Devi and the Feminine

It was the turn of the Ladies of Maharasthra-Goa this evening. When I arrived at the darshan hall there were many banners hanging in the centre of the darshan hall, and there were groups of men and ladies seated in the centre area where students normally sit. Chanting was going on in the mandiram, and the darshan hall was filled with waiting devotees; silence prevailed.

The New Year’s Decorations have been removed.

I took a seat, maybe halfway down the hall and cast my attention to the banners hanging from the ceiling. There was one in the middle, crosswise, and three longwise on each side.

In the centre was a tasteful white banner with an impression of Easwaramma, and the script, Easwaramma, divya mata. The other six banners all had illustrations of women and citations from the Devi Stotram, I think it is, or is it the Devi Mahatmya?

The first banner had an illustration of Savitri, and the following from the Devi Prayer:

The next banner on that side had an illustration of Rani Lakshmibai on a horse, and

The next banner had illustrations of Putalibai and Mahatama Gandhi, and the following prayer:

On the other side, the first banner had an illustration of Urmilla-Lakshman and the following prayer

The next, for the life of me, I cannot remember; the last banner was of Ratnavalli and Tulsidas, with the prayer,

So there was a very strong Devi focus for the evening. When Swami came out to the front of the porch, the Ladies led the singing, and introduced the evening’s program. I recall a Gayathri Mantra sung in four part harmony.

The Devi Stotram formed the focus of what was to follow; very young girls dressed as the characters in the banners performed skits very close to the front of the veranda; Swami was facing these girls, cent per cent attention and focus. The conclusion of each skit was the singing of the relevant strotra from the Devi Stotram (I don’t know if I have this title right, so bear with me) which was a really neat way to conclude each skit. The girls were all nicely costumed and delivered their skits quite well.

When the skits were over, there was a very catchy song sung about Mother Easwaramma, and then some songs sung about Swami. There was then a presentation to Swami, a memorial plaque and prayer to Swami that these 2400 Sai Youth of Maharasthra and Goa would be worthy instruments in his mission.

The men then did a medley of songs with some very good musical accompaniments, and the most unusual backing I have ever heard for Kondama Rama, it was excellent. There was then a short medley of bhajans as Swami went inside the interview room. He returned shortly, and went down to the centre area of the darshan hall, and gave photo sessions to the young girl actresses, and gave them all padnamaskar. Much applause. Swami called for Shawls and Sarees to be distributed to all in the choir and in the acting complement. Swami then gave photo sessions to the Lady Singers, very good, and then moved over to the Men Singers, where there were many photo sessions.

Swami then stayed in the centre of the darshan hall and spent time answering questions from the Devotees of Maharashtra and Goa, and also spent some time accepting prayers and requests. After some time, Swami returned to the front of the porch and called for prasadam to be distributed to all. The lady singers then led bhajans during the distribution of prasad, and I quite enjoyed the ladies leading the singing. When the distribution of prasad was complete, Swami gestured to the students returning; there was quite some prasad left over, and Swami sent the students right down that centre walkway, out of the darshan all, to distribute all the prasad to the devotees down by the Gopuram Gate!

Then Swami called for arathi; the ladies led Om Jai Jagadeesha Hare; there were 8 waving the arathi flames, three men and three ladies from the Sai Youth, along with one student, and the Mandir Pujari. When it got to Mata Pita Guru Daivam, Swami gestured for the lamps to be placed on the ground, and the Ladies continued leading the singing. It was quite dark, the darshan hall lights were bright, and the Narayana, Narayana Om Sathya verses flew through the air as Swami sat there, right at the front of the porch, brilliant in his orange robe, and smoke rising all over the place from the many arathi lamps. A great conclusion to the evening of Devi and the Feminine, by favour of the Ladies of Maharasthra and Goa.