Sri Sathya Sai Baba Maha Samadhi Day?

Summer course on Indian culture and spirituality?

Guru Prasad R

On the occasion of the anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Baba who attained  the Maha Samadhi, a series of activities including a summer course on Indian culture and spirituality was held at the Brindavan campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed University), Brindavan Ashram, Whitefield, Bengaluru from April 16 to 20.

The summer course follows the tradition of the same course which was initiated by Sathya Sai Baba himself in 1972 in the same premises. According to the devotees,  Baba personally conducted, organised and addressed 15 such summer courses and gave over 250 discourses to youth from different parts of the country.

Prof A Anantharaman, Media Coordinator of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and Sathya Sai Seva Organisation said that this summer course was oriented towards imparting to the young and sensitive minds  a comprehensive outlook on the glorious heritage of India.

Inaugurated on April 16, resonating with vedic chants and soul stirring bhajans, the summer course was started by lighting of the lamps by Justice Shivraj Patil, former Jugde of the Supreme Court of India, Prof Shahshidhara Prasad, Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Institute of Higher Learning, Shri V Srinivasan, All India President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation and Shri Sanjay Sahani, Director, Brindavan Campus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Shri Dhakkappa, State President of Karnataka, and Shri Gangadhar Setty, Convenor, Sathya Sai Trust, Karnataka.

In his inaugural address Shri V Srinivasan, said  Bharatiya culture has survived for thousands of years and will continue to propagate all that is good in human existence. He noted that Bharat has taken in many races and religions into its fold. Delivering the key note address Justice Shivaraj V Patil stressed the importance of ‘Time Management’ in the life of youth. He highlighted time is the only element available to all without any discrimination. While advising to  budget the time in the morning and auditing at night, he expressed ‘Youngistan’ can make a better ‘Hindustan’.  Presiding over the event Prof. Shashidhara Prasad said energy can be created from matter but only divinity can create matter from energy. Before the inaugural function concluded, Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s message to the students was played that kept the entire gathering enthralled.

Handling the first technical session Shri S Ranganath, Director of the RV Institute of Sanskrit Studies explained to the youth the importance of ‘Guru’. The next speaker,  Prof Pujya Prema Panduranga gave a scholarly treatise on the salient facets of Bhagavatham while elaborating on the Dasaavatharas. The day’s events ended with scintillating musical performance by Ustad Faiyaz Khan, disciple of the great Sarangi exponent Pandit Ram Narayan. 

Shri Shikaripur Krishnamurthy,  Sanskrit scholar, advised the students through excerpts from Upanishads. Shri BN Narasimha Murthy, senior devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, shared his experiences with the students.   The day ended with a scintillating musical programme by noted playback singer in Tamil and Telugu industry, Vidhwan Sriram Parthasarathy and party.

On the last day Shri K Jairaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, skilfully educated the audience on practical challenges while following ethics and morality in working life.

In the valedictory session, Shri Bhagawath, former chairman of the Indian Overseas Bank, and Shri S S Naganand, senior advocate, Karnataka High Court  exhorted the youth to follow the principles of truth and righteousness in their daily lives. This was followed by a scintillating musical programme by the alumni of Sri Sathya Sai University and a musical video presentation on Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

About 1,000 students and youth in the age group of 16 to 35 years, drawn from educational institutions of Karnataka  participated in the camp. The summer course attracted  large number of devotees and general public  too, who thronged the venue in the evenings to witness cultural programmes.?