January 31st 8:30 pm - Drama about Meerabai in Prasanthi Nilayam

This evening there was a drama about the Great Devotee of Lord Krishna called Meerabai. There was a big decoration for a king’s court setup in Sai Kulwant Hall.

Drama began with Swami’s arrival on to the veranda. Students performed the drama of Meerabai very well with bhajans of Meerabai.

Drama showcased how Meerabai was devoted to Lord Krishna even during all kind of adversities like criticism from religious heads and her own family trying to poison her for her devotion to Lord Krishna etc.

They showed how she finally reached Brindavan and became One with Lord Krishna. They ended the drama with Lord Krishna dancing and accepting Meerabai and making her One with Him.

Students ended the Drama thanking Swami for giving them the privilege of getting the Divine Drashan of their Lord Sathya Sai Baba everyday, where as Meerabai had to endure so much to get a glimpse of Lord Krishna.

After the Drama Swami blessed the students who performed and took pictures with them and Prasadam was distributed to students.

Events came to an end with Swami accepting Aarathi, soon after that Swami left for Yajur Mandiram (swami's home).

Click here to see more pictures of the Drama of Meerabai in Prasanthi Nilayam

January 29th 12:00 pm - Sathya Sai Baba's 82nd Birthday celebrations Around the World

We have put pictures from Seremban, Malaysia. So far we have added pictures from 63 different places from arouund the world.

If your Samithi or Group celebrated Swami birthday this year. Please send us pictures with description of the events that took place that day and details about the place where the events happened. You can email them at puttaparthilive.com@gmail.com

See the pictures from 82nd Birthday Celebrations Around The World.

January 28th 7:30 pm - Divine Bhajan program in Sai Kulwant Hall by devotees from Delhi

This evening there was a bhajan program by the devotees from Delhi. They performed some wonderful songs. They even performed a song in Qawwali style, which was really beautiful. The lyrics of the songs went like this

Sai Tere Pyar Ne Jena Sikaya Hame
(Sai Your Love Has Shown Us How to Live)
Sai Tere Pyar Ne Insan Bangaya Hame
(Sai Your Love Has Turned Us Into Human Beings)

Hope I remembered the lyrics correctly, it really was a beautiful and energetic rendition. I wish we could bring you these songs.

They ended their program with another wonderful song, which went like this “Aana Hi Padega Baba Aana Hi Padega” as they were finishing the bhajan they changed the lyrics to

Aana Hi Padega Baba Delhi Aana Hi Padega
(Swami you have to come to Delhi we request you to come Swami)

After their program Swami blessed all the signers with Vibhuthi and also presented them with clothes. Then Swami went inside mandir for a while and when Swami returned the lady devotees from Delhi started the bhajans which were also very nice. As the bhajans were going on Swami blessed prasadam which was given to all the devotees from Delhi. Swami also blessed many students and looked at their project reports.

After their bhajans the students started singing bhajans after few bhajans at 6:45 pm the program ended with aarathi.

It really was a Divine evening of bhajans.

If anyone from mandir is reading this, we will be more than happy to do all the hard work to put the music and videos of everyday events online. Please contact us if you need our help.

January 27th 8:30 pm - Drama about Service by Sai Youth from Delhi

This evening Swami came to a packed Sai Kulwant Hall at 5:40 pm.

The programs began after Swami sat on the veranda blessings all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall. First was a song and dance in English, which they beautifully performed to a very nice song. Then the drama began.

Drama was about the Sai Organization and its service. Drama starts with devotees in Delhi trying to conduct a blood donation camp. As they are trying to conduct the camp they see two elderly people nearby. Who seem to be struggling due to hunger, when the devotees enquire what the problem was. The elderly couple responds that their son has thrown them out of their home. And they were on the streets now and hungry. So the devotees provide some food and take them back to their home.

Once there they speak to the elderly couple's son and try to persuade him to take his parent’s back and ask him to take care of them. They say your parents have given so much of their Love and money for your well being you should do the same at this stage for them. But their son ridicules the devotees. As this is going on the grand son of the elderly couple who was watching all this tell his father, how he too would have to treat his father like his father is treating his parents.

After listening to this the son of the elderly couple realizes his mistake and takes his parents back home after apologizing to them. And asks the devotees who taught them such good morals. The devotees reveal their Divine Guru Sathya Sai Baba. They then proceed to the blood donation camp. This family too happily joins in the service they are providing.

At the camp they test all the devotees and take down their blood groups. As they are doing this, a gentleman comes to them and tell them that he needs some O positive blood. He tells his wife had an emergency operation and he tried all the places even his relatives couldn’t help. So he has come to the Sai Organization for help. The devotee looks in the book and calls all the devotees with that blood group and asks them for help.

Then another lady come to them asking for similar help saying her son was in an accident and she needs their help in getting blood. When they enquire her for the blood group, she says she has no idea what the blood of her sons is, so they provide her phone so that she can call the hospital and find out. Once she finds out they help her with the blood donation. As all this is going on. The gentle man who came to them earlier calls and thanks them for all the help. He says even though he needed only 14 bottles of blood there were 15 people at the hospital to donate blood. He said he was thankful that they helped him even though he was not a devotee. And he says he would love to meet the Guru whose devotees are so kind and helping. The devotee respond saying it’s the Divine Grace of their Master Sathya Sai Baba, who has given them such an opportunity to serve.

All of devotees come to Puttaparthi and offer pranams to Sathya Sai Baba. And drama ends with a Punjabi bhangra song about Swami.

I wish I remembered the whole lyrics of the song, it went something like “Sai Ham Hai Tere Sipayi” it was very nice.

After the event Swami blessed them and gave the performers clothes. Then Swami blessed prasadam, which was distributed to all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall. As prasadam was being distributed the devotees from Delhi began singing bhajans. After a few bhajans the events ended with aarathi and Swami left for Yajur Mandir (swami's home).

What a wonderful service these devotees in Delhi are doing with these blood donation camps. Hope with Swami's blessings many more Sai Organization get inspired and start such services.

Click here to see more pictures of the Drama by Sai Youth from Delhi

January 27th 1:30 pm - Rally by devotees from Vishakapatanam

There are few hundred devotees from Vishakapatanam, Andhra Pradesh here in Puttaparthi for the last two days. This afternoon they did a small rally on the main road in Puttaparthi. Both men and women were wearing orange scarfs and signing bhajans, they carried small temples with photos of Sathya Sai Baba.

January 23rd 8:30 pm - Nice darshan after the bhajans this evening in Sai Kulwant Hall

This evening the bhajans finished few minutes early at 5:20 pm as devotees were waiting to see Swami leave for Yajur Mandir (swami's home). Swami came on to the veranda and blessed many students talking with them for quite a while. After interacting with the students for nearly half hour as Swami was leaving, He turned around and blessed a devotee with a gold chain. And stayed on the veranda, as students gathered around Swami and began singing bhajans. After few bhajans and after giving all the devotees who stayed behind in Sai Kulwant Hall a nice darshan, aarathi began for the second time this evening. After that Swami left Sai Kulwant Hall for Yajur Mandir (swami's home) at 6:20 pm.

January 20th 6:30 am - Swami's Bangalore Hospital completes 7 years of service

Swami blessed and cut a cake yesterday as Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore completed 7 years of Divine’s mission of Medical service. Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore was inaugurated on 19th January 2001 and has continued doing free medical service to patients all over India for the past 7 years.

For those wishing to be part of this wonderful service go here for more details

This evening Swami gave nice darshan as the bhajans were going on. Swami took letters from many students and gave a nice darshan to all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall.

There are no festivals till "March 6 - Maha Shivarathri" in Puttaparthi. So this could be the best time to visit Puttaparthi if you want avoid big crowds.

January 15th 11:00 am - Prize distribution ceremony for the Sports Events


This morning in Sai Kulwant Hall the Prize distribution ceremony for the Sports Events was held.

Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall accompanied by the marching band from Prasanthi Nilayam Campus. After giving all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall a wonderful darshan.

Swami gave the divine discourse, it was full of wonderful messages to students. Swami said that students should not concentrate on just education from books. They should also get spiritual education. Swami said that students should love and treat their parents with respect. Now days many treat their wife with love and ignore their parents. Swami said love your wife but respect your parents and take care of them. If you make your parents unhappy your future life will be unhappy. If you treat them with respect and make them happy your life will be happy. Swami said students should try to lead an ideal life and always think of God. Do bhajans when you can, if you can’t do bhajans out loud do it inside. Sing bhajans daily and you will be blissful. Swami ended the discourse asking the principals of the institutes to come forward to receive the cups.

Swami presented the principals of all the Sri Sathya Sai Institues with beautiful cups and blessed them. Then Swami blessed all the medals and certificates that will be distributed to the students. Which would be given later at their respective campuses.

After that the marching band began playing as they were playing, Swami blessed Prasad, which was given to all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall. After aarathi at 10:30 am Swami left Sai Kulwant Hall for Yajur Mandir (swami's home) ending morning programs.

Click here to see more pictures of the Prize distribution in Prasanthi Nilayam

January 14th 11:30 am - Sathya Sai Baba distributes blankets to elderly devotees

This morning during the bhajans in Sai Kulwant Hall, elderly devotees were seated in a special row. Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall as the bhajans were going on and personally distributed blankets to elderly devotees both men and women. Swami also distributed blankets to some devotees in veranda. At 10:45 am the bhajans ended and after talking to a few devotees on the ladies side Swami left for Yajur Mandir (swami's home).

January 13th 11:00 am - Drama called Sant Kabir by Students


This evening another wonderful drama by the students in Sai Kulwant Hall. The drama was about Sant Kabir and his wonderful messages.

Drama began with the birth of Sant Kabir, he was found by a Muslim couple on the banks of river Ganges. The couple accepts the kid as the gift from Allah, so they take him to an elder to give him a Name. The elderly person looks in the holy book and finds Kabir and gives the boy that name. Kabir is also one of names of Allah.

Kabir grows up and in search of God he decides, he needs a master who can guide him to God. And finds a master in Guru Ramanand, who accepts him as his disciple even though he is a Muslim. When many of his students protest and leave him. The Guru says, the river Ganges, the air, the sun don’t make any discriminations among us. So why should we human beings the creations of God make such discriminations.

They narrate all the wonderful Kabir dohas (poems) with wonderful scenery as Kabir makes his livelihood. They show us how Kabir was well respected in both Hindu and Muslim communities. Once when during a festival season devotees from both Muslim and Hindu communities approach Kabir, so that he could make them a cloth for the festival celebrations. He accepts both their request even though, he has no time to complete them. When he was working late at night to finish the cloth, which had to be given in the morning, he falls asleep. In the morning the devotees from both the communities arrive at his home and find two beautifully made cloth and wake Kabir up to congratulate him, on the beautiful work he has done. Only then does Kabir realize that Lord has performed a miracle to keep his devotees words. Devotees from both communities leave asking him to visit the temple and bless them.

So he visit the Dargah (Muslims holy place) and one of the devotee asks him about animal sacrifices. He says that animal sacrifices should not be done. What is written in the scriptures is actually to sacrifice the animal qualities in you not the poor animals. Devotees say only the true devotees like Kabir can understand the real meaning of all the scriptures.

Then he visits a Hindu temple and sees that some devotees are not allowed to enter the temple. So he advises the devotees there and tells them about how Adi Shankara Charya learned that God is present in all the Human Beings when He visited the same temple. They show how Adi Shankara Charya once visiting that temple sees a chandala come in his way and ask him to move aside. When the man asks him, whom are you asking to move the body or the soul. Then Adi Shankara Charya realizes the God in Chandala and offers pranams to his feet. After listening to this devotees welcome all the people in to the temple.

They also showed how when Kabir was summoned to court of the King, after some complaints from some people accusing him of wrong doing, saying he is causing trouble to religious harmony.

Kabir says to the King that he would never do anything to disrespect God, all are his brothers. When the king gets angry and asks him to tell the truth, if he wants to leave the court alive. Kabir replies, if God wants to end this life I will more than happily accept it. King in anger asks the guards to punish him, when the try to punish Kabir God punishes the punishers. Soon they realize that they can’t punish Kabir and ask him for forgiveness.

King realizing his mistake asks for forgiveness and asks Kabir to give his kingdom a message so that all the people in the kingdom could follow. Kabir says a Muslim should try to become a better Muslim and a Hindu should try to become a better Hindu. Love All, Serve All. That’s way all the citizens can live happily.

The drama ended with a beautiful song, slowly all the students joined in offering their prayers to Swami. Swami blessed all the performers by taking photos with them and giving Prasad. Swami blessed the student who played Kabir with a Gold chain. Prasadam was also distributed to all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall.

Students once again did a wonderful job of creating a memorable drama of Sant Kabir. They built a temple and then a mosque and they ended the drama with both the temple and the mosque standing side by side. The also had many wonderful songs that Muslim devotees sing and also some very nice songs the Hindu devotees sing. The dialogues were in English but the songs were in Hindi.

Click here to see more pictures of the Drama called Sant Kabir

January 12th 7:00 pm - Drama called Veera Anjinayam by Students


Yesterday evening in Sai Kulwant Hall there was a drama about Lord Hanuman (also called as Anjinaya). The drama showed the scenes from Ramayana that shows the devotion of Lord Hanuman to Lord Rama.

The drama showcased the devotion and trust Lord Hanuman had in Lord Rama. When going to Lanka and giving the message to Ravana.

They also showcased how Tulasi Das struggled to write Ramayana and how Narada Muni helped him and guided him by explaining the meaning of Sundarakanda (Ramayana is also known by that name). How Ramayana has all the wonderful relationships, like a devotees relationship to the Lord, in Lord Rama and Lord Hanumans relationship. A husband’s relationship between, Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. And a brother’s relationship in Lord Rama and Lord Laxmana.

Narada also explained that the journey Hanuman took to reach Lanka was the journey every devotee takes to reach Lord. There are many obstacles but he can overcome all of them if he shows true devotion to Lord. They depicted this by showing Lord lead a devotee from the struggles of Life.

At the end of the drama when Goddess Sita offers a pearl necklace to Hanuman. He breaks the necklace apart in search of Lord Rama’s name in it. And throws it away because it doesn’t have the name of Rama. When someone questions Him and asks Him what if Your body doesn’t have Lord Rama’s name in it. Then He asks them to listen and Lord Hanuman’s body resonates the sounds of Rama nama.

Then Lord Rama tells Hanuman that His deeds can be explained in many words but his devotion cannot be explained in words. So Lord Rama says all I can offer to You is Myself and hugs Hanuman.

Drama ended with all the performers singing a wonderful song, as they offered their humble pranams to Swami.

It was a grand presentation by the students who erected a stage in front of the veranda. And used the space they had wonderfully well to showcase the drama. More than 30 students in beautiful costumes took part in the drama. The whole drama had nice voice overs and songs. The whole dialogue of the drama was in English but the poems were in Telugu, which was mixed very well and sounded really good.

Swami stood and took pictures with all the performers. And also blessed all the students who helped in setting up the drama. Swami blessed prasadam, which was given to all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall. After aarathi Swami left for Yajur Mandir (swami's home) in mobile chair.

When you think they can’t make the drama any spectacular or wonderful, they go ahead and prove me wrong and present one of the best dramas seen in mandir in recent times.

Sathya Sai Baba distributes blankets to elderly devotees

This morning during the bhajans in Sai Kulwant Hall, elderly devotees were seated in a special row. Swami came to Sai Kulwant Hall as the bhajans were going on and personally distributed blankets to elderly devotees both men and women. Swami also distributed blankets to some devotees in veranda. At 10:45 am the bhajans ended and after talking to a few devotees on the ladies side Swami left for Yajur Mandir (swami's home).

Click here to see more pictures of the Drama called Veera Anjinayam

January 12th 9:00 pm - World-class tennis stadium will be inaugurated by Satya Saibaba today

Another sports facility has been added to the host of existing ones in Puttaparthi by Sri Satya Sai University. The new Sri Satya Sai International Tennis Complex will be inaugurated on Saturday by Satya Saibaba and the stadium will host the inaugural match between India and Philippines.

January 11th 7:30 pm - Sports Day Celebrations in Puttaparthi


This morning devotees gathered in Hill View Stadium from as early as 5:00 am. All the devotees and vehicles were headed to the stadium this morning.

Swami arrived in a open roof car at 7:55 am to the Hill View stadium. Swami was wearing a bright yellow dress, and gave all the devotees a very nice darshan. Swami was accompanied by two marching bands and by students on Horses. After Swami reached the dais the event started with the march past from all the institutes of Sathya Sai Baba. After the march past Swami lit the lamp to begin the sports day.

The first performance was by the ladies from Anantapur Campus. They performed some wonderful dances in Japanese costumes, then they did some exercises with hockey sticks and they ended their performance by a brave display on motorbikes. The highlight of that event was a jump by a student over a ramp and over the students who were lying down after the ramp. They ended their program by offering pranams to Swami.

Then the program by the students of Brindavan campus began. The first event was horse jumping, which they did wonderfully well. Four students on horses participated in the event. After that the rhythmic dances by the students began. They were students doing acrobatics using big wheel. They ended the program with an event where students did acrobatics on ropes, which were hanging high in the sky to a crane. They did some amazing exercises on it. The also wrote words like “WE LOVE U”, “SAI” with their bodies. They ended their programs offering pranams to Swami.

After that, the event ended with Aarathi and Swami left Hill View Stadium at 9:55 am. Bring the morning programs to an end.

Evening programs will begin at 3:00 pm, where students from Prasanthi Nilayam campus and the children from Primary School will take part.

Calendars and Prasadam was distributed to all the devotees who were gathered in Hill View Stadium.

Afternoon Program

This evening the programs started with Swami’s arrival at the hill view stadium at 3:15 pm. Swami was in maroon color dress giving all the devotees a very special darshan. After Swami reached the dais the programs started.

First were the children from Sri Sathya Sai Primary School. They did nice dances with colorful costumes. The boys from primary school performed gymnastics, acrobatics on unicycles and cycles. It was a very nice presentation by them.

Then the students from Prasanthi Nilayam campus, which includes, Sri Sathya Sai Higher Learning and Sri Sathya Sai University began their programs. Their program was the one that received huge claps from the devotees at Hill View Stadium. They began with a dance and then performed acrobatics on ropes and did gymnastics on moving vehicles etc. They ended their program with a martial art display.

The programs ended at 5:30 pm, after blessing many students Swami left for mandir.

Ending the Sports Day celebration in Puttaparthi.

Click here to see more pictures of Sports Day Celebrations in Puttaparthi

January 6th 7:30 pm - Drama by the devotees from Maharashtra and Goa

Yesterday evening in Sai Kulwant Hall there was a drama about King Sivaji. Who fought for independence from the occupiers of his Motherland. They should how Sivaji followed the right path in getting back his motherland. How is showed respect to all the religions and also they way he treated children and women with respect. Even after his victory how he was humble and gave it all to Maa Bhavani saying it was only her blessing that made the victory possible. The drama was performed at a grand scales with nice costumes and props. The whole drama was mixed with wonderful songs.

After the drama Swami blessed the actor who played Sivaji with a Gold Chain. And took pictures with all the performers. Then Swami blessed prasadam which was given to all in Sai Kulwant Hall. The events ended at 6:30 pm with aarathi.

Click here to see more pictures of Programs by the Sai Youth from Maharashtra and Goa

January 5th 7:00 pm - Music program by the Sai Youth from Maharashtra and Goa

Yesterday evening in Prasanthi Nilayam there was a music program by the devotees from Maharashtra and Goa. They sang some beautiful bhajans, which were accompanied by pictures on the screen that was set up in Sai Kulwant Hall. Program went on till 6:00 pm and ended with Aarathi. After the event Prasadam was distributed to all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall.

January 4th 8:00 pm - Programs by the Sai Youth from Maharashtra and Goa

This evening in Sai Kulwant Hall there were cultural programs by the Sai Youth from Maharashtra and Goa. Large part of the Sai Kulwant Hall was occupied by the Sai Youth from that region.

Traditional dance was performed by devotees from a village called Anipalli. The announcer said that due to Sathya Sai Baba's divine blessings there were many improvements in the village which is in a remote forest area. The performed delightfully in the divine presence of Swami.

Next program was Aarathi, devotees from Goa performed aarathi in the special ways they perform in Goa temples. First aarathi was for Lord Ganesha which was beautifully sung by the devotees. After that there was another aarathi for Lord Dathatreya . As the aarathi bhajan began 10 devotees started taking aarathi of Sathya Sai Baba with lamps. Which was a wonderful sight to see.

They ended their programs with the bhajan which went like this "Aavo Sab Mangal Gaya, Sathya Sai Bhagawan ki". As the bhajan was going on Swami blessed prasad which was distributed to all the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall. Then the regular bhajans began and after few bhajans with aarathi the events ended.

January 1st 8:00 pm - Discourse by Sathya Sai Baba yesterday evening in Sai Kulwant Hall


This evening there were some cultural programs by the old students of Prasanthi Nilayam campus and Brindavan campus. After the cultural programs some students spoke narrating their experiences.

One of the experiences was about an MBA student who went to work in New Delhi. He joined a company there and on weekends he use to go to an orphanage and spend some time being with children. There was a program in the school where these kids use to go to. So students were asked to bring their parents for the program. Since these kids in the orphanage had no parents they asked the Swami student if he could accompany them to the program. He happily accepted their request, but on the day of the program his manager in the office asked him to make a presentation to the Businessman coming from overseas. So he had to choose either to be with the kids whom he promised or the presentation. He prayed to Sathya Sai Baba and decided that he will go with kids and went with them, and the program went well and all the kids were happy. After returning from the program he told all his sub ordinates that he would be fired soon because he missed the presentation. But then they told him, "what are you talking about you were here and gave a very nice presentation". Then Swami's students realized that Swami had come in his form and given the presentation. He thanked Swami and said when Swami says I will be with You around You and in You. Swami really is with us.

Then Swami gave a discourse and began with a poem in Telugu. Swami said that Love and Peace are within us. You will not find anywhere else unless you realize that they are with yourself. Swami said that your behavior is reflected to you through this world. If you spread Love you will receive Love back. Swami said all the devotees should follow Love, Peace and Non-Violence. Swami said when you see your enemy offer him pranams and he will to. Love even your enemy, if you get angry with your enemy you are getting angry with yourself. Swami said devotees should always speak truth. Swami said stay united as an example Swami used the handkerchief and showed it and told if you take this handkerchief apart its only threads but if they stay together it's a cloth. So similarly always we should stay untied with Love. Swami gave many more wonderful messages.

Swami talked about the students and said that all of them come from so far with Love. Fill your hearts with Love and Swami will be with you always.

Then Swami sang the bhajan "Hari Bhajana Bhina Sukh Shanthi Nahi" after the bhajan Swami said the really bliss is in bhajans. So try to do bhajans, and don't worry about others do bhajans blissfully.

After that Swami enquired with the students about when they were leaving and said that Swami will be with them always and blessed them.

Then prasadam was distributed to all the devotees and after aarathi, event ended.

Click here to see more pictures of the New Year celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam

January 1st 8:00 pm - New Year 2008 celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam


This morning in Sai Kulwant Hall, which was beautifully, decorated with flowers the programs began. Sai Kulwant Hall had a Happy New Year 2008 written in flowers above veranda where Swami sits.

There was a musical program by students. As the program was going on Swami cut few cakes the devotee brought.

The program ended with the song Aaj Subha Din Hai, Ha Ha Ha, Today is a Sacred Day, Ha Ha Ha, which was sung in many languages. After finishing the song students announced that Swami taught them this song and made them sing it during the 1985 New Year Celebrations. They thanked Swami for giving them this opportunity and prayed to Swami to guide them by holding their hand through this New Year.

Then bhajans began and Swami blessed prasadam, which was distributed to all the devotees, who filled Sai Kulwant Hall.

Prasadam was in a box, which had a small calendar of Swami, a packet of Vibhuthi and one sweet and some cashewnuts.

The programs ended after aarathi.at 10:45 am