Day 9: Navarathri Celebrations 2022

The penultimate day of the Sharannavaratri celebrations filled the Yaagashaala with Divine Energy that took everyone into the orbit of ecstasy. These experiences can neither be recorded in a visual nor described in an audio form but can only be perceived in the presence of the Divine. Indeed every moment has filled the hearts of all those present with Love, Love and Love alone. At one point of time Swami enquired if the devotees remembered the days and dates. Truly, it was not possible to recall the dates and days as their minds got integrated into the all pervasive Hridayam. It’s also amazing to see that neither the downpour of rains nor the slush on the path could deter anyone from not only reaching the site in time but also from carrying out their duties. The All Loving Lord reminded us all of the Parthi days while HE moved in to the site walking hand in hand with His family members. Sometimes it was by a top notch car, sometimes it was by a tractor trailer, not to forget He used a bullock cart too.

The morning session continued to resonate with Veda Parayanam along with other worships that were carried out all through from day one: Rudra Homam, Rudra Parayanam and Grantha Parayanam. Delighted by the recital of the Slokas from Daasarathi Satakam, Swami lauded the way Ramayana Grantha Parayanam was presented by one of the Ritwiks.

After lunch Swami took a few of His devotees to the nearby Thatipudi reservoir. In an unusual way, Swami went around showing the beautiful water body that perennially supplies water to the city of Visakhapatnam. After spending some time with the visiting devotees, Swami mentioned to them that He came earlier to the place on 1st Jan 2021 with one of His very own whom He brought alone

so far because he wanted something unique to happen in the name of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Since then Swami mentioned that He had visited again only on this day (4/10/2022) for the sake of a 6 year old grandson of one of the devotees. Such is the Love of Swami for His Children.

In His Divine Discourse, the Supreme Lord described the occasion as a golden opportunity to be At The Lotus Feet. While expounding the meaning of the Shanti Mantra. He urged upon everyone to seek from the Lord the grace to be led from untruth to the truth;,from darkness of ignorance to enlightenment, from cycle of birth and death to immortality. Reminding everyone once again that the body is like an iron safe and the Atma as a golden parrot Swami urged upon everyone to work towards self realisation by giving up identification with the body.

To the amazement of all those present recalling 85 years of His Parthi days, Swami made a sensational declaration saying “My Mission is going to take off at a rocket speed” and urged upon everyone to sacrifice the six enemies as offerings into the Homa. He cherished recalling His Memories of Dwapara Yuga and how Yashoda out of her attachment to the Lord fell for mamakara and how she failed in her attempts to bind Him with a rope that failed to tie him around His waist even after she went on adding two feet length more every time. The power of Maya and ego was such! He also reminded that when celestial Gods and demons churned for nectar it was first poison that emerged first and the Divine nectar emerged only thereafter. Swami urged upon to overcome the power of Maya and choose to serve the God in His Mission.

Swami said the village Sri Sai Palle will soon have Auto rickshaws moving in and out bringing people to Swami’s Abode, a bus station, a railway station and an airport too.

Swami’s nectarine words went on to shower boons granting the performance of Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam in 2025 and a water project in Mathura-Vrindavan in the next year. He went on to assure the people in the surrounding villages, in a radius of 10 km., that no one would have to go through pangs of hunger and that no one would remain illiterate and that Suffering due to ill health would be eradicated.

Swami went on to reiterate that there would be no death in the hospital – SRI SATHYASAI DIVYAAMRITAM! Above all, Swami made the Divine declaration that His objective is to make the place a second Puttaparthi.

To help His Devotees in their Sadhana, Swami urged upon everyone to read the Vahinis authored by Him in the Parthi days and practice Sadhana Chatushtayam i.e. Reading, Listening, Chanting and Preaching and to never waste water, time, money and food.

He went on to add that devotees from 11 countries would be attending His Birthday celebrations on November 23rd this year.

Swami’s nectarine downpour of boons and benedictions did not stop there. He guided everyone to recognise one aspect that the Guru and God’s presence can be felt wherever and whenever the mind stops working.

Swami, being pleased with Subramanyam Sarma and other Ritwiks for performing the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagna, announced that they would perform next year too.

Talking about the various coloured robes that He put on during the celebrations, Swami said there was a significance behind wearing those coloured ones.

A doubt may arise in some as to why Prahlada’s idol is also being installed in Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple! Swami went on to enlighten that God and devotee are always together. “Without God there is no devotee and without devotee there is no God”.

Swami also went on to reveal that the whole area within a radius of 10 kms from SRI SATHYA SAI DIVYAAMRITAM is cordoned off by a Naga bandham because of which no one can take away even an insignificant broom. Swami went on to say that this Naga bandham would start operating from the very day after the Vigraha Prathishta i.e the installation of idols. He assured that all villages within this area will have this protection.

Swami also enlightened that this Kshetra would become a pilgrimage Centre like Ahobllam and Simhaachalam. Swami also went on to clarify why Lord Narasimha Swamy’s idols are installed without installing the idol of Lord Ganesha. Swami revealed that even Sri Ganesha would like to see His father installing Himself first.

Quoting the Nrisimha Mantra ‘Ugram Veeram…’, Swami urged on everyone to make friendship with the God and clarified that Nama Smarana is also a Seva and reminded us, “When you submit everything good and bad to God nothing will affect you”.

Swami also cautioned that one should be cautious of the ego affecting oneself. He gave the very example of Prahlada. At one point of time, upon Prahlada showing up his ego about earning the Grace of Lord Narasimha, Narada took him to a place and showed him a heap of bones saying they were his own shed over innumerable number of previous births. Through this example, Swami conveyed that the devotees should be cautious of the ego affecting their spiritual evolution and should not be carried away by the proximity enjoyed with the God which is hard-earned through a number of births and deaths.

In the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple yaga shala, the Homa was performed with the idols consecrated continuously with one after the other – water, milk etc. while the idol remained in the specially designed and constructed tank. The idol was then carefully brought out to be consecrated further with Sandalwood paste smeared all over the idol. It was a treat to the eyes and the divine aroma filled the atmosphere all over. Nrisimha Mantra, Purusha Sooktam, Narasimha Kavacham and many other Vedic chantings filled the area with Divine vibrations. Heavy rain showers by God Varuna did not hinder any proceedings within the Yaga shaala. Bhajans were sung and Vedic chanting continued with same fervour. At about 8:48 PM the Stapati submitted to Swami that the Vigraha Prathishta (installation of idol) can be done the next morning at 10:03 AM and the same was approved by Swami!

The evening session on the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagnam side ended with a traditional dance programme brilliantly performed by young dance students. Mangala Haarati was offered to Swami at both the places, followed by serving Divya Prasadam to one and all.