Day 10: Navarathri Celebrations 2022

The Vijayadasami day that celebrates the victory of Good over evil arrived on the 5th of October, the 10th day of the Sharad Navratri celebrations. No one knew how the festival celebrations rolled over for 9 days. The excitement and enthusiasm that filled each and everyone chosen by the Lord to be in His Divine Presence went on increasing every moment. This experience, a mile stone for each of them, is sure to empower them further on their path to a meaningful Life.

The Yagashaala resonated with Vedic chants, Grantha Pathanam, Rudra Homam, Rudra Parayanam for the 10th day consecutively. Stepping into the Yaagashaala, one could feel the energetic vibrations that leaving one blissfull and awestruck. This was the experience shared by every chosen one who havms been at the Yagashaala.

In His brief Divine Discourse, Swami lauded the way the proceedings were conducted throughout, and how the Vedic chantings, Grantha Paarayanam etc., were performed to perfection calling them Brahmanottamulu- the Noble ones among the Brahmins. The appreciation turned into a Divine boon instantly when the team of Sri Subramanya Sastry was blessed with the opportunity of conducting the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagna next year too.

One important thing for anyone would be to understand Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba varu as the recipient of the offerings, Veda Purusha that He is and not as one, apparently, making the offerings ino the Poornaahuti. In its true sense He is the not only the one who offers the offering, He is also the Homa into which offering is made and the One who carries the offerings to the concerned Deity, who is again none other than Him the Veda Purusha.

After offering the Poornahuti in the Homa Kunda at the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajnam Yaagashaala, Swami crossed over to the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami vari Yaga shaala.

Sri Narasimha Swami vaaru is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who manifested out of a pillar for the sake of His ardent devotee Prahlada, a lad who prayed for the manifestation of the Lord Vishnu in response to a challenge thrown by his father to show the Lord in a pillar If Lord MahaVishnu as claimed by Prahlada is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. The boon that Hiranyakasipu, Prahlada’s father, had won was he could not be killed by a human, animal, demon, demi God or semi God. But the Lord of Lords chose to manifest, in a fierce form never related to any form before, with a man’s body and a lion’s head that shook and killed Hiranya Kashipu tearing him to pieces.

The Yaagashaala reverberated with Vedic chanting along with Sri Narasimha Mantra, Sri Narasimha Kavacha Stotram, Sri Narasimha Chaturdasi Maha Mantra, Purusha Sooktam, Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naamam etc.

Sri Narasimha Mantra:

Ugram Viram Maha Vishnu Jvalantam Sarvato Mukham !

Nrisimham Bhishanam Bhadram Mrityur Mrityur Namamyaham !!

Sri Narasimha Swami is known as the protector who defends and protects His devotees by removing the obstacles that one faces in times of need. We bow down to such a Lord who is ferocious in His looks emanating fire all around His body. He is considered ferocious and auspicious as the personification of death even by God of death.

The proceedings at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Vari Vigraha Prathishta (installation of the idol) ceremony were electrifying as the Priests were, for three days continuously, consecrating the idol in various ways to invoke the blessings of the Lord to install Himself at this new Abode of His by energising the idol. The idol was offered Abhishekam in several ways after smearing sandalwood paste all over, followed by smearing with burning Sambrani powder to destroy negative energies and to purify the atmosphere. Vedic hymns were chanted as the idol was shifted into the Garbhaalaya (sanctum Santorum) reaching out to 13’6” at its top from the ground level.

Th idol of His devotee, young Prahlada, was also placed close to his Saviour. In His revelations made during the Divine Discourse, as to why an idol of Prahlada had also to be placed, Swami clarified that God and devotee go together, for there cannot be God without a Devotee and there cannot be a devotee without God. Swami went on to say that “if you’re with God everything comes to you. Whatever Narasimha receives as offering Prahlada would also get”.

It’s not out of place to mention here that Swami clarified another point as to why the Idol of Lord Ganesha was not installed before the installation of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami’s idol. Swami said it’s because Lord Ganesha wanted His father to be there before He installed Himself, for Ganesha has no existence without His father first installing Himself there. Swami went on to say that this Abode would become another most famous Kshetra like Ahobilam or Simhaachalam. People from far and wide will throng the place to receive His Grace.

The Evening session witnessed Swami arriving into the Yagashaala in a beautifully decorated Palanquin that electrified the Holy precincts with roaring Jaikar for their Lord and with the enchanting smiles on the face of the Lord. The devotees lost themselves in singing songs in praise of their most beloved Lord.

The words of the Ritwik who came from Simhaachalam are worth remembering. A day before the installation proceedings commenced the Ritwik made a statement out of blue saying that the presence of Lord Vishnu gets confirmation when the proceedings commence next day evening in the Sandhya Samayam (the time when the transition from day to dusk happens) and a Vulture bird, the divine vehicle of Lord Vishnu, appears in the sky when Swami arrives into the Divine precincts. When the Lord arrived into His Abode the Ritwik rushed to Swami to confirm having seen a Vulture flying around the Abode as the day started turning into dusk and simultaneously the incarnation of the Yuga arrived. The pristine glow in the face of the Priest got reflected in the face of none less than the incarnation of the Age and the ones that arrived along with Him!

It’s also worth noting that no misery of sorrow or suffering – Adhi Bhautika (suffering caused by other living beings like wild animals, snakes etc.), Adhi Daivika (suffering/sorrow inflicted by Time, nature, fate etc.) or Adhyaatmika (sorrow caused by body suffering /mental anguish etc.) touched anyone in any form during the ten day celebrations.

The acknowledgement of the receipt of offerings made into the Yagna Homa reflected in the form of rains that was showered by Varuna (the rain God). It rained all the day and night. And when the devotees had to move back after the sessions Swami literally ensured it did not rain and urged upon everyone to rush back to their rooms. It was then the rain God would commence or resume his duties.

In His Divine Discourse showered at the end of the day, Swami attributed the reason for successful performance of celebrations to LOVE – LOVE for GOD and LOVE for each other. Swami said one could survive and make things happen even with limited resources if only one lives in Love and for Love of God. Citing example of Lord Rama He enlightened that Rama could lead a 14 year exile in the most hostile environment of thick jungles by harbouring LOVE in His Heart. Swami emphasised that all obstacles coming in one’s path can be overcome by conducting oneself with Love.

The celebrations ended with a grand cultural programme by Sri Ramprapanna Bhattacharya, a Indian classical Sitarist and his team. The celebrations reached their culmination by burning of crackers. It was raining heavily till then. When the Lord stepped out to burn the crackers Himself, for the pleasure of His Children, the rain stopped enabling everyone to join their hands with that of their Lord. Rain resumed after everyone reached back their rooms. Of course it’s an ‘Eternal Celebration in Joy of Light’ when we join our hands with the Lord!