June 29th 5:30 pm - Sita Rama Kalyanam ends in Prasanthi Nilayam

Yesterday evening with a wonderful event the Sita Rama Kalyanam ended in Prasanthi Nilayam in the Divine presence of Swami. On this wonderful occasion Swami gave a discourse. And Sita Rama Kalyanam was performed to the idols, which were placed in Sai Kulwant Hall for the last few days. It was a wonderful sight to see the wedding of Goddess Sita and Lord Rama in Prasanthi Nilayam.

June 28th 4:30 pm - Sita Rama Kalyanam continues in Prasanthi Nilayam

As the Mangalavaram (literally translates as auspicious day / Tuesday) dawned in Prashanti Nilayam, the chanting of the holy VishnuSahasranaama started in the mandir. All the devotees who had assembled offered the holy akshatha grains to a picture of Swami's cosmic form that had been so efficiently distributed to all of them. At about 8:45 am, Swami came for darshan in the chair. He cut to the interview room after the ladies side. The bhajans began at 9:00 am as usual and then a beautiful incident took place. Swami came in for bhajans and noticed that a student was seated in front with a bowl of Akshatha grains as it was his birthday. Swami called him and blessed him profusely. The magical moment came when the student asked for paadanamaskar and Swami consented. There was a sudden momentary silence as the bhajan that was on concluded. As the student placed his head on the Lotus feet, the next bhajan began - Sathya Sai Paadaambujam, Bhajore Manasa Nirantaram. (Oh mind! Dwell incessantly on the Lotus feet of Sathya Sai) A thrill went through all who were witness to the poignant scene and the student must have been overwhelmed for he stayed down on His feet for more than 10 seconds. Swami was smiling so sweetly at this "coincidence"! The bhajans concluded and Swami left after receiving Aarthi.

In the evening, Swami arrived at about 4:30 pm. He completed the darshan rounds and came onstage. There, He called a boy and took his letter Opening it, Swami saw that the letter was a full page long. He made a face of mock anger and then asked, "Why do you write so much? Write a few lines- that'll suffice!" The boy returned with a smile on his face. He was so happy that Swami spoke to him that maybe that advice went unheard! Immediately, Swami called another boy to take the letter. This time, as He slowly opened it, all watched in bated breath! Swami Himself seemed to open it with an expectant anticipation. Seeing that the letter consisted only of a few lines, He smiled and so did everyone around. With this, He went around the upper stage and then via the inner portico, went into the interview room. He returned to the stage from the interview room to start the proceedings at 5.15 pm. Today's speaker was Sri S. Ranganath garu from Bangalore, who spoke in English about the Aranya Kanda for 45 minutes, noting various points of interest in Valmiki's poetry. Today's talk was more of a Sanskrit scholars' delight with the erudite speaker outlining the beautiful grammar and perfect language employed by the sage Valmiki. He also drew out examples from the works of various modern and contemporary writers where they had been influenced and inspired by the Ramayana. Therefore, he stated, this epic has great relevance irrespective of the age or era! At the end of his talk, Swami saw that one of the students was clicking photos prolifically. He asked him as to there was film in the camera. The student, on his knees, cheekily pulled out the memory chip from the camera, showed it to Swami and said, "No film Swami!" Swami smiled and asked for the bhajans to begin. The bhajans began and today they were all specific to the episodes and the characters of the Aranya Kanda. After bhajans, Swami enquired whether any prasadam was available! When it was being checked, He said that prasadam may be distributed the next day. Smilingly He asked for Aarthi and then left.

25th June was the day dedicated for the Kishkindha Kanda. Swami arrived in the evening a little earlier than all the students had arrived. He completed His darshan rounds on the ladies side. There was a huge empty space as the students had not yet filed in. He took a detour and then cut across the marble blocks. He spoke to the two sevadal lads who were seated near the pillar as part of the security measures to ensure that no one rushes up to Swami to touch His feet and so on. They were taken aback but nevertheless filled with joy as Swami spoke to them. The speaker scheduled for the evening was Dr.Thangirala Venkata Subbarao from Bangalore. Swami then went into the interview room. Coming out, He took a round around the stage and inner portico and once again went into the interview room. From there, He spoke a while with then bhajan singers and then came out of the bhajan hall too. Swami came out and then after a while of Veda chanting, He asked for the speaker to be introduced. The speaker offered his obeisances to Swami and began the talk.

He detailed at length on the Ramayan story from the point where Hanuman meets with the two princes Rama and Lakshmana till the point where Hanuman stands ready on the shores of the ocean, ready for take off to Lanka. The killing of Vali at the hands of Rama and the wonderful dialogue that followed was narrated. Vali asks Rama as to was it fair on His part to kill him in that manner from behind. Rama raplies, "Oh Vali! I never challenged you in a fight. I am on a hunt and I hunted you like any hunter would do a wild animal. Your deeds show that you are indeed a wild animal as you have eyed the wife of another and treated your own brother very badly. As for the enmity, though you are not my direct enemy, you are the enemy of my friend Sugriva, and so you become my enemy too!" Vali himself repents to his words and begs Rama's forgiveness. Rama's crystal clear understanding of Sathya and Dharma was highlighted. At one point, the speaker said that just like the forest in Ramayana had been transformed by the penance of the sages, Puttaparthi had been transformed by penance of Swami. At this point, Swami burst out laughing! With a smile, He said, "I never did any penance of any sort.!" All those who saw it smiled and nodded back at Him.

There exists a misnomer among many that Swami is a great spiritual seeker who has loads of penance backing Him. He is not a spiritual seeker but the One who is spiritually sought; does not need penance to back Him, but He is the one who backs all the penance of the world! The mind may make comparisons between Him and sages, but the heart will say that the only apt comparison will be between Him and Rama for both are incomparable and that is the similarity between them!!

After the speech completed in about 50 minutes, there was a loud applause and the speaker was blessed by Swami. Swami then asked for bhajans to be sung. The instructions were that only Hanuman bhajans be sung. The first bhajan to begin was "Rama Lakshmana Jaanaki". Now this bhajan is special because, the lead is always "Rama Lakshmana Janaki" while the follow is always, "Jai bolo hanuman ki". As soon as the first line was sung, Swami sang out aloud, "Jai bolo Hanuman Ki". Apparently, it seemed that the Lord was reminding all about the special nature of the bhajan. Well, a little deeper view and the Lord was showing mankind another beautiful aspect. In the divine romance, the devotee always keeps singing and thinking of the Lord while the Lord thinks and sings about the devotees. As all assembled kept singing the Lord's name, the Lord was singing the devotee's name! It was indeed an awe inspiring and thrilling sight! After four bhajans, Swami asked for the Aarthi and then left.

Written by Eswarachandra Vidyasagar, Sent by Saikrishna Bharadwaj

June 27th 1:30 pm - Update on Sita Rama Kalyanam in Prasanthi Nilayam


On 23rd too the event began on the same auspicious note as Swami came for darshan. Today however, Swami cut to the stage after the ladies side. Bhagawan arrived for evening darshan at 4 pm , and after sitting onstage for a few minutes, moved to the interview room. He emerged after half an hour to move around the stage area and the verandah, going back onstage and starting the proceedings at 5 pm . Today's talk was on the Ayodhya kandam. The scholar speaking on it today was Sri Malla Pragada Sriman Narayana Moorthy from Guntur . He spoke very beautifully on the inner significance. Ayodhya means, "Where no one wins". this part of the Ramayana, expounded the scholar, was the portion where everyone- King Dasharatha, the queens, all the four brothers and everyone in the family loses. Yet all of them lose so that Dharma can win. And that was the significance of that Kanda. It also highlights the beautiful congruence between Sathya and Dharma. Like the two feet which are perfectly in sync and make movement possible, only when Sathya and Dharma are in sync is progress possible.

Swami was very moved at many instances during the narration. The speaker too spoke very powerfully on the Ayodhya Kanda and the entire audience listened in rapt attention. After the stirring hour long Telugu speech by Mallapragada Srimannarayana Murthy garu, bhajans commenced at 6 pm. Swami too sang the lead for some of the bhajans and that only catalysed a more devotional and enthusiastic singing by everyone assembled! After bhajans for half an hour, Swami received Aarthi and left.



On 22nd of June the entire Kulwant hall appeared in a different light altogether. It looked as if the legendary "Rama Rajyam" had descended on earth. Sorry! Correction please - not just looked that way, Raama Rajyam has indeed descended! Sai Rama speaks a lot on Rama. More than anything else, as He describes the qualities of the Lord then and the way Rama conducted himself, one is always reminded of the daily activities of Swami Himself.

The stage had been occupied by three beautiful statues - Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. Hanuman was conspicuous by his absence. It came to be known that these were only like a standby the actual idols would be brought in a procession in the afternoon! In the afternoon, the Yajur Mandir was bustling with activity. A gaily decorated procession stood in readiness to escort the two Ramas from different Yugas! Swami came out at about 4:30 pm and the procession started. The grandly decorated palanquin bearing the idols of the Lord was being carried by priests chanting hymns and mantras in praise and glory of the "perfect man" of the Treta age. The sanathana Dharma is so glorious and grand. While in many places, God is reduced to a mere book, idol or picture, the Sanathana Dharma, uplifts everything - idols, pictures and everything to the level of God! The "GajaNade" as it is called is the traditional elephant walk that the priests simulated while carrying the idols. This meant that Rama seated atop the palanquin would have felt as though He is seated on an elephant! The movements were such and the priests undulated and gracefully twisted their bodies to exactly replicate that walk. Swami in the meanwhile, sat just at the threshold of the Kulwant hall entrance from Yajur Mandir and said that He would prefer to wait for the idols to be taken in procession completely and then begin His darshan round. That was so sweet and understanding of Swami. Imagine the state of mind of people if both Swami and Rama came for darshan together! The two eyes are not enough to drink in the beauty and glory of both forms at the same time. What does one do when the tastiest of dishes and the best of desserts are placed simultaneously in front for the feast! So, as Swami sat sweetly allowing the palanquin to proceed. All the assembled devotees had a wonderful darshan of Rama, Lakshmana, Seeta and Hanuman. Towards the later part of the procession, the "HamsaNade" or the gait of the majestic swan was adopted and the palanquin proceeded and came to a halt at the stage.



Then sweet Swami began His darshan rounds. It was double delight. For those not yet spiritually evolved to see the Lord in the idols, here was the same Lord in flesh and blood. The thought that the Avatar was in our midst in flesh and blood, heightened by the presence of the idols atop the palanquin made hairs stand on their ends at the great good fortune all of us privileged to enjoy being contemporaries of Swami. Swami glided through the hall in the chair and was all smiles towards the assembled devotees. He went through the gent’s side and then came to the students section of the hall. Blessing the birthday boys and collecting letters from many, Swami went on stage. There He lit the lamp that had been placed and so the "Srimad Ramayana Sudha Pravachana Sptaham" had been officially declared open! The Kalashasthapana and Shodashopachara pooja to the idols were performed and everyone awaited for the next part of the programme to begin looking at Swami. Swami sat listening to Vedic chants as He gently fondled and played with a yellow rose bud in His hand. He opened up the petals slowly. It was so symbolic of what He was doing to all the children seated in front of Him. The come to Him as buds and with His touch, He makes them bloom into fully blossomed flowers.



At 4.45, Bhagawan, seated onstage, asked for the programme to commence. A learned scholar, Sri.Vidwan Nidumamidi Srikanta Rao, spoke in Telugu for about 45 minutes, introducing the Ramayana Saptaham, stating that each day, one Kandam of the Ramayanam would be expounded by a scholar, till the last day, which would be dedicated to the Pattabhishekam or Coronation ceremony. The scholar then spoke about the first part of the Ramayanam, the Bala Kandam and the inner significance of many events narrated there. As he went about the narration of the events of the planned coronation the intilal exploits of the young princes, Swami listen appreciatively with rapt attention. At the end of his talk, Swami looked at the bhjan group and signalled them to begin with a hint word, "Shlokam". And so began "Shree Raghavam", the aalap for the bhajan "Shree Raghunandana". Bhajans continued after that and everyone clapped and sang enthusaistically. All the bhajans were on Rama with special emphasis on the initial phases of Rama's life- to the events of Baala Kanda in particular! Prasadam was distributed while the bhajans went on. Bhagawan accepted Arati at 6.10 pm before returning to His residence.

Written by Eswarachandra Vidyasagar, Sent by Saikrishna Bharadwaj

June 25th 12:30 pm - Sita Rama Kalyanam continues in Prasanthi Nilayam

Each day part of the Ramayana is being narrated by speakers in Sai Kulwant Hall during the evening bhajans. Yesterday it was about Aranya Kanda – Book of the Forest, there are four more parts in Ramayana. Which will be narrated in the coming days.

You can get more information about Ramayana here

June 23rd 3:30 pm - Sita Rama Kalyanam in Prasanthi Nilayam


Two Tata Winger vans stood parked majestically in front of Yajur Mandir today afternoon. Quick enquiries revealed that the Sri Sathya Sai general hospital would be blessed by Swami to receive two fully equipped state of art ambulances. And the two vans parked there were actually yet another gift of Love and Grace. Swami came out at about 4:45pm . As soon as He came out, the vans caught His attention. Swami asked about the vehicles and it was promptly said, "Swami they are Tata Winger vans to serve as the ambulances." He then went closer to have a better look. The oxygen cylinders and the stretchable and retractable bed looked elegant and professionally compact in the vans. Where Swami is concerned, the unexpected is something that has to be expected. Swami enquired about the drivers' place. The front door was opened and Swami was shown the drivers' seat. He scrutinised it carefully. He seemed fully satisfied with the new powered twins and blessed them for their "release". As He was moving towards the car, He saw coconuts on the ground. He told the people and security personnel there to break them as signs of auspiciousness in front of the van. As they were about to do so, Swami, with a sweet smile told them, "Wait! I will go for darshan. Then you break the coconuts."



That statement from Swami was so wonderful in some very specific aspects. For ages Swami has been breaking coconuts. One of His favourite styles is to hold a coconut each in a hand. using one as a breaking instrument, the other coconut is easily halved. On other occasions, Swami throws the coconut to the floor and as it shatters, devotees make a rush to collect the pieces as holy prasad. Nowadays, Swami often asks people near Him to enjoy the privileged honours of breaking the coconuts. Many times when this happens and the people throw the coconuts to the ground, some pieces fly towards the Lord. Swami is amused but thats not the case with many devotees. Though their Lord is the most powerful, He is also the sweetest and most delicate for them. The coconut breakers are rewarded with a smile from Swami and glares from the devotees! And so when Swami, who was just beside the vans, said,"Wait till I go for darshan and then break it," one could not help but supress a smile.

Swami moved into the Kulwant hall on the chair itself and there was a surge from all sides. A week long parayanam of the Ramayanam is scheduled to begin tomorrow and devotees had already started filling in. Added to it, being the "weekend", the devotees numbers get "strengthened". Swami went about collecting letters and blessing everyone. His progress was slow and gentle. The bliss on the faces of the devotees showed that by His touch and smiles and Grace, their "progress" had been made rapid and huge! As Swami moves amongst the devotees in the chair, He is often covered by the lapping waves of the devotees with hearts flooded with devotion. But one can easily see Swami reflected so beautifully in the faces of these devotees. You want to know who Swami is, then just look at the devotees' faces. You will realize that He is an embodiment of Joy, Peace and Love! He collected letters from all and then moved into the students' zone. Blessing everyone, He slowly seemed to wade through them. He blessed all the birthday boys and then went into the interview room. Bhajans began at 5:30 pm and concluded at around 6:05 pm .

Written by Eswarachandra Vidyasagar, Sent by Saikrishna Bharadwaj

June 8th 1:30 pm - Swami is in Puttaparthi Now

Swami left Whitefield this morning at 7:30 am and is on his way to Puttaparthi. Swami reached Puttaparthi around 11:30 am to a grand welcome by the devotees. So if you are coming for Swami's darshan come to Prasanthi Nilayam.

Inside Prasanthi Nilayam Swami was welcomed by students dancing in punjabi costumes. Students were also standing on either side of entrance raising slogans welcoming Swami. After accepting Aarathi Swami retired to Yajur Mandir (swami's home).

June 6th 7:30 pm - Darshan update from Whitefield

Yesterday (5th June) morning, I reached Whitefield at about 9 AM. The hall was already full with devotees. However, by the grace of Swami, I got a seat in the hall in a corner. I could view the dias very clearly from that seat. At 9.30 AM sharp, bhajans started. Bhajans went on and there was no sign of Swami. It was 10 AM, still Swami didn't arrive. I was anxious and was wondering whether Swami would come or not. Finally Swami arrived at 10.15 AM in his wheel chair and sat in the dias only. He didn't come out to people. He enjoyed the bhajans for about 15 min and asked to start Aarti. He accepted Aarti offered to him and was present till the Aarti was over. He also blessed the prasadams which were offered later to all the devotees, present there.

Sent by Mohan

If any devotees from whitefield can send us daily reports please do so by going to the Contact section.

June 4th 11:00 am - Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri Yediyurappa visits Swami for darshan

June 3rd, evening I went for SAI darshan at Whitefield (Brindavan). Entered the hall at 3.00 pm, almost half of the devotees had already entered the new shamiyana mandap and seated in rows. Swami arrived at 5.00 pm sharp Bhajans started. After around 30 minutes, at 5.30 pm Swami signaled to move his wheel chair down, thus enthusing the students and all devotees. He came round and round in a winding manner amongst ladies and gents devotees. He signaled to move even where there was no pathway, thus creating new pathways between devotees and students. A bountiful and un-forgettable darshan to all devotees. He remained moving in pathways going and coming back in the same way till around 6:10 pm.

The new Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri Yediyurappa too arrived around that time and Swami gave him darshan and talk and photo session with him.

He again moved towards ladies side and blessed many devotees. As the Arati song started Students moved quickly and distributed prasad (Laddus). Today’s experience is unforgettable to me as well as all other devotees and students.

Sent by T.Vaidyanathan

If any devotees from whitefield can send us daily reports please do so by going to the Contact section.

June 2nd 11:30 am - News update from Whitefield about Sunday darshan

We were at Brindavan this morning amidst a sea of humanity, being a Sunday, i guess the turnout was very high.

Bhajan started at 9.30am with a male and a lady singer alternating. Swami came into the hall around 9.50 am and went around the hall to bless his followers. Despite the huge crowd, most of us had an excellent Darshan. Arathi was around 10.20 am - 10.25 am after which Prasadam was distributed.

Sent by Ramesh

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June 2nd 11:15 am - News update from Whitefield about Saturday's darshan

With the advent of the monsoon at Bangalore, the devotees at Whitefield received heavy showers of Grace on the evening of 31st May, Saturday and morning of 1st June, Sunday. Bhagawan, the Embodiment of Compassion, blissfully went about mingling with the devotees, collecting letters, giving pada namaskar to many. On the evening of Saturday, He went round the packed hall twice quenching the thirst of the thousands gathered. It did not end there. He then went ahead and blessed the crowd with a Divine Discourse, which came on like a flow of nectar to the ears. And then came the next surprise when Swami asked for an announcement to be made. He had arranged a feast! for all the students and a few invited guests the next day. On Sunday morning Bhagawan again went right up to the last row (up to where the statue of Saraswathy Devi has been installed) filling the hearts of all with overwhelming ecstasy and inexpressible joy. After Aarthi Swami left towards the Kalyana Mandapam where the feast was arranged. Meanwhile, knowing that Swami would be coming out of the Mandapam anytime, there was a huge crowd of devotees gathered outside to catch a glance of Darshan. Swami finally came out after quite sometime and beautifully gestured a Blessing Hand towards the crowd as a kind of an acknowledgement to the Shraddha and Saburi displayed by the devotees. Oh Swami! What better feast could anyone yearn for!

Sent by Bhuvana

If any devotees from whitefield can send us daily reports please do so by going to the Contact section.

June 2nd 11:00 am - Sathya Sai Baba gives discourse in Whitefield

All over the world there is going to be only one religion and the people in other countries would talk of only Hinduism. This would happen in another twenty to thirty years and one could see, the Hinduisam in other parts of the countries would have its charm of attraction and popular among the other religious sects people, said Sri Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi on Saturday who has been camping at his Brindavan abode in Bangalore Kadagodi near the White Field Railway station.

While giving away darshan on Saturday evening to thousands of devotees from various parts of the states and other countries, Sai Baba said the unity among the people alone would help the people to over come their difficult times. This could be achieved by helping others. He said the more the desire a person would have, he would have to face a lot of consequences. Sai Baba underlined the limited desire in one's life with the service minded would be helpful to cross ocean of barriers.

He said the man who born in this earth with body could not carry with him while he departure from this world. Similarly, one could not carry whatever he had earned on this earth.

While talking about the 'faith' Baba said the faith in God should take anyone to a greater heights in this world. He cited an example, while ANJANEYA could cross ocean by simply uttering the Lord Rama's name and faith in him, the other monkeys told Rama that they could threw some stones on the sea to construct a bridge to Sri Lanka. Anjaneya with His magnificient faith not only crossed the sea and reached Sri Lanka and met Sita. Hence, he appealed to the devotees to have unshakeable faith always on the God in which the people were interested always.

On Saturday morning, Sri Sathya Sai Baba who gave darshan from the Brindavan ashramam by appearing on the dais with the wheel chair was seen by many of his devotees by sitting more than an hour and enjoying the Bhajan. Free calendars were distributed to devotees who came there for Baba's darshan. The students of the Sri Sathya Sai University distributed those calendars.

In the evening, before giving lecture, Swamy took a big round on the prayer hall to give close darshan to devotees who assembled in the hall like in the morning of the Saturday. Swamy first went near the students who were sitting near the dais. Then he went to other male devotees who assembled in the hall and spoke to some persons. Similarly, he also visited to the women devotees and gave beautiful darshan.

It suddenly arose in His mind that He should give lecture who were bathing in the happiness of seeing their Lord who gave His darshan just a few minutes ago. Sathya Sai College Warden translated the Telugu lecture of Bhaghavan in English.

Then after Mangala Arathi an announcement followed from the mike. It said, that Bhaghavan has arranged a feast for the Sri Sathya Sai College students and for some special invitees on the Sunday morning.

Sent by N.Thyagarajan

If any devotees from whitefield can send us daily reports please do so by going to the Contact section.

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