Inauguration of Sathya Sai Center of Northeast Atlanta

Om Sri Sai Ram. With Bhagawan’s blessings, the Sathya Sai Center of Northeast Atlanta is now under the auspices of the Sathya Sai International Organization. The Center’s formal induction into SSIO coincided with the auspicious Mahashivarathri festival. On Sunday, March 3rd 2019, the special program at the Center included a talk on the spiritual significance of Mahashivarathri, followed by a devotional music offering and vibrant Bhajans.

Ivan Escalona, the speaker for the day, was born in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. In 2007 Ivan spent 2 months in Prashanti Nilayam enjoying Swami’s darshan and was fortunate to perform in His divine physical presence during Guru Poornima 2007 along with a contingent of devotees from Latin America. Ivan has a certification from the Sathya Sai Seva Organization to teach Vedam after attending a workshop on Vedam for instructors in Prashanti Nilayam in 2016. Ivan, his wife Osli and their 6 month old daughter Sai Gauri are members of the Sathya Sai Center of Northeast Atlanta. Ivan shared the significance of Mahashivarathri as expounded by Bhagawan, elaborating on the true meaning of the word “culture”. He shared 2 wonderful leelas from the Shiva Puranam and recited verses from the vedas and expounded on their meaning.

Devotees were then treated to a musical feast by classically trained local artists Janani Ragunathan, Ashwini Rao Kaushik, Sai Kishore Ravisankar, Anjaneya Sastry and Nikhil Kaushik. The musical offering was interspersed with several telling stories and leelas of Bhagawan Baba. The day’s proceedings concluded with energetic Bhajans and closing prayers. All members and guests in attendance carried the positive vibrations back home feeling immensely grateful for the special blessing of a spiritual home at the Sai Center of Northeast Atlanta. Jai Sai Ram.

Pictures: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IxGgCe9yTSNA-Vwx7veTe4EcczASUtpT

Audio of Ivan’s Talk: https://soundcloud.com/prasant-baratam/significance-of-shivarathri-talk-by-ivan-northeast-atlanta-sai-center/s-QlysP

Audio of Musical Offering: https://soundcloud.com/prasant-baratam/sets/northeast-atlanta-shivarathri-devotional-music-offering/s-QZ7Y3