DECEMBER 2007 S a n a t h a n a S a r a t h i Devoted to the Moral and Spiritual Uplift of Humanity through SATHYA DHARMA SANTHI PREMA AHIMSA Vol: 50 Issue No. 12 Date of Publication: 10th December DECEMBER 2007 “ The education that you are acquiring © Sri Sathya Sai today is not merely for your benefit; it Books and Publications Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam is for the benefit of your fellow human Printed and Published by K.S. RAJAN beings and even animals, birds and on behalf of the owner, other creatures. You should help each Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, and every living being. Only then can Prasanthi Nilayam 515 134, Anantapur District (A.P.), you call yourselves truly educated. ” Printed at M/s Rajhans Enterprises, 136, 4th Main Road, Industrial Town, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore - 560 044, Karnataka. Published at Prasanthi Nilayam 515 134. 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All subscriptions and other correspondence should be addressed to The Convener, Official Websites of Prasanthi Nilayam Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam 515 134. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust: www.srisathyasai.org.in Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust: www.sssbpt.org Editor Radio Sai Global Harmony: www.radiosai.org G.L. ANAND DIVINE DISCOURSE : AVATAR VANI 13TH NOVEMBER 2007 UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF AKHANDA BHAJAN E SHOULD UNDERSTAND contemplate on God constantly at all times, what is meant by Akhanda morning, evening and night, in all the three W Bhajan. Bhajan can be of two states – waking, dream and deep sleep. types – Khanda Bhajan and Akhanda Bhajan. Akhanda Bhajan is of Immense Spiritual To contemplate on God when we get up in Signifi cance the morning and do Bhajan for certain short You see the clock. There are three hands periods of time during the day is only Khanda in the clock indicating seconds, minutes and Bhajan. But Akhanda Bhajan is not like hours. The second hand is the longest, the that. Sarvada Sarva Kaleshu Sarvatra Hari minute hand is shorter than the second hand Whoever chants any name of God anywhere, his life will become sacred and sanctifi ed. He will be free from sin. Do not bother too much about Raga and Tala (tune and rhythm). There is only one Raga, i.e., Hridaya Raga (Raga of the heart). That is ‘Soham, Soham’ (That I am), which comes from your heart. Never leave it. Attune your life to this Raga. Once your life is attuned to it, then your success in all your endeavours is ensured. Chintanam (everywhere, at all times, under while the hour hand is the shortest of all. When all circumstances contemplate on God). That the second hand completes sixty places, the is to say, Akhanda Bhajan is that wherein we minute hand moves forward by one place. 402 December 2007 Similarly, when the minute hand crosses sixty to chant the Divine Name of Rama. Narada places, the hour hand crosses one place. was fear-stricken, but Narayana insisted that Which of the three is most important? It is the Narada should obey His command. Narada hour hand that is important because an hour went to the palace and asked the newly-born has much more importance than a minute or prince to chant Rama Nama once. The prince a second. In the same way, doing Bhajan only saluted Sage Narada and informed him that by in the morning and evening and spending rest the mere listening to Rama Nama just once, of the time in food and sleep is like the second he was transformed from a parrot to a calf and hand which has little signifi cance. But constant from a calf to a human being as a prince. He contemplation of God at all times is like the hour expressed his gratitude to Sage Narada for hand which is most important. Every name of initiating him into Rama Nama. Thus, Divine God is endowed with power. In order to have Name confers human birth, which is considered this power eternally with us and derive benefi t a rare gift. from it, we should do Akhanda Bhajan. Chant the Divine Name with Faith and Once Sage Narada approached Lord Love Narayana and prayed to Him to explain the Man is the embodiment of divinity. When effi cacy of Rama Nama. “Narada! Look, there you see pictures of God, you will fi nd them is a parrot on the tree. Go and ask the parrot all in human form. Daivam Manusha Rupena to chant Rama Nama once,” said Narayana. (God is in the form of a human being). Divine Obeying His command, Narada went to the name is the basis of human birth. Even birds parrot and asked it to chant the Name of Rama. and animals can attain human birth by merely The moment the parrot heard the Divine Name listening to the divine name just once. But how of Rama, it dropped down dead from the tree. is it that there is no transformation in man even Narada went back to Narayana and said, “Oh if he chants the divine name repeatedly? It is Lord! As per Your command, when I asked the so because man today chants the name of God parrot to chant Rama Nama, it breathed its mechanically without love in his heart. Some last.” Then Narayana said, “Oh Narada! Do not people do Bhajan with a wavering mind. They worry about the death of the parrot. Just now, keep looking here and there. Their mind is a cow has given birth to a calf. Go and ask the engaged in fi nding whether the singer’s Sruthi calf to chant the Name of Rama.” Narada was and Raga (pitch and musical mode) are correct afraid lest the calf should also meet the fate or not. There can be no transformation in such of the parrot. However, obeying the command people even if they chant the divine name a of Narayana, he asked the calf to chant the number of times. Satatam Yoginah (attain Divine Name of Rama. As soon as the newborn permanent yogic state). If we contemplate on calf heard the Name of Rama, it also dropped God with full concentration even once, that can down dead. bring about a great change in us. When one When Narada informed the matter to singer is singing a Bhajan, other singers keep Narayana, He again commanded him to go on thinking which Bhajan to sing next. As we to the palace of a king who was blessed chant the name of God without focusing with a son and ask the prince our mind on God, we are unable December 2007 403 to achieve any transformation. However, in whatever way we chant the divine name, we Do not follow all that is fl eeting and attain purity to some extent. This purity is not temporary, leaving the changeless visible to others. Only the individual concerned and eternal principle of the Self. can experience this as the change occurs within Unfortunately, man today is leading him. Therefore, man should constantly chant his life holding on to all that is the name of God so that it gets imprinted on his heart. You may perform all your tasks. But ephemeral and temporary and is whatever you do, and whatever you speak, you getting deceived. Therefore, do not should always have the feeling that it belongs catch the ephemeral objects. Instead, to God. Then your life will be sanctifi ed. In the catch the Divine Lotus Feet fi rmly house, women do the cooking. They mix salt, and never leave them. Then, God will pulses and spices in a certain proportion to be with you wherever you go. On the prepare various food items. When they do all contrary, if you hold on to temporary this as an offering to God, the food they prepare and fl eeting objects, your mind also will be sanctifi ed. On the other hand, if they do will become wavering and unsteady. the cooking with the feeling that they are doing so for the sake of their family members, it will not acquire that sanctity. Therefore, whatever Do not bother about what others say.