1960
The Mahasivarathri at Prasanthi Nilayam was this year attended by a much larger crowd of devotees than usual. At 8 A.M. that day, Baba hoisted the Prasanthi Flag on top of the Mandir, and blessed the vast assemblage. Explaining the meaning of the symbol on the flag, He exhorted all to overcome the three great enemies of spiritual progress namely, desire, anger and jealousy.
At noon Mahabhishekam was performed and during the proceedings, Baba materialised a twin Lingam. In the evening, a Special Function was arranged by the readers of Sanathana Sarathi, to celebrate the completion of two years of its publication. Baba graced the occasion with His Presence. An address of Gratitude was presented to Him and poems were recited in Tamil, Telugu, English and Kannada, by T.A.Ramanatha Reddy, S.V.Rama Sarma, B.V.Raman, and N.Kasturi respectively.
The evening Bhajan began at 7 P.M. Baba, seated on a special dais gave Darshan to all. After Veda chant, Brahmasris Bairagi Sastry of Eluru and Lakshminarayana Sastry of Salem spoke on the significance of the day and of Lingathathwam [Principle of the Lingam].
Even while the speeches were on, signs of the emergence of the Lingams were evident in Baba, but nevertheless, He started His Discourse at 8.40 P.M. Meanwhile, the Lingams within Him were pressing for Manifestation. Baba interrupted His Discourse and asked that Bhajan be resumed – this happened at 9.20 P.M.
The Prayer Hall resounded to the voices of the thousands gathered therein reciting, Om Sivaya, Om Sivaya, and exactly at 9.32 P.M. NINE Lingams fell from His Mouth on to His Palm. Baba then led the Bhajan.
The Bhajan was continued throughout the night and the Hall was packed to the capacity even in the small hours of the night. Mahamangalarathi was performed at 7A.M.
On the evening of the 26th February, Baba gave Darshan at the Prayer Hall, reclining in a Jhoola [Swing] specially decorated for the occasion. Sri Dupati Thirumalchar spoke on the Real and the unreal while Sri Bairagi Sastry gave a talk on Sai Philosophy. Following this, Baba blessed the audience with a thrilling Discourse.
PS: Every night is marked by darkness. But tonight it is Shivarathri (the holy night of Lord Shiva). What is the difference between rathri (night) and Shivarathri? For the man who has recognized his divinity, every night is Shivaraathri. For the man immersed in worldly concerns, all nights are the same. That night is marked by darkness. This night is marked by light. Spirituality is the lighthouse that spreads light for the man who is full of despair, immersed in insatiable desires. The name of God is the lighthouse. By chanting the name, the bearer of the name can be realized. To recognize the omnipresence of the Divine is the purpose of observing Shivaraathri. This purpose is not served by fasting and keeping awake through the night. These are mere auxiliaries to what is considered the ultimate goal. But God-realization should not be put off to some distant future. It has to be taken up here and now. That is the purpose of Shivaraathri. SATHYA SAI BABA
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