With the Divine Blessings of our Beloved Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the holy precincts of Prasanthi Nilayam resounded once again with the sacred vibrations of the Devi Navaratri and Dasara celebrations. This year, in the Centenary Year of the Advent of Bhagawan, the festivities held an added depth of spiritual significance, reminding one and all of the grand legacy of this sacred tradition that Swami Himself inaugurated in 1961 to uphold and revive the ancient Vedic Dharma.
Bhagawan initiated the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajna with the twofold purpose of rejuvenating the spiritual fervour of devotees and training the youth to carry forward the message of Vedas and scriptures. What began as a humble spiritual exercise under the immediate guidance of the Avatar has, over the decades, grown into a magnificent offering—where sacred rituals, scriptural recitations, and profound devotion blend seamlessly, uplifting every heart present.
On this auspicious morning, the celebrations began with priests offering their reverential worship in the sanctum sanctorum. The Kalasha, sanctified with Kumkuma Archana, was reverentially taken from the Bhajan Hall in a grand ceremonial procession. Accompanied by the resounding chant of powerful Vedic hymns by students and teachers from Bhagawan’s own educational institutions, the sacred vessel was carried to the Poornachandra Auditorium, the sanctified venue for the yajnam.
The sacred Agni was invoked in the traditional manner—by the churning of wooden sticks, symbolising purity of effort and the eternal truth that divinity is born of intense spiritual practice. The glowing flame was then placed into the yajna kundam, where the priests performed the Rudra Homam with solemnity and pious gaiety, invoking the grace of the Divine Mother for universal peace and welfare.
This year witnessed the inauguration of a newly designed altar for the Sahasra Lingarchanam—a strikingly beautiful and aesthetic arrangement wherein 1000 clay lingas are reverentially worshipped. This unique altar stands as a reminder of Baba’s message that the Lingam represents the formless Absolute, and its worship is the worship of the entire cosmos.
In a deeply symbolic offering, Surya Namaskar was performed reverentially before Bhagawan’s throne, a gesture signifying gratitude to the Sun God who sustains all life. As the priests conducted the Parayanam of the Ramayana, Bhagavatam, and Devi Mahatmyam, the students’ resonant chanting of the Devi Mahatmyam elevated the sanctified atmosphere into an ocean of devotion and scriptural wisdom.
The Poornachandra Auditorium was filled to capacity, reverberating with the divine energy of sacred sounds. The air was fragrant with the mingling aroma of ghee from the yajna fire, incense, and fresh flowers—carrying with it the eternal presence of Bhagawan.
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