The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Devotional fervour marks Saibaba’s birthday

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 24, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Devotional fervour marks Saibaba’s birthday

Staff Reporter

Unique ritual revived after a gap of several years

Six couples perform ‘paada pooja’
Malladi brothers and Hariharan perform

Devotees’ delight: Sathya Saibaba on his way to the Sai Kulwanth auditorium in Puttaparthi on Friday.

PUTTAPARTHI: The 82nd birthday of Sathya Saibaba that was celebrated here on Friday was different in many ways as there was no discourse, no special guests.

Most importantly, six couples had an opportunity to perform ‘paada pooja’ and apply ‘thylam’ (oil) on his head, a practice revived after several years.

Immediately after entering Sai Kulwanth auditorium at 9 a.m., about one-and-half-hours behind the customary schedule of 7.30 a.m., Saibaba went around the hall on a wheel-chair to bless the devotees.

Several devotees presented him with greeting cards as he was passing by them and touched his feet.

Book released

On reaching the dais, he released a book, a compilation of poems written on him by a devotee after a ‘pooja’ was performed by the trust. Malladi brothers rendered classical music with most of songs written on Saibaba.

Later, a trust representative announced that six couples (‘punya dampathulu’) would participate in a sacred anointment, which included performing pooja at the feet of Saibaba and anointing him with the oil ritual on his head.

This had happened about 65 years ago when his mother Eeswaramma used to perform a similar ritual on his birthday.

Accordingly the couples-R.J. Ratnakar, nephew of Saibaba, P.N. Bhagawati, former Chief Justice of India, Indulal Shah, a member of Sri Satya Sai Central Trust, Gangadhar Shetty, Shourie and Margabandhu performed the anointment. The flowers used in the ritual were later distributed among the women devotees.

Again, Malladi brothers wrapped up the birthday fete with classical devotionals. Later, in the evening Hariharan and several other artistes also performed as part of the cultural programmes.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh