DIVINE BIRTHDAY, NOVEMBER 2005
Steel Piculell's story of the 80th Birthday of
Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba, Hillview Stadium, 80th Birthday
Somehow it was with mixed feelings that I went to the Divine 80th birthday. I knew that there would be such a big crowd and a lot of work.
Not that I don't like to work - life is worthless without work - but I suppose that something in me was thinking that the days would be a big mouthful. How Swami again showed me differently.
The trip went so smoothly and once you are inside the" doorstep" of the Ashram, the feeling of Godly vibrations with devas and angels fills you up. It's like bathing in love - how could I have forgotten?
There were 450 Russian delegates at the World Conference and a total of 1.100 Russians present. Everywhere you go they greet you with their warm smiles and happy eyes. How lucky I am.
The Russians had been approved to have a good programme to sing and play music for Swami at the birthday, but a week before we were told in an email that there were too many groups to perform for Swami during the birthday celebrations so there wasn't anytime left for them. I informed the Russians and their reply came back promptly - they would prepare anyhow, as Swami sometimes changes the programme.
They didn't perform at the birthday, but on the 25th of November Swami gave His permission for them to play in the afternoon.
272 Russians (Swami calls anyone from the former Soviet Union Russians) suddenly sat in front of Swami. And they sang and played so the roof of the Sai Kulvant Hall almost lifted. Or did it?
Swami asked them twice with a wave of His right hand to play more and looked very, very happy.
Already in April when I visited Prasanthi Nilayam the Russian had rehearsed, and one day I asked Swami if the Russians could play for him. He told me "Let them play".
On another day I was seated at the round platform at the veranda with their programme in my hands and Swami, who was standing in the middle of the veranda, waved his hand very gently, and looked at me. I don't know what happened, but within a second I was sitting kneeling in front of Swami's Feet with the programme in my hands. Is seems as if a deva had taken me and put me there. Swami looked down at the programme and told me "keep it". And then it was to be used under a different cover some 7 months later.
I had asked Valery to present the programme for Swami together with the conductor as they had done so much work. Then at the veranda on the 25th, Valery brought a very big painting in a gold frame of Swami, where all the members of the choir had given their signature wishing Swami a happy birthday. It was too big for one person to bring to Swami, so I told Valery that I would help him. Suddenly I realised that I had no rose to give to Swami but noticed, that the keyboard player had a beautiful rose place on the keyboard. I had message sent to him asking if I could have the rose, and he happily sent it up to me.
I gave it to Swami when Valery and I went over to Swamis chair. Swami blessed the rose and at the same time He pressed my ring finger gently but firmly for about 4-5 seconds with his thumb and index finger.
Later I gave the keyboard player a rose petal and he told me that he had felt that he had to have this rose placed on the keyboard. He told me that he had given the rose all of his love. He now knew the reason, and his love was returned to him with that rose petal...
So many things happened for me during those divine days. One can't explain how a thought arises in one's head, and suddenly an incident happened to you which was part of this thought.
On November 23rd I was sitting in front of the stage - there was a light rain until Swami came and sat in His chair in front of the completely filled stadium... The sun came out for a short while and tears felt from my eyes when I felt His embracing love to every single person on the Stadium.
There was fireworks when Swami came and small pieces of coloured paper went into the air and down on the devotees. As there was a little rain the colours from the paper tinted many saries and white dresses. Suddenly my right hand was full of patterns (?) and my right foot and toe nails were al covered in red colour. I felt as if my female side married Swami that morning and it was a confirmation when He pressed my ring finger on the 25th.
When I came for the evening programme I was wondering where I should place myself. Suddenly a clear voice within told me several times: "Go to Dana" (Gillespie) "Go to Dana".
A special stage was built for the artists on the hillside and I went up there. I found Dana who is a close friend to Inge (my wife) and myself with her band waiting to perform, and I stayed there all evening sitting in a chair with a fantastic view all over the stadium.
After the last artist had played, someone took me on the shoulders and told that all artists had to go to Swami. I was not an artist but Dana told me that I should join. The curtain on the main stage where Swami was sitting went slowly down as we went over in two lines.
It was difficult to enter the side door to the stage as everyone tried to enter at the same time, but we managed to go up the stairs, and suddenly we were approaching Swami who was sitting in his wonderful chair.
Dana was the last one in the line so I asked her to go in front of me. Then suddenly I was there. Just at Swamis side.
With me I was carrying a silver coin with the date of my 60th birthday engraved with a picture of Krishna and Radha on one side and the OM sign on the other side. The birthday was celebrated at the date of Gurupoornima this year and all friends were given such a coin to remember the day. I had been thinking of giving one to Swami in an envelope or even to have it blessed. On the way to the stadium the coin was suddenly in front of my eyes in our room, and I brought it with me without having planned it. I had it in my hand and showed it to Swami. He blessed it with a gentle tap on it with his two fingers.
I took Padnamaskar. Swami's feet could hardly be seen as they were bathed in rose petals. I folded my hands after kissing his feet and in them was one of the rose petals from His feet. I knew that that rose petal was for my wife, Inge. Swami's special greeting to her on that auspicious occasion when Swami blessed my 60th birthday on His 80th. I turned around when I walked away from the chair. Swami looked straight into my eyes and gave me the most wonderful smile of a thousand mothers and fathers.
When I have a chance to speak to Swami it is often as if my mouth won't say the words, but on that evening when the Russians performed in front of Swami I was sitting next to him during part of the programme and during the picture taking afterwards, with groups of Russian singers who came up on the marble stairs in front of Swami.
Before I went to India I had asked Phyllis Krystal if she could come to Ukraine in January? She gladly said yes - but was nervous as she was told that we had to take a 6 hours train trip afterwards. Her knees can lock on such long trips. On the phone she asked me to ask Swami about it if there ever would be a chance during our stay. I doubted it, and so did she, she told me later.
Suddenly this question came to my mind while sitting next to Swami. I asked Swami, "Can Phyllis Krystal (then I changed her name as Swami always calls her for Mrs. Krystal) and said" Can Mrs. Krystal go to Ukraine in January. "Yes," Swami told me while nodding slightly with His head. "But there is a 6 hours train trip" I added. "OK" Swami said. I was so surprised and happy over the incident that I had to call Phyllis that same evening to tell her about it. She was very, very happy.
Hundreds of other small and big incidents happened during our stay. Who am I to explain God? I know that no one can. But to be given all the experiences is a gift that strengthens one's love and faith and makes it stronger than any other love bonds in the world. Thank you Swami - you are not the form, but the form is part of you as fingertip to finger. You are the dimension of God in ever little movement you make. You are the vibrant Universe; the Creator of truth and love which is the formless God manifested as the Avatar of our age. Your dimension is in every star and flower. In every human being - in all atoms in the vast universe and beyond.
© Steen Piculell, 2005. Narrative and images used with Permission.
Photographs © samadhiroad © Tony Gough, 2005