Proceedings of Bhagawan Baba’s Jayanthi Mahotsavam- Programme 2 of 5

The proceedings on 22nd November, the eve of the holy 97th Birthday swiftly shifted gears after the auspicious Ganapathi and Dhanvanthari homams.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba out of His infinite Love and compassion for humanity, willed to continue to shower His Benedictions of the Highest Grace by replaying His Story of yester-times amidst the beautiful salubrious picturesque lands adorned by lush green meadows and pastures across the Thatipudi reservoir in its Divine form-SRI SATHYASAI DIVYAAMRITAM – a Unit of Sri Sathya Sai Trust for Universal Welfare.

By Swami’s Grace, the people who were chosen to be at this Holy Abode on November 23, 2021 for the Bhoomi Puja and again on the occasion of Guru Pournima in July 2022 were pleasantly surprised, as well as those who visited now for the first time were awestruck, at the progress made. This Divya Bhoomi which now is designed to be a unique charitable Healing Center prepared itself to shower the Divine nectar in every possible way.

The premises of Sri Sathya Sai Divyaamritam was prepared to welcome great spiritual minds and monks of various orders across exemplary spiritual organizations to the Veda Vidwan Mahasabha.
The Veda Vidwan Mahasabha was started by Swami on April 1, 1963 at Rajahmundry on the Sri Rama Navami day. Veda Samrakshana and Vidwat Poshana continue to occupy an important position in the objectives of His Avatarhood that descended for facilitating the Ascent of Man more than Nine decades ago.

Amidst Veda mantras and chanting led by His children, Swami stepped into the Sai Chaitanya hall that hosted the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajnam earlier during the Dasara celebrations. The hall was ideally customised with traditional alamkaaram (decoration) to match the occasion that instantly took the luminaries invited to a blissful state. These include veterans from various renowned missions, who have been selflessly serving the region.

These included several eminent spiritual leaders like Sri TL Narasimharao, Yoga Consciousness Trust, Visinagiri, Swami SwaSamvedyananda of Sri Rama Krishna Mission, Sri Satyadev Guru, follower at His Master’s EK Foundation, Mataji Tyagamayananda Bharati from Sadhu Mahatma Ashram, Swami Vasudevananda ji from Bengaluru, Master UAVN Raju from Jagadguru Peetham, Vizianagaram; Swami Raghuveerananda from Chinmaya Mission, Ukku Nagaram, Visakhapatnam spearheaded by the Veda Maatha itself.

These scholars and pundits inspired the member participants with their elucidations. Unlike the blind men that described an elephant in their own way far from reality, these scholars guided those present to a plethora of teachings by which they could pursue their objectives as seekers of Truth. The summary of the various disappears are as under:

1. Yogi Narasimharao urged upon seekers to engage themselves in meritorious actions that earn them Punyam. He also urged the need to earn Anubhava Jnanam that would enable them to sail through difficult situations and challenging times in Life. He took the opportunity to highlight the 5 mothers that one should adore to adhere to Dharma – viz.,Veda Maatha, Bhoo Matha; Desha Maatha, Ganga Maatha and Go Maatha.
   
2. Swami SwaSamvedyananda of Sri Ramakrishna Mission prescribed that one should tie up oneself in Nishkama Karma emphasising that service offered bereft of love is useless. He also made everyone aware that identifying oneself with the body claiming doership does not result in any individual transformation. It is in one’s own interest that one follows the Niyama of Ishwara Pranidhaanam, the inner voice or the conscience.
   
3. Sri Satyadev shared his experiences with Swami at Puttaparthi and likened his experience at the Abode to the one at Prashanti Nilayam.
   
4. Amma as she is fondly addressed, Maata Tyagamayananda Bharati instanlty got connected to Swami and recalled an experience with Swami. Recalling His words at Vyaasasramam she recalled Him having said to her “Mee Vooru vadalte gaani Maro Vooru Cheralevu” (You cannot reach another town unless you leave your town). She said she was reminded of and could recall the long forgotten message and understand the message implied by HIM then as soon as she sat in the Chaitanya Hall when instantly she had His Darshan in the present body! Her joy knew no bounds and went on expressing the discovery of the meaning of the Mantra she received from Swami decades ago.
   
5. Another scholar took the opportunity to describe the Panchakshari Mantra ‘Om Namah Sivayaha’ and emphasised the need to sacrifice saying that neither actions nor people can confer immortality.
   
6. Master UAVN Raju described how his encounter with Swami in the current phenomenon helped him identify Swami instantly.
   
7. Swami Vasudevananda underlined that salvation is possible only by Loving all and serving All as advocated by Swami. Highlighting the essence of 18 Puranas, he urged everyone present to ‘Help ever and hurt never’. This way, he said, one could start experiencing God in all.
   
8. Swami Raghuveerananda of Chinamaya Mission from Ukkunagaram spoke about the need to adopt Para, pashyanti and Madhyama types of speeches according to the situation and also highlighted the benefit of chanting Lalita Sahasranama.

Swami in His inimitable Loving way enlightened everyone that like the Gomaatha whose udders are full frantically waiting to feed the calves, He is also eagerly waiting for His children to seize the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Atma Jnana.

Swami then recalled with chaste as to how the Veda Vidwaan Maha Sabha was conceptualised and commenced. He was very pleased that Amma could connect to the Divinity instantly. Swami told that the essence of Santhana Dharma has not been understood properly and has been misinterpreted by relating to religion. Sanathana Dharma indeed has no bearing with any religion.He said Veda Samrakshana and vidwat poshana continue to be one of the major lakshyaas of His descent in the ongoing Avatarhood.

Swami then emphasised the need to acquaint oneself with the essence contained in Vedas and Upanishads in order to unravel the secrets to dharmic living and adherence to Sanatana Dharma. Swamii finally urged upon everyone to resort to Chanting, Listening, Reading and Preaching if one is keen on developing kinship with the God. Selfless Service and unconditional Love alone can make one worthy of earning the Grace of God to merge in the Truth. Saying so Swami brought His Divine Discourse to an end singing melodiously “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” in His inimitable style and articulating the movement of both His Hands to synchronise with the tune as he used to inspire everyone to join Him in singing at Puttaparthi.

The Sabha ended with the offering of Mangala Aarathi to the Vedamatha – Bhagawan Baba.