Unified Prayers

The whole of last week has had city devotees gathering at each others’ homes for united prayer,chants and bhajans to pray for the spiritual leader. As updates on his health were put up on the official website through the last week,there were moments of tears for many. “Swami has done so much for everyone. Not one of us can bear the thought of life without him,” says B K Vasudev,district president of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation (SSSSO),Pune,and state level sevadal in-charge. “Every devotee is praying from the bottom of their heart. We want him to cure himself,” he adds.

Every day,from 7-8 pm,the Maha Mrityunjay Jaap is being chanted at devotees’ homes. “And on April 11,we have organised a special Akhand Bhajan and Maha Mrityunjap Jaap session at a devotee’s home in Satara,from 8pm to 6am the next day,” informs Rakhi Kondel,the ladies youth coordinator,Camp Samiti,SSSSO Pune. And the regular service activities are on as well. “He has established free educational institutes and super specialty hospitals where there are no cash counters. His water project has brought water to hundreds of remote villages in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In Pune,we do regular Narayan Seva (serving food to the poor) and hold medical camps in villages in and around the city. This service is offered to him and is a form of prayer right now,” Kondel adds.

Says Narresh Herani,convenor,Camp Samiti ,SSSSO Pune,“We started a chain of prayer on Tuesday. From 7am till 9pm,devotees are chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya jap and Samastha-Bhavantu for half an hour in their homes on a rotation basis. We have also had special prayers of one and a half hours for the last five days at my place.” Herani also describes how each Sai Centre around the world is having these special prayers. “The New York Centre has had prayers for 24 hours at a stretch. Even though there had been rumours that he was gone,we never believed it. My daughters study at his institute in Anantpur and they have firm faith that he will be fine. They are here for the summer holidays and haven’t even stepped out of home for the last five days. Praying is topmost on every devotee’s mind,” Herani adds.

This is also a time for devotees to step up their practice of their Swami’s teachings. Says Venkatesh Jalgi,youth coordinator,SSSSO Pune,“This period is one for all of us to unite,sacrifice our selfish pursuits and pray for him and for universal well-being.” And these collective prayers will not stop till Sri Sathya Sai Baba is out of hospital and back home at Prashanthi Nilayam (Puttaparthi).