Chapter 14: Purnahuti Celebration

Ati Rudra Maha Yagna’s poornahuti was a grand celebration. Poornahuti celebration surged energy and vibrations that were very new and thrilling to us.  the sacrificial flames consuming the sacred offerings were rising and higher with the torrential flow of arghya from a specially esthetically carved long wooden spoon.

The Poornahuti offerings were too many. A few that I remember amidst the excitement were a saree into which several sugandha dhravyalu were bundled. There were rows of plates containing herbs and spices. Cloves, Cardamom, Camphor, Joss sticks, Sandal woods,  Oranges, Bananas, Huge Pineapples, Sugarcanes, Lotus flowers, Bilwa Leaves, Cotton cloths, Various grains, and tin loads of Ghee.

As the various ingredients were offered into the sacred flames, the flames raised higher and higher and fumes and smokes of the burning of the herbs and grains filled the atmosphere, or should I say the entire cosmos. Raw offerings even fruits and cane sugars got consumed into the flames. The heat was evolving was intense.


After all offering were made, then a the huge spoon was held over the Homa gunda, to which the dhaara pathra was hung. Ghee was filled into the Dhaara pathra. The heat from the home gunda liquefied the Ghee inside the Dhaara pathra, and stream of it flowed into the flames accompanied by the heightened chorus of sacred manthras of poornahuti.

For the final iteration, cupfuls of ghee were poured from the swan shaped opening of the spoon. Grand celebration came to grand conclusion as all the offerings were consumed by The Divine.

There was a deep sense of peace and cosmic silence dawning in my heart. It all appeared like creation…of a universe, may be only He knows. The flames raised higher and consumed everything offered. The flames did not burn, but cooled and cleansed. The vedic recitations were at the top pf our voices and the peace was sinking deeper and deeper.

Culminating part of Ati Rudra Maha Yagna was the Maha Kumbhabhiskekam. The sacred vessels that represented the sacred rivers of all lands, enshrined the presiding deities of the sacred waters were waiting for their turn to serve the Lord. Rudra Parayana was started on one more iteration.  Saayeshwara was bathed with the sacred waters from the Kalasams, I was reminded of the gangavatahranam scene, where in Mighty torrential flow of Ganga flowed from the matted locks of the Cosmic Shiva standing on the Himalayas.

In 2006, after poornahuti, Swamy was on stage and was in front of the Sayeeshwara Linga, while Kumbhabhishekam was being performed. The scene was inexplicably beautiful and the following photograph illustrates it.

Kumbhabhishekam was followed by chanting of santhi mantras, decorations and asthavadhana seva and Maha Mangala harathi. Shanti Mantras prayed for peace to all beings, in all worlds. It was not a coincidence at all of us felt Swamy’s face in the main alter shone with peculiar luster. He looked so very Handsome and charming. It takes one to be Adi Shankacharya to describe the Soundarya in a Lahari (torrential waves of beauty).

Maha-Mangala Harathi was offered Sri Sathya Sai Paramatma.

Mama addressed us all after the conclusion of the Ati Rudra Maha Yagna. He reminded us how fortunate we all are to be a part of a such a beautiful and sacred Yagna conducted in the Cosmic presence of Swamy. The distinction was the previous yagnas were performed in the Physical Presence and this was Blessed by the Cosmic Omnipresence of Swamy.  He gratefully thanked everyone who supported the event.  The loving food served, the immense back stage support, continuous supply of essential items like Logs and pooja items, Hospitality… everything.

He lovingly asked us to go and take prasadam and rest fully and assemble in Swamy’s residence as late as 0800 AM the next morning.  We were so touched by His particular remembrance and expressing gratitude to each and everyone of the coordinating team. 

The celebrations here not yet over. Chinese lanterns were ready! Kids and Veterans enjoyed flying them alike. Bold messages were written on them and were flown up to make it loud and clear. Everyone jumped and squeaked and yelled and enjoyed thoroughly. All the lanterns flew towards Esanya, in the direction of Kailasam, one after the other like army aircrafts. 

Dinner was waiting for us. Poornahuti Prasadam was served and  a deep sense of joy and satisfaction was immanent on the face of all. We couldn’t get sleep, we were too excited to rest. Each one was talking about his personal experience during the yagna. It was already the early hours of the next day by the time we retired.

Chapter 13: Bhajans

Swamy liked bhajsn that were sung Love and Bhava. Bhajan sessions in Sai Dashini were at their best. Thai devotees, Balinease devotees, Malaysian devotees, Bal Vikas devotees, and devotees from India sang sonorious bhajans saturated with Love and devotion.

Ham ko tumse pyar hai kitna, was the favourite song that echoed the mood of the entire gathering, expressig the Love between Lord and His Devotees.

Fast paced Shiva bhajans and excited and elevated the mood, and those sung by the Bal Vikas children were awe-inspiring. Bhajans were elevating, stirring and filled with Love for Sai.  

Chapter 12: Evening Sessions.

After the completion of Mangala Haarathi, we all gathered in the Mandir, to see Swamy, and the Lingam that was decorated.

There were flashes and clicks all around. Sayishwara and Sayishwara were so adorably beautifully. It was prasadam time. We assembled in the Prasada-alaya to gratefully recieve the bkessed prasadam. The serving was hot and saturated with Love.

We changed our deeksha avstrams and rested for a while. Our discussion would invariably about Swamy. ARMY 2006, 2007, 2010 personal experieences were on the topic boards.

After a short nap, ritwiks would take a bath, get ready for the next session. In the mean while, a few of us, cleaned the entire yagashaala, the yagna gundas, bedecked with paddy and seseame seads, and flowers.

Next session's prepration including seating arrangements for the Ritwiks, placing logs of wood by the yagna gundas, baskets of sacred offerings ready, cleaning the vessels that would be used for the abhishekam, setting the various items like camphos, flowers etc handy were made, quicky, all under the watchful Presence of the Lord.

At 04:00PM every one was present in the Yagashala, ready for commencing the next session. Ganapathi Prarthana, invocatory prayers were chanted. 132 ritwiks voiced Sri Rudram in Unision, and another session of the cosmic event bagan.

Swamy's residence on the top floor had large windows of the sides. One such window was on the Western Wall. As the evening sun set, Sun's Rays from the window directly bathed the Lingam. It was a visual treat for all of us. The droplets of water that rebounded from the flower on the Lingam looked like drops of light and shining diamonds in the flood of Sun light.


After the nineth iteration, it would be around 05:30 PM and clouds would cover the brigh skies and it invariably rain everyday, through the yagna. The intensity of the rain was so high that the noise of droplets of water hitting the yaagashaal's roof would dominate our chanting voice. Were the clouds competing with us, in chanitng rudram in their own language? or was it the direct abhishekam of the entire assembly by the devas and classes of higher beings pouring in through the clouds...we never know.

At about 06:00 PM, the Rudra Parayana would conclude and a short break for performing sandhya vandanam, and coffee to relax the vocal chords. Singers would assemble with their instruments and sing melodious Bhajans, and simultaneously the Siva Bhaktas decorated the Lingam in befitting style. In about twenty minutes time, every one returned to the Yagashaala and the next session began.

It would by dark by 06:30 PM, dark clouds hovering the skies. Sacred flames dormant in the yagna gundas would be raised by piling in logs and fanning. In a few minutes all the Yagna gundas would be blazing with high rising flames.

Darshan through the Yagagudas can only be experienced and enjoyed, and the beauty of the sight can not be described.

Yagnaacharya would lead the team and proceed with various invocatory rituals. Rudra Homam commenced in after a short duration. Evening sessions were specially more beautifully. The entire sorrounding area, beyond the Yagashaala and His residence was in dark and the Yagna gundas were alive with flames raised for sacred offerings.

Rudra Homam was followed by various Upacharas and Asthavadhana Seva. On the evening of Sixth, Bala Vikas Students from Malaysia and Indonesia offered Mahishsura Mardhini stotram to Swamy. The stortam was rendered with perfect anotation, diction, pronunciation and instrumenal accompanyments.

On the seventh the brahma of the celebration, Pranavaswarupanada swamyji rendered Siva Kavacha stortam, On another evening, the Lady Chanters and Devotees sang beautiful songs for Sai - "Hamko tumse pyar hai kitna, Sai tumhi jaanete". Male singers offered Special Bhajans.

Renderings from Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana Veda were unique, and never repeated. Various stotrams, in praise of Sadguru, Sri Mahavishnu, Shiva, Devi, were made all for the pleasure of Swamy. It was a jouyous experience to be an audiece to the great court of Lord Sayishwara where Vedic Scholars and Learned men offered all their skills to Him. We had the pleasure of receiving the Prasadam of their Naivedyam.

Aarathi in various forms, with single wick, with five wicks, with hundred wicks, and camphor was offerd to Sayishwara. Tiny jyothis infornt of the Parmjoti were so beautiful.


On the evenin gof Sixth, while were moving in the Yagahaala, we noticed that the Pavithra Paadam, or the Sacred Path between the Rows, where special designs were painted, exclusively for Swamy, was very hot, in complete contrast to the tiles just next to the Sacred Path. The adjasent tiles were at ambient temperature, while the tiles below the Pavithra Padam were hot. We could only guess what could have happened. When reported to Mama, he said the event is blessed by His presence, is had been proven beyond doubt.


Since no Seva dals were designated, ritwiks ourselves took turns in various events like cleaning the yagashala after the sessions, serving prasadam, etc during which our bonds with each other and with our Divine Parent strengthened.

Mama and his troupe - Ramaanada Sarma, Badari, Dr. Sathya, Julius were invariably the last ones to arrive for having dinner. Mama ate frugally, and the serving batch would sit with him and dine. We would ask him about the significance of various events and rituals that were performed that day during the Yagna, and hewould explain them elaboratey, with patience and without a trace of discomfort. His body language was reflecting the Love that he had soaked from Swamy. He also narrated so many stories and personal encounters with Swamy, episodes of Love and Grace HE showered so profusely on him and HIS devotees. Often his hands would dry talking to us, and it would weel cross twelve in the night. despite the next days schedule, henever complained or short circuited his narrairions to go to bed.

We would then wash out vesthis and other cloths, dry them, chat and share Ananda, and it would invaraibly One or Two early in the morning before we actually went to bed! Nextday as usual began at five AM with Aumkaram and Suprabhatam.