Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba | Shivarathri Celebrations of Yesteryears

Among the multifaceted, colorful festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam, Maha Shivarathri carries special importance in the Prasanthi calendar. For the past seven decades and more, Shivarathri has been celebrated in the Divine Presence of Lord Shiva Himself in human form, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, with great grandeur and gala. Over the years, the method of celebration has changed, featuring different iconic moments of the Sathya Sai Avatar such as the Vibhuti Abhishekam, the Lingodbhavam, and the 12-hour nightlong Akhanda Bhajan. Although the procedures have changed over time, the joy, devotion, and sincerity with which each Maha Shivarathri is celebrated in the Celestial Valley remains the same. This short video shows glimpses of Maha Shivarathri of the yesteryears. We see Swami, young and vibrant, hoisting the Prasanthi flag, performing the Vibhuti abhishekam to a beautiful silver idol of Shirdi Sai with great furor and strength, and materializing a large Shiva lingam from His mouth. We also see Swami distributing the Vibhuti materialized during the abhishekam to each and every devotee assembled in front of the Prasanthi mandir with great love and compassion. Rare darshan scenes and glimpses of Puttaparthi of those days make this video a journey down memory lane, filling each heart with nostalgia and yearning.