August 16, 2002 (Friday)
Swami approached the students and asked the two who sang “Rama Katha…” the previous day.
Swami: Who was Maithili? (The students did not respond. After a pause) Sita was called Maithili. She was also called Vaidehi. Why was she called Vaidehi? (There was no response from the two students.) Because she was not born from the womb. What was Janaka also called as? (Again there was no response from the two.) He was also called as Videha Raja. Who was Rama’s sister? (This time also, there was no response.) Did He have a sister?
Student: Yes, Swami.
Swami: What was her name? (The student did not answer.) Her name was Shanta. Sage Rishyashringa, who was a friend of King Dasharatha, adopted her.
Swami then narrated the incident from Mahabharata where Lord Krishna helped Draupadi from the promise taken by Bhishma to kill the Pandavas.
Roma Maharishi was in Mahabharatam. Krishna fell at the feet of the Pandavas in order to save them from the wrath of the sage. Krishna did anything to save His devotees from troubles. He even carried the sandals of Draupadi in His Angavastram (upper cloth in a traditional dress). Bhishma had vowed to kill all the Pandavas during the battle.
On coming to know of this, Krishna took Draupadi to the place where Bhishma was residing. He then told her to give her sandals to Him and go and fall at the feet of Bhishma without his notice. Krishna had done this because the sandals would have made noise while she walked. Draupadi obeyed Krishna. Bhishma then blessed her “Deergha Sumangali Bhava” (May your husbands have a long life). When Draupadi got up, he was shocked to see her. When Krishna entered inside, he knew that it was all His master plan and was shocked to see the sandals of Draupadi wrapped in Krishna’s Angavastram.
God can do anything for the sake of His Bhaktas (devotees).
(Turning to the two singers.) Are you practising well? Practice early in the morning. It is a very good time. Ghantasala (a well-known singer from Andhra Pradesh) used to practise every day early in the morning at 3.30 am. He used to go to the shores at Mahabalipuram and practise there, as there would be no one to disturb him. The sound of the waves was like the Swaras (musical notes) for him. In the olden days, there were no mikes or flashlights. They used to have only a petromax light and the voices were so loud that if a drama was going on in Karnatanagepalli (the village on the other side of the river Chitravati); it used to be heard in Puttaparthi also. Nowadays, if a person sits here and sings, it won’t be heard there also (pointing a few feet away from Him).
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| Ghantasala with Sri Sathya Sai |
At that time, there were great actors and singers. Kondama Raju acted as Bheema. There was a person by name Gaggayya. He was a very good actor and acted in many dramas like ‘Krishna Raayabhaaram’ (the incident where Krishna visits Hastinapur with a peace proposal) and others. Kondama Raju also composed many poems and songs. There were many scenes like the one where Krishna or Bheema gives replies in very beautiful poetic manner when questioned by the gatekeepers of the Kaurava kingdom. They wrote the script for the drama in their own village style and language. When these dramas were enacted, all people from neighbouring villages used to come and watch. When Kondama Raju used to dance on the stage, he used to do it so forcibly that they had to keep stones under the stage so that it did not give way. There was an instrument called leg harmonium that used to be played by Venkataramana Raju. Nowadays, it is more of instruments. There is no clear speaking by the actors in the drama. Everything goes off in seconds.
Prof. A. K.: Swami, did they sing songs also?
Swami: The Alaap (introductory music piece) for the song itself would be around 15 minutes and then the song used to start.
Prof. A. K.: Swami, they used do it at 10.00 pm in the night, isn’t it?
Swami: No. They used to come off from the fields by evening 5.30 pm, finish their dinner by 6.00 pm and go to sleep by 7.00 pm. They got up early in the morning as soon as the sun rose.
Prof. A. K.: Swami, did You attend all these dramas?
Swami: At the age of seven, I danced on the stage instead of Rishyendramani (a famous dancer of those times) without the knowledge of the public. I dressed up like her and danced. When the prizes were announced, I was given the first prize. That time, the then Collector and the British officer, Horsley, were also present. The Collector wanted to pin the medal to my dress. I told him that in the eyes of the public, I was still a lady, and it was not good to do that. Even Kondama Raju was pushing me from behind. But I did not agree at all. I finally took it in my hand. There were many more great singers and actors those days. There was a lady by name Kannamba. She came to Parthi and had My Darshan. She was hospitalised in Madras for ten years. After the ten years, when I went to see her, she was not able to believe that Swami would become so great.
Prof. A. K.: Swami, what about Bhanumathi? (Paluvayi Bhanumathi Ramakrishna is a multilingual Indian film actress, director, music director, singer, producer, book writer and lyricist.)
Swami: Bhanumathi was not there in those days. She came recently. She also came and had My Darshan. Once, after a long time, she came to have My Darshan. She was surprised to see that Swami was physically the same. Then I told her that I do not like to grow My body too much. I do not have “Dehaabhimaanam” (identification with the body), but I have only “Aatmaabhimaanam” (identification with the Self).
(To the two singers) Learn and practise well. Gokulashtami is coming near. (He asked the names of these two students.)
Swami then asked some of the other Music College students their names. He then took one of the teachers into the interview room and came out during Bhajans.
Source: Students with Sai: Conversations (2001-2004)
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