Proceedings of the Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality 2016 - Day 02 ( Evening Session)

The evening session of the second day of the Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality commenced with the invocatory Vedic chants by the girl students from the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Prasanthi Nilayam.  

This was followed by an introductory talk by Dr. (Ms.) Maitali Verma, Asst. Professor, Dept. of English Language & Literature. She emphasized upon the role the summer course plays on the refinement of the participants. Her talk was followed by three student speakers.

The first of them being Ms. Shivani Shivsagar pursuing her final year B.A. at the Anantapur Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. She summarized the proceedings of the morning session of the summer course, held at Poorna Chandra Auditorium.

The second speaker, Ms. Prachi Bulbul pursuing her final year B.Sc. (Chemistry) at the Anantapur Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. She spoke on the topic ‘Insights from Srimad Bhagavatham’. She told how the Bhagavatham is the story of God’s descent for the ascent of man. He descends only out of his love for his creation. She concluded by saying that the type of approach towards God is not important, the fact that the devotee focuses on God is important.

Sri Devjeet Auddy

The last speaker for the day was Sri Devjeet Auddy, pursuing his final year M.A. (Applied Economics). He spoke on the topic ‘Love – the basis of Indian culture’. He spoke on the attributes of pure love:

S – Selfless

A – Assuaging

I – Invigorating

He spoke on how Swami had noticed a boy with a fractured leg during the Janmaashtami celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam. Swami called him to the interview room and materialised a special liquid which he started applying on the boy’s fractured leg. When the boy expressed his embarrassment at Swami himself applying the liquid, Swami replied, “Had you been at home your mother would have done the same. Am I not your mother?”

Students of the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan Group

The talks were followed by a Bhajan based devotional program by the students of the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan Group. It was innovative presentation wherein the students took the audience on a virtual pilgrimage across India, singing the glory of the different Godhead of each spiritual centre. This was followed by a medley of Bhajans.