Divine Visit to Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Post Graduate Department - February 28, 2021
On February 28, 2021 Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai arrived at the Vidya Deep building at 10:30 a.m. to bless the classes for the Post Graduate students and also the classes for Bachelor of Vedic Studies. Sadguru was reverentially welcomed with Vedic chants by the University Vedic students.
He proceeded towards the prayer hall where melodious bhajans were sung in glory of the Lord. There was a welcome address by Dr. T. Venugopal, Director of PG Studies. This was followed by a talk by student, Prem Sai, who spoke about his journey to the spiritual abode of Sadguru. Thereafter, Sri B N Narasimha Murthy reiterated on the role of students and teachers in the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence. Sadguru too continued on that note envisaging and outlining their roles in Swami’s mission. He also emphasised that every student must be adept at both para and apara vidya. Sadguru then visited all the classrooms and also blessed the Future Ready Academy which imparts Training and Leadership programmes in order to train and groom students and staff for their roles in the organisation. After which, He partook lunch with the students, staff and guests and after profusely blessing them all, departed to Premdeep.
Divine Visit to Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam Hostel – February 06, 2021
February 6, 2021 was a memorable day for the students of Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam. Their beloved Lord, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai visited their hostel on this day. The students had enthusiastically spruced up the entire hostel to prepare for the visit of their Swami.
Swami reached the hostel at 10 am. He was welcomed with Poornakumbham (a sacred pot filled with holy water) and a procession of students chanting the vedas. Sadguru walked in to the prayer hall which was reverberating with melodious bhajans sung by the students. The welcome address was delivered by Bro. Manmith S.M. from the tenth grade. This was followed by Vedic invocation and Guru Ashtakam composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya chanted by the students.
The principal of the institution, Sri Balraju R addressed the gathering. He spoke of how fortunate he was to be in Sadguru’s presence. He also expressed immense gratitude to Sadguru for saving his daughter from a major accident.
After his talk, the music group took over the stage. They presented soul stirring songs starting with Bharatha Desa Hitaya composed by Swami Dayananda Saraswathi that celebrates seva (service) to the country and its fellowmen. The next song, Manava Seva Madhava Seva was all about seva (service) and prema (love). With yet another song dedicated to beloved Sadguru, Deva Bandhanamma, the students expressed their joy and fortune of being with Him.
Bro. Pranav Kashyap spoke about his learnings after becoming an intern at the institution. Bro. Darshan Gowda from the tenth grade spoke about his journey with Sadguru and how he was a beneficiary of the Lord’s compassion. Bro. Yuvraj Verma from grade six spoke about his experience with Sadguru and shared how indebted he was to be a proud beneficiary of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital, Palwal.
Following the students’ speeches, Sri B N Narasimha Murthy, Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, took to the stage and spoke about how Sadguru is leading everyone to adhyatmika swatantra (freedom from distress of the body and the mind). He drew the students’ attention to the current plight of India where the number of malnourished children is exceptionally high and emphasised to the students that they must realise their duty towards serving their motherland.
Sadguru began His divine discourse with the story of King Ranthideva of Mahabharata who prayed for strength to remove the sufferings of all. Sadguru said that this is the kind of selfless prayer that must be on everyone’s lips. He said that kuru seva (service to country and fellowmen) is very important.
Sadguru then delighted all the students by visiting their rooms. He partook lunch with the guests, staff and students, distributed ice-cream to all and returned to Prem Deep by 01:00 pm.
Inauguration of Department of Music and Divine Visit to Sri Sathya Sai Pre-University College, Muddenahalli - February 02, 2021
Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai arrived at the newly constructed Department of Music, Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli on February 02, 2021. He glided gracefully on the aesthetically designed lawn leading to the department.
Sadguru inaugurated the Department of Music as everyone looked on happily. Inside the music room, He lit the ceremonial lamp in the presence of Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of learning, music, art & speech). The Faculty and music students gathered for an intimate Satsang with Sadguru. He asked the Faculty of violin to play a Carnatic composition. After which, He commanded the students to present a few kritis, 'Saraswati namostute' and 'Tulasi dalamulache' were among the kritis sung. Following this, a Hindustani composition of Chota khyal 'Aajato Ananda anand' in the raga, Ahir Bhairav was presented.
Being the auspicious day of 'Tyagaraja Aradhana Mahotsava', Sadguru explained the life of Sri Tyagaraja and his devotion towards Lord Rama. He also spoke about the relation between society and Indian culture, how both are inter- connected and inter dependent. Sadguru expressed His wish to revive the culture of Indian society in its purest form, through music and other fine arts. After spending precious moments with everyone, Sadguru profusely blessed everyone and departed, leaving them in a state of bliss.
Following this, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai proceeded to the newly constructed salon and graciously inaugurated it.
Thereafter, Sadguru visited the Sri Sathya Sai Pre-University College at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli and inaugurated the renovated biology laboratory and the new meeting room. He visited the college library. Sadguru also visited all the classrooms and interacted with the students, taking photographs with them. After this, there was a satsang with staff, students, and guests. Bro. Anil Chandra gave the welcome address. Following this, were inspiring and interesting talks by Dr T Venugopal, Director for PG Studies, Bro. Kryshna Kreydick, Bro. Mukul, a student and Sri B N Narasimha Murthy, Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence. This was followed by the divine discourse by Sadguru. He partook lunch with students, staff and guests and departed to Prem Deep soon after.
Tyagaraja Aradhana Day - February 02, 2021
Premamrutham Hall at Satya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli, was beautifully lit up for Tyagaraja Aradhana, a musical offering by students and staff of Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam. The assembled audience of devotees eagerly awaited the arrival of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai.
Soon enough, Swami emerged wearing a glistening white robe, accompanied by His guest, Dr Nagesh V Bettakote, Vice Chancellor of Karnataka State, Dr. Gangubhai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysore and Sri B N Narasimha Murthy, the revered Chancellor of the Sri Sathya University for Human Excellence.
Swami walked among His devotees, receiving letters, and blessing them all before taking His seat facing the stage.
Dr. Sai Lakshmi introduced the honorable guest and gave the inaugural address.
The audience then viewed a video presentation of visits that Sadguru had made that morning to the Vidya Kendra and Pre-University sections of Sathya Sai Grama.
On the auspicious occasion of Tyagaraja Aradhana, the Department of Music was inaugurated and blessed by Sadguru. The music group offered before Swami a beautiful rendition of Hindustani and Carnatic music. Following this, the students and faculty of the Department of Music were blessed with special guidance from Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai.
Swami then proceeded to the Pre-University building to inaugurate the newly renovated labs and conference rooms. He also visited the library and classrooms. Swami blessed all the support staff and held Satsang in the Prayer Hall where talks were given by staff and students, after which all were blessed with Swami’s Divine Message.
Dr. Sai Lakshmi then gave a brief overview of the greatness of Saint Tyagaraja and his supreme devotion to his Aragya Devata, Sri Ramachandra, which formed the basis for his musical talents and his spiritual depth.
Brother Vijay Sai then shared his insights on the life, work, and legacy of Saint Tyagaraja.
The students and staff of Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam presented nine Tyagaraja Kritis, the longer format of Carnatic songs, that offer Saint Tyagaraja’s complete devotion to Lord Rama and are also said to contain the highest truths of Vedanta.
Then to the great delight of the audience, the curtains parted to reveal the talented group of singers and musicians who kept the audience enthralled with their beautiful renditions of Saint Tyagaraja’s devotional songs.
Picturesque illustrations accompanied by an informative and poetic narration of significant events in the life of this great icon of Indian Carnatic music and poetry enhanced the soulful experience of the evening.
At the close of the concert Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai graciously ascended the stage to bestow His blessings and gifts on the performers.
The devotees departed carrying in their hearts the memory of a supremely beautiful and devotional evening in the presence of none less than the embodiment of Lord Sri Ramachandra himself.
Divine Visit to Sri Sathya Sai Sharadaniketanam, Mandya - January 19 to 23, 2021
On January 19, 2021, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai left for Mandya from Satya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli, at around 09:30 am. The post graduate students from the University were given the opportunity to accompany Swami on this trip. Swami and His entourage reached the Mandya campus, Sri Sathya Sai Sharada Niketanam, by noon.
Sadguru was welcomed by the chairperson and other staff members at the campus. The welcome ceremony was followed by lunch, post which everyone dispersed to rest for the afternoon.
For the next few days, everyone at the campus basked in the divine proximity. There were satsangs every evening. There were also talks by students and elders. Sadguru blessed everyone present with His divine guidance on various spiritual topics,
Swami urged the tenth-grade students of the Mandya and Hassan campuses to utilise their time well and study hard for the forthcoming examinations. He laughingly reminded them that rather than putting conditions on God as to what questions should appear in the question papers during the examinations, they had to be well prepared for any question that might be asked.
He elaborated on the three gunas and their role in life quoting the example of the three brothers from the Ramayana – Vibhishana, Kumbhakarna and Ravana who embody the sattva, tamas and rajas gunas respectively. Sadguru explained how, although all the three gunas are necessary in life, one must strive to transcend them by overcoming tamas ie laziness, with rajo guna of performing actions and rajas with sattva guna.
Swami advised the post graduate students about their roles in leading the mission forward with spiritual strength or atma balam as the basis.
On the morning of January 21, 2021, Sadguru, along with the students, visited the Sri Venugopala Swamy temple built in the 13th century by the Hoysalas. This magnificent temple is an architectural marvel and is located near the backwaters of the Kaveri river. A special puja was offered to the deity. Sadguru then blessed the temple staff and workers after which He returned to Mandya in time for lunch. In the evening, He visited the upcoming hostel building which is under construction. The workers and other staff members at the site were blessed with His divine guidance.
On the evening of January 22, 2021, Swami blessed and inaugurated the newly furnished library at the campus. A wide range of books on varied topics along with a collection of digital content in the form of e-books, videos etc have been made available for the students. The library project is an initiative by the senior alumni and this model will be replicated in other campuses too.
Later that evening, there was a special puja and rudrabhishekam was offered at the Shiva temple. There was also a beautiful dance presentation by Brother Gaurav.
The next morning, January 23, 2021, Sadguru blessed all the students and staff at the campus before He took leave of them. Swami returned to Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli by noon.
