Saturday, Nov 23 2024
THE
GLORY OF THE POOJA MAHOTSAV MIRACLE
It was a feast to watch hundreds of people of different
religions, castes and creeds in addition to different
nationalities gathered at Ujjain to perform a variety
of Pujas with sincerity and devotion. This was made
possible by H.H. Sri Saidas Babaji, who with his infinite
love and grace, gave devotees the opportunity to witness
and participate in the Puja Mahotsav, the first of its
kind in Ujjain, India, which took place between Nov.10
and Nov.17, 1997.
Devotees from around the world were lodged in a wide
range of hotels around the city. All were picked up
personally by volunteers from airports, train stations,
etc. Excellent transportation arrangements were provided
to devotees from their hotels to Dharmshala and Prashanti
Dham grounds. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served
at Mahakal Dharmshala which is about 8 miles from Prashanti
Dham. Commendable arrangements for pujas were made at
the Prashanti Dham grounds with huge vented tents erected
and carpeted for the comfort of devotees. Life size
pictures of Shirdi Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Baba, Sri Saidas
Baba ji and many other deities were placed on stage.
Prashanti Dham, on the banks of Kshipra river, the site
of Baba’s future Ashram, was where all the pujas
were performed, while Mahakal Dharamshala hosted all
cultural and evening functions in its huge auditorium.
For the Pujas, seating arrangements were made for couples
with a complete set of items required for each specific
puja. The items included a silver idol of the deity
to which the puja was being performed, and other accessories
like a lamp, fruits, flowers, turmeric, kumkum, etc.
The Puja Committee did a wonderful job in making arrangements
in spite of limited time between pujas.
The Utsav began on Monday with Suprabhatham and Nagarsankeertan
followed by Ganapathi Puja and Homam. Hanuman Chalisa,
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba's Paduka Abhishek and Puja were
performed on Tuesday. Devotees were given idols of Hanuman
and Sri Shirdi Sai Baba's padukas after the puja for
future worship in their home shrines. That evening was
the spectacular Krishna-Tulasi wedding ceremony, every
bit of which devotees enjoyed witnessing. Sri Saidas
Babaji was very cheerful, as always, with his radiant
smile, swinging and dancing to the music of auspicious
moments in the ceremony. The Nadaswaram troupe brought
out their best to match the mood of the function and
Baba's dance. It was a moment to watch!
Priests of high caliber were invited to perform Mahachandi
Yagna on the following day. Many large pits (Homa Gundams)
were constructed inside the tents to perform the Yagna.
The Yagna continued for three days and finally ended
with Purnahuthi on the third day. A large variety of
offerings were made to the fire including different
foods, stones and gems, and even clothes. Devotees were
given the opportunity to go around the fire pit and
make offerings personally.
The highlight of the Chandi Yagna was the presence
of heads of other spiritual centres in India. These
included H. H. Jagatguru Sri Bala Ganga Dhara Nath Mahaswamiji
from Sri Adi Chunchunagiri Maha Sansthan, H.H. Sri Sri
Sri Shivapuri Mahaswami from Omkar Ashram Bangalore,
H.H. Sri Sri Sri Vivekananda Mahaswamiji from Sri Kaveri
Sansthanam, H.H. Sri Karnic Babaji, H.H.Sri Dabral Babaji,
and a representative of H.H. Satguru Sri Sai Kumar Babaji
from Hyderabad.
It was a magnificent scene to have Darshan of so many
divine souls under one roof on the sacred Bhoorni. A
breathtaking miracle happened on the second day of the
Yagna when one of the Swamijis broke a coconut and observed
the unusual growth of the kernel in the shape of Lord
Ganesha on the outside and that of Lord Shiva in the
form of a Lingam inside the fruit. His interpretation
of it was that even the Gods were happy with the ongoing
yagna. What else would anybody ask for when they witness
such a miracle in front of their eyes.
While the Chandi Yagna was being performed, preparations
were being made for the Sahasra Kalasha Abhisheka of
Lord Venkateshwara. The ritual began with bringing in
the idols of Lord Venkatashwara, Sridevi and Bhudevi
from Madras after performing preparatory pujas for their
pratishtan. The pujas included soaking the idols in
cracked wheat, water, flowers, etc. Sahasra Kalasabhishekam
which means pouring water on to the idols from a thousand
and eight pots was done methodically by the priests
who were specifically invited from Tirupathi, the Abode
of Lord Venkateshwara.
The Abhishek was followed by Venkateshwara Kalyanam
(marriage) which was another event that devotees enjoyed
participating to the fullest extent. The most prominent
part of this divine wedding was the 'baraat'. The idols
were brought to the stage with music and dance and the
wedding was performed with all the grandeur. In the
evening, there was Sahasradeeparadhana, in which everyone
had a chance to light a lamp out of a thousand offered
to Lord Venkateshwara. That was a special day called
Karthik Poornima, an auspicious day to light a lamp.
This was followed by Unjal seva, swinging the Lord in
a decorated swing. What was even more delightful was
a special surprise program for Babaji & Sri Manojji
organized by the volunteer group. They burst crackers
and sang songs like Akhanda Jyothi Jalao that Babaji
likes the most and invited Him to light the lamp. The
atmosphere on the day was full of joy and ecstasy.
There were bhajans, and discourses by Babaji on the
evenings of the first couple of days of the Mahotsav.
There were various music and dance programs by both
local and national artists. Babaji also honoured many
people who had devoted themselves to this occasion both
physically and financially. The generosity of Babaji
is evident from the fact that he presented gifts in
the form of clothes to children and adults.
On the last day was the Punya Vitharan by Babaji which
is distributing his Punyam acquired through penance,
yagna and other means, to everyone who participated
in the utsav. There was nobody in the auditorium who
was not shedding tears when Babaji washed the fruits
of his penance into a bowl. the water from which was
sprinkled on everyone in the room. Babaji also gave
an emotional message that he will be with us forever
and will guide and protect us. He also said that Sri
Manoj will continue His tasks after Him and that He
will make His presence felt through Sri Manoj. Babaji
blessed one and all with the same smile filled with
abundant love and affection. How can we pay tribute
to Babaji for arranging such an event and make us partake
the divine fruits of His wisdom? On behalf of everyone
who attended the function, I express my humble pranams,
sincere gratitude and thanks to Babaji for showering
His love, Divinity and the grand treatment at the Mahotsav.
Sai Ram!
Sis Sujatha Anant
'Sai Dham' Long Island, New York,
USA
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