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The Maha Shivaratri festivities held at Sri Sathya Sai Vaatsalyam were a rich celebration of the divine, highlighted by sacred rituals, bhajans, musical renditions, and expressive dance tributes dedicated to Lord Shiva. The day began with the ceremonial Somasundareshwara Abhisheka and Rudra Homa in the morning hours, and a night-long vigil in the form of Akhanda Bhajans that extended from 6 PM until 6 AM the following day.
Morning Programme: Invocation of Divine Blessings
The morning began with the Rudra homa, Somasundareshwara Lingam Abhisheka, and Bhoomi Puja. The sacred rituals were initiated with the ceremonial lighting of lamps. The worship commenced with the invocation of Lord Ganesha’ blessings, followed by Rudrabhishekam of Somasundareshwara Lingam and Ganapati.
The assembled devotees and priests collectively chanted sacred Vedic hymns and offered fervent prayers for the welfare of all beings during the puja. The sacred strains of the Thavil-Nadaswaram ensemble was a captivating delight, elevating the spirit with their enriching devotional music.
The rituals reached a crescendo with the performance of the Rudra Homa. The ceremony culminated in a grand Purnahuti, the final offering made into the sacred fire, comprising a variety of auspicious offerings.
Evening Celebrations: Akhanda Bhajans and Devotional Offerings
The evening festivities commenced with the lighting of lamps at 6 PM followed by bhajans, marking the beginning of a vibrant Akhanda Bhajan session dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The cultural programmes unfolded with a captivating Hindustani musical concert by Vidushi Smt. Vasudha Narasimhamurthy, accompanied on the mridangam by Vidwan Shri H.N Narasimha Murthy and tabla by Vidwan Shri Santosh Hegade. Harmonium melodies were skillfully rendered by Smt. Neeta Beleyur, with support from Shri Samvatsara on the rhythm pad, while Smt. Vasudha’s students, Sriranjini, Bindu, Nandashree, and Shridhar provided soulful vocals. The concert included Smt. Vasudha Narasimhamurthy’s scintillating presentation of Raag Maarwa, a Shiva bhajan ‘Sundaraanana’, and ‘Bho Shankara Abhayankara’ in Raag Malkauns.
This was followed by a Bharatnatyam dance performance by sisters Aparna Krishnan, Sathvika Krishnan, and Sourabha Bhat. Their recital was themed around the Shiva family, portraying various facets of Lord Shiva through captivating dances. Their repertoire included ‘Gajavadana Beduve‘, ‘Mahadeva Shiva Shambho‘, ‘Natana Manohara‘ – a Shiva Padam (devotional poem), ‘Azhagu Deivamagu Vandu‘ – an energetic kavadi chindu (a folk dance form), a Sai Bhajan ‘Bhama Bhushitaanga Sai’, and a ‘Devi Mangalam’ (an invocation to the Divine Mother).
A soulful flute recital by Dr Gajanan Sabhahit followed next. He was accompanied by the Vidwan Shri Sumukh Chandra on the violin, Vidwan Shri Gurudatt on the mridangam and Vidwan Shri Santosh Hegade on the tabla. The musical offering included a melodious rendition of Raag Yaman, and culminated in a delightful jugalbandhi featuring the harmonious interplay of the flute, violin, and mridangam.
Ananyaa Mahesh, Sathvika Krishnan, and Veena Suryanarayan, students of the Parampara Creative Arts Foundation, presented a harmonious Carnatic music recital next. They were accompanied by Shri Hariharapura K Abhijith on the mridangam and Shri Srikanth Rajkumar on the violin. Together, they delivered a melodious rendition of timeless keerthanams, such as ‘Naada Tanumanisham’, ‘Maamava Meenakshi’, and ‘Jampupate Maam Paahi’ in the traditional Carnatic music style.
Sai bhajans took the centre stage next as the teams of volunteers, men and women sang heartfelt bhajans in praise of Shiva and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Their collective devotion resonated throughout the hall as all present joyfully joined in the soulful singing, accompanied by the melodious strains of the harmonium, the tala, and the rhythmic clapping of hands.
Bhajan programme led by Shri Shivalinga Gowda and his group from Uyyamballi village was next. Their spirited group singing infused the atmosphere with a renewed sense of vigour and infectious joy. They presented a repertoire of traditional bhajans steeped in their community’s rich heritage. With singers spanning all age groups, from the elderly to the youngest, their voices harmoniously blended in divine melodies that filled the air. Even the little ones enthusiastically participated, adding rhythmic beats with the tala, their innocence and pure devotion touching every heart.
As the first rays of the morning sun appeared, the sacred chants of Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatam filled the air, along with various Shiva Stotrams, Sai Gadyam, and Bhajan medleys. The Akhanda bhajan session concluded on a sublime note at 6 AM, leaving the entire Sadashivam hall resonating with divine vibrations.
The Maha Shivaratri celebrations culminated with the offering of Aarti and MahaPrasadam, leaving everyone present spiritually charged and immersed in the divine grace of Lord Shiva and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
