Letters from India - Part 2

By DivyaWeed

15.5K 21 13

Continued from Letters from India, typed up from the letters I sent to my family while staying in India from... More

Introduction - Part Two
1. Subrahmanyam Idol & Christmas 1988
2. Kutumba Rao & Chiranjivi Rao - Jan 1989
3. Wild Whitefield Foreigners - Jan 1989
4. Big Ramayanam - Feb 1989
5. Shop Duty & Meeting Parvatamma - March 1989
6. Plans for Malaysia - March 1989
7. Van Crash, Kutumba Rao's Death - March 1989
8. Venkamma Reads My Palm - April 1989
9. Sendoff from Prasanthi Nilayam and In Malaysia - May 1989
9a. In Singapore - May 1989
10. Back in Prasanthi, Invited by Parvatamma, Scolded by Mataji - June 1989
11. Discourses in the Mandir - July 1989
12. Sadhana of Silence - July 1989
13. Venkamma's Training, Mataji's & Sarojamma's Ill Health - Sept 1989
14. Dasara & Student's Stories - Oct 1989
15. Venkamma Harsh, No Birth Info - Oct 1989
16. Birthday - Nov 1989
17. Rent Doubled Etc. - Dec 1989
18. Christmas 1989
19. Sivarathri, Summer Nights & Dreams - Jan - May 1990
19a. Vijay Sri & Swami's Family - Feb 1990
19b. Sweating in Summer
20. Vijai Sri Stories - May 1990
20a. Spiritual Holiday - 21 May 1990
21. Snake in Venkamma's Room - June 1990
22. Big Hospital Plans - July 1990
23. Tour of Construction With Padma & Niraja's Visit - Aug 1990
24. Krishnashtami & More Vijai Sri Stories - Sept 1990
25. Ganesh Procession, Onam & Ashram Construction - Sept 1990
25a. Inner Messages & Swami's Food Prep - Oct 1990
26. World Conference Construction - Sept & Oct 1990
27. Dipavali & Bonnie's Death - Oct 1990
28. Birthday 1990
29. Letter to Barbara - Dec 1990
30. Christmas, Measles & Robberies - Dec 1990 to Feb 1991
31. Allergies & Maha Sivarathri - Feb 1991
32. Swami Makes Vibhuti & Righteous Vijai Sri - March 1991
33. Letter to Barbara - March 1991
34. Foreigner Murdered in the Ashram - April 1991
35. Householder's Life - May 1991
36. Rajiv Gandhi's Death & Summer Course - May 1991
37. Immersed in His Game & Another Weddding - June & July 1991
38. Nice Darshans & Ganesh Chaturthi - July to Sept 1991
39. Darshans & Foot Injury - Oct 1991
41. Venkamma in Hospital with Flu - Dec 1991
42. Lady Crushed & Changes in PN - Feb 1992
43. Plans to Leave Dashed - March 1992
44. Canteen Construction & Typhoid Fever - March 1992
45. Easwaramma Day & Summer Course - Apr to May 1992
46. Daily Schedule, Bland Diet - June & July 1992
47. President of India and Visit to Convent - July & Aug 1992
48. Life Beyond Control and Amma Gets Bursitis - Aug & Sept 1992
49. Beware of False Messages - Sept 1992
50. Dasara and Dipavali - Oct 1992
51. Birthday Season and Nice Darshans - Nov & Dec 1992
52. Christmas 1992
53. New Year, Sports Meet & Visa Work in Delhi - Jan 1993
54. A Family Wedding, Indian Movies & Sivarathri - Jan & Feb 1993
55. Summer in Prasanthi - March 1993
56. Summer in Prasanthi Cont'd - Apr & May 1993
57. The Event - June 7, 1993
58. Still Not Settled - June 1993
59. The Mandir is True Darshan - June 1993
60. The Aftermath Continues - July 1993
61. Quiet Here - Aug 1993
62. Venkamma Passes Away - Sept 1993
63. Mentioned to Swami & Back in PN - Oct 1993
64. Swami's New Room & Reflections - Oct 1993
65. Grand Dasara - Oct 1993
66. Moved to Shed & Days Filled with Darshan - Oct - Nov 1993
67. Darshans in the Rain & Daily Discourses - Nov 1993
68. Memorable Dipavali & Akhanda Bhajan - Nov 1993
69. Sari Giveaway - Nov 1993
70. Birthday 1993
71. Radhakrishna's Family Interview & Talking with Goldstein - Dec 1993
72. Swami Leaves PN for Bangalore; I Leave for Anandashram - Dec 1993

40. Birthday & Visit of Prime Minister - Nov 1991

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By DivyaWeed

Birthday & Visit of Prime Minister

November 9-23, 1991

Prasanthi Nilayam

Dear Parents,

Here all is fine. Foot injury is healed. There were many days of cold, dark & miserable rain. Now, after a week, finality the sun is peeking out a bit. Chitravati river is full and flowing furiously! I got a cold but was only bedridden one day and now just have sinus trouble. Distressing because I’ve been loyally taking vitamins and eating fruits.

Dipavali was on 5 November. This year I was pleased to see Swami had many-colored fire works lighting up the sky, instead of the usual “BANG! Bang!! Finish.” Swami also gave discourse in the Mandir in the evening.

On 7 November the “Great Sari Giveaway of 1991” began. On 26 November: Swami gave saris to all foreigners living in the ashram on 17 November. He specifically ordered that those living outside should NOT get saris. He gave thin, see-through, polyester saris. Mine is white with different color designs. When He started to give He said, “Colors – fashion!” He complained to volunteers that the foreign Indians (living abroad) should not have sat for saris.

This year the Prime Minister is coming (Narasimha Rao) so it means vast security (complete with machine guns, walkie-talkies, etc.). They will empty out Round Building #2 & #3 to be used only for security. Even owners will have to vacate rooms! This is unheard of! But with the new office staff, they do as they wish.

We are still in South Prasanthi upstairs room but will have to vacate by 15 November, to sheds that are already full of foreigners!

26 November: On 22nd the Prime Minister of India came, along with a crowd of other famous politicians and opened the Grand New Super Specialty Hospital. Only people with Swami and those given passes were allowed in for it (about 3 miles from the ashram). In the evening was Convocation with speeches by Swami and politicians. I was really exhausted by all the extra work in Venkamma’s house, so didn’t go to the function (at 3 PM n Hill View Stadium).

23rd found all the politicians gone, all the villagers came and everyone went to Hill View Stadium. Swami arrived grandly in the chariot in dark red velvet robe. We sang bhajans and feasted our eyes on the Lord, sitting in the huge blue throne.

Alas, this was not Birth-day but Hospital-day: this year Swami paid tribute to Isaac - the American billionaire who donated millions of dollars to make the hospital possible - by sitting him on His right side. Now we know how to reach the right-hand side of the Lord (ha, ha!). Another billionaire (Sinclair) was also on the stage. In a chair on God’s left side was an Indian, Venu Gopal, the doctor who will do operations in the hospital for free.

There were two speeches totally dedicated to listing names and amounts donated to the hospital. It went, “Isaac: 2.5 crore rupees; Japan: 30 lakh rupees; a couple from USA: 25 lakh rupees” etc, etc. Strange but true!

Then Swami gave His speech. He talked of spiritual things but couldn’t resist resorting to praising the hospital, the equipment made possible with Isaac’s help, etc. Swami sang “Hari Bhajana Bina’ then presented huge silver bowls to the people sitting with Him on the stage (the three money-givers and one doctor).

Then Swami left with much fanfare and prasad (laddus) were distributed to all.

In the evening there was no jhoola (boo hoo!), instead a drama on Harischandra.

The thousands slowly decreased and now, three days later, many are gone, but still the verandahs are full of Indians cooking, sleeping and living a normal life!

The “head” of the ashram, Mr. Narayana, has already decamped and gone on holiday, but no rumors of his boss (Swami) going yet.

We moved to the shed on 10 November and they’ve just given a room again.

Venkamma is fine but is recovering from all the B-day work. She has regular bouts of fever, colds and gas problem.

I am fine – everyone else is fine here.

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.

Love,

Divya

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