Power Of Prayer, Potency Of 108 Names and Self-Audit…

After three soul-filling sessions on the first day, the second day morning of the ongoing Sri Sathya Sai Spiritual Conference on the theme “Living With Sri Sathya Sai” commenced with an exposition on the potent significance of Ashtothara Shata Namavali, the 108 Names of Beloved Bhagawan, presented by Dr. Aparna Tiwari, Educational Coordinator from Madhya Pradesh.Herself being a blessed recipient of Bhagawan’s ‘Personal’ Divine Assurance of all the  benefits by mere chanting of the 108 Names, that happened over 28 years ago inside the Interview Room in Prasanthi Nilayam, Dr. Aparna Tiwari advocated one and all to get into the sadhana of Ashtothara Shata Namavali.

Bhagawan’s Shata Namavali is the bridge between Bhagawan and His devotees, highlighted the speaker calling it the best Kaliyuga Sadhana. Dr Tiwari also narrated a personal miraculous experience of the Greater Glory Of His Name, happened long ago at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh,  that saved her little one-and a-half-year old daughter from a severe, catastrophic eye injury, coming out completely unscathed with absolute reliance on His Name. A reverberating collective chanting of 108 Names of Bhagawan followed, led by the Mahilas from Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

Next to come was an rich exposition on the Power Of Prayer, ably presented by Dr. Shashank Shah, an alumnus of SSSIHL. Dissecting the six letters of the power-lacked word ‘PRAYER’, Dr. Shah elucidated on each of the letters with befitting anecdotes, lucidly explaining the significance. His ‘enriched’ life at His Lotus Feet as a student and later as a research scholar for years reflected in his narrations, as Shashank, himself a prolific speaker and voracious reader, could touch the chord of every single heart with his exposition on the subject. His researching mind defined the prayer, with P for Power, R for Result, A for Action, Y for Yearning, E for Equanimity and R for Reminder. He had beautiful tales for all the six alphabetic prayer components.

Prayer can make the sitting one to stand, standing one to walk, walking one to march and the marching one to merge, to merge in the Ultimate Divine, said Dr. Shah reminding the audience  that ‘Life begins with Him, from Him and ends in Him. Dr. Shah is an author, researcher par excellence, currently a visiting scholar at the Harvad Business School, South Asia Group, the US and is also associated with the Business India group along with many other responsible positions.

A musical and soulful prayer session ensued, led by Ms. Preeta Nair from Kerala. The musical was an assortment of prayers tuned to the style of Vaishnava Janato… The musical ended with ‘Samastha Lokah…’ chanting.

Dr. BG Pitre, Director of Institute of Sri Sathya Sai Education – India delivered the final talk of the session, deliberating on the topic ‘Self-Audit – The Royal Road To Transformation’. A pioneer in the field of Sathya Sai Education, Dr. Pitre spoke about the three parameters of identifying the goal, that being self-realisation, choosing the path followed by implementation following the five values, finally leading to experience through 9-point code of conduct. Being good is of paramount importance that should be followed by doing good things. One should speak about the good only after the implementation or practice of the same, reminded Dr. Pitre, recalling Bhagawan’s revelation once that ‘you are all doing good things, but that does not mean you are good. When you are good, everything you do will be good.’  Being good is of highest importance, reminded the learned speaker, saying mind should be trained in such a way that it realises that The Goal is ever permanent. There should be a sync between the thought, word and deed, so that one does what he speaks, concluded Dr. Pitre.

This morning Sri Brijesh Bamalwa had the honour of taking the audience through the session, playing the anchor role of Master Of Ceremony. Sri Brijesh is  currently the Youth Coordinator, SSSSO – West Bengal.

Bhajans next ended with Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II