The activities of the devotional dimension enable a student to connect to his/her Divine inner Self, resulting in a calm, focused & intuitive mind. This inner connection opens the heart and brings forth the feeling of love, compassion and empathy for fellow human beings.

The key elements of the Devotional Dimension, include the following:

• Bhajans (Sankirtan)
• Vedic chants and stotrams
• Meditation & Silent sitting
• Suprabhatam (prayer at dawn)
• Assembly (college prayer)
• Brahmarpanam (food prayer)
• Kshama Prarthana (night prayer)

When done collectively, these everyday practices of prayers, listening to talks on topics related to morals and values and listening to Vedic changes or singing bhajans has a profoundly positive impact on the student’s mind and heart.

Cultural Dimension

From the performing arts to public speaking to the fine arts, the cultural dimension creates avenues for expression of a student’s creative potential through various art forms and helps develop an appreciation of the different facets of culture. Wide opportunities are given to students to find an avenue to their individual artistic expression. The university makes every effort to provide the best possible resources—both material and human—so that students excel at their chosen activity. As an example, festivals of major world religions are celebrated, reinforcing the unity among all faiths. Every student is involved in one way or another in the celebration of these festivals.

Some of the cultural dimension choices include:

• Celebration of multi-faith festivals:Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesha Immersion, Christmas, Eid-al-Fitr, Independence Day, Sri Krishna Janamashtami (cow procession), Ugadi, Sri Ramanavami, etc.
• Brass Band
• Nadaswaram & Panchavadyam ensemble
• Annual Sports & Cultural Meet
• Performing Arts: Music programmes
• Music, dance, drama, quiz, panel discussion and elocution
• Fine Arts: Rangoli, Card making,
• Photography, Altar making, etc.
• Public Speaking
• Painting, sketching/drawing, card-making, bookmark-making, preparation of useful articles out of waste

Students are involved the planning and execution of all activities. For example, drama has always been an important part of the Annual Convocation at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Our Revered Founder Chancellor would Himself write the script and take keen interest in these dramas. The uniqueness of the dramas is that they are conceived and produced by students of the university. All the aspects of the drama such as sets, costumes, makeup, music, etc. are entirely produced by the students.

At the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, Puttaparthi, the Ashram is a place that enables a transformation in the lives of the students. It is 500 meters away from the Hostel, sprawling over 200 acres of space and houses the Revered Founder Chancellor’s residence, temples, an auditorium, boarding and lodging arrangements for visitors, food outlets & canteens, and a host of other services.

The students from all campuses gather at Prasanthi Nilayam on all important festival occasions such as Guru Pournima, Navaratri, Christmas, New Year, Shivaratri, University Convocation and the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet. These festivals are celebrated in their true traditional fervour. Students also get an opportunity to listen to excerpts of the Revered Founder Chancellor’s addresses (explaining the spirit and the inner significance of these rituals and ceremonies) at various festivals.  Some of these are listed below.

Major celebrations at SSSIHL
New Years Programme, Easwaramma Day, Global Akhanda Bhajans, Annual Sports & Cultural Meet, Dance Drama Presentations, Convocation Drama, Valedictory Function of Sports & Cultural Meet, Independence Day Drama, Bhagawan Baba’s Birthday, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Music programmes by students, Drama Presentation at Makarasankranti, Welcome Programme for Freshers, Music Performances, Eid-al-Fitr, Farewell Programme for graduating student, Republic Day, Ganesha Immersion, Mahashivaratri, Burrakatha Performances, Investiture Ceremony, Gratitude Programs by Graduating students, Dasara Celebrations, Christmas, Diwali, etc.

Every student is involved in one way or another during these festivals of the year. A few examples are given below.

Brass Bands

The story of the University brass bands is one of dedication, effort and grace. Bhagawan Baba spent considerable amounts of His time to initiate the brass bands at the Prasanthi Nilayam and Anantapur campuses. In the beginning since there was no one to teach the western instruments such as the trumpet, clarinet and the saxophone, Bhagawan Baba sent celebrated trumpeters like Maynard Fergusson and other instrumentalists to teach students how to play these instruments.

With the hard work and effort that goes into the practice sessions around the year, it is no surprise that the University today has two most versatile and complete brass bands. It has instruments such as the Sousaphone, the French Horn, the Baritone Sax, and other latest percussion and wind instruments, most of which are manufactured by Yamaha. The senior students teach their juniors as they gain expertise in their own instruments.

The Brass Bands get an opportunity to perform on a number of occasions such as the Annual Convocation and the Annual Sports Day of the University and many other Indian and international festivals.

Nadaswaram & Panchavadyam

On festival occasions, following months of practice, the Nadaswaram group of the women’s campus and the Panchavadyam group of the men’s campuses often put up stirring performances. These programs are a representation of the skills, versatility and dedication of the students towards all Integral Education activities during the academic year.

Drama

The Hostels house independent costume facilities fully manned by the students, which provide exhaustive services for the several dramas and skits performed during the Annual Convocation, Annual Sports and Cultural Programmes, and a variety of festivals (celebrated in the Ashram) before huge public gatherings.