PSN - Prasanthi Nilayam

Swami called this place Prasanthi Nilayam - perhaps because Swami wanted all who come here to have Peace and Santhi - that will promote Bhakthi which in turn gives Salvation or MUKTHI. So this is the trick that attracts people all over the world to PSN.

There are lots of regulations if you want to be in PSN. Ladies and gents are segregated here. Ladies and gents have to cover their whole body, and no exhibitionism of any sort is allowed. Discipline and strict queuing everywhere. When Swami was there, sitting for Darsan had a fool-proof queuing system. They will make you sit in lines, which will be many in number. The controller will bring a bagful of lots from which the first person will take a lot, and like that all the first people in each line will take lots. When all are ready, number 1 will be called and that line can go in - and like that all lines. When people sit inside also, volunteers will direct you where to sit - you have to obey them, or you will be forcibly removed. When Swami appears, all should be quiet and no one should stand up. Swami will move slowly, like a whisper of wind, while he used to walk before 2003 before his fall - fractured the neck of femur. Later, wheelchairs and then an electric car was used for Swami to go around the mandir. Occasionally, Swami will call a person or group for an interview. No one else can intrude into that choice. In Swami's time, there would be foreigners galore from literally all over the world, and they obeyed all the rules better than us. No smoking anywhere inside the campus, only vegetarian food allowed. But one has a choice for food - North Indian, Western or South Indian. A few ready-to-eat foods and food plazas have come up lately. Fresh and Honest shop offers cheap and tasty coffee and snacks - it is near our apartment block.

A large shopping area is active with goods available at low prices - just walking distance from our South block. There are 5 round buildings in front of our building, initially meant for foreigners, but now allotted for all visitors. A large good library is there in its own building, just opposite the supermarket. Beyond that is a big conference hall.

Just wanted to mention that I was blessed to take part in Swami's 60th birthday, as a participant in the medical camp. I have myself organised medical camps during Onam celebrations for many years.

Today I noticed the efficiency and extreme patience of my son Hari while doing Rema's physiotherapy. I don't think I have this much patience. Day after day, he cajoles and advises Rema repeatedly to move her lower limbs - I am sure one day he will make her run!

Today, I tried to hear the online streaming bhajan from 6.15 pm. It is very absorbing and it cleanses our mind. There is Veda chanting also, streaming before the bhajans. I am hearing it now. To hear it is Punyam even if one cannot understand it. There are many sections of Veda chanting links in Radio Sai main page. There are many books written by Swami available as ebooks. This link takes you to a big Bhandaar of Sai literature: https://media.radiosai.org/www/

Previously, when we went to PSN, Amma (my mother) and Kochechi (her sister) also used to come with us. On one occasion there was a Bandh or Hartal at Bagepalli and we had to detour around that area. Bandh etc there is not as destructive as in Kerala. People are not very aggressive and less violent. On another occasion, on the highway near Kodur, there was a big stone on the highway. I tried to avoid it but I accidentally hit it - big tyre puncture. No repair shop nearby. So we carried it to a shop near Chickballapur. I often carried an extra tyre tube - that came in handy. At Chickballapur, there was a good hotel where you get tasty food, with car parking also - we have visited that place many times. There is another good hotel opened later at the Nandi hills junction called Nandi Upachar - on the side of the road with car parking, convenient. 

From there until you reach Mysore road, there are no good hotels. There are good hotels in Mysore road at Kengeri near Rajarajeswari medical college. Occasionally, Remesh used to come with us, mostly in his car (Ford earlier, and Jeep now). He knows good hotels on the way and is a better driver than me. He is more devoted to Swami than me. He is training his children to follow Swami's teachings and be God fearing. You must see them to believe it - such disciplined and well behaved children. They call us Muthachan and Ammamma. They are well disciplined in School also.

We have come for the Shivarathri festival here only once, have seen Swami creating Sivalingam once and Vibhuthi many times. For Shivarathri, it used to be 12 hrs AKHANDA BHAJANA, 6 pm to 6 am. Swami used to come around 8 pm and also at other times, and finally for the culmination in the morning. There would be prasadam distribution as Sambar-sadam and sweet rice for all present. It is an interesting sight, this prasaadam distribution - usually by an army of His students, in a disciplined manner to each devotee personally. Everyone in the hall will get prasadam and be happy.

As someone said, only the Thousand-headed Ananthan can describe Swami's birthday celebrations. It is on 23rd Nov every year - celebrations start well over one week in advance. Lots of programs will be there - there are applicants for presenting in front of Swami from all over the world. A full description of Swami's birthday will fill an entire book.

Kerala gets a bonanza - to celebrate Onam 2-3 days in His presence starting with Panchavaadyam, Vedam chanting etc. I got the chance to organise Medical Camps during Onam two or three times. During 2010 Onam, I got a chance to sit near Swami on the stage in Sai Kulwant hall. Mukundan, who was the State president then, gave me that golden chance. And then I was asked to offer Swami a Rose flower which Swami accepted - just imagine - me getting a chance to offer flower to Bhagawan Pramathma Himself! My poorvajanma sukrutham (past life merit).

I was previously attached to Bilathikulam Samithi. But lately I had been going to Westhill Samithi. A few years back, I was inducted into the Kerala Sathya Sai trust as a member. Mr Kumaran Eradi was president then and later Dr PBMenon's son Dr Venugopal. There were regular meetings at the school which was located in a scenic, beautiful place on top of a hill. The school was running smoothly with good results. Later, some friction between staff and management developed, as it happens elsewhere, too. Swami once gave the school a transformer since they had frequent current cuts. He also permitted to build a residence for Swami in the campus. It was successfully completed, but Swami never came there. Since I was feeling that I was not delivering anything positive to either the Trust or the school, I decided to resign and that was it.