Sri Sathya Sai Sharadaniketanam, Mandya – February 18 And 19, 2021

 During Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai’s visit to the Mandya campus in November 2020, Sadguru had also visited the Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple in Melkote. There, He had blessed the priests and promised that He would offer a gold-plated Suryamandala for the Rathasaptami festival in February 2021. Therefore on 18 February 2021, along with some guests, students and staff Sadguru embarked on a two-day visit to Mandya, Melkote and Mysore.

On Thursday 18 February, Sadguru departed from Muddenahalli by helicopter and landed at Sri Sathya Sai Sharadaniketanam, Mandya at 10:30 a.m. He was lovingly welcomed by the students and staff of the campus with a grand procession and guard of honour. Sadguru proceeded to the prayer hall, ‘Sai Hrudayam’, where after Bhajans, the music group offered a bouquet of songs. The gathering was then welcomed by Sri Shashank Narayana, Warden of Sri Sathya Sai Sathya Niketanam, Hassan campus. After an invocatory chant of the sannyāsa sūktam, four students expressed their gratitude to Sadguru and shared their learnings from the parāvidyā classes and expressed their readiness to serve in Sadguru‘s mission and to follow His words.

Sadguru then answered a few questions asked by the students and then went on to explain the vision behind the introduction of the Gurukula system of education and the NIOS system.

Emphasising the importance of being in good company, Sadguru expanded on the examples of the Pandavas and Duryodhana. Commanding the students to develop good habits which would make their present and future life strong, positive and sublime, Sadguru concluded by saying that by becoming a good and selfless servant of society, anyone can become like Him.

In the evening, Satsang was held at the Dhyana Mantapam in the majestic Lord Shiva temple. After a few Bhajans, the Music Department of the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence presented devotional songs in Kannada, by various saints of Karnataka. Sadguru then spoke about the teachings of Adi Shankaracharya in the Viveka Chudamani and expanded on the importance of sense control. Narrating the examples of five animals who lose their lives due to lack of control of one sense, Sadguru cautioned that human beings must be very careful as they possess all five senses. He said that before doing anything, one must always ask whether the action will take one closer to God or away from God. Sadguru spoke further on the topics of viveka and vairāgya and thereafter received Mangala Arati before retiring for dinner.

The next morning on 19 February, the students and staff gathered for a special prayer session as they chanted Suprabhatam in front of Sadguru’s residence. Sadguru granted Darshan to all of them from the balcony and then descended down at 6 a.m. Speaking to the students, Sadguru guided them on choosing the right path saying that if one chooses the right path, one reaches the right destination. Sadguru spoke about the festival of ‘Rathasaptami’ and referring to the movements of the Sun, explained that jñāna mārga is like moving in a helicopter whereas, bhakti mārga and karma mārga are like moving in a car. Therefore, it is jñāna mārga that will take one to the final destination quickly.

After interacting with the students, at 6:30 a.m Sadguru proceeded to Melkote by helicopter.

 

Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, Melkote And Mysore– February 19, 2021

Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai arrived at Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple at Melkote by 7 a.m and as the first rays of the morning sun on the auspicious day of Rathasaptami or Surya Jayanti touched the feet of the utsava mūrti, special pūjā was performed to the Swarnaprabha Vahanam. Thereafter, the murti was placed on the Vahanam and drawn in a grand procession. Sadguru then went inside the Sanctum Sanctorum for Darshan of the main sannidhi and then departed to Mysore.

In the evening at around 5 p.m, everyone gathered for a Satsang at the home of Professor J Shashidhara Prasad, former Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prashanti Nilayam. After a few Bhajans and songs by the music group, the grand-daughter of Professor Shashidhara Prasad offered a devotional song on Goddess Lakshmi at Sadguru’s feet. When Sadguru asked the little girl as to what she would ask for if the Goddess came to her home, she responded saying that she would not ask for anything. This made Sadguru very happy and He said that the dearest of devotees are those who ask for God only for God’s sake. He explained that just as democracy is for the people, by the people and of the people, in the same way, spirituality is for God, by God and of God.

Sadguru then concluded the session and after interacting with a few devotees, retired for the evening.

 

Mysore And Mandya – February 20, 2021

On the morning of 20 February, Sadguru proceeded to the home of Brother Sai Manohar who is currently serving as a site engineer at the Sri Sathya Sai Vaniniketanam, Gadag. Sadguru spent precious moments with all the family members and after blessing them all profusely, departed to Sri Sathya Sai Gokulam, a dairy products company founded by alumnus Sri H N Prashanth.

After a grand welcome by Sri Prashanth, and his family, Sadguru inaugurated the company factory. Various homas had been underway and Sadguru then performed the pūrṇāhuti before inaugurating the office space and spending precious moments with Sri Prashanth and family. Sadguru then blessed all the workers and staff of the factory and all the devotees who had gathered. Speaking to all the devotees, Sadguru emphasised the importance of working for dharma and not for money or fame. He said that if one works for dharma, all else automatically follows. Sadguru also guided on a collaboration of Sri Sathya Sai Gokulam with the Saisure initiative of the Annapoorna Trust. After speaking to the family and guiding them on how to proceed further, Sadguru partook lunch and then departed back to Mandya campus, reaching around 12 p.m.

After a brief rest at the campus, Sadguru then spent a few moments with the staff and students. Promising to return after two months, Sadguru then departed by helicopter at 4 p.m and returned to Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli at 4:45 p.m.