Letters from India - Part 2

51. Birthday Season and Nice Darshans - Nov & Dec 1992

Birthday Season 1992

November 25, 1992

Prasanthi Nilayam

Dear Parents,

Everything is going on fine here. On 19th November was the jazz performance by Maynard Fergusson and his American band. So unlike Prasanthi Nilayam! So loud! But everyone enjoyed it. All the school kids came, from 1st grade till college level, and they all laughed - the small boys danced as much as they could, sitting in a small place! They were all shocked in an enjoyable sort of way, probably happy for the change.

Next the hundreds of thousands came pouring in. For four full days we could barely get out of the door of our South Prasanthi A-13 room, as the pathway was the gents walk-way. Hundreds shuffled by every moment, squished body-to-body – so how to go out in such a situation? I only saw Swami as a small speck for a few days.

On 22nd was the college Convocation. Swami gave degrees to outstanding student graduates, then gave a discourse. The President of India also came and gave a speech. This meant that wherever one looked, whether in the ashram, outside our room or out in the village, there were policemen of all sizes and shapes, all holding machine guns and/or long sticks.

Swami arrived in procession, looking like a true stealer of Hearts in maroon velvet robe.

Birthday morning found us all at dawn in Hill View Stadium. Swami arrived in beautiful red robe in the chariot. He waved His hands and blessed all with both hands upraised as He rode by. We also (sitting up in the stands) received a gracious blessing and compassionate looks. Such power and radiance - who can describe?

He sat on the stage as the boys sang bhajans, with the President sitting on one side of Him and another government official on the other side. Soon He abruptly ended bhajan and jumped up to a give discourse – for once not having introductory speakers.

After the discourse He started giving laddus to those on the stage. Then He threw them to the VIP ladies and also students, sitting close below the stage. They announced prasad would be distributed at the gate to all, but they stopped it when ladies started to have gold chains snatched from their necks! Laddus were instead given at the canteen for lunch.

After the function Swami called all lady relatives in for namaskar. He gave Amma (and a few others) a huge framed photo of Eashwaramma when she was younger. He also gave a tiny (2 inch) doll of “Baby Sai,” laid in frilly satin pillows, complete with curly hair, dot on cheek and orange diaper! It’s so cute – and I guess Swami thought appropriate for Birthday!

In the evening was a late drama in the stadium – no jhoola! This is the second year there is no jhoola for Birthday and no yagna for Dasara. People say once He stops things He does not begin them again – how sad! One day two years ago he stopped pradakshina of the Mandir – and since then they have not started it again.

Now, many are leaving and the grounds are slowly emptying out. But still there are huge stampedes into the compound for Darshan, so I haven’t gone in yet (I quit on the 20th when it became impossible).

Well, bless Granddad’s soul. May he rest in peace and happiness. Yes, good thing I didn’t go to USA, although I admit my first thought was to obey parent’s orders! Swami’s Will prevail.

Amma has been feeling better lately. She has a fantastic amount of energy from some storehouse somewhere, that comes to her in times of need (like when devotees come to see her). During Birthday, literally constantly people and groups were coming and going to get her Blessings and prasad. She displayed an amazing amount of love and shakti (energy & power). The endless sad-chid-ananda, being-awareness-bliss, the omnipresent shakti is there in everyone of us, if we can only tune into it – seems to be the message! Even I got exhausted and was thankful for the verandah to lie down and hide in, but the deafening noise of thousands shuffling to & fro outside, talking loudly, hindered sleep.