Music College Programme

Making an ‘early-entry’ at 1805 hrs. Bhagawan ascended the dais in the Sai Kulwant Hall in twenty minutes after a full round of blessings this evening here in Prasanthi Nilayam. During the darshan round Bhagawan spent awhile at the front block listening to a prayer from the students from Music College.

Carnatic lover that Bhagawan is, Prasanthi have heard umpteen references about the Poet Saint Thyagaraja from Bhagawan Himself. Music College students, knowing the pulse of Bhagawan and following the tradition in carnatic fraternity, that celebrate Thyagaraja Aradhana during this period, had a prayer at Bhagawan to bless them to offer a musical bouquet in the name of the Poet Saint.

Ten minutes into the bhajans Bhagawan nodded at the boys to come on to the dais. The dais was to be reset as Bhagawan wanted the progarmme on the stage. Bhagawan repositioned Himself, sitting facing the ladies’ end. A ‘Sangeet Aradhana’ was to follow.

Beginning with a Ganaesha offering “Sri Ganapathi Nee Sevimpa Raray” the next fifty minutes witnessed the students regaling with some interesting numbers that included some hindustani pieces as well. The evening numbers included “Bhajamana Ram Charan Sukhadai…”, a hindi bhajan by Saint Tulsidas, “Jagadanandakaraka…” of Saint Thyagaraja, a jugalbandhi, stringing many a chord with various musical instruments, “Rama Kodanda Rama…”, one of Bhagawan’s favourite bhajans to end with a mangalam song, a thankful prayer and conclusion to the musical event. The programme lasted for fifty minutes. At the end Bhagawan individually felicitated each one of the artistes, draping shawls over them.

Mangala Arathi was offered at 1945 hrs. and Bhagawan retired to Yajur Mandiram at 1950 hrs. not before blessing the concourse with ‘abhaya hastha’. Prasadam was distributed to the entire assembly.

Earlier in the morning, Bhagawan visited a newly renovated office of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, sanctifying the same, opening its doors for functioning.

Emerging at 1135 hrs., Bhagawan, upon arriving at the office via Poornachandra Auditorium, lit the lamp, marking the official inauguration. Cutting a cake on the occasion, Bhagawan went round the office premises overseeing the facilities and interacting with the officials. Bhagawan was accompanied by Sri K. Chakravarthi, IAS (Retd.) Secretary, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and Sri SV Giri, IAS (Retd.) Trust Member, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and was received with Poornakumbham at the new office premises.

Subsequently, Bhagawan visited the ground floor section of the office blessing the staff members. After seeing around and posing for a group photo Bhagawan accepted Mangala Arathi before leaving the premises after spending around forty minutes.

Leaving the premises Bhagawan drove down to Super Speciality Hospital to retire in an hour, via the western gate, at 1225 hrs.