Sai Blossoms

 "If you develop love for all beings with faith that God resides in all, your prayers will reach Me and My grace will reach you wherever you are."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(October 25, 1965)

The Origin of Akhanda Bhajan - Pt. 1

An article by Ms. Geetha Mohanram from USA. Akhanda Bhajans was first organized by elders of her family in the year 1946 in Bangalore, India.

 

It was a dark time in the world - World War II raged, and the British still ruled India. But in a small corner of the country - the village of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh - the Divine light of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Lord of the Universe born in human form, shone increasingly effulgent. 

Ever since my grand-uncle Sri Seshagiri Rao and his family had made their initial trip to see Him in 1944, the bonds of love between the young Avatar and these early devotees grew quickly, and He very soon became the centre of their lives. My parents, Dr. R.S. Padmanabhan and Kamalamma, and the extended family would make the difficult 3-day journey from Bangalore to Puttaparthi whenever they could, to enjoy the proximity of Divinity. 

Once there, all their activities revolved around Swami; He would talk with them, play with the children, lead them all to the Chitravathi river bed for late afternoon satsangs, and constantly teach spiritual truths through everyday events. Bhajans quickly became a part of the evening routine in the Patha Mandiram, and the devotees would lose themselves in the melodious namasmarana.

It was always difficult to leave their beloved Swami at the end of each visit, so in 1945, my parents, my aunt’s family and six other devotee families from Bangalore decided to hold their own bhajans on Thursday evenings, at each of their houses, in turn. Those were the days of curfews and rationing, they had no phones with which to communicate, and lacked easy access to vehicles. Nonetheless, they held their Thursday bhajan sessions without fail for a whole year, often walking miles to each other’s houses in the dark. 

Towards the end of that year, someone had the idea of conducting a 24-hour bhajan to celebrate that milestone, with simple prasadam to be served after arathi. The idea quickly caught on, and they excitedly sent a postcard to Sri Seshagiri Rao in Puttaparthi, asking him to convey their plan to Swami and seek His permission and blessings.

The enthusiastic reply came by return post – Swami was thrilled with the idea and stated immediately that not only would He bless the event, but would attend in person! Well, this was more than they had bargained for! Alarmed, Sri Seshagiri Rao’s daughter, my aunt Sunderamma, tried to walk the fine line between appreciating Swami’s enthusiasm and saying “No, don’t come!” to the Lord of the Universe! She wrote back to her father saying, “We will not be able to look after Swami properly, the place is small, there is no vehicle to transport Him here…” Soon after the postcard was mailed, they received a telegram from Sri Seshagiri Rao saying, “We’re on our way!”

And so, Swami arrived a couple of weeks prior to the planned 24-hour bhajan in February 1946, and enthusiastically participated in every aspect of the preparations. The small group of devotees organised the altar and decorations, and pooled their rations of rice to make the prasadam that would mark the event’s completion. Swami was such an integral part of the preparations that it did not occur to any of the devotees that they would need His photograph for the stage until the day of the event – they had just assumed He would sit on His throne to receive their bhajans!

The day of the Akhanda (non-stop) bhajan dawned and preparations were nearing completion. Suddenly strangers started arriving at the venue, family after family, all asking, “Is this where the Akhanda bhajan is to be held?” “Yes”, my aunt replied, “but who are you and why have you come?” “Oh, Swami came to us in our dreams and told us to come and participate in this wonderful event!” As more and more people streamed in, some from as far afield as Chennai and Mysore, my aunts turned increasingly purple in the face! They stared at the growing crowd in disbelief and were anxious about their ability to feed everyone with the limited resources they had.

(To be continued)

Ram Ram Bhajoman Hare Hare

 

Akhanda Bhajan

 

Perhaps the most important message Bhagawan wishes us to understand is this:

Akhanda Bhajan does not end when the 24 hours are over.  It should continue in our hearts, in our thoughts, in our words and in our actions.

When we leave the bhajan hall, we should carry the same devotion, love and purity into our everyday lives.  Our singing may end but our Namasmarana should never cease.

When the final bhajan is sung and we return to our daily activities, may the melody of God's name continue to resonate within us.

SAMASTA LOKAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU

Deepavali: The Lesson of Light and Love

 

On the auspicious occasion of Deepavali, what is the important lesson we must internalise? 

"Expansion is the essence of Love. Love is God. Live in Love. That is the Deepavali message I give you. 

When a lamp is lit from another, there are two where there was but one. The first one did not stop emitting light. You can light a million lamps from one, yet the first will not suffer a jot! Love too is like this. Share it with a million, it will still be as bright as when it was alone. 

There is another lesson too which the illuminations on Deepavali tend to teach. Each house in the street lights a few lamps and keeps them on the door sill, the parapet wall, the gate, the porch, the well, and what is the effect? The town is filled with light, the residents are happy, the children dance in glee, and the sky shines in the glow of earthly joy. Light spreads; it mingles with the light from other sources of light; it has no boundaries, no prejudices, no favourites. You may not like your neighbour. But the light from the lamp on your verandah shines hand in hand with the light from the lamp on his verandah! You cannot keep it back! \

Deepavali is intended to teach you this lesson of light and love; move out, clasp, spread, expand, give up limits of mine and thine, his and theirs, caste, and creed, in one limitless flow of Love. That is the culmination of all spiritual sadhana."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - October 29, 1970)

I shall be happy when each one of you becomes a Lamp of Love, shedding virtue and purity all around you. – BABA

Quotable Quotes

 

“To be truly present you need to not just turn off the television or radio in your house, you need to turn off the conversation and images in your head.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

Realisation of the Oneness

How does the realisation of the oneness of all beings help us overcome hatred and selfishness and manifest our innate divine qualities? 

"When the teeth bite your tongue, do you get angry at them for hurting you? Do you break the teeth that hurt it so? No. For teeth and tongue are both yours, both you. Similarly, he who hurts you and you are both limbs of the same body, God. Feel that oneness and avoid hate. 

God is on the lookout for this inner vision; He blesses those whose hearts are so vast that they can take in all His children. How can He be pleased when you are so selfish and narrow-minded that you send away His children from the doorstep of your heart? You must first have a clear understanding of the nature of the Goal - God or Goodness or the Universal Absolute—whatever the name, its grandeur, its beneficence, its magnificence. Then, that understanding itself will prompt and urge you towards it. 

The Universal of which you are a unit is pure, true, egoless, unlimited, and everlasting. Contemplate on It and your innate egolessness, truth, purity, and eternality will manifest itself, more and more every day."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - July 8, 1968)

God gives ear to the prayers that rise in all languages and even from the silence of thedumb. He has no trace of anger or worry. You too have no reason to develop anger and anxiety - BABA

Honour Every Human Being

"Honour every human being.  Show love towards every person.  Love is not a crop that can be grown on land or a commodity that can be purchased in a shop.  Whether one is an important person or a commoner only when he gives up egoistic pride and is ready to make a sacrifice will love blossom within him."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(November 23, 1988) 

Divine Wisdom

 

Love Is Of Three Kinds

"Love is of three kinds, self-centered, which like a bulb, illuminates just a small room; love for friends and family which, like the moonlight, spreads wider but is dim, and love for all, which like the sunlight, is all pervasive and bright.  Cultivate the third type of love, it will save you.  All the service that you do to others through that love is in fact, service to yourself." 

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(February 27, 1961)