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Visit Our :HOME PAGE VISHU FESTIVAL AN EXPOSITION BY BHAGAVAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
Who Celebrate The Vishu Festival? "Today (15 April 1999) is the holy festival of Vishu. All the Indian festivals are sacred and demonstrate great ideals. The Keralites (people from the State of Kerala, India) celebrate their festivals ONAM and VISHU in the most sacred way." Sai Baba. SS, 5/99, p. 135
Purpose With each festival one should cultivate divine feelings. When you contemplate on God with all sincerity and devotion, you become God yourself. This is what The Vedanta says: 'Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati (the knower of Brahman becomes Brahman himself). You will become what you think" Sai Baba. SS. 5/99, 134
The Inner Significance "Today the people of Kerala are celebrating the festival of Vishu. The inner significance of Vishu is to cultivate sacredness. It does not end with preparing Payasam (pudding) and partaking of it. Sanctifying your heart is true pudding. You will be celebrating Vishu in a true spirit only when you make efforts to purify your heart." Sai Baba, SS. 5/99, p. 136 Sai Messages Delivered On The Vishu Festival Day
"Every festival in India is suffused with divinity. On each festival day, people go to temples and offer their prayers to the Almighty. This is a positive trait. Forgetting God and always thinking of the world is a negative quality." Sai Baba, SS. 5/99. p. 134
"You may undertake any Sadhana, but never forget the Principle of Love. Never be afraid of troubles; sanctify your life with love. Love everyone. Where love is, there God is. Love is God. God is love. All the time we should think of God and contemplate on Him." Sai Baba, SS, 5/99, p. 136
Glimpses Of Vishu Festival Celebrations At Brindavan - 2000 "The festival ofVishu, the Kerala New Year, was celebrated with gaiety at Brindavan on 14 April 2000. This was the third consecutive function in the last three days at Brindavan in the Divine Presence of Bhagavan Baba. On the .day of Vishu, Sai Ramesh Hall bore a special festive look as the Hall was decorated in the traditional Kerala style with buntings offender coconut leaves.
The morning Bhajan started at 7.05 a.m. As soon as Swami came inside Sai Ramesh Hall, Nadaswaram music started to welcome Bhagavan. Bhagavan showered divine bliss by His Darshan to all the assembled devotees. Bhajan continued till 7.45 a.m. At the conclusion of the Bhajan, Mangalarati was offered to Bhagavan. The morning programme came to a close with the distribution of Prasadam.
In the afternoon, Bhagavan came to Sai Ramesh Hall at 3.25 p.m. and sat in the chair at the decorated dais. The Kerala devotees led the Bhajan, which continued from 3.25 to 3.50 p.m. After Bhajans, the programme started with Veda chanting by Institute students. Thereafter, the State President of Kerala Sri Sathya Sai Organization, Sri T.R. Natarajan,-introduced the two speakers of the afternoon after seeking blessings of Bhagavan.
The first speaker of the afternoon was Justice Sridharan, Chief Justice (Retd.), Gujrat. Justice Sridharan narrated two incidents from his life to show how the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent Lord, Bhagavan Baba, helped His devotees in several critical situations.
The second speaker was Professor E. Mukundan, one of the State Coordinators of Kerala State Sathya Sai Organization and member of its publication division. Professor Mukundan stated that the joy of Bhagavan s Darshan was incomparable and that Bhagavan had incarnated to give joy and bliss to everyone.
Bhagavan then gave His Discourse at 4.25 p.m. With Mangalarati to Bhagavan, the programme ofVishu came to a close." Sai Baba, SS, 5/2000. p. 159
Glimpses of Vishu And Tamil New Year Day Celebrations At Kodaikanal - 1994 "The Tamil New Year Day and Vishu, the Near Year Day, observed by Keralites, synchronized on 14 April 1994. Prodigious crowds from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, apart from a large number of overseas devotees, lined up near 'Sruti' from the early hours of the morning, to celebrate the auspicious day in the divine presence of Bhagavan Baba.
The premises of 'Sruti' presented a gay and festive look with extensive floral decorations, buntings and banners carrying New Year greetings in Tamil and Malayam. Colourful umbrellas from Kerala lent additional charm to the picturesque beauty of'Sruti', which stood out against a background of lush green lawns and the fine foliage of flowers-bearing trees.
The programme for the day started with melodious Nadaswaram music at 7.00 a.m. followed by Vedic chants by Metro Vedaparayanam group from Madras. Bhagavan Baba came out at 8.30 a.m. and gave Darshan to the vast multitude of eager devotees, moving around them and blessing them all.
The band students of the Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, who accompanied Bhagavan to Kodaikanal, gave a devotional treat to the gathering with select songs in Tamil and a few English Bhajans.
Major General S.P. Mahadevan, President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization in Tamil Nadu and Professor Sampath, former Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, spoke about the significance of the New Year Day and expressed gratitude to Bhagavan for His gracious presence on the auspicious occasion. They also spoke about the glory of Bhagavan's mission, which was encompassing the entire world.
Bhagavan then delivered His Divine Discourse in which He mentioned that the New Year day underlines the importance and the sacredness of time, which should be utilized for unselfish and divine pursuits.
After Aarati to Bhagavan, sweet Prasadam was distributed to all the thousands who had assembled there." Editor, SS, 5/94, pp. 127 & 128
From the book - Festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam and Their Significance - An Exposition by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - Compiled and Edited by Suresh C Bhatnagar Visit Our :HOME PAGE |
