prashanti nilayam-the abode of peace. |
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We have spent our most amazing winter break in the ashram ,as we are devotees of Swami.We used to look forward to the winters as this would be the time when schools were off for three months .And this would be our opportunity to travel down south with family and most of the devotees of Darjeeling. It was fun as well as a learning experience. Life at the ashram will always be disciplined so this is how our day started. We would get up early morning around 4am have bath get ready run to the ganesh temple offer prayers and flowers at the lotus feet as around 5 am the suprabhatam(wake up call to the Lord) starts at the mandir and as soon as that is over first the Vedic chanters circle the mandir and go around the ashram.By the time the Veda chanters start their chantings,the ladies will assemble at the Ganesh temple for the nagarsanskritan(singing bhajans or chanting Vedas to purify the surroundings) .The ladies group will follow the Vedic chanters through the ashram, there is a particular path they follow. Starting from the Ganesh temple via the back of the mandir towards Poornachandra hall, from there turn towards the ladies canteen to the front of the mandir crossing the Brindavan boys hostel back to Ganesh temple . |
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This will be followed by the gents group while this will be going on most of the devotees will be lining up for the darshan token lines. The first person sitting will be asked to pick up a token which will decide which line gets to go first in the mandir.The whole hall will be filled in this manner and the devotees will wait for Swami to come out at 7 am. A tune will be played informing us that Swami is coming for darshan and all of us wait in anticipation to get the darshan of Bhagawan. The first glance of Swami will make you forget everything. He need not talk to you just a mere glance will make you forget the world outside .He does the rounds picking up letters from devotees a word here and there enquiring about their welfare .For those not well He materializes Vibhuti”the holy ash”, to cure their illness . |
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The significance of Vibhuti is from ash you come to ash you go so in the meanwhile you are in this earth serve your fellow brothers and sisters in need. That’s why the devotees put it on the forehead as a constant reminder of our purpose in this earth .He also calls devotees for interview ,talks to them about personal life as well as spiritual. |
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After darshan is over people flock to the canteen for breakfast, the coupons are available at the counters and the rates are very subcidised.After that bhajans start at 9 am after arati Swami returns to his residence. We return to our gust houses or sheds(these are open rooms which devotees share, from all background and places).Lunch will be served in canteens ,there are three choices south Indian is the oldest one ,with the foreigners canteen catering to less spicy food for them and the latest addition the north Indian canteen. |
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We get to rest for two-three hours and after that again we get ready for evening darshan and bhajans. People start lining around 1pm similarly tokens will be distributed, darshan will be at 3 pm and bhajans at 5 pm. Dinner will start from 7 pm to 8.30 pm and lights will be switched off at 10 pm this ends our day. |
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In those days I never realized I would be one day His student and get the opportunity to study in the college established by Him. It was a wonderful opportunity given to me to understand the nature of human beings and to contemplate on the self as you too are Brahman (god).His teachings has always helped me to be calm and a satisfied person .His teachings of unity of faith, service to mankind, human values and protection of our culture and heritage will always remain a priority over everything in my life.
About Swami and his teachings. This is what he has to say about himself “I am God. And you too are God. |
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The only difference between you and Me is that while I am aware of it, you are completely unaware.” This fundamental truth of man’s divine nature is at the heart of His message and mission. Indeed, in His discourses to devotees, He addresses them as “Embodiments of the Divine Atma”. All who experience His pure and selfless love, and benefit from His illuminating counsel, and witness His miraculous nature get a glimpse of the glory and majesty of God. |
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Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23, 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. Even as a child, His spiritual inclination and contemplative nature set Him apart from other children of His age. However, it was not until October 20, 1940, the day He made the historic declaration of His Avatarhood, (Avatar - Divinity Incarnate) that the world at large learnt of this divine phenomenon. Today, millions of devotees from all over the world, professing various faiths, and hailing from various walks of life worship Him as an ‘Avatar’, and an incarnation of the Sai Baba of Shirdi. |
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Secondly, He is an inexhaustible reservoir of pure love. His numerous service projects, be it free hospitals, free schools and colleges, free drinking water supply or free housing projects, all stand testimony to His selfless love and compassion for the needy and less privileged. True to His declaration - “My Life is My Message”, |
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He has inspired and continues to inspire millions of His devotees worldwide by His personal example to live the ideal that service to man is service to God. The Sri Sathya Sai Organization today has a presence in over 167 countries in the world and members undertake group service activities that benefit their immediate community. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is thus a beacon of hope in a world that is desperately seeking an end to the unrest and sorrow prevalent today. |
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His message of “Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God” is a spiritual salve that will lead mankind from the darkness of ignorance to the light of immortality. Indeed, very rarely does such a divine power walk the earth. As one devotee said, “Bhagawan Baba is nothing but Love walking on two feet”. Mankind must use this golden opportunity to follow in His footsteps. That is the way to its redemption and its salvation.
Jai Sai Ram. |
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