The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Maha Yagnam’ a treat for devotees

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Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008
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‘Maha Yagnam’ a treat for devotees

Staff Reporter

–Photo: R.V.S. Prasad

Awestruck: Satya Saibaba gives ‘darshan’ to devotees at Puttaparthi on Monday.

PUTTAPARTHI: The three-day ‘Sahasra Poornachandra Darshana Vishwa Shanti Maha Yagnam’ was concluded in the Hill View stadium here on Monday with the ‘poornahuthi’ (concluding ritual) amid the presence of seers from different faiths who had gathered here.

However, the devotees had a celestial experience when Satya Saibaba arrived at the ‘yagna mandapam’ in a golden chariot specially designed for the occasion. The mammoth gathering watched the event with baited breath as the chariot passed through the stadium, to the dais, glittering in the morning rays of the sun .

The procession of Saibaba’s arrival in the ‘mandapam’ on the golden chariot was led by a two elephants, followed by Saibaba’s pet elephant Sathya Geetha. A band was played by the Sathya Sai University students and Vedic chanting by students of the ‘Veda patashala’. The whole event was a feast to the eyes of devotees as well as occasional visitors.

Several seers including Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Shivakumara Swamy of Siddaganga Veerashaiva Lingayath Math, Susheendra Teertha Swamy of Mantralayam, Sathi Amma of Narayanai Peetham, Vishveshwara Teertha Swamy of Udupi were among those present.

After ‘poornahuthi,’ the ‘yagnam’ was concluded with a ‘maha harathi’. Later, ‘yagna teertham’ and water collected from different rivers in the country were sprinkled from a helicopter on the devotees gathered in the stadium. The conclusion of ‘yagnam’ was marked with spectacular fireworks from the adjoining hillocks.

‘Rukmini Kalyanam’ dance ballet was performed. Meanwhile, the 83rd birthday celebrations will be officially launched on Tuesday with Venugopalaswamy ‘rathostavam’.

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