Dear Brothers and sisters of the world
The much-awaited two day long Diwali Puja seminar (12th –13 Nov.) turned out to be one of the most beautiful seminars of this year. The Pune climate was cool, so were its vibrations by the blessings of Her Holy presence in this blessed land (Punya Bhoomi).
Approximately 6,000 yogis attended the 12th Evening Diwali seminar, in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Stadium of Pune. Sir CP and Kalpana Didi were the guests of honour who graced the evening’s programme. Papaji addressed the collectivity after a brief musical performance on this day and spoke about the message of Shri Mataji. The message emerged as a powerful resolution and introspection on the eve of Diwali Puja for Sahaja Yogis. Concluding his speech he assured, as he confided …. "Your Mother will be looked after, yes! I am there with Her 24 Hours and there can be no better privilege than that. I am with Her, because that is the only duty I have now. It’s my duty and I am living just for that purpose, there is no other purpose in my life. So be assured that everything that is possible - the best possible treatment, the best possible attention, on your behalf, is being given to Her and I have no doubt at all, I wanted to tell you something …that "She is better today than what She was two years ago". So, with these words I thank you and I take leave of you and I beg of you, I urge you to pick up the banner and go forward".
Interestingly, there was a simultaneous hosting of a small musical programme in the Holy presence of Shri Mataji on 12th November evening in Pratisthan while the main musical programme was being hosted in the stadium amidst the collectivity. It was an informal gathering in Pratisthan, where Shri Mataji blessed the musical evening along with Her family members. Shri Mataji was seen radiating brilliantly like a thousand suns. A couple of bhajans were offered at Her Holy Lotus Feet. Entire collectivity at the stadium was blessed to enjoy the vibrations of this event as the recorded video was screened within half an hour of the same evening.
On the 13th of Nov. although the puja was announced for half past seven in the evening, collective meditation started in the Stadium with a vibrant gathering of approximately 8500 yogis. It was indeed a wonderful sight to see the beautiful children of Shri Adi Shakti humbly brushing past each other in colourful dresses with a smile expressing the joy of their inner state.
The stage was beautifully decorated with a touch of oriental style of art and craft work. Kolkata, the Eastern State of India had their repertoire of love expressing through the exquisite décor on the walls and the roof with especial kind of natural thermocol like material called "sola". The stage was a living temple that exhibited a number of statues in the niche of the backdrop wall, while the roof had very fine art work of ancient temples. The entire set up was accentuated by the exclusive electric lighting every where. The light decorations in entrances, gates, and everywhere not only expressed the joy on this day, but also constituted an integral part that helped enlightenment in the heart and flow of vibrations. The altar of Shri Mahalaxmi on stage had two elephants on the hands and the theme of Ashta-Laksmi (Eight Laxmis) at the back drop in carvings.
Two videos were shown at the beginning of the evening programme. First, was the "Award receiving ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s House), New Delhi, India on First of October", where Sir CP was being honoured with the prestigious Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri award for excellence in the field of Management and Administration. In his speech, Sir CP expressed the emotions, the wisdom and the dedication in praise of the late Prime Minister of India that was really moving. (One can enjoy the citations; the award and the speech details compiled and documented in websites).
The second video was a recording of the Puja offered at the Holy Lotus Feet of Shri Mataji hosted in Pratisthan premises of Pune, India on first of November. After the puja in Her Holy presence, Sir CP delivered a very moving speech that spelt the message of love and the wisdom that should prevail in us. It was about the discretion that we must have within. It was about the truth that Shri Mataji had been struggling for ages through out Her life to establish its victory on earth. He said "let us celebrate the victory of that joy today". Shri Mataji all the while was keenly observing every minute detail in the Puja and accepted the Puja offered at Her Holy Lotus Feet. She seemed very pleased. It was so absorbing that the entire collectivity stood up during the Arti and sang together "Sabko Dua Dena" and offered Pranam with the three Mahamantra. It wasn’t a Niraakar Puja (Formless) but seemed like a Puja in Her Holy presence in the Stadium.
Then it was the turn of the Sahaja musicians who sang a number of bhajans and the shower of vibrations flowed and filled the stadium. Pt. Subramanium, Jain, the Nirmal Sangeet Sarita team, Rajiv and others rendered a number of vibratory bhajans. A few bhajans were from the popular numbers like Aei Maan Ma Ke sharan mein rahiyo…, Yeh hain….. Nirmal Dham, Apne dil mein sahaj ko basaya karo.
At quarter to Nine the projection in the screen, suddenly focused on the much lighted scenario resulting out of the fire crackers on the ground at the entrance of the gate that announced the arrival of our Holy Mother. To this was added the shooting of the high-air firecrackers in the sky that spread the flower-like sparklers all over the clear sky. The sparklers blossomed with the expression of joy that was welcoming Her Holy arrival. The blowing of conches and the lighting of firecrackers on high air on Her Holy arrival on the stage seemed to enlighten every heart. The collectivity was overwhelmed with joy, as it joined the choir with the welcoming bhajan, Swagata Agata Swagatam.
The puja started with the bhajan "Vinati Suniye Adi Shakti Meri". As the children silently came up to the stage to perform Ganesha Puja, Shri Mataji lovingly watched them. The puja continued with the recital of Shri-Ganesh-artharva-shirsham and then the Mahalaxmi Strotram. The entire atmosphere transformed into a heaven (Baikuntha) as the couplets were being recited and sung in praise of Shri Mahalaxmi. Then came the time for the Shringar of the Devi that continued through offering necessary shringar by the Seven Yoginis on stage with the bhajans of Namostute… Namostute…. and then… … Jago Savera Aya hai (Bhajan with the 108 names of Shri Mataji). The Shringar of the Devi concluded with the song of Vishwa Vandita....Nirmala Mata. As the Shringar was done the collectivity witnessed yet another rare mudra (gesture/form) of Shri Mahalaxmi in Her Shri Mataji form, bedecked and resplendent in Her shingar. What a tremendous flow of vibrations… how fortunate was our Sahaja Family to witness this divine moment.
International and National Gifts on behalf of their respective collectivity queued up as the names were being read out. Shri Mataji was seen very very pleased receiving the Yogis and Yoginis from various countries. At times She expressed Her love through certain words of praises, as the gifts came from hosting countries, India, Portugal, France, Switzerland besides other countries like Dubai, Turkey, Argentina, Austria, New Zealand, Romania, South Africa, Nepal, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Thailand, Holland, USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, Iran, Algeria, Australia, Italy and concluding with Laxmi gifts from the hosting counties where again Yoginis queued up with various gifts of household items to the Devi in Her Mahalaxmi Form.
With the signal of drawing the stage curtain announcing the Holy departure of Shri Mataji, the invitation for the forthcoming Christmas Puja was announced for 24th, 25th and 26th December in this stadium. Arneau de Kalbermatten, Coordinator of the "World Council for the Advancement of Sahaja Yoga" expressed his humble vote of thanks and gratitude to the hosting countries for hosting this great Puja. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the World council and the collectivity to the management committee that welcomed this huge gathering and extended all facilities to the collectivity to spend their stay in Pune with all possible comforts.
It was time for Her Holy departure at half past ten. Her face was glowing like the thousand Suns….. Shri Mataji left behind a trail of cool breeze that brought quietude in all hearts. The silence could be felt as Her Van drove out of the stadium.
Mother, we enjoyed every moment of the day and we would like to thank You time and again for this wonderful experience - Your kind gesture of accepting our puja at Your Holy Lotus Feet. We thank You for this wonderful gathering of collective. We celebrated our Diwali within our hearts as You enlightened the light of joy in us with Your endless love and compassion on this day. Kindly accept our prayers at Your Holy Lotus Feet to awaken the Mahalaxmi Principle within us.
Jai Shri Mataji
SITA India |
