Holy rituals, discourse mark Maha Sivaratri in Puttaparthi

Puttaparthi: Auspicious Lingabhishekam to the sanctified Sayeeshwara Lingam was conducted here on Sunday at Prasanthi Nilayam in Puttaparthi of Anantapur district. It was followed by the discourse and commencement of 'Akhanda Bhajan'. The proceedings began at 4.10 pm with a procession carrying the 'Sayeeswara Lingam' to the venue in Sai Kulwant Hall amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. Mounted on an elevated platform, the Lingam that was sanctified during the Ati Rudra Maha Yajnam that was performed in 2006 in the presence of Bhagawan was the centre of attraction for the evening. Rituals and celestial bath (abhishekam) continued in the presence of chief priest Prof. Nanjunda Dixit. Beginning with Maha Ganapathi Puja, milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, turmeric, vibhuti, kumkum, mixed fruits, bilwa leaf, lotus flower, rudraksha were offered to the Lingam followed by 'arathi' after every offering. Sri Sathya Sai Sahasra Namavali chanting followed with flower offerings to the Lingam before 'Mangala Arathi' to the Lingam. The entire proceedings were conducted by Prof. Nanjunda Dixit who conducted the Ati Rudra Maha Yajnam in 2006. The Lingabhishekam is aimed at universal peace and global harmony. Divine discourse exhorting the esoteric significance of the auspicious night, 'Linga Tatwa' was aired for the next 15 minutes before the commencement of the 'Akhanda Bhajan'. Accusation of others is the worst of the sins and one should refrain from doing so, Bhagawan had said while delivering the discourse on 'Siva Tathwa'. Bhagawan's discourse ended with his favourite Bhajan, "Hari Bhajana Binaa Sukha Saanthi Nahi�" that marked the beginning of the 'Akhanda Bhajan'. Earlier, in the morning, students sang an array of keertans and songs propitiating Lord Sai Siva that included 'Bilvashtakam' and an instrumental playing 'Rudra Thandava'.