The Krishanaashtami festival this year was a unique experience. It was very special for me, especially because i got a chance to participate in the key programmes. thus i could have many insightful first hand experiences.
A few days before the festival, Swami expressed His wish to have a cow procession led by students on the festival day. It has been a custom for decades for the students to get the cows to mandir on this day and then Swami would feed the cows with fruits, then bless the students too.Thus it is one of the sought after chances for the students here. but slowly, the many chances that we get on this day have been reducing year after year.
So, this year, none of us expected this event. It was Swami who mentioned it to an elder person and asked for the programme. for days, i had been thinking about how all of us used to enjoy getting lots of chances on this day, in the past. i felt sad that those wonderful times were a thing of the past. Few days later, a student brother came up to me and said that Swami asked for the cow procession and that i was selected as one of the cowboys! my joy knew no bounds.
the next morning, all the selected students assembled in Gokulam for getting a practice on handling the cows. Myself and another student brother were assigned a cow kept near the Samadhi place of Swami's parents. this cow (Gayatri) is special, since the milk given by her (approx. 16 litres a day)is supplied to Swami's residence. She was one of the two cows selected from the Samadhi place for the procession (the other was her mother). Gayatri was four months pregnant. She was very cooperative when we took her for the practice walks, unlike other cows who took the boys for a ride.
After two days of practice, the D-day of festival arrived. We got up early in the morning and proceeded to the cow shed to decorate our cows. The procession began at 8 am. It was truly an amazing sight as the little Krishna Gita was leading some 20 cows. also, there were other animals like the deer, peacock and doves which were being brought by the students. The baby elephant was at her cheerful best.
We we entered the Kulwant Hall from Gopuram gate led by the baby elephant and arranged the cows in rows on both sides. Swami was just arriving to the Hall in car. He was wearing a beautiful yellow robe. He stopped near Krishna Gita, got down and fed Her fruits. KG was ready with her amusing pranks. First, she prostrated before Swami with her forelegs stretched and trunk raised. As soon as Swami offered her fruits, she grabbed it with her little trunk and put it in her mouth. if that wasn't enough, she picked on the fruits that the boys had kept in their plate to offer it later to Swami.
After feeding Krishna Gita, Swami came towards the rows of cows standing behind. There were a lot of people around and so the scene was a huge commotion. Nevertheless, Swami went and started feeding bananas to each and every cow. He didn't miss a single one. some cows refused to eat. Our Gayatri was one of them. When He offered her a banana, she refused to eat it. He looked at me and asked "why are these cows not eating?" i didn't have a clue, and replied "Swami, maybe because she's pregnant!" he smiled and went ahead.
As He reached the portico, some boys took a couple of doves to Him. He blessed them and asked the doves to be released. the boys did so and guess what, the doves refused to fly away from Swami. both of them stood on the railing in front of Him. Even the animals don't want to leave His presence. A few moments later, both of them flew away.
All the while Krishna Gita was entertaining us with her gymnastics like stretching her forelegs and raising her trunk. But the cows behind her certainly didn't appreciate it. They were getting scared and urinating all over. The block was a mess of dung & urine and sevadals had a field day cleaning the floor. We were also getting nervous avoiding the heavy feet of the cows, lest they stamp on us making the day more than a memorable experience.
As soon as Swami blessed all the animals, He instructed Mr S. V Giri to announce that the morning programme was over and that the devotees can leave! Swami had solely come to shower His blessings on the animal kingdom. One of the cowboys shouted " Jai bolo Bhagwan Sri... ..... Jai". Unfortunately, he shouted near the ear of his cow and this scared her (we learnt that when cows get scared, they urinate). The cow was out of control and she almost rammed into our cow while returning back. Due to Swami's grace, the entire event passed peacefully.
We were lucky to have so many such beautiful, inspiring and amusing experiences that day.i really learnt how one should look at society in its entirety. It is only Swami, who by sheer example, sensitises us and teaches us to love and care for these innocent and mute creatures.
Sai ram.

IT`S POURING, AND POURING MORE LOVE.........

Sai Ram, I must apologise for my prolonged absence from the blogging world. during the past 20 days, so many interesting incidents have occured that one or two posts cannot capture them. well, the phrases like "interesting incidents" are a cliche here. But then,listening to any number of these do not quench our thirst enough.
These days, Parthi has been seeing a lot of rain; feels like the monsoon has just begun. Our beloved Swami has been equally unpredictable in His darshans and interactions. Recently, we witnessed the Krishnaashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi festivals. Generally, the mood is upbeat during these times but when we see that Swami too shows a keen interest in celebrations, our zeal knows no bounds. This is what exactly happened this time.
Before krishnaashtami, Swami expressed His wish to have procession of Gokulam cows led by few of our students. There was a lot of excitement on that day, which i have dealt in detail in my next post.
The Ganesha festival was equally wonderful. As a custom, the students prepare Chariots for Ganesha to be taken to Swami during the immersion day. This year, the students showed a lot of skills in their innovation and design. There was a Dragon chariot by 12th class students, a chariot in the form of a huge ship prepared bu class 10, and many other beautiful masterpieces. Even the Hoggwarts school design was not spared!
swami came very late, around 5 pm to see the chariots with Ganeshas. He went around and looked at each of them. we could see that he was very impressed, not because the chariots were good, but because His students had worked hard to impress Him. This is what happens in any programme. And this is what keeps us going. The bond with our mother is so deep and strong that both of us compete in making each other happy.
Well, keeping competition apart (After all Sai`s love has no competition) the entire evening was filled with joy. the chariot boys took Swami`s blessings and left for the immersion. even before the bhajans began, Swami went back to Yajur mandir. we were surprised. No sooner di we think that the session was over than our Lord sent a message: "All boys must return to mandir for bhajans, i want to see them." Can we measure the love of our Lord?
Each day, He makes it a point to come to the portico and sit for some time. it appears as if a shepherd watches over His flock of sheep. And His sheep can only wish that such times may last an eternity.

Central Trust Anniversary Discourse

this day must have been a very memorable one for all the CTBT boys as Swami showered His love on them from morning till evening. In the morning, Swami came in car and proceeded directly to the Bhajan hall where the Central Trust boys were waiting with a programme. For two long hours, He sat in the bhajan hall listening to their songs and speaking to them.
In the afternoon, there was a long list of speakers, mostly senior members of the Central Trust after which they prayed for Swami to speak. their speeches dragged on till 5.40 pm and we felt Swami wouldn't give a discourse today. Well, students propose and Swami disposes. to our amazement, He got up to deliver in His sweet voice. here are a few excerpts:

Dear students

• our boys have sacred hearts, pure minds, they are selfless and humble. they do not commit any mistakes. even if a few do commit some mistake, they immediately correct them. that is why "Central Trust" means "our students". the elders are only administrators, whereas our boys look after all activities. Swami chose to speak today because of these boys. They do great work. they shall support the Trust in future. The Trust is dependent on them.
• Bhagawan wants students to be the future leaders. The future of Trust depends on you. Everywhere around, you see only money matters. money comes and goes, morality comes and grows. It is your morality that supports the Trust today.
• You have expectations and imaginations. you must consider them as illusions, passing clouds. Don't be victims to such imaginations and resist them.
• Your tasks should be an ideal to the world to emulate. Today there is advancement in technology. but all this is only "tricknology". Develop the discrimination to know this truth. the future depends on you.

• (Swami asks how many students work in the Trust. they say 155 boys. He asks all of them to come front.) Get a good name, strengthen your self confidence. It will then strengthen your faith. Faith leads to love. This love will give you all the capacities. Faith is important.
  
• Love is God, live in love. I walk on the two feet of love and self confidence. With these, i achieve everything.
  
• Dear students, whether you believe it or not, every Monday, Swami sends a cheque for Rs 500 crores which is distributed to various welfare activities like Tamil Nadu water project. However, some help is required and so some members of the Trust help in distributing the money.. Inspite of this high expenditure, people from Madras come and say that they do not have adequate water. So, in addition to the Godavari water, some water from Bhadrachalam (Krishna river) too is diverted for this purpose.
• no one gave a naya paisa to Swami for this, nor did Swami ask money from anybody. Bhagawan's will (Sankalpa) is His power and strength. We don't want money but good qualities.With love in your heart, you can attain everything.
• later, bhagawan will explain in detail about love. Never utter lie or resort to injustice or intolerance. Live together in harmony. In Bharat, unity is lacking. therefore there is no unity and thus, no divinity as well.
  
• Do not feel bad that Swami is not talking to students. Swami thinks of you all the time. Without you I am non-existent. I and you are one.

After the this, Swami gave watches to all the CTBT boys. He even gave prasadam to each and every person in the group. It was truly a very fulfilling experience, as though a mother was celebrating with her children. Indeed, Love is Mother Sai.