Morning Session :

The ritualistic worship of the Gods and Goddesses commences every day in the early hours of morning and gain momentum from 8 AM onwards as the various Homas begin. Each day of the Navarathri Homa, the myriad patterns of the rangoli, made on the ground, comprising perfect shapes that are painstakingly drawn to precision drew much attention too, These rangolis, as the priest would explain every day, were representations of the energy source of the many Gods and Goddesses.
On a daily basis, goddess Shri Lalitha, representing the Sri Chakra, was worshipped followed by the other ritualistic worship and prayers.

Amidst the grandeur of the Naadaswaram, and the resonating beats of the Dhaakis, Bhagawan arrived at Hridaya Mandiram at 11 AM. The Chief Priest took the blessings of Bhagawan before beginning with the proceedings. They started with a prayer that was repeated by the devotees and students seated inside and outside the Hall.

The Homas that were performed on the seventh day were Saraswathi Homa and Medha Dakshinamoorthy Homa. This day was also the first day of commencement of the last three days of Dussehera – the first three days were dedicated for the worship of Goddess Maha Kali, the next three days for Maha Lakshmi and the last three for the....
 

NAVARATHRI CELEBRATIONS – SATHYA SAI GRAMA, MUDDENAHALLI – OCTOBER 8, 2016 (DAY 8)

Morning Session:

The whole ambience of the Muddenahalli Ashram was charged with the Homas and the ritualistic offerings that marked the mornings from the last one week.

But with the beginning of the Maha Rudra Homam from today, the energy shift was even more palpable. The morning started with the bringing of the Hiranyagarbha Lingam from the Sri Sathya Sai Premamrutham Hall to the Yagna Shaala with utmost reverence and respect. This was followed by various other rituals such as Aruna Parayanam, Mahanyasa, Ganapathy Pooja, Punyaham etc.

Bhagawan arrived at the Hridaya Mandiram around 11 AM, post which e the proceedings began by offering salutations to the Gruha Nayaka. Poornahuti was performed by offering a pink saree to the sacred fire.

The Navagraha Homa and the Shani Shanthi Homa were performed on the Ashtami Day. These Homas were performed as an obeisance to the Rudra Parameswara, who is imminent in water, in all herbs, is all pervading.

In nature, there are various kinds of flowers. Among them, while some reach the Lotus Feet and find fulfillment, others are utilised for decorative purposes, as medicines and some bloom.....
 

Morning Session:

The celebration of Navarathri in Sathya Sai Grama entered in to its ninth day with unabated enthusiasm and devotion.

Abhishegam was offered to Saieshwara Lingam and Laksha Sai Gayatri Purusara Homa was performed with continuous chanting of Sai Gayatri by all the devotees assembled in the Hridaya Mandiram.

Due to worldly distractions, man loses the path towards liberation.  Therefore, the Sai Gayatri Homa was performed to help man stay on the path to realizing his true self, and to ask Mother Gayatri to bestow the highest knowledge and wisdom on mankind.

While the yagna was being performed, Bhagawan proceeded towards the stage in the hall to witness and bless the dance performance by the devotees from Kolkatta on the occasion of Mahaashtami day. The entire setting was elevating with the altar of Mother Durga in the background and dance recital of Shiva and Parvathi in the presence of Lord Shiva Himself!

After the Homa was completed, the Durga Aarthi was offered. The morning session ended with the offering of Aarthi to Bhagawan.

Evening Session:

Bhagawan arrived at the Srn i Sathya Sai Premamrutham hall to a grand welcome led by the ceremonial Poornakumbam, Vedic chants and melodious bhajans in the background by His students.

The first speaker for the evening was Shri B S Vijay Sai,....
 

Morning Session:

The ongoing celebrations of Dussehra is testimony enough to the supreme concept of unification of cultures through the divine force. The rituals and pujas performed each day had an intriguing uniqueness about it. The rhythm of the vedic chants, the tempo of the sincerity with which they were chanted and the resulting peace one would feel were proof enough of the divinity inherent in the many ceremonies and worship. What’s more, the evening cultural presentations, straddling different forms of art and music too had a distinctive calm about it.

As a part of the Poornahuthi of the Sai Gayathri Homa, an orange-coloured saree was offered to the sacred fire, followed by dry fruits, different flowers etc. Gayathri Mantra was gifted by sage Vishwamitra. First part of the mantra states that the very elements of creation is what is replicated in Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Ether. The second part of the prayer is to activate the intellect. Out of all the mantras, the Gayathri Mantra is the only mantra meant for giving us inner peace. It was specifically mentioned that the proceedings over the last nine days were a wish-fulfilling tree, the Durga Pooja was the Kamadhenu, the Rudra Homa was the Akshay Patra, the Gita Upadesa was the ambrosia. Utilising all the four boons, we need to pray to God to ask for the right things.

After the Homa got over, Bhagawan proceeded to the Durga Pooja celebrations where a Havan was being performed. The Nabami or the ninth day is yet another auspicious occasion for offering prayers to Goddess Durga. After accepting the elaborate Aarthi, Bhagawan moved on the Yagnashaala, where the Rudra Homa was being performed.

After the sequence of rituals, the Chief Priest, Sri Nanjunda Dixit explained some of the intricacies involved in the Aagama Shastra, with special reference....
 

Morning Session:

The last day of the Navarathri festival saw the entire campus of Sathya Sai Grama charged with devotion and spiritual fervor. Devotees began to assemble at the venue from as early as six in the morning.

The proceedings of the last day of the Maha Rudra Yajna began with the Mahanyasa and Aruna Parayanam at 6.30 AM. This was followed by Kalasha Archana and Panchamrita Abhisheka to the Hiranyagarbha Lingam. Lord Shiva was thereafter propitiated with the Rudra Parayanam, Rudra Abhishekam, Rudra Homa and Jayadhi Homa.

As part of the Navarathri Homa, the Durga Homa began at 8 AM with the Rudra Pathana. Ghee along with yellow-coloured cooked rice were offered into the sacrificial fire. The day of Vijayadashami marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. It is also the day of Rama’s victory over Ravana. In fact, the word Dussehera is derived from the Sanskrit words “Dasha Hara”. It signifies the triumph of the good over evil, and when one overcomes the inner vices of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya along with one’s Chitta (mind), Buddhi (intellect and reasoning) and Ahamkara (the feeling of I). The Durga Homa was performed to enable everyone to overcome these tendencies and propel one on the spiritual path.

The Durga puja was performed as per the traditions of Bengal. A special ritual was performed by five married women followed by Sindhoor Khela or smearing of sindhoor or vermillon on the idol of Maa Durga.

Bhagawan arrived at the venue around 11 AM and was led by a procession of Dhakis and students playing on the drums to the Hridaya Mandiram, wherein....
 

WHAT IS OUR TRUE DHARMA? – SUMMARY DIVINE DISCOURSE ON 10 OCTOBER 2016

The one and only aim with which every Avatar takes upon Himself a form and a name and comes to the level of the devotees is to establish Dharma. The word Dharma must be understood in the right way. In the Gita, the first word is ‘Dharma’ and the last word is ‘Mama’. If we put these two words, that is the essence of what the Bhagavad Gita is trying to teach us. Mama Dharma – my duty, my Dharma – the Dharma that He has come to establish. To understand this, one must enquire as to what is the true nature of mankind? It refers to something much more than just the body and mind that one associates oneself with.  It points towards the unchanging principle of Atma Tatva. The true nature of man is Divinity. Therefore, when you talk about the true nature of man, that nature itself becomes man’s duty or Dharma. Man who is divine must behave and conduct according to his true nature, which is Divinity.

The Atma does not have a birth, growth or death. It is eternal, it is ever-present, changeless and therefore, the Dharma of Atma is also changeless and eternal. When thoughts that are below the dignity of your true nature come, you must enquire if it is in accordance to your true nature. Does this thought, this word, this action befit the divinity that I truly am? Only with deep enquiry, can one discriminate and thereby develop detachment to those things, which do not follow one’s Dharma or true nature.

Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, Ahimsa all these are qualities that are born out of divinity. Truly if you analyse it and understand, divinity is nothing but pure, selfless love. This love only gives and forgives, does not expect anything in return. The moment it expects,...
 

HOW TO DEAL WITH DESIRES
SUMMARY OF DIVINE DISCOURSE - 9 October, 2016

The one who is free of all desires and expectations, is pure – outside and inside, has mastered all skills and is not brooding over all that has happened, the one who does not have the feeling of having initiated any action or doership, such a devotee is dear to Me. If the whole of Bhagavad Gita is compared with the milk, then Bhakti Yoga is the butter churned out of it. Yoga means union with God. Therefore, the message of this chapter is how Bhakti or devotion for God can make us one with God.

In this university called the universe, all devotees are like students and God is the teacher. The best of the devotees are those who seek God only for God’s sake and nothing else. There are those who also seek other things. So, God encourages them. At least you are thinking of Me. “Let Me give you what you desire. So, far you had not been even thinking of Me. At least due to this problem, you are thinking of Me.” So, He will encourage them, give them what they require. He is strict with the best students, who want only God for He does not want them to slip to lower levels as He is aware that mind can go either ways. So, even if they ask for these worldly things influenced by circumstances, He will avoid giving it to them in order to keep them pure and steady in their pursuit of God. He attracts you by giving you that which you want so that He can teach you what He wants to teach...

BHAKTI – THE BASIC PRINCIPLE ON WHICH THE GITA IS BASED – SUMMARY DIVINE DISCOURSE ON 8 OCTOBER 2016

No one can escape action once they are born into this world, which is the world of action. The easiest way to avoid consequences of actions is to not have the sense of doership. It is only when we think that we are the doers that the expectations of results come in as a consequence. The moment one has any kind of expectation or desires, he is bound to compare it with others and take to wrong paths. By this very act, one has to then undergo the consequences of one’s action. It is very difficult when one is engaged in the body and mind to think that one is not the doer. So, what is the solution for one to escape the consequences of one’s actions? If one is not able to give up the sense of doership, the best option is to offer everything they are doing to God. This means not choosing and not selectively offering one’s actions but offering everything one is engaged in to God. Therefore, the two golden principles of Sarva karma bhagavad preetyartham – first of all, doing things with a sense of doership but for the love of God and second, once you have done it, simply offer it to God.  The second is Sarva karma phala tyagam – whatever we have thereby achieved with the sense of doership, we must give it to God or offer it to God. If one follows these two principles, all Karma will become Karma yoga.

What makes Karma or action into Yoga or union with God is Bhakti, devotion. If one has devotion which is love for God, one will choose not to do things which will displease God for He is trying to do everything to please God, for the love of God. And for some...

Devotion Stands Supreme Over all Other Qualities – Summary Divine Discourse on 7 October 2016

Just like sweetness is the basis of all sweets or sugar-based preparations, divinity is the basis of all the variety we see in the world around. To look at, we may be similar or different. But when we experience the divine self, we will know the underlying unity in diversity. Until we have tasted divinity within ourselves (through our experience), we will not be able to understand what it is, no matter how much we listen, talk or think about it. It is only in experience that one understands the inner Truth.

Divinity is changeless. The body and mind keep changing according to time and circumstances, as they are not divinity. But man associates oneself with the body and mind and considers himself as this body. And as the body vanishes with time and the mind keeps changing its forms, he is always with fear and full of sorrow. But in such times, a guru appears and makes the person, who is full of ignorance, realise his or her true nature and thereby gives him or her freedom from such illusory fear. Once the person realises that he is none other than the indestructible, ever present, pure, free, without any malice, the true Atman principle, he is free from all kinds of bondages and fears. Divine or God, who resides in all as the Atmatatva is the one who does everything through all of us. We are mere puppets in the hands of the puppeteer, the Divine. Our duty is limited to doing the role that has been...

WHO IS THE DOER? – SUMMARY DIVINE DISCOURSE ON 6TH OCTOBER 2016

When you are born, you are born as the children of immortality. But because of the influence of worldliness around you, you become infused with worldly poison. This is the essence of all sacred texts. A-mruta – that which does not die. For all that is moving, there has to be an immovable base or foundation. Being born, living and dying is a movement, Chala. But something is there on which all this is based upon and that is Achala – immovable. All of us are living in this illusion that we are somebody else having put on a different makeup. The Brahman is clouded by the Bhrama. But for all this, there is one permanent basis. It is the same person who has donned so many costumes and therefore, for all these characters, there is only one person who is the basis.

There are screens with projections in this auditorium. As the programme progresses, the screen keeps changing. But once the programme is over and everything is switched off, the screen becomes only the screen; it has no projections on it. There is not a trace of either Sreenivas or Badrinarayan or Narasimha Murthy on the screen. On the screen of Atma, which is right within us, the projections of these worldly lives are going on. There are scenes in life – some are happy, sorrowful, pleasurable or painful – all these scenes are constantly playing on this screen of the Atman. Therefore, all that is changing is not real. To watch the cinema, to watch these projections, which are moving, an immovable screen is a must. Without that, it is not possible. In the same way, the Atman is present, which forms the basis, the fundamental truth of all our existence. But it remains unseen because...

How to increase attachment to the Self or Atman? – Summary of Divine Discourse on 05 October 2016

A bubble is born out of water, it floats in water and ultimately merges into the same water. Man is like the bubble and God is the water. This is the word of Truth, word of Sai.

With all these five senses or faculties, I am experiencing myself and the world around me, which seems to be full of differences. Even though I am born out of my mother and father, I am different from them as I see. Therefore, wherever we see, we are only seeing difference. How then can we say that all this difference is only one? If a man of wisdom is able to see oneness in all the differences that exist, then the only way to understand what is being said is to become a person of wisdom. It is because of some limitations that we are unable to understand and experience these sacred words of the Upanishads. When a man looks at his own reflection and recognises it as his own reflection, he is happy and goes on admiring it. However, say in the bathroom where there is no light, if you suddenly see some reflection in the mirror you may assume it to be somebody else in the room. You get afraid thinking that there is somebody else inside the room because you are unaware of the reflection in the darkness. This fear is arising out of ignorance or darkness. So, if you switch on the light and see that the refection is yours in the mirror, you become free of this ignorance and thereby of the fear.

The whole world is reflection, reaction, resound. All around us what we see is nothing but our own reflection. The source of it all is God. And you are all like mirrors reflecting Him. But sometimes, this reflection is not clear because there is darkness. Or there is a defect – the mirror is covered with a cloth or dust. So, we are unable to see the reflection clearly. This leads....