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Report on Makara Sankranthi:
January 14th, 2005
Makara
Sankranthi is the day on which the sun moves into the region of
the zodiac sign Capricorn, and marks the migration of the sun
towards the northern horizon. This movement of the sun is held
to be of great spiritual significance in the scriptures. It is
also the time when farmers rejoice after the toils of the year
result in a bountiful harvest in the fields, and is celebrated
all over the country. Indeed, the harvest festival is common to
many cultures all over the world and is an occasion of joyful
celebration and warm conviviality. In Prasanthi Nilayam, the
festival coincides with the valedictory function of the Annual
Sports and Cultural Meet of Bhagawan’s educational institutions,
when the prizewinners of the various events and competitions
held during the year are felicitated.
Procession of Sports Captains
welcoming Bhagawan into Sai Kulwant Hall
On the morning
of 14th January, Bhagawan entered the Sai Kulwant Hall in a
procession led by captains of the various sports teams of Sri
Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and by the brass bands
of the Anantapur and Prasanthi Nilayam campuses of the
Institute. After Bhagawan ascended the dais, the programme
commenced with a talk by Sri S.V. Giri, the Vice-Chancellor of
the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, who
congratulated the students for their splendid performance during
the Inaugural ceremony of the Sports and Cultural Meet – 2005,
that was held on January 11th at the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View
stadium. The speaker commented that the broad spectrum of events
that were witnessed that day, ranging from the artistic to the
adventurous, were a testimony to the wonders that can be
achieved under Divine guidance. He said that the sports meet,
that may appear as a mere physical activity to many, is imbued
with a deep spiritual significance. The weeks of practice that
precede the programme bring about concentration of the mind,
which can then be chanelled towards spiritual pursuits during
the auspicious period of Uttarayana that follows the Makara
Sankranthi festival. He also revealed to the students how much
concern Bhagawan had been evincing regarding the safety and
welfare of the students during the practice sessions.
The talk by Sri
S.V. Giri was followed by speeches by two students of the
Institute, Kum. E. Thomas of the Anantapur Campus and Sri
Arvind Balasubramaniam of the Prasanthi Nilayam campus.
Miss E. Thomas addressing the
gathering in Sai Kulwant Hall
The first
speaker viewed the annual sports meet as a time when one absorbs
everlasting lessons of endurance and fortitude. She said that
the eagerness to please Bhagawan transforms even the most timid
of individuals into brave lions on the grounds of the Hill View
stadium on January 11th. The next speaker, Sri Arvind, said that
there is only one objective to the sports meet, indeed of every
activity the students undertake, and that is to bring a smile on
Bhagawan’s face. He related an incident that took place a few
months ago during one of the presentations put up by students in
Bhagawan’s presence at the Sai Kulwant Hall. After the
presentation, as Bhagawan was blessing the participants, he
materialized a chain for one of the students who played the role
of King Parikshit. In the scene, King Parikshit gets separated
from his party while hunting in the forest and after hours of
roaming in the forest is tortured by thirst. This role was only
a minor one in the presentation, and the speaker wondered what
was it about the performance that had pleased Bhagawan. It was
only later that he came to know that the student had kept off
water for one full day so that he could give a convincing
performance of a thirsty man in front of Bhagawan. This
instance, the speaker observed, was an example of the love and
the spirit of sacrifice that Bhagawan inspires in His students.
Bhagawan presenting the trophy to
Prasanthi Nilayam Campus
After the talks by
the students, Bhagawan presented trophies to the captains of the
various campuses of His educational institutions and to the
children of the “Deena Janoddharana Pathakamu”, the scheme set
up by Bhagawan for destitute children belonging to the weaker
sections of society.
Bhagawan then
granted His Divine Discourse, which He began by describing the
beauty of the festivities associated with Makara Sankranthi. He
said that the festival of Sankranthi brings joy to man and
Nature alike. But man today has forgotten that the fount of all
happiness and peace lies within him and so seeks it in the
outside world and thus brings sorrow upon himself. The term
“Kranthi” signifies change, and so the festival reminds man that
he must change his outlook and turn his vision inwards.
Referring to the recent Tsunami disaster that caused devastation
in many countries in South Asia, Bhagawan said that such
disasters are wrought about by man upon himself and are a direct
result of his impure thoughts and actions. Man must develop the
forbearance to ford over the difficulties and disappointments
that life presents us with, and realise his true nature as being
one of unceasing bliss.
Bhagawan
concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, “Hari Bhajan Bina …”
and after accepting arati retired to His residence.
A scene from Sai Bhagavatam - play
presented by Sri Sathya Sai Primary School
In the evening
at 5.00 p.m., at the Poornachandra Auditorium, the students of
Sri Sathya Sai Primary School presented a drama entitled “Sai
Bhagavatam” which depicted many episodes from Bhagawan’s
childhood and how three small wishes of Mother Easwaramma for
improving the living conditions of the residents of Puttaparthi
have taken the form of the Drinking Water Supply Projects, the
educational institutions, and the super-speciality hospitals
that today benefit millions of people. The presentation was
quite innovative with the use of a projector to project
appropriate backdrops for the scenes. At the end of the
programme Bhagawan blessed all the participants and accepted
arati, and with this the Sankranthi celebrations drew to a
close.
“Annamacharya” – Drama presented by Brindavan Campus: 13th
January:
On the evening of 13th
January, the students of the Brindavan campus of Sri Sathya Sai
Institute of Higher Learning presented a play titled
“Annamacharya” based on the life of Annamayya, the musician
saint of Andhra Pradesh. Annamayya was born in 1424 A.D. in
Tallapaaka village in Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh.
A scene from Annamacharya
presented by the Brindavan Campus of the university
He was rescued
from the snares of worldly life by Lord Venkateswara (one of the
forms of Lord Vishnu), who appeared to Annamayya in the form of
a sanyasi (a renunciant) and weaned him away from a life of
sensual pleasure to the worship of the beautiful form of the
Lord enshrined in the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati. He
was initiated into Nadopasana (worship of the Lord through
devotional music) by none other than Sage Narada himself. During
his lifetime, Annamayya composed around 32,000 kirtanas
(devotional songs) that are popular even to this day. He merged
in the Lotus Feet of the Lord in 1503 A.D.
Annamayya merges in the Lotus Feet
of Lord Venkateswara - a scene from Annamacharya
With
magnificent backdrops, elaborate costumes and scintillating
music and dances, the drama surcharged the atmosphere with
feelings of devotion towards the Lord who was then worshipped by
Sri Annamacharya as Lord Venkateswara and today is worshipped by
millions all over the world as Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. At
the conclusion of the programme, Bhagawan profusely blessed the
students and stood for photographs with them and after arati
retired to the Poornachandra residence.
Jai Sai Ram!
Source:
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/Sankranthi_05_report.htm
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