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Thursday, Mar 28 2024  

AVATAR'S DAY
 

 

Purpose:
Avatar's Day is celebrated on the 20th of October each year. This is the day when Swami declared himself as an Avatar. The real purpose of celebrating this day is for all of us to recall with gratitude that Swami has come to this world for uplifting us, and that we should follow His teachings.

Story relating to the festival:
I shall now share with you the significance of Avatar's Day. It was Monday, 20 October 1940. Sathyam (as Swami was addressed in His younger days) was then in Uravakonda having resumed his interrupted schooling. He was on his way to school. Suddenly, he turned back, returned home and cried out loudly, "I no longer belong to you. Maya (delusion) has left me. My devotees are eagerly calling Me." On hearing these loud words, his sister-in-law looked out of her kitchen window. She saw a halo of blinding luminescence around Sathyam's head. "I am leaving", He told her. "The work I have come here for has to be initiated." As He said these words, His brother, Seshama Raju, and their neighbour, Naranya Satry, arrived on the scene. On seeing the splendorous halo, Sastry fell at the feet of Sathyam. Seshama Raju stood speechless and motionless.

Glorious with the crown of effulgent light, Sathyam walked to a nearby large garden belonging to Anjaneyulu, an Inspector of Excise. He sat on a boulder there. Several eager devotees sat around Him. Sathyam began singing a Bhajan song, the first in the vast body of Bhajans which are now resounding all over the world

"Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam,
Dustara Bhava Sagara Tharanam"

First learn that you are in Bhava Sagara (ocean of wordly life); next resolve on Tharanam (crossing it); then fix a Guru or the name and form of God, which appeals to you. Then dwell on His Glory; do Bhajan, but do it with all your mind and concentration; sing in praise of the Master's Lotus Feet with all your heart; it enables you to cross the difficult-to-cross ocean of birth-death cycle.

Devotees forgot themselves as they sang in tune with Him. Some lighted joss sticks. Others garlanded Sathyam. A photographer turned up and prepared to photograph Him. A small rock stood in front of Sathyam intruding into the picture and the cameraman desired it to be removed. Sathyam said "Let it be. Go ahead and take your photograph." When the film was eventually developed and printed, that small stone was seen to the astonishment of everyone, as Shirdi Sai Baba's form.

Swami's message on Guru Purnima:
"The Avatara-purusha, however, has come solely to save the mankind and so He is aware of the path and the goal. 'HE' is the Master of Creation. He knows the past, the present and the future of all. 'HE' leads and liberates."
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sanathan Sarathi, Vol VII Page 473

"The Avatar comes when there is yet a remnant of good men, yet a trace of dharma, for what is the use of a doctor when the patient has collapsed. When a large number of good men are afflicted with the fear of the survival of goodness, then the Lord incarnates to feed their drooping spirits and revive faith and courage."
-Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sanathan Sarathi, Vol II Page 141

How is the Festival celebrated:
People celebrate it all over the world by holding Bhajans. In Singapore, Avatar's Day is celebrated at the national level by the singing of bhajans for twelve continuous hours.

Jai Sai Ram

Sis Bindhiya
SSEHV Group 4


 

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