Our book is called Guide to Visiting Sai Baba

Guide to Visiting Sai Baba

This is an E-book, and has sections on

• Air travel to India, Airline Meals, keeping healthy
• New Bangalore Airport, immigration, customs and travel to Prashanthi Nilayam
• Ashram and Puttaparthi Township Accommodation
• Ashram Facilities
• Daily Activities
• What to wear
• Food, Canteens and keeping healthy
• Things to see and do
• Banks and other faciliities in Puttaparthi Township
• What to do with begging
• Sathya Sai Baba’s Love and Grace
• Going home
• Plus three Appendices, Taxi Operators, How to wear a Sari, and Accommodation in Puttaparthi Township

Our purpose in writing this book is to provide a comprehensive guide to the first-time visitor, (or going first time alone) to the main ashram of Sathya Sai Baba, Prashanthi Nilayam, the Abode of Highest Peace.

We hope that the information in this book (illustrated) will help those to begin to experience that peace on their journey, during their stay at Prashanthi Nilayam, and when they return home. The last section of this E-book has a short guide on what to do when you get home.

As with all books we have edited and written, we offer this to Sathya Sai Baba, and hope it is of benefit to all its readers.

The book is in Adobe PDF format, so requires Adobe Reader, any version from Adobe 5 and upwards. If you do not have Adobe Reader, then you may download this for free from the Adobe Website, www.adobe.com

The price is $US9.95

If you would like to purchase this book, then here is how:

The book

And we find that there is a very large coverage of this phenomenon on the internet. Many sorts of issues get caught up on this phenomenon, and I’d like to look at this from a spiritual point of view, and try if I can, to apply Swami’s dictum, first, common sense, then spiritual sense.

There are calendars, and then calendars. The Gregorian Calendar ( the one in common use by humanity) gets a good scrutiny, then the various Mayan Calendars are examined.  I must say, if you persevere with the Mayan stuff, after a few chapters, you begin to see just how much mathematical accuracy there is with the Mayan Calendars, even though they go back a long, long, way.

To understand that, you need to understand that the Mayan civilisation had their own way of saying “Everything is Brahman”.   They called it K’ul .

The calendars essentially had a spiritual function, as did the entire culture, which used astrology to determine times when grids of energy were full of K’ul, and the times were propitious for accessing K’ul and undertaking certain tasks. Does this sound familiar?

There  are some cogent claims for the year 2012 and the future of humanity undergoing change.  The exact form and nature of that change is of course, under furious debate, with many conflicting assertions which can be found all over the internet. This book does point to changes, and concludes that they might also be changes to consciousness, as well has changes to nature itself.

Therein is the key. Changes to consciousness.  Sathya Sai Baba has taken form for the people and undertaken a clearly avowed mission of restoring righteousness to the earth, restoring the Vedas, and the Vedic scholars. Vedas, of course, are not Hinduism, nor is the practice of chanting Veda a sort of Hindu practice of a particular kind. The Vedas are for all humanity, and contain the highest essences and guides for true humanness.

While all this 2012 material looks to the future of humanity, I find it curious that very little of the 2012 material looks to the past of humanity.  We have very little record of life on this planet,  more than 10,000 years ago. Yes, there is some archaeological material, but what of written records? I think there is only one continuous record, and that is the Ramayana. The Ramayana occurred over 20,000 years ago. Only one other religion goes back beyond the flood, Zoroastrianism (which Sathya Sai Baba has told is the oldest continuing religion outside of India) and their records were destroyed when Alexander the Great burned the Library of Alexandra. Many Gathas and Avestas were lost in that fire.

So what happened at the ‘flood’?  The planet nearly died, according to some sources.  Atlanta sank under the sea. Atlanta, Atlantis… Lanka, the home of Ravanna, the place of the war in the Ramayana.  Lanka was in the region of the Equator, as told by Sathya Sai Baba. It was not the Sri Lanka of this modern era.

I think, also, if we look to one festival in Hinduism, Diawali, Deepavali, there is another explanation given for the genesis of this festival; Lord Krishna raised his hand and stopped a heavenly body from colliding with the earth. The resultant explosion of light debris is celebrated to this day as Diwali.

So there is a tension between the future of humanity and the past of humanity. What is it we need to learn, what do we need to know and understand, how do we approach that which is coming? We’ll take a look at this in another post.

A feeling of peace and intimacy pervade me as I sit through the bhajans. Arunachala Shiva Om, the bhajans lift the energy and bring that feeling of home, here in Prashanti Nilayam.

I look over the assembled devotees, all drawn by that desire to see the Lord, to feliciate the Lord, to offer him their worship, their pranams, their love. I think of Church services I have attended over the years and try to compare being here in Prashanti Nilayam. It is incomparable, for grace flows into the Darshan Hall, non-stop.

The pigeons are resting on the chandeliers, I see both sparrows and finches (so my question from many days before is settled; there are finches here in Prashanti Nilayam).

I think back to the many darshans I have had on this trip; Christmas Day, New Years Day, the decorations, and wonder in awe at the sense of timelessness I often experience here, in Prashanti Nilayam. And I think to the future, to the unborn generations who will come here in Awe and give thanks for this Holy Ground, that the Lord has trod.

People come and people go. The bhajans continue. I rest in peace, drifting along with the bhajans, Sai Gopala Hare. A Seva Dal walks up and down and cajoles devotees to stay.

Swami comes, towards the end of the bhajans. He comes in the sedan-chair, the sunlight is brilliant upon his form, and waves of love pour off him as he enters the darshan Hall. I offer my love.

God is my best friend. There are many paths to the Divine, up that mountain towards blessedness, that path HE has come to restore. We may walk that path of devotion, of service, of bhajan or meditation, of practising Human Values, or the path of good character and integrity.

Wherever there is purity of thought, word and deed, there is God.

For me, that lingering sense of intimacy remains, that sense of closeness, that sense of oneness. There is such a gap between human love, which loves in order to satisfy needs or to give and get, and Swami’s thorough-going intimacy within. Swami is everywhere within us, his love drenches us within as he patiently waits for us to return to the heart, where his home is.

So I have two homes, here, this Holy Ground of Prashanti Nilayam, and the home of the Lord, in my heart. So do you, dear reader.

St Paul, in one of his letters to the nascent Christian Community wrote:

Always be happy in the Lord;
What I want is your happiness;
The Lord is always near

And that is my prayer for you, dear reader.

Sai Ram from a pleasant morning in Prashanti Nilayam.

The “back way” for those of you who don’t know, is up the pathway behind the Ganesh Temple to Meditation Tree Road, across the front of the Shirdi Sai Baba Idol to the General Hospital, then across the front of the Hospital to Deer Park, across Deer Park to Hillview Stadium. And so the Lord arrived, with an escort of motorcycles -flagbearers, and a another phalanx of escort motorcycles.

The Puttaparthi afternoon is brilliant sunshine, with the occasional breeze. It is hot, but after a time, we get used to the climate, and watch from the bleachers. We watched students in bright blue tracksuits preceed Swami’s car doing cartwheels. They looked impressive. Shortly thereafter, we could see Swami seated in the Shanti Vedika pavilion.

Immediately some girls dressed in red and gold came out and performed:

The lads in the blue tracksuits returned and delivered an acrobatics display:

Then what appeared to be High School students (or boarders) came out with green wings, plant stalks and heads, and did a very attractive performance.

Seva Dals threaded their way through the bleachers giving out Wall Calendars.

At the same time, students dressed in blue and white with large fan-like canopies performed.

Somebody asked me what this was all about, “Why all these performers?” I thought about that while I watched the Seva Dals come back, several rows down, and distribute more calendars.

I replied, that Swami is the finest educator in the world. Meanwhile, more students came out dressed in red and pink and performed with, I was too far away, they could have been matching fans of a kind…

Anyway, we continued the conversation, and I told that there are many intelligences, not just head stuff and the ratio-logical intelligence. Swami provides Educare, which employs and stimulates all the intelligences these students have. Girls came out with ribbons, and they were good!

They raised a lot of dust, too!

Anyway, I turned the camera off for a minute and explained to my friend that there were multiple intelligences, kinaestheic, spatial, emotional, moral, musical, ratio-logical and spiritual intelligence. Meanwhile, I grabbed a calendar from a Seva Dal and gave it to the little boy sitting next to me. Said to him in Telugu, “Take it home to Mother”; He nodded and said, “Amma, Acha” with a bright smile.

A devotee nearby me unrolled his calendar and proudly displayed it. “Swami and Me!”, he said.

Look at the feet of yonder boys in yellow tracksuits and helmets; they are on roller blades, and performed some very interesting moves with the blades, in front of Shanti Vedika.

Swami is all attention on the performers.

There were these skeleton arches which the students climbed up on and did acrobatic numbers.

Headstands, too!

Students gathered behind the shamina, awaiting their turn

More gymnastics on the skeleton arches

Then they rolled them around…

Girls came out with pink tubes and performed. Meanwhile, back to the discussion, I explained that this meet was a formal activity of all the campuses of the the Sai University, and participation here would probably be credited towards academic results.

Boys from the primary school and high school ran to the balloon tent and collected their balloons. On with the conversation… I told that Swami often speaks of true humanness in his discourses, and true humanness is achieved by developing the multiple intelligences…

The sun is finally beginning to move behind Hanuman Hill, and I start getting decent photographs. Here, girls in red with pink fans perform.

A Seva Dal fills cups of water and distributes to thirsty devotees. These Seva Dal worked all morning and afternoon, and their seva was muchly appreciated!

The girls with fans have moved forward, and the boys with their balloons run behind.

More and more boys run out with gaily coloured balloons.

Students fill the ground in front of Shanti Vedhika

A song is played, its very catchy, and I though at first it was “Truth needs a Hero” but it was some other number. Very catchy tune; balloons go skywards

After the balloons were let off, there was a smoke display nearby the Eagle and the Shiva Lingham

up, up and away, with my beautiful, my beautiful balloon!!!!

We finished the conversation, believe it or not. I told that the practice of human values, duty, discrimination and detachment, employ all the multiple intelligences stimulated by Educare, and all the facilities provided by Swami in his role as Educator. There were the music colleges, singing, recitals, public speaking, academic subjects, and sports and cultural activities like these. Planning and preparation, rehearsal and performance all takes in multiple intelligences and develops the full human person on all domains of the personality, the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual domains. Thus, educare elicits that which is within.

Finale; the pujari clothed in bright orange can be seen standing on the right of Shanti Vedika; Swami is a small orange form in the centre, as the students commence Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare, and the crowd stand. I finished the conversation by saying,”Look up the motto of all the Sathya Sai Schools worldwide. Human Excellence. All the Sathya Sai Schools do likewise and develop all the domains of the human person.”

The sun has finally set behind Lord Hanuman, the immortal servant of the Lord Kosala, Sri Rama. The crowd get up and leave. I move along down Main Road through Vidya Giri, and take a photo of the crowd exiting Hillview Stadium. (Swami went home the “back way”!)

Sai Ram from the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet at Prashanti Nilayam.

Enter the stadium, and memory comes back to me; I recall the construction of the stands back in 1998 and the shaminas, yes, there are large shaminas for food distribution under the bleachers. Up the steps into the stadium and every seat is taken, men are standing everywhere. Look around, there is another shamina at the Northern end of the sportsground, for the ladies lunches. Far away at the end of the stadium, I spy the Lord sitting in Shanti Vedika, the building constructed by the ever-humble Subramanium Stapathi, who frequently consulted Swami at every step of the construction. Subramanium Stapathi went to Swami at the finish; he did not know how many golden spires to put on the top, and Swami asked him, “What do you want to put?” Subramanium, a truly humble Puttaparthi man, (he is a very,very sweet fellow; I have met him) … confessed he did not know. Swami asked him again, “What do you want to put?” (Mind you, Subramanium Stapathi has built all the domes atop the mandir and all the other temples around Prashanti Nilayam) … again deferred to Swami’s wish. Finally, Swami told, “You can put five gold spires” … and that is the story of the spires atop Shanti Vedika.

So much history comes to me when I visit the Hillview Stadium; Sai Gita used to join the boys in soccer here, true! The students are massed within the green fence, where Kasturirangan and EAS Prasanna constructed an international class four pitch cricket ground. I met with them frequently when they were doing this, and I will never forget Kasturirangan telling me “Swami asks very difficult questions!”

So they are there and all their props, right there on the International class cricket oval. It is a cool morning with a pleasant breeze and fluffy white clouds waft across the blue skies. Ladies one side (on the Hanuman Hill side), men the other side in the bleachers. Children everywhere. Seva Dals move around with water tanks strapped to their backs distributing water.

The stadium is quiet, there are loudspeakers at the other end, and we can hear the narration clearly. This is a very tightly scripted presentation, I can see motorcyclists in Yellow and Black, with similarly coloured motorcycles; more motorcyclists wear red and black, with similarly coloured motorcycles. They have Kawasaki Racing bikes!

There are a number of pavillions adjacent Shanti Vedika; all the official guests and veranda staff sit down there, ditto the ladies side. Swami visible in the centre of Shanti Vedika with an archway behind him. Students dressed in green are doing something down there, I can see people moving in circles. Event after event takes place in that ground immediately in front of Shanti Vedika, girls dressed in white do a dance; girls dressed in green run around; there two, what will I call it, “contraption” looking something like a carnival wheel ride which spins around like a circular yo-yo with students inside doing some acrobatic acts.

Looking up to Hanuman Hill, next to Hanuman I can see the Sai University Flag, and the dish with the Unity Flame is alight and smoke is billowing from the flame. Dotted all around the stadium are large billboards with Swami’s face, and the script “Glory to our Lord, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai”, these are colour coordinated with Swami’s robe, and all very tastefully executed.

Now I see the motorcycles take some laps, at high speed. They do some circular patterns in the middle of the sports ground. Then some huge yellow hoops with two students inside each wheel past Shanti Vedika, they go around several times. Then what must have been 400 lady students dressed tastefully in white and silver sarees come forward and do a presentation. Thereafter, students wearing jungle-green army trousers and grey tshirts come forward and perform some exercises. All the students from all the campuses must be here. My attention keeps returning to the small white Swami, way down there, clearly visible on the Throne Chair, in white.

The motorcyclists perform some stunts on ramps, the ramps are moved, and they race towards each other in perfect synchronicity going across the ramps alternately. Then the ramps are moved into a cross formation and the motorcyclists race towards the ramps and cross alternately left and right in perfect synchronicity. Loud applause from the crowds. Those boys were getting up to nearly 80kph on their bikes.

Seva Dals continue to move through the crowds; they are distributing small packets of food, laddu, burfi, anand, and little boys crowd around them. They put the boxes on their heads and move up to the stands, going row by row, patiently distributing snacks and water to all in the stands. Police and other seva dal try to encourage (albeit lovingly) men standing behind the fence to sit. Not much luck, although they get quite a few to sit.

Out on the sports ground, there is a huge Eagle, on a red ball all of 150 feet high; the red ball has what appears to me to be Chinese decorations. About 200 motorcycles, many bearing green or yellow flags, all these black, red and yellow motorcycles all move forward and do intricate formation riding as the Eagle is brought forward. A song is played over the Public Address. The eagle moves to the side of the ground and a large black Siva lingam mounted on a pedestal is moved forward. The Himalaya Mountains form a backdrop and about 70 Seva Dal push the Lingam and the Himalayas forward. About 150 ladies dressed in Red and Yellow clothing with headdress come forward and dance before the Lingam as it is brought forward. The Public Address plays Om Namah Sivaya as the Ladies dance.

Behind them are all these black auto-rickshaws; each auto-rickshaw has a sporting symbol (all the sports are represented—running, jumping, weightlifting, swimming, ball sports) painted on the back. These come forward in formation and do some formation turning. It looks quite good.

I see Swami has gone somewhere (as He usually does from time to time) so I take my leave and come back to post this for you; I will go back and take the camera and chance my luck.

Sai Ram from Hillview Stadium.

Afternoon Darshan, the Ganesh Gate is awash with humanity pouring in and out; inside, I can hear bhajans going. Kick off my chappals and move to the walkway beside East Prashanti, I can’t see down there for people everywhere. Move down slowly, people are stacked 5,6,7 deep looking into the darshan hall; I glance in, Swami is there on the porch. The hall itself is not that full (in my expert glance) and I move down to enter inside.

Once inside, looking up the hall, the veranda and porch are chockers, the space in front of the garage is full, students sit directly in front of the porch, and the Anantapur Ladies sit on the right hand side of the porch in their customary area. Swami is seated at the front of the porch. Amazingly, I thread my way towards the front and get quite close. “Why do they all stand outside?”, I wonder to myself.

Bhajans go on, I spend a long time just concentrating on Swami and his form. Little boys get up and look around. Sporadically, more devotees arrive. Bhajans are crisp, clear, devotees clapping along. I can see students heads moving in time with the clapping. More bhajans, and I drift back into concentrating on Swami’s form, right at the front of the porch with the lights shining down on Him, making his robe a brilliant orange.

Swami dabs his lips from time to time, and occasionally looks over the men’s side. One man stands up with his hands joined in pranams as Swami looks over, and is ‘encouraged’ to sit down by a Seva Dal! Continue the focus on Swami, the bhajans fade into the background as I simply sit and focus.

Silence, an inner silence comes, and my vision seems to darken at the edges as I keep the focus on Swami.

A long time, focussed on Swami, in silence. I am brought back by the clanging of the Arathi bell. Swami remains on the porch right through Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare, the Narayana verses, the Samasta Loka. Some jaikars start up and Anil Kumar interrupts with a loud OM SRI SAI RAM! An important announcement! Anil Kumar advises us that the Sathya Sai University and associated campuses and colleges invites us all to attend the Sports and Cultural Meet at Hillview Stadium tomorrow, and all please be seated by 8AM! Anil Kumar repeats the message in Telugu (I think) and the crowd get up and leave. Swami moves towards the car, which has reversed back into the veranda.

As I collect my chappals, I spot students running past at the speed of light. Then some ladies come running past; more devotees run out to the Ganesh Gate, and I guess that Swami is on his way to Hillview Stadium. More students run past. A large crowd surges at the Ganesh Gate (I can’t see a thing); I hear the whoop-whoop of the Police siren, and see rose buds fly through the air. Make my way out of the gate to see Seva Dals running holding their ropes. Yes, Swami is on his way down to Hillview Stadium to look over the arrangements.

Shortly after, I return to the ashram, and have to stand out of the way as tractor after tractor laden with packaged food and boxes of fruit (and Seva Dal all over the back) trundle along East Prashanti and out of the ashram. More tractors move up the walkway beside East Prashanti and are loaded with boxes of Anand, Oranges, Apples. Seems Swami is taking care of every need on the morrow.

Walk past the darshan hall, there are Seva Dal in there hanging up huge red balls, I count about six or seven of these red balls hanging from the ceiling. Several more of these red balls are on the ground waiting to be hung up. Many more decorations have been put up, Orange, green and silver streamers hang from the ceiling, the porch has more decorations, green and red steamers are dangling near the porch, and I wonder, is this for the Sports Meet or for Independence Day? (Sankranti, comes the answer on the inner level…)

Further down and around the corner, I pass by devotees who kick off their chappals and pray at the Sita-Ram shrine at the rear of the darshan hall. Families are seated opposite on that small space nearby the Gopuram Gate.

As I look through the dark, I see the lights in Canteen Avenue, it appears like it did on New Year’s Day, queues everywhere, families gathered, Seva Dals going upstairs for their dinner, crowds walking peacefully, long queue of men waiting to go in. Excited children’s voices. Thankfully, no vehicles moving through the crowds. I turn and go down towards the Post Office and see children running around, the lights are on in the Gayathri Temple. Women sit inside and offer puja; a crowd of men out the front praying. I join them for a moment, and children with their hands joined in pranams rush around the temple and run up to the lady handing out sweets. A sweet for each pradakshina! The children are eager. I kick of my chappals and chant the Gayathri mantra as I take the pradakshina route. The lady throws me a sweet as I arrive back at the front to collect my chappals.

The (Devi?) temple adjacent (it has a black idol), there are ladies doing pradakshina, circumambulating that temple. Other ladies are offering Arathi to the idol, and chanting prayers. I walk down towards the North buildings at the far end of the ashram and wonder at how this ashram has been set up to house thousands upon thousands. Walk around the North buildings, see Seva Dals walking around with sticks looking for snakes! They don’t like those snakes!

I arrive back at the Western Canteen via a detour and there are crowds out the front; no queue, so I enter to check the fare, the canteen is chockers with devotees, long queues inside, every table full, so I leave to come back later. Well, not too much later.

A small meal is taken in the happy canteen. Afterwards, I walk up to the pathway behind South 1, the coloured lights are blinking on and off under Ganesha’s umbrella. On past the Workshop, no welding tonight, all the equipment has been taken down to the Hillview Stadium; the workshop’s task is complete. Along the pathway in front of the South Block, there are devotees streaming back from the Supermarket, and I arrive back at the front of the ashram to see more tractors with bundles of food wrapped up, and Seva Dals on the back. It’s gonna be a long night for the Seva Dals at Hillview Stadium, I think to myself.

The ashram was gaily decorated overnight; upon entering the ashram, the Ganesh Temple is festooned with flags, and looking down the avenue beside East Prashanti, I see flags strewn between East Prashanti and the Darshan Hall. The darshan hall bears a festive look, all the poles supporting the ceiling have a reflective decoration, it looks a gold colour but when the sunlight hits the decorations, all colours flash from the decorations. The wrought iron railing atop the darshan hall wall has bunting along with red and green decorations.

Inside the darshan hall, small red and gold flags cover the glass which hangs around the porch. Many of the poles have an additional decoration of red roses which wrap around the pole in a descending wrap; the two pillars each side of the Ganesh idol have a rich deep red decoration. Above the porch where the three gold spires are, there are large green balls decorating that part of the mandir. So a gaily festive look and feel to the darshan hall this morning.

The bhajans were sung at a brisk pace. No students at all in the darshan hall, that space normally occupied by students is bare. Heads turn to Yajur Mandir, yearning for the divine darshan. Bhajans boom out over the loudspeakers as the crowd in the East Prashanti Avenue line up, watching for any sort of action around Swami’s car. Alack, the bell for Arathi rang, and the Lord was not seen. Doubtless, the students were all busy with practice and rehearsal.

I took a rickshaw down to Gokulum to get some photographs while walking back to Prashanti Nilayam. First was the Gokulum itself, I stood in the driveway and zoomed in on the idol up there. When the idol was first delivered, Swami ordered that it was not to be painted. HE painted it himself, over a number of weeks.

Next was the Music College (the proper name is Sathya Sai Mirpuri College of Music, Prashanti Nilayam) which I have never really seen. The architecture is quite stunning.

Next was the home of Sathya Gita, and formerly, the home of Sai Gita.

There was a crowd around a gate nearby the home of Sathya Gita; Sathya Gita was in the bath! People were laughing and watching as Sathya Geeta turned a full circle while the hose was going, full burst!

The horn of the green Puttaparthi Circle bus blares as it trundles past the Vidya Giri …

Note the tractor behind the bus; it was full of Seva Dal who were transporting equipment down to Hillview Stadium. One of many tractors with provisioning for the Sports Meet.

Next was the entrance to Hillview Stadium, which I thoughtfully observed, was closed. (No, I was not about to try and be 007 and get in there with the camera!) I take one photo and move on to the next place of action, the entrance to Chaitanya Jyothi Museum.

Many Seva Dals were moving around, going in and out, buses arriving and discharging passengers, along with many auto rickshaws, doing a brisk trade running people up to the gate for the new Museum. Coconut stalls over the other side of the road were doing a brisk trade.

One enterprising auto-rickshaw driver offered me a tour of Puttaparthi for 200 rupees; Super Specialty Hospital, Baba Birthplace, Museum, all these places. He came back to me repeatedly, trying to entice me to take the grand tour. Definitely a born businessman, I thought.

And that was the morning.

Very quickly, Swami’s car turned into the driveway and slowly proceeded towards the gate. In a matter of seconds, the road was blocked by auto rickshaws, two-wheelers, all abandoned as their drivers and riders (and passengers) all rushed forward for Car Darshan. Swami’s car continued slowly towards the gate; I was still walking towards the opened gates and I could just make out Swami’s form in the front seat. Alas, Swami and the car were soon lost to view by the surging crowds. Seva Dals ran with their ropes.

I continued on my errands, as people milled about in front; as I looked further up Main Road, there was more rushing towards Swami’s car.

All drawn by Love.

A little while later, after I had washed and changed, I went outside and concentrated a bit, querying “What to do?” on the inner level. “Come inside,” was the answer. So I collected the ever-reliable cushion and made my way into the ashram. When I entered the Ganesh Gate, I saw this long queue of small boys dressed in white, and I wondered if they were from the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Trust at Muddenahalli or Alike; I would not have been surprised as they are now auspiced by the Sai University as colleges of the Institute. It would be normal for students from all the member colleges of the Sai University to be present (and the Anantapur College ladies are here… I saw them this morning through the Chaitanya Jyothi gate) for the Sports and Cultural Meet.

As I walked towards the darshan hall I was greeted with loud confident “Sai Ram” from many of these small boys, all queued up to enter the darshan hall. I asked, “Going for Darshan of Swami?” These angelic faces with great big soulful eyes all looked up at me and said, “Yes, Yes, First darshan!!!” They showed their badges to me, I think I saw the Sarva Dharma Logo on the cards. Sweet boys, with lovely energy.

In the darshan hall, it is quiet, and people are streaming in for bhajans. Bit of a crowd up the front; I check to see that I am not sitting under any pigeons, and drop the cushion to sit. I looked over the crowds and asked myself, “What is it that brings them all here?” Love, came the answer, unbidden. Yes, I felt that was right, as I gazed over the waiting devotees. Students sitting in front of the porch; Professors and Hospital Staff on the veranda. Yes, it is Love that draws them all here.

Very shortly, the harmonium sounded over the loudspeakers and I joined in with the OM. We had hardly sung two bhajans when the security detail ran into the Darshan Hall, and Swami’s car followed. Men pressed forward to the front, some got up on their knees, hands went up in pranams. Swami’s car circled the ladies side and went to the porch from the interview room side. A bhajan was in progress.

Unusually, Swami door was on the “darshan hall” side, so most got a full view of the door sliding back and Swami’s (sedan-chair-call-it-what-you-will) swing out and move into the mandir. Men sat down, removed their ankles from beneath their posteriors, and continued to sing bhajans.

Moments later, Swami came to the front of the porch, and remained there for the rest of the bhajan session, a glorious half-hour of Swami’s darshan, he is there keeping time with his hand, occasionally dabbing his lips with the kerchief, and looking over the throng.

More bhajans, and I look up at Swami on the porch, sitting there behind the polished handrails. Love and Peace are flowing out from Swami. Now Swami is glancing here, there, now towards the students, looking over the men; glances to the ladies side. More bhajans are sung. Nataraja, Nataraja, and he calls a student forward; the student approaches the porch with a big card, and kneels beside Swami. Conversation; more conversation, we have finished Nataraja and moved onto Om Namah Shivaya, and Swami is still speaking with this student. The porch lights are on; I observe Swami’s face is a light brown colour.

Enfin the student is sent back, and Swami calls for arathi. The bell rings (drowning out everything else), the pujari rises and waves the flame, and I can see three students also waving an arathi flame. A special occasion for that class who presented the card to Swami. Narayana, Narayana Om Sathya, Swami remains right there at the front of the porch as the Narayana verses are chanted, full-throated. Samasta Loka Sukhino Bhavantu, Swami remains there on the porch. No movement.

After Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi, Swami is still there on the porch. Someone exhorts a Jaikar, and the crowd are fully into the Jai! Another Jaikar, (all sorts of people call them out)(everywhere) and another loud Jai! Then another, and another, and another, and another, each Jaikar getting louder and louder. With each Jai! I see something odd, Swami’s face is getting darker and darker after each Jai! until his face was almost a dark-brown-blue colour. We had nine Jaikars after bhajans tonight, and Swami waited for them all, before he moved off.

But you know, we all sit there, push to get to the front, and love has drawn us all to our home, Prashanti Nilayam. We take the darshan of Sathya Sai, but at the end of those nine Jai’s!!! bliss and joy were palpable in the Darshan Hall—men arise with eyes brimming, joyful and thrilled!

Auto-rickshaws and crowds are milling at the Ganesh Gate; it is dark now, and I make my way to the Western Canteen for evening meal. The roadway past Swami’s house is closed with barriers; I take the pathway which abounds South Block. As I pass in front of Swami’s house, Ladies pause and join their hands in pranams and offer a silent prayer. A boy walks past pushing his two wheeler. People stream down from the supermarket with their shopping bags. I thread my way between West 3 and West 5 towards the canteen, the birds are twittering and chattering in the trees above.

Enter the Western Canteen, Glory Be! Its full!!! “Where do they all come from,” I asked myself. I take a tray and join a queue; a small meal tonight, and by golly, this canteen is the best advertisement for Vegetarian Food I have ever encountered.

I take a seat, get a cup of water and eat silently, peacefully. There is a low hum of conversation; I paused from my eating and took a sip of water, and gave some attention to the low hum of conversation. Looking over the seated men, I recalled the thought that came to me unbidden in darshan, earlier - All drawn by Love. Then I realised what was odd about the conversation! Instead of a raucous noise, pointless chatter, clanging of dishes and shouting, it was a hum of harmony and love—all the conversation was about Swami—softly told stories of vibhuti pouring off pictures, pendants and medals materialising in piles of vibhuti, miracles of healing, miracles of Swami’s intervention. No inane chatter or vacuous talk, just Love, Love, Love. How different from the school canteen, the restaurant, the bistro! An energy of harmony and love pervading the canteen.

I returned my attention to the meal in front of me, and after some time, I noticed the Sai Gayathri was going by itself, in my head while I was eating. A sure sign of the heightened, elevated atmosphere in the canteen, all generated by Love, prayer, service by the canteen sevaks, and the love and harmony in all present. I was astounded to find the Sai Gayathri going by itself in my head!

I finished my meal and wandered over to the shrine, located between the two doorways. There, several ladies stand in prayer, eyes closed and hands joined; other ladies are sitting on the floor, eating beside Swami’s shrine.

I take a closer look at the shrine; Isa-Jesus-seated-on-the-Lotus has been moved back to his place opposite Swami’s chair; Swami’s chair has a light green cover, there are two kerchiefs there and garlands draped over the back of the chair. The stool beside Swami has a matching cover with tumbler of water and lid. Right in front of the chair are silver padukas, adorned with small flowers, on a silver box. In front, a large circular rangoli, perfectly executed with a violet centre and twirls of gold spanning outwards in small waves. Small votive lamps encircle the shrine. Arathi lamps and matches just inside the circle. On the wall behind, centre, a large photograph of Swami in a pink robe, seated, he has a serene look on his face, and eyes that seem to be looking at you and following you wherever you walk … you know that kind of photo.

I pause and reflect on the love and effort put in by the canteen staff into making this shrine, a circle of love and dedication to Swami. I say a quick prayer and leave the canteen. Children are playing in the grass out the front, people are seated on the stone wall, conversing quietly, and girls are playing Chase on the lawn. Ashram pups sit next to people talking. Other ashram dogs lie here and there on the footpath, sleeping; people walk around them.

Looking up at the stars I see the full moon, and a small red dot nearby the moon, which I take is Mars. Walking towards South 1, I notice the Sai Gayathri is going again in my head. I reflect on what it is that has brought us all here to Prashanti Nilayam; not hurry, hurry, hurry, join lines, hate the sight of the Seva Dals, get impatient, push to the front, hurry to the Bakery, rush hither and thither; No, No. It is all love, love pervades everyone and everything. All time here is Love. Love pervades everything in the ashram, and drenches everyone with Love, Love, Love—Love for its own sake. I pass by the Anantapur College girls on my way out, all decorous, demure, and this odd circle of peace extends out from them!

Good Night from Prashanti Nilayam.

We hear the bells go for Arathi. Gee-whiz, what does this mean? People look to one another, and I see two army fellows in jungle greens duck off for a spot of chai. Close my eyes and concentrate, on the inner level. “Wait.”

Sure enough, about three minutes later, Seva Dals spill out onto the road, and the Police Escort car comes out and parks directly in front of the Gopuram. Very quickly, the Lord’s car emerges, and people push everywhere. I give that the flick and run up the road a bit.

Car comes around the corner, people in white, Seva Dals run towards me carrying ropes; I snap off a picture and I have no idea if it is any good, so much movement and so many people running towards me. So take a look:

Watch that sun on the front bonnet of the car. Its gonna be news, later on.

I have been feeling an impression to move to the other end of Swami’s travels, so this day, I decided to follow Swami. The first thing was that the School Bus was caught on Main Road as Swami was coming, you know those huge red and silver APSTC buses? Well, there was one, it was chockers, full of children in blue uniforms, and it moved to the side of the road. Well! Swami decided all these children needed Darshan, and they got it; I saw a bit of a lurch or lean-to on the bus as Swami’s car went past, and the children, well, I could hear Jaikars and Sai Rams! coming from the bus. As I ran past the bus, the children were all gleeful, smiles and singing the Sarva Dharma Prayer! What a way to go to school!

Onwards, down main road, the eager crowd follows Swami and I see what must have been the contents of a whole bucket of Red roses fly through the air and land on Swami’s car and bounce off … people ran onto the road immediately to get a Rose!

Some people stop and smile, you know, that unique smile which portrays bliss? Love explodes out of people when they are like that, the eyes and the smile tell it all! The eager crowd runs after Swami’s entourage, and we follow with the camera in the air…

The Seva Dal opened the Ganesh Gate after Swami passed by, and the road is nigh impassable. I thread my way through the crowd and stand on tip-toe, Swami is up there past the Bus Station, nearly at the top of the Hill. I ain’t gonna catch Him, I thought to myself. I take a few photos at the Ganesh Gate:

There is a magnificent Billboard with Swami right at the Bus Station. As you go under the arch and crest the hill and get your first glance of Prashanti Nilayam Township, this is what you see:

I thought I’d take a photo of the Bus Station frontage, whilst I was passing by:

I turned and took a few photos looking down Main Road, Prashanti Nilayam:

As I walk up over the crest, the Vidya Giri Arch is seen:

Vidya Giri, I think, means the place where the wealth of education lies, I emphasise the think. (My Sanskrit is not that sharp these days… )

Under the Arch and take a photo of the other side:

That’s the Sarva Dharma Archway, the entrance to Prashanti Nilayam Township. You’ll see a lot more of those angels in the Darshan Hall.

So walking down the slight grade towards the entryway to Chaitanya Jyothi Museum, I encounter a suprise, walking very quickly…

Sathya Gita was out for a morning walk. I run backwards a bit to get another photo; my, my, Sathya Gita is walking so quickly, I have to turn and run forwards for quite a bit to get my photo:

Well, well, well, what a surprise. I had seen Sai Gita many times, and had not expected to see Sathya Gita!

And, more! They turned at the archway, and came back!

Sweet little thing; some ladies walking in the other direction reached out and Gita swung a trunk to touch their hands!

Now then, where is the Lord? Well, the crowd said it all:

Somewhere behind that gate!!!

Wait, wait, wait, counsels the Lord.

We waited. And waited. Auto rickshaws came and went; coconut sellers did a roaring trade. Devotees roll up and join the crowd. Fellow selling puri’s interests the crowd.

I see Sara Pavan depart via the other gate in his car, and a light bulb goes off. Aha! Take cover off the camera and get ready. Sure enough, the gate opens and I spy in my viewfinder,

The crowd spill out onto the road, my photo opportunity is lost, and I have to run backwards to get a photo… running backwards, so excuse the camera shake …

Run backwards a bit more and the scudding clouds clear and the sun, the blessed sun comes out!!!

And that is the best I can do on the return journey of the Lord, back to the Ashram! Waaaaaaahhhh!!!!!

And the crowd run, run, run, after the Lord Sai Baba. I run, too. Run and hold the camera up…

Footslogging it, I notice the entourage has well and truly put on a bit of speed as they approach the arch, and nearly stop, for something, I did not see… and I put the camera up high in the air, only to take a photo of the road!!! Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!! That’s the end of my chasing, I decided.

Pass the entrance to the General Hospital, there is a large crowd there, having taken the darshan of Sathya Sai:

And here, you can see the white roof of the lead car, its about level with the Ganesh Gate, and all those people are getting the darshan of the Lord, right there. Look at that crowd behind Swami’s escort cars …

Sai Ram from a sunny Prashanti Nilayam.

In his early days, Swami had two foster mothers and spent much of his time in their home, particularly after his return from Uravakonda (where he declared his avatarhood). This was the Kannam’s house, Lakshminarayana Rao, who was the village “chieftain”, so to speak, what we would now call the village Mayor; he had two wives, Subbamma and Kamalamma. The story of Subbamma is quite well known, where Swami called her back to life, gave her a glass of tulsi water, and sent her on to the blessed loka. Kamalamma resided in the ashram in her later years and passed away last year. Meanwhile, back to the point, the Kannam had no issue, and adopted Gopal Rao, who was a playmate of Swami’s, and had little time for Swami and his divine phenomena. Gopal Rao married and had seven sons, one of whom is Chandrasekhar Rao, who now administers the estate.

The Kannam’s house adjoined the Siva Temple, which marks the spot of Swami’s birthplace. That house was the scene of many miracles and Swami was so small, Subbamma or Kamalamma used to pick him up and put him on the table so that people could have his darshan. People used to fill the foyer of the house, and sit out on the road for bhajans. This was an unsatisfactory state of affairs, so Subbamma reminded her husband of his promise to make a temple for God, and built one small hut for Swami on their land, nearby where the Sathyabhamma temple is, now. This hut, which preceeds Partha Mandir, is long gone.

Enough history, let us come to the present moment. Chandrasekhar Rao took me down to the site of the old house, which has been pulled down. All that remains is the front wall:

The house, which was a lime and brick mortar construction, had two storeys. Now, there is just open space, a lot of hay and two cows in a shed at the rear.

There is not much of a separation between this land and the Siva Temple. Do you recall that Kamalamma used to feed Sathyanarayana through a window?

A two storey structure will come, the ground floor being a museum with photographs and artefacts of Swami’s early days in His avatarhood. There will also be space for singing of bhajans in the Museum.

This will be directly adjacent to the Siva Temple.

Chandrasekhar Rao told me Swami has blessed the project, and it is scheduled for completion during Dassera of 2010, which is a most auspicious time, he advised me.

And lastly, here is an image of the old village of Puttaparthi. You can see mosque on the top right which Swami had constructed for the villagers.

We tell our darshan stories because they are precious moments for us, when we are taken in the Lord’s glance, seen, blessed, and transformed, as HE tells us. We tell our darshan stories for they are moments we recall when we were in the very presence of God, and whenever we remember those moments, God is with us again. That is the significance of what Swami told in His Divine Discourse on New Year’s Day, “If you recall me, you will have me, you will ALWAYS have me, nothing can come between us, he told, again and again.

The skies are grey, heavy with rain clouds. I predicted rain yesterday, and some Prashanti Nilayam regulars pooh-poohed the idea. Well, light rain is falling now, as I write. The breeze is cool, the climate is pleasant both day and night (although the sun has a bit of a bite in it… I notice I can go out in the sun here in Prashanti Nilayam, but not at home; there is a hole in the ozone layer over home, and I can feel the sunlight eating into my skin). Not here, not at the abode of highest peace, although.

What is it that makes us sit patiently and wait, wait, wait, for so long, just to have the vision of Sai? Why do people line up, and wait patiently for hours? What is it about darshan that makes it so longed for within us? These are the thoughts that roamed through my mind as I waited for car darshan this morning.

Swami came about 9.30am, just as he told on the inner level; the car was garlanded, and the roof bedecked with more garlands and rose buds. The skies were grey, there was a cool breeze. Rows of seva dal ran beside the car, security before and behind. Car came closer. Swami is looking out the window at the crowds, his eyes roaming over the collected devotees, villagers, shopkeepers, beggars, schoolchildren, they were all standing with hands joined in pranams. Swami’s eyes move back and forth, he is looking at everybody, his hand slightly raised, giving blessing, blessing, blessing, yes, our eyes made contact for one brief moment, and for one moment, is it in time?, is it out of time?, there is only Sai and I, the heart’s longing to be seen and known in the heart of God. Silence, just for that brief, timeless moment, looking into infinity and beyond, beholding those liquid eyes, yes, a moment of Love when the mind stops.

The crowds surge closer to the car, everyone has their hands joined in pranams, Swami is glancing here and there, blessing, blessing. The car moves along Main Road slowly. Villagers turn and smile, “Abhayahasta!” they exclaim with smiles. Abhayahasta, blessing!!!, they exclaim, “very good car darshan” the locals are saying. There is Love everywhere, there are smiles all over. Bliss billows down Main Road, Prashanti Nilayam as Swami’s car proceeds towards Hillview Stadium, ever so slowly.

Alack, we waited again and again, for Swami to return. He returned to the ashram by the back gate … he has done this on quite a few occasions.

The madding crowd had lined up in the streets expecting Car Darshan. However, the inner voice told “Come at 5pm”, so I ignored those lined up for Car Darshan and made my way up to the Ganesh Gate. The generator was going and I could hear chanting as I entered the Ashram.

When I got inside, I could see the video cameras on the porch so I knew there was a program on tonight. Inside the darshan hall, I observed the right hand side of the veranda-area (in front of the interview room) was populated by ladies wearing a blue garment of some kind. On the other side of the porch I saw that the space usually taken by Sai University Professors was filled with the New Zealand Men, with their distinctive scarves. 182 strong New Zealand choir, which, on the mens side, has spilled over off the porch and onto the steps in front of the veranda. The New Zealand Group has 254 members, many who have come for the first time.

Very shortly after I sat down, Swami came to the front of the porch and gave darshan. A forest of hands went up in pranams, and Swami looked over the assembled devotees. Swami then reversed and went down the path to the darshan hall and went across to a group of ladies in aquamarine blue sarees, where he paused and spoke to some. Then, Swami went to the ladies side of the darshan hall and spoke to some ladies in the front row; he was there for quite some time. I saw two ladies get up and approach Swami.

Swami then went along the ladies side for some distance, and turned in and went past all the chair ladies. At the top, he turned and spoke to some ladies right at that top corner area and accepted some letters. Swami then returned to the veranda, passing the New Zealand ladies, and returned to his place at the front of the porch.

The New Zealand Choirmaster approached Swami and offered him the evening’s program of devotional singing. He then took his place just below the walkway off the centre of the porch, as half the choir was on Swami’s left; the other half were on Swami’s right.

Before I go any further, I think I would like to describe the dress of the New Zealand ladies; at first it looked like a blue and white saree, but closer examination revealed it was a traditional New Zealand garment, principally blue, with a white border and traditional markings in the white border; something a cross between an academic robe and a low backed traditional dress. It was a very attractive garment.

For the first song, the lady choir leader approached Swami and asked for permission to sing Karanga Mai. For this, the lady stood alone on the porch, and sang without a microphone, and made some traditional gesture with her hands as she sang.

Karanga Mai,
Karanga Mai Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
Karanga Mai ra

This song summonsed all the ancestors from Aotearoa (New Zealand) to the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The karanga draws the wairua (spirit) in all of us to join with Swami and Taranga Whenua (the people of India) in divine bliss. That the lady did this without a microphone, yet was heard throughout the darshan hall is testimony to the power of the Karanga Mai. Well done, I thought.

The next two songs involved the choir singing with hand actions. Most of you may have seen the Haka, where New Zealand sportsmen and women perform a chant with actions. These songs were somewhat similar to that, except every member in the choir was seated and performing hand actions as they sang. Swami was full attention to the ladies as they sang with their hand actions.

The first hand action song was E Nga Iwi, Listen to the people. The actions in the song depicted the calling of the people to return to God.

E nga iwiw
E nga iwiw e karanga e te iwi

It is difficult to describe, but to observe the hand actions along with the singing gave it a profound sense of calling, a sensus plenior of being called; I find it hard to describe. But powerful.

The next song was Pai Ma, a hand action song offering greetings and love from Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Pai Ma to reo aroha
I te pa o Puttaparthi
No nga iwi a Aotearoa
Tena Koutou kia ora ra

The next two items from New Zealand were a traditional Poi Dance, and a Stick Dance. A Poi dance was originally a cultural action dance to teach young men and boys dexterity, but now Poi is primarily performed by women.

For the Poi dance, about a dozen ladies moved down to the main darshan hall floor; some knelt, some stood. They appeared to have a rope with pom-poms at each end which were waved and twirled at various points in the song. Quite interesting to watch. The ladies remained where they were for the stick dance, facing each other and making gestures with these blue-green coloured pairs of sticks. Ene Nga Kupu is a traditional stick dance performed by young teens to learn dexterity and concentration as they matured; this version was written for them to especially concentrate on God (Sai) as they learn.

Enei nga kupo o Sathya Sai, Sathya Sai, Sathya Sai,
Mahi tika, te aroha, te rangimarie
Enei nga kupo o Sathya Sai
Enei nga kupo o Sathya Sai
Hari Hari te pono
Te Ariki nui

Several English songs followed, and thereafter, Swami moved over to the front of the seated ladies, and red sarees were distributed. The lead lady singer approached Swami, and there was applause, Swami materialised a necklace and placed it around the neck of that lady singer.

It took quite some time to distribute sarees to the New Zealand ladies; Swami remained there in front of the New Zealand lady until the very last lady had received her gift from Bhagavan.

Thereafter, Swami went across to the mens side, where there was conversation with the leader of the mens singers, and white shawls were distributed to these choir members. There was a lot of conversation for quite some time, and four men were called forward to speak with Swami.

Swami returned to the front of the porch, and one of the New Zealanders led Ganesha Sharanum, after which Swami called for Arathi.

So a lovely evening from the New Zealand devotees, and as they were singing I noted quite a few Indians and other devotees clapping along with these presentations; a joyful noise unto the Lord.

So it was Kia Ora from New Sailand!

Main Road is cleared as the Police prepare for Swami to come in the car

Swami’s car emerges from the Gopuram Gate

The driver appears to be pointing something out

The Police escorts lead the way

Swami in the front seat, looking forward

Crowd follows Swami along Main Road

The Lord Sai Returns!

Police lead the way down Main Road, Puttaparthi

Seva Dals accompanying the Lord, doing their seva

Procession returns to Prashanti Nilayam…

For a full size photo of Bhagavan Baba in the front seat of the car, click here (opens in new window).

I had quite a surprise when I entered the Western Canteen for lunch yesterday. There were only about 30 people eating lunch there, and morning darshan was quite sparsely populated this morning. The Christmas crowds have all but gone and the only large group remaining is that group from Maharashtra-Goa, and a large contingent from South Africa. A group of Australians from New South Wales arrived Monday, all in their green and gold scarves. But the ashram is quiet. Walking through the ashram yesterday morning, it was a very pleasant experience to not have to thread your way through the thousands and thousands. Doubtless that will all change this coming weekend…

In my meandering around the ashram, I pass by the Workshop often, and I notice a fair bit of welding going on, along with some bits and pieces of painted boards being assembled. Methinks preparations are in train for the Sports and Cultural Meet next Sunday. Swami has gone out of the ashram twice of late (yesterday evening and on Sunday morning) and I suspect that perhaps these preparations are the object of his small trips.

A small crowd files into the darshan hall for bhajans, and I take a place, glancing upwards first (as does everybody else) to ensure I am not sitting beneath a chandlier (the pidgeons nestle in there and have a snooze during darshan, and occasionally grant “blessings from above” in the form of guano. I stood on a ‘blessing from above’ yesterday and my foot slid a bit and I nearly hit the deck. I gave some thought to that, how Swami told that the birds with Shirdi Sai are here with Sathya Sai, and that gives me a bit of a shock and some reflections on the long journey of unconscious evolution from mineral to plant to animal to human; how many thousands of years this must take! That gave rise to further thought about Swami telling Jayakumar, the Civil Engineer who oversaw the construction of the Hanuman statue in Vidyagiri Stadium; Swami told, the statue has to last for hundreds and hundreds of years; I wondered during darshan this morning what the mandir would look like in hundreds and hundreds of years time.

Swami came, and I went. He had told me on the inner level to go out and get something for my head cold so I did.

That was just a ruse. After getting the medicines I went to my room, and took them with some water; I heard the familiar frantic whistling and police sirens and RAN! Down two flights of stairs, along three corridors, out to the front, I could see a gap and Main Road, and as I exited the building, I could see that familiar white jeep with the red light on the roof and … you know how much living you can do in one second? Well, that was the longest second, I lept right over the footpath and landed beside all the people lined up with my hands joined in pranams and Sai Ram! Swami in the car, not three feet away! Clear as the light of day, he might as well have had the window down!

An Ethereal Space. There were garlands and rose buds all over the roof and the bonnet of the car, Swami’s face was light brown, his robe a brilliant orange, his hair just so, and Swami, looking down Main Road, his head was up, he brushed his cheek with a crooked finger, and was gone. The police held the crowds back until Swami’s car had cleared the Ganesh Gate.

Now there were only two cars… On the inner level, I checked and asked, “Coming back?” and I received a reply “Twenty minutes”.

So I waited.

After a time and being hit on by so many beggars, I crossed the road and waited in the sunshine. I had only waited for one minute when Seva Dals ran out of the ashram, Police ran up the road and I looked up along Main Road, and yea, that white Jeep was leading. Behind the white Jeep was a squadron of motorcycles, the first one in the middle of the road with two riders, one was carrying the Sai University Flag, a white flag with the University Logo; then another 8 red Kawasaki racing motorcycles followed in formation, then Swami’s car. I was right on the bend. Swami’s car was moving slowly, security running in front and behind, and beside the car, half a dozen Seva Dal holding a rope and telling us to keep back.

Rose buds and garlands fly out from the crowd, expertly thrown, landing on the windscreen, the bonnet and roof; there Swami is, in the front seat looking over the crowd, and our eyes met twice as that benign look of love flashed, the eyes moving so rapidly to and fro among the people; the car stopped just ever so briefly and moved on as it rounded the corner and I could see children running onto the road and picking up the rose buds and rushing off home to place them on the family shrine.

Another five cars followed Swami, followed by two seva dal on motorcycles; Car Darshan was over.

I remain and look up and down Main Street; Clouds of bliss are billowing among the peoples and they stand and smile and talk for a moment, taking in that divine love and grace.