna Kunda (Sacrificial Pit) prepared as per the injunctions and students dressed in orange chanting Vedam.

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With Bhagawan presiding over the session, the priests lit the sacred homam creating fire by friction, by rubbing two sticks from churning of two wooden pieces. The fire produced was deposited in the sacred sacrificial pit, marking the beginning of the Yajna. Soon other rituals commenced. As one priest went on doing Surya Namaskar, a group of priests got engaged in Parayanam, reading of holy scriptures. Mantra Pushpam was chanted by students before Arati was offered at 0930hrs. After the Arati, the devotees lined up in Sai Kulwant Hall for close Darshan of the Sanctum Sanctorum and the students continued their Grama Seva with Puttaparthi Village being the beneficiary today.

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The Veda Purusha Sapthaha continued with all auspiciousness in the Poornachandra Hall from 0700hrs to 1200hrs.on all 7 days with the number of devotees attending the Yajna steadilly increasing day by day with an overflowing stream on the Poornahuti.

Durga Ashtami is the day earmarked in Prasanthi Nilayam for Aayudha Puja or the worship of instruments. Bhagawan has often reminded us that “Expression of Gratitude” is one of the most important virtues of man. This value which is ingrained in the culture of Bharat finds expression today when man thanks the tools which have helped him in his profession and his life.

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As per tradition, at 0800hrs on October 4th, the vehicles which had the privilege of being used by Bhagawan were brought to the Sai Kulwant Hall where it was worshipped. Ashram Elders broke coconuts even as chocolates were distributed. On this auspicious day we can but only pray that Bhagawan makes us too His ideal instrument scooping out all our shortcomings so that we became a hollow flute which our Sai Krishna will play.

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The Veda Purusha Saptah Jnana Yajnam reached its grand culmination on 06th October 2011. The ritwiks started their worship very early in the morning and completed their tasks including the study of various scriptures, the allotted number of Surya Namaskars and the chanting of various Vedic Mantras. At 0900hrs they entered the Bhajan Mandir where they accepted the Poornahuti Samagri from Bhagawan. With the chief priest carrying the Dhaarini (a large silver spoon used for feeding ghee to the fire) and his wife carrying the Samagri, the priests went on a procession with Nadaswaram leading the group.

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Reaching the Poornachandra Hall which was filled to capacity and some, the priests completed the proceedings of the Yajnam with Bhagawan presiding over the same in a special Peetam installed in front of the Yajna Kundam. The priests encouraged the gathering to participate in the chanting and mentioned a few prayers for them to repeat to offer our prayers to the Yajna Purusha, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

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Sri Kandukoori Kondavadhani from Rajahmundry who has been a part of innumerable Dasara Celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam, spoke a few words describing the auspiciousness of the occasion. Holy water was sprinkled on all those who attended the function and Prasadam was distributed while Bhajans were being sung by the students. Maha Mangala Arati was offered at 0945hrs. The Tripura Governor Sri. D.Y. Patil participated in the programme.