Worldwide Akhanda Bhajans: A Garland of Love
Akhanda Bhajan (nonstop twenty-four-hour worldwide bhajan (devotional singing) by Sai devotees all over the world) is being carried out, not for the sake of one individual, one nation or one community. It is for the welfare of humanity as a whole. The bhajans that are sung permeate the ether in the form of sound waves and fill the entire atmosphere. Thereby the whole environment gets purified. Breathing in this purified atmosphere, our hearts get purified. Reciting the Lord's name is a process of give-and-take. Singing the Lord's name should become an exercise in mutual sharing of joy and holiness. ~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba1
I spent most of this past weekend at our regional Worldwide Akhanda Bhajans. This year, I figured I would try to contribute more than just singing so I helped a bit with setup on Friday night. I was struck by the sheer volume of work behind the scenes. When I arrived on Saturday, I was similarly impressed by the majestic altar arrangement. Thick floral chandeliers of roses and cascading wisteria floated above a radiant photo of our beloved Sri Sathya Sai Baba's face, while blush and claret-colored drapes descended into clouds of gauze. Twenty-four hours sped by in a blur of joyful worship, culminating in a powerful string of soul-stirring bhajans. As usual, I was moved to tears.
All over the world, we raised our voices to the heavens, praying to all forms of God, in all languages and faiths, for peace, for all people, for all time. What drives us to execute this massive global event? Love. Love that pulses through us, all of us. Love that transcends borders, backgrounds, and beliefs. Every clap, every chorus, every cadence of notes, every cymbal played, every vegetable chopped, every compostable cup filled with chai, every cord plugged in, every camera set up, every child cared for, every carefully coordinated action executed this past weekend was like a small flower offered in His name. Together, we formed a magnificent garland, all the more beautiful because of the underlying thread of unconditional, limitless, all-powerful Love.
~ Ellesha Wanigasekera
Reference:
1Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 19 (1986), https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/glorify-lords-name