SAMARPAN: Shravanam Mananam Nidhidyasanam
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba – our most compassionate Lord, the non-dual, the attributeless, the omnipresent, the ever- blissful – has filled our lives with His boundless love and Divine grace. He has entered our lives and become their centre: our Mother, Father, Friend, guide, and unfailing refuge in every moment of joy and sorrow. Every aspect of life finds fulfilment in Him. Our eyes are truly blessed only when they behold His captivating form.
Our hands become sacred only when they are engaged in His service. Our thoughts attain their highest purpose only when they dwell upon His teachings and His Divine message.
This human body itself finds its true worth only when it becomes a humble instrument for the manifestation of His will. To live for Him, to love Him, and to serve Him is not merely an act of devotion — it is the very purpose of life.
And yet, the very form that awakened such immeasurable love and devotion in the hearts of millions of devotees was one day withdrawn from our sight. The solemn day of 24th April 2011 is etched forever in the heart of every Sai devotee. It was the day our beloved Bhagawan chose to leave His physical form. In a single moment, an indescribable void seemed to envelop millions of hearts across the globe. Countless devotees wept, grieving the apparent separation from the Divine Presence they had known and cherished for so long. Yet amidst the tears and the silence, a profound question arose in every seeking heart: How do we continue to experience Bhagawan? How do we journey from adoring the Divine in His physical form to realising Him in His formless, eternal presence?
The answer lies in the very path that Bhagawan Himself prescribed: the path of Navavidha Bhakti, the nine paths of devotion. The Srimad Bhagavatam presents before us the inspiring example of King Parīkṣit. When he learnt that only seven days remained before his earthly life would come to an end, he renounced all worldly concerns and chose to spend those precious moments listening to the Divine glories of the Lord as narrated by the great sage Suka.
Such was the sanctifying power of the Lord’s Divine Leelas that while King Parīkṣit attained liberation through devoted listening. Sage Suka too, immersed in the bliss of narrating the Lord’s glory, rejoiced in the same supreme experience. Thus, both the listener and the narrator were elevated by the transformative power of Sravanam. Inspired by this timeless ideal, the alumni of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning started an initiative called Samarpan, an opportunity to listen, reflect, and immerse ourselves in His Divine life and teachings. The first Samarpan session was held at Brindavan in May 2011, just weeks after Bhagawan’s Mahasamadhi. Born of a deep yearning to bridge the void left by His physical absence, this humble offering of love and gratitude soon blossomed into an enduring spiritual movement.
Since then, on the third Sunday of every month, devotees have gathered to listen to the timeless teachings of Bhagawan and the inspiring experiences of those who were blessed to live, learn and serve in His physical proximity. Teachers of His institutions, senior alumni, and long-time devotees have shared not merely memories, but living testimonies of His boundless love, Divine guidance, and transforming grace helping countless seekers experience that Bhagawan’s presence transcends the limitations of the physical form.
Over the years, these gatherings have become a treasured experience for countless devotees. The Brindavan Samarpan has now completed more than 180 sessions, what began in Brindavan gradually blossomed into a global movement, with Samarpan taking root in Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, and several other Sai centres across the globe. Together, these chapters have conducted more than 500 sessions, carrying the fragrance of Bhagawan’s love and message to devotees across the world.
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, isolating people within the confines of their homes and filling many hearts with uncertainty, fear, and despair, Samarpan did not pause. Instead, it found a new expression. Embracing technology as an instrument of Bhagawan’s mission, the alumni began conducting the sessions online and made them available through YouTube, enabling devotees across the globe to participate irrespective of time or distance. Within weeks of being uploaded, many of these talks reached tens of thousands of views, carrying Bhagawan’s message of love and hope into homes across continents.
The response from devotees was deeply moving. Messages poured in from around the world describing how these sessions had rekindled faith, answered long-standing questions, and brought solace during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. For many who spent months in isolation, unable to meet family, friends, these sessions became a source of faith, hope and strength. Listening to the experiences of Bhagawan’s love and grace reminded them that they were never alone. His unseen hand continued to guide, protect, and comfort them, just as it always had.
Behind every Samarpan session lies an extraordinary amount of planning, coordination, and selfless teamwork. From identifying and inviting speakers, planning the programme, coordinating with the respective Sai Centres, and ensuring seamless hospitality and guest care, every detail is meticulously attended to by dedicated alumni volunteers. At the heart of this journey is the unwavering commitment of alumni teams, whose quiet dedication and unity have ensured that Samarpan remains a living offering of love and gratitude at Bhagwan’s Lotus Feet.
Those associated with organising Samarpan have, time and again, experienced Bhagawan’s invisible hand at work. Numerous incidents – often beyond human planning or expectation – have reaffirmed that these sessions are not sustained by individual effort alone. Whenever challenges arose, help arrived in unexpected ways, speakers came forward at the right moment, and obstacles dissolved through His grace. Such experiences have strengthened the conviction that Bhagawan Himself is the unseen organiser, and that every session unfolds according to His Divine Will.
Through the narration of His divine Leelas, heartfelt reflections on His teachings, and the sharing of personal experiences of His boundless love and grace, Samarpan has become far more than a series of monthly talks. It has become a living experience of Bhagawan’s continuing presence. Time and again, devotees have realised that Bhagawan never truly departed with the withdrawal of His physical form. Rather, He continues to live in every heart that remembers Him, every life that strives to practice His teachings, and every act of selfless love offered in His name. Through Samarpan, countless devotees have experienced the truth of His eternal assurance: “I am with you, in you, around you, above you, below you.”
And slowly, through listening, reflection, and loving remembrance, they move towards the highest realisation—that the Lord they seek is none other than the Divine dwelling within, and that He and we are One.
