Ladies’ Day in Prasanthi Nilayam…

Ladies’ Day is the occasion when Prasanthi Nilayam gets the pristine touch of the Motherhood principle, as women from various parts of the globe gather to attend the festivity in Prasanthi Nilayam. Heralding the concept of Ideal Womanhood as propounded by Bhagawan Prasanthi is celebrating Ladies’ Day today. It was in 1996, 18 years ago, Bhagawan declared the inception of Ladies’ Day, to be celebrated on 19 November every year. Ever since this day has been a very special day in the Prasanthi Festive Calendar, with women from Sai fraternity around the globe celebrating the event with great devotional zeal.

This morning, the programme commenced at 0800 hrs. with Rudram chanting by the students from Anantapur campus. Anantapur Brass Band played some  lifting tunes singing the glory Beloved Mother Sai, touching the hearts of one and all, evoking nostalgic memories of His days of physical presence.  Invocatory Vedam followed before Ms Chetana Raju took over introducing the programme, briefly touching upon the inception and purport of Ladies’ Day.

I search history in vain to find similar to Sri Sathya Sai or anything that can approach His Life. Neither history nor humanity nor ages nor nature offer me anything with which i am able to compare or explain. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is no ordinary man…Bhagawa Sri Sathya Sai Baba has established a Kingdom of Love with Love, echoed Ms Chetana Raju talking of the legend of Beloved Bhagawan. Briefing on the service projects being initiated by the Easwaramma Women’s  Welfare Trust,  Ms Chetana Raju further introduced the ensuing programme for the session.

A panel discussion on the topic “Bhagawan’s Teachings with reference to the Role of Woman” was the main programme in the morning.

The panelists included some of the distinguished women from the Sai fraternity, from India and abroad. They were: Dr Ms Girija Rajaram, Scientist and Retired Professor currently engaged in research in Space Science at IIT, Mumbai, Dr Ms Neelam Desai, Sr. Consultant and Cardiac Surgeon at SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram,

Ms Dorris Hampton, Manager and Consutant in Community Development Proramme in the US, Dr Ms KP Sai Leela, Alumnus and retired faculty in English from the Anantapur Campus of SSSIHL, Dr Ms Lakshmi, Gynaecologist and Associate Professor at Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad,

Ms Neena Bordoloi, Alumnus of Anantapur Campus currently teaching English at the primary division of SSSHS School, Ms Priya Sridhar, Banker by profession, a singer and an active Balvikas Guru, Ms U Suma, Alumnus and Asst Professor, Dept of Commerce, Anantapur Campus of SSSIHL, Dr Ms Su Evans, Retired Professor in Educational Psychology, Ms Sheila Krishnan, Lawyer with HC of Karnataka and Ms Madhuri Naganand, Trustee of Easwaramma Women’s Welfare Trust.

As a prelude to the panel discussion a Video featuring Divine discourses on yester year Ladies’ days was shown. The panel discussion moderated by Ms Chetana Raju had  three rounds of questions debating on the topics namely, the role of woman in the society today, the apparent conflict of role of woman in ancient times vs. the presnt time with the conflict between Motherhood and Career in focus, and as Sai devotees how women are able to balance their role in the society and professional life vs. spiritual life.

The panel discussion concluded reiterating the axiom given by Bhagawan, Hands in Society Head in the Forest…meaning, woman can engage in serving the society, without being retired to the forest, or confined to closed doors, while being equipoise in nature. The moderator concluded the discussion thanking the panel and the audience not before making a brief mention of Mother Sita, the epitome of ideal womanhood, Who taught the world to LIVE LIFE AUTHENTICALLY.

As part of the service initiatives by the Easwaramma Women’s Welfare Trust, over 500 selected children from Puttaparthi and surrounding villages were honoured with special gifts along with 50 women who were given away special keys related to sanitation kits, as token of Love from Bhagawan.

Bhajans by Anantapur students continued and ended with Mangala Arathi at 1020 hrs. Prasadam was distributed to the entire assemblage.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II