“God Is The Only Real Friend” Can fleeting connections on the face of the planet, be it within the family circle or beyond, be termed as ‘Relationships’? Deluded he is, man often claims to such connections, claiming them to be real. How often he gets it wrong, that sooner or later a gentle tap comes from the Greater Heaven, telling him that, ‘He and He Alone Is The Real Friend, and None Else’. In the case of Ms Vibha, she was infinitely  blessed to hear the same from The Lord Supreme, Who chose to educate her with the message in person. Read on an interesting episode as narrated by Ms Vibha Gajjar from Nasik, alumna at SSSIHL, from the batch of 1978-81. This article is extracted from the 95th Birthday release, Sai Samipyam, by the 1978-81 batch of alumnae at SSSIHL, Anantapur Campus. “Every child born into the world brings a message from God that he is not yet discouraged with man”. – Rabindranath Tagore. After graduation, I did my B. Ed and worked as a teacher in Swami’s Primary school. I was thrilled and grateful to be back; it was like a homecoming. To be again near Swami’s physical presence and have His Darshans, one could ask for nothing more. Being a teacher at Swami’s Institution was a different experience altogether. Swami loved His students of Primary School, and it was a treat to watch Him interact with them. God is Love, and I was one of the lucky recipients of His Love. During that time, Swami had graciously agreed to perform the wedding of a friend of mine in the interview room. Swami had asked him to give Him the number of guests that would be attending. My friend graciously included me in that list. On the day of the wedding, everyone was ushered in, with Swami coming in last as usual. All were seated, and Swami too sat in His chair. He surveyed the room, looking at everyone who had come in. When His ‘gaze’ fell on me, He immediately asked, “Tum idhar kya karta hai?” (What are you doing here?) I was taken aback, caught unawares. My heart sank. “Kya rishta hai?” (How are you related?). I feebly muttered, “Friend, Swami.” My friend too said the same thing. Swami started emphatically nodding His Head and said: “God Is The Only Real Friend; no one (else) is a friend. When there is money everyone is a friend; when there is no money, no one is a friend.” That is something (this priceless message) I have never forgotten. Well, He kindly let me stay for the ceremony. He has been my  Friend and my Confidant all my life; nothing is ever hidden from Him. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

God’s Address A true devotee with conviction in the deep heart will repeat most optimistically that ‘He has seen God and He lives in Prasanthi Nilayam’. The same devotee when he climbs ladders of higher spiritual realms will vouch that ‘God Is Everywhere’. Is anyone interested in knowing The Address Of God? Once in Prasanthi Nilayam Bhagawan engaged His students in this topic, finally validating His OmniPresence. Read on Dr PV Shankar from the United States dwelling on the same. Extracted from his preface for the recently released book ‘Sai Antarvani’. One evening in Prasanthi Nilayam, Beloved Bhagawan asked the students – “Is there anyone here interested to know God’s Address?” Many hands went up. Swami pointed to a boy who did not raise his hands – “Hey, aren’t you interested?” “Swami, I am already in the Abode of God that is You”, the boy replied. “But just this morning you fought with your roommate in the hostel? You also felt sad and bitter that your best friend deceived you? Does God’s Abode resemble such chaos and sadness?” Then in general, He addressed the students – “You should not resort to sycophancy by trying to please Me with flowery words. I Am not impressed by your calling Me God which I already Am. Life is meant to realise your Innate Divinity.” Then He magnanimously said – “I will give you the address of God – “Yatcha Kinchit Jagat Sarvam, Drishyate Sruyate Pi Va, Antar Bahischa Tat Sarvam, Vyapya Narayana Stithah”, meaning Narayana manifests in all that is seen or heard in the world both inside and outside. Sathya Narayana permeates all the directions, above, below, inside, outside of you.” Omnipresence is God’s personal signature or Swabha̅va. Narayana is not a name given to a Hindu God by a segment of humanity. It refers to One Who leads mankind or Nara on a flight or ayana towards its own True Self. Being deeply embedded beneath the layers of the Antahkarana consisting of Manas, Buddhi, Chitta and Ahankara – the internal organs of mind, intellect, memory and ego, man is unaware of the perennial fount of bliss which is his innate nature and seeks it outside of him in sensual gratification. Bhagawan often teaches in the simplest of terms that when the nayana or eyes well up with the nara or waters of sublime devotion, we attain Narayana. God’s Omnipresence transcends time and space and He manifests anywhere anytime in any form whenever humanity prays to Him fervently. His Darshan, Sparshan and Sambhashan meaning Vision, Touch and Speech are not limited to the physical sphere alone. He penetrates the subconscious and grants spiritual instructions to deserving people in their dream. He shows Himself in high mountains to ascetics absorbed in deep meditation. Unlike mortals who someday die and are quickly forgotten, He vividly lives in the thoughts and imagination of devotees – even those who have never ever seen Him in person, ages after He discarded His physical form. Isn’t this testimony that He rules Time beyond birth and death? And in these myriad planes of existence, He continues to guide mankind through Upadeshas and Anubhutis, spiritual discourses and experiences. As I look back in time, I see a definitive pattern in my spiritual evolution. I began my search for God looking for Him outside of me and my roving mind led me away from myself till I was lost in the labyrinthine crowded corridors of life. At such times, He drew me physically so close to Him that I could smell His Divine fragrance and even touch His silken hair. Endearingly, He led me into personal discourses that had been preludes to what was to follow in the course of time. But when my search for Him turned inward, especially after He left His physical form and left me with no option other than ‘look within’, His discourses assumed a totally esoteric dimension mostly in the form of inner promptings. I am being trained by Him to still my thoughts to be able to listen to His Voice from within – His Antar Vani in the stillness of my Being. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the Indweller of my heart and I do not see Him as different from myself. I am He and that is more felt and experienced than merely expressed in words. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Twin Beauties Of Suvarna Rathotsavam and Jhoola Mahotsavam On The Birthday Evening… Two traditional festive events, Golden Chariot Procession followed by the grandeur of Jhoola Mahotsavam (swing festival) marked the evening session of the 95th Birthday celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam today. A musical bouquet by the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan Group coincided the Jhoola Mahotsavam. The symbolic Golden Chariot Procession commenced at 1700 hrs from the ‘Ganesha’, escorting The Lord in His OmniPresent form on the Golden Chariot to the accompaniment of Vedam and Bhajans. Following the pandemic norms and regulations, a sizeable number of devotees participated in the procession that did circumambulate the Prasanthi Mandir precincts, finally reaching the venue in 40 mts at Sai Kulwant Hall. Mangala Arathi to the Lord marked the end of the chariot procession. Twilight was slowly setting in, and a well lit up Sai Kulwant slowly turned reminiscent of the nostalgic beauty of the golden-olden beauty of the magical Divine Presence of Bhagawan. With a packed hall of devotees awaiting with heartfelt prayers, with every single eye glued to the centre-stage where the blue-hued jhoola adorned by The Lord Supreme turned swinging and swaying, the blessed folk of Prasanthi Music boys took the next over 75 minutes serenading The Lord singing paeans at The Lord and Master Supreme. The musical began with the soulfully lilting melodies illustrating the ever fresh and eternally illustrious Sai Katha, The Story Of His Story! Imagine cradling the Little Baby Divine on the Jhoola singing the famously heart-wrenching, soul-stirring Prasanthi’s own lullaby song, “Enni Janmala…” The evening had this and much more. After the initial phase of epochal Sai Katha, the session then meandered into a collective composition of selected melodies that Bhagawawn in His physical presence would ever relish, appreciate and acknowledge. Anandam Tava Darshanam…, Mere To Giridhara Gopal (Mira Bhajan), Bantureethi Koluvu…, the famous Carnatic number of St Thyagaraja, Madhura Mohana Gana Shyama…, Saranam Saranam Saranam Saranam Sai Saranam…, Sai Tere Naam Ki… a qawwali, to the ‘grand finale’ piece of the evening musical, summing up the quintessence of the Sri Sathya Sai Avatar praying for one and all, in all the worlds, for all the beings, resonating ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’!!! Interspersed commentary in English served added flavour to the ‘beauty beyond compare’ presentation. Discipline is the hallmark of success, it is said. Indeed, it is this disciplined duty bound devotion of Prasanthi Nilayam that made this day a true grandeur, celebrating the anniversary of The Divine Advent in blissful spirit. A capacity audience sat through the session with disciplined devotion, strictly adhering to the social distancing norms. Bhajans continued, and prasadam distribution went on. Mangala Arathi at 1920 hrs brought the curtains down for the eventful day. Truly, November 23 keeps smiling the smile on and on, for, this ‘chosen day’ has been ‘infinitised’ by the Lord Supreme, in His truest benevolence for the humanity and the creation at large, in His resolve to make every single devotee happy, celebrating His ‘BirthDay’. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

When ‘November 23′ smiled a smile yet again… The Day that became the most important of all other festive days for the Sai fraternity has come again… November 23!In the tiny hamlet of Puttaparthi then, on this Day over 94 Novembers ago, the village folks were chanting the holy names of Lord Siva acknowledging that the Day was a Monday of the holy month of Karthika devoted to the sacred worship of Lord Siva. That Day was even more auspicious because the ascendant star was Ardra! Adding to the mysterious grandeur, the year was Akshaya, the “never declining, the ever-full!” November 23, 1926, smiled a smile ever so beatific, It could scarcely believe it’s sublime destiny, That it would enjoy a place upon the pages of His Story… …from the mighty tree of time…a tiny sprig … …now to be renowned as a blessed obelisk, On that sacred Monday at 05:06 hrs, Myriad angels did euphorically exclaim, For, That ‘Blue Shimmer’…immaculate and pure, That most sacred energy radiating sheer azure, Which had selected the womb of Eashwaramma, …to tenderly hold It and endure, To be revered as His Griham Ammayi forevermore, At this exact moment added significance to all existence, That Transcendental Sankalpa willed an Appearance, A Divine Birth! The Epochal Divine Advent!! Advent Sri Sathya Sai!!! The corresponding Gregorian calendar date for this epochal ‘Advent’ was the most blessed November 23, in the year 1926! Today, when the same Gregorian calendar turns to November 23, Puttaparthi, the village that did penance, and Prasanthi Nilayam, the cosmic hub of everlasting spiritual evolution, are upbeat in welcoming the EverPresent, OmniPresent Cosmic Master, as tradition would have it, celebrating the Day in a devotional frenzy. For the past over a week, sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam precincts were lit with a brilliant fusion of colourful light, a heralding sign of the imminence of The Day! On the Birthday morning, the Sanctum Sanctorum in the Sai Kulwant Hall bore aesthetically woven colour-stud decorations. The session commenced at 0830 hrs, after half-an-hour Vedic incantations, with the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan group presenting a magical spell of musical melodies to The Supreme Guru, SadhGuru Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. The 55-minutes session next scored soulful thematic tunes of Sri Sathya Sai Avatara Vaibhavam mixed with a pack of resolutions, self-reminders and Birthday Greetings, presented in a mix of Telugu, Hindi and English. A soulful devotional The 55-minutes session next scored soulful thematic tunes of Sri Sathya Sai Avatara Vaibhavam mixed with a pack of resolutions, self-reminders, and Birthday Greetings, presented in a mix of Telugu, Hindi, and English. A soulful devotional treat for the hundreds assembled and for those hundreds of thousands attending via virtual media. The musical numbers included Avarinchuda Anuthallo, Jyoti Jalayenge Hum…, Jai Jai SaiRam… Jai Jai SaiRam…, Omkaramoola Bheejaya Shivaya Paramatmane…, Pyare Saieee Hamare…., We Love You, Baba!!!…Happy BirthDay To You!!!, a riveting Carnatic Thillana song to conclude with Prasanthi’s evergreen Qawwali, Sai Ke Darbar Mein. Sri SS Naganand, Trustee, SSSCT, presented the activity report of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust for the year ending March 2020 next. Various exemplary activities in the field of educare, medicare and sociocare were listed out along with a mention on the Ashram developments with an eye on the centenary celebration of Bhagawan, coming in five years. A new initiative of setting up a Sri Sathya Sai Global Council to monitor and guide the activities of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, both India and worldwide, under the supervision and guidance of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, was placed at His Lotus Feet during the occasion. This proposed body will have its headquarters in Prasanthi Nilayam and is expected to function from Guru Purnima 2021. A Multimedia Museum in Brindavan, Whitefield, Bengaluru, and a new Convention Centre at Prasanthi Nilayam, both in the final stage of completion, along with the newly uplifted and rechristened Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre, formerly Radio Sai, were the other highlights of Sri Naganand’s speech. Referring to the pandemic that has been causing havoc for the past over eight months, Sri Naganand stressed on seeing the positive outcome of the same, turning one’s vision inward, seeing Bhagawan within. He ended his talk reciting selected quotes from Adi Shankara’s Nirvana Shatakam.  Divine Benedictory Address followed next, aired on the public address system. Bhagawan spoke on the need to follow His teachings, following the path of Love, eschewing bad traits. He exhorted the audience to sacrifice animalities at His Feet, sans any excuse of procrastination. ‘Hari Bhajana Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin…’ in His mellifluous Divine voice brought the Divine discourse to an end. With bhajans in the backdrop, prasadam distribution continued. Mangala Arathi at 10:25 hrs marked the end of the morning proceedings. The venue, Sai Kulwant Hall, was full with a capacity audience, who assembled following the prevailing social distancing norms. The blessed November 23 keeps smiling, smiling the most blissful smile, and so does sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam along with the millions, billions and gazillions of devout souls from all over the globe and beyond. The grand Mission Sri Sathya Sai Is On…!!! II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

When ‘November 23′ smiled a smile yet again… The Day that became the most important of all other festive days for the Sai fraternity has come again… November 23!In the tiny hamlet of Puttaparthi then, on this Day over 94 Novembers ago, the village folks were chanting the holy names of Lord Siva acknowledging that the Day was a Monday of the holy month of Karthika devoted to the sacred worship of Lord Siva. That Day was even more auspicious because the ascendant star was Ardra! Adding to the mysterious grandeur, the year was Akshaya, the “never declining, the ever-full!” November 23, 1926, smiled a smile ever so beatific, It could scarcely believe it’s sublime destiny, That it would enjoy a place upon the pages of His Story… …from the mighty tree of time…a tiny sprig … …now to be renowned as a blessed obelisk, On that sacred Monday at 05:06 hrs, Myriad angels did euphorically exclaim, For, That ‘Blue Shimmer’…immaculate and pure, That most sacred energy radiating sheer azure, Which had selected the womb of Eashwaramma, …to tenderly hold It and endure, To be revered as His Griham Ammayi forevermore, At this exact moment added significance to all existence, That Transcendental Sankalpa willed an Appearance, A Divine Birth! The Epochal Divine Advent!! Advent Sri Sathya Sai!!! The corresponding Gregorian calendar date for this epochal ‘Advent’ was the most blessed November 23, in the year 1926! Today, when the same Gregorian calendar turns to November 23, Puttaparthi, the village that did penance, and Prasanthi Nilayam, the cosmic hub of everlasting spiritual evolution, are upbeat in welcoming the EverPresent, OmniPresent Cosmic Master, as tradition would have it, celebrating the Day in a devotional frenzy. For the past over a week, sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam precincts were lit with a brilliant fusion of colourful light, a heralding sign of the imminence of The Day! On the Birthday morning, the Sanctum Sanctorum in the Sai Kulwant Hall bore aesthetically woven colour-stud decorations. The session commenced at 0830 hrs, after half-an-hour Vedic incantations, with the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan group presenting a magical spell of musical melodies to The Supreme Guru, SadhGuru Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. The 55-minutes session next scored soulful thematic tunes of Sri Sathya Sai Avatara Vaibhavam mixed with a pack of resolutions, self-reminders and Birthday Greetings, presented in a mix of Telugu, Hindi and English. A soulful devotional The 55-minutes session next scored soulful thematic tunes of Sri Sathya Sai Avatara Vaibhavam mixed with a pack of resolutions, self-reminders, and Birthday Greetings, presented in a mix of Telugu, Hindi, and English. A soulful devotional treat for the hundreds assembled and for those hundreds of thousands attending via virtual media. The musical numbers included Avarinchuda Anuthallo, Jyoti Jalayenge Hum…, Jai Jai SaiRam… Jai Jai SaiRam…, Omkaramoola Bheejaya Shivaya Paramatmane…, Pyare Saieee Hamare…., We Love You, Baba!!!…Happy BirthDay To You!!!, a riveting Carnatic Thillana song to conclude with Prasanthi’s evergreen Qawwali, Sai Ke Darbar Mein. Sri SS Naganand, Trustee, SSSCT, presented the activity report of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust for the year ending March 2020 next. Various exemplary activities in the field of educare, medicare and sociocare were listed out along with a mention on the Ashram developments with an eye on the centenary celebration of Bhagawan, coming in five years. A new initiative of setting up a Sri Sathya Sai Global Council to monitor and guide the activities of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, both India and worldwide, under the supervision and guidance of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, was placed at His Lotus Feet during the occasion. This proposed body will have its headquarters in Prasanthi Nilayam and is expected to function from Guru Purnima 2021. A Multimedia Museum in Brindavan, Whitefield, Bengaluru, and a new Convention Centre at Prasanthi Nilayam, both in the final stage of completion, along with the newly uplifted and rechristened Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre, formerly Radio Sai, were the other highlights of Sri Naganand’s speech. Referring to the pandemic that has been causing havoc for the past over eight months, Sri Naganand stressed on seeing the positive outcome of the same, turning one’s vision inward, seeing Bhagawan within. He ended his talk reciting selected quotes from Adi Shankara’s Nirvana Shatakam.  Divine Benedictory Address followed next, aired on the public address system. Bhagawan spoke on the need to follow His teachings, following the path of Love, eschewing bad traits. He exhorted the audience to sacrifice animalities at His Feet, sans any excuse of procrastination. ‘Hari Bhajana Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin…’ in His mellifluous Divine voice brought the Divine discourse to an end. With bhajans in the backdrop, prasadam distribution continued. Mangala Arathi at 10:25 hrs marked the end of the morning proceedings. The venue, Sai Kulwant Hall, was full with a capacity audience, who assembled following the prevailing social distancing norms. The blessed November 23 keeps smiling, smiling the most blissful smile, and so does sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam along with the millions, billions and gazillions of devout souls from all over the globe and beyond. The grand Mission Sri Sathya Sai Is On…!!! II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

O! `TIS… What does a birthday signify to the human folk?…, and if it is The Divine BirthDay, then how does it connect to the folks who claim to belong to That Supreme One, Whose ‘Advent’ they celebrate with devotional frenzy? Every single devotee reserves freedom to view and celebrate such an occasion sans any reservation, in his/her own style. …And so was Karunasri, Sri Jandhyala Pappaya Sastry, a Telugu poet of eminence. Karunasri’s poetic imagination on His Advent decades ago had excelled to that exalted level that, Prof Kasturi had compelled himself to translate the same from Telugu into English, for ‘Sanathana Sarathi’. Read on a beautiful poetic version of The Advent Day magic of The Ultimate Divine!!!!!! When we bring to mind, just once The delight that Baba gives, O `Tis soft as mother’s clasp; O `Tis cool as silken moonlight; O `Tis thrilling, as when Siva within Dances His Cosmic Play. When Baba nears a step to us O `Tis Kailasa calling silver sweet; O ‘Tis Heaven showering solar rays O `Tis temple’s open door Widening and welcoming joy. O `Tis the Lord calling children Home. When Baba stands a moment Before your stricken frame O `Tis the lunar orb your palm does hold; O ‘Tis a hundred paradise parks Scattering beauteous scent Through a million jasmine jars. When Baba opens His lips and speaks O `Tis the lilt of lovely gems of Love O `Tis the Trumpet blast of Victory O `Tis the nectar the flute did rain On cowherds’ ears by Yamuna‘s holy stream O `Tis melody infilling the core. Touch The Lotus Feet but faintly ­O The vine of Love doth bloom in bunches Your heart doth feel the ecstasy Of sacred Alakananda bath O `Tis a gift of gold, galore O `Tis Ganga pure from icy skies. When Mother Sai gifts a lovely smile O ‘Tis Full Moon all around O `Tis Prasanthi Nilayam, where you are In Divine Charm, effulgent, grand; O `Tis floral shower from the Host of Gods O `Tis Angel Spring refreshing Earth and Sky. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II