17th,18th & 19th - Day One to Day Three of Bhagavatha Sapthaham

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March 17, 2010 – Day One of Bhagavatha Sapthaham

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is said that the great sage Vyasa, having written the great epics was still dissatisfied. He knew not the sweetness of pure joy and felt incomplete. It was then that the celestial sage Narada advised him to write the stories of the Lord for what could be sweeter than that? And that was what brought solace to the great sage. That is the power of the Bhagawatham - "Baaga Avatamu (we will become good)†as Swami puts it so succinctly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting from March 17, a week long Saptaham as it is called, on the Bhagawatham, had been arranged at Prasanthi Nilayam and it was to be conducted by the Balsant (literally translates as “The Boy Saintâ€), Sri Rituraj Maharaj.The morning saw the traditional manner of installing the holy book and the Vyas Peeth had been prepared for the Balsant. The commentary was scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. Swami had not yet arrived but He sent word that it must start only after He comes! The Balsant was thrilled! He had made his first brief talk in Swami's presence during the Ashadi Ekadasi festival in 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever since tasting the joy of Divine proximity, he had been pining for doing a Saptaham in His presence as he said later. And when a devotee prays, the Lord responds, always and without fail. It was to the unbounded joy of Rituraj Maharaj that Swami arrived in the morning and after taking a complete round, moved to the stage.On the way, He paused to study the mural of the child Dhruva seeking and finding the Lord. A corner near the interview room has been occupied by a frame in which the murals are changed daily, like the "picture of the day" concept!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swami lit the lamp on the stage and blessed Maharaj to begin. In the center was Sri Rituraj and Swami sat by the side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a prelude to the commentary, an invocatory prayer was offered to Swami followed by various other Mantras invoking the various gods and goddesses of the Hindu tradition. The story began with the dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna and His devotee Uddhava. When Uddhava asked as to how he could offer worship to the Divine form of Krishna after He departs from physical form, Krishna answers, "By worshipping and studying the Bhagavatham."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elucidating on the great good fortune of all assembled to hear His story in His presence, Maharaj in his inimitable style went on narrating the birth of Sage Suka and the story as to how he was endowed with wisdom before his birth. Sage Narada is approached by a woman who is Bhakti (devotion) in reality. Her sons Jnana (wisdom) and Vairagya (renouncement) are aged far beyond the mother and she says that Bhakti is of no use without the sons! And so the remedy that sage Narada offers is the sacred stories of the Bhagavatham.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next to come was an incident that happened in the banks of Tungabhadra involving Atmadeva, narrating the birth of Dunduli and Gokarna.Dunduli’s evil deeds and atrocities on Atmadeva form an important message as to what is permanent and what is not! Upon informing Gokarna about his travails, Atmadev finds great wisdom by listening to the advice of his son about the unfortunate family bonding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explaining in detail the futility of material life and requesting his father to renounce the world and go to forest, Gokarna tells him to read the Tenth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam every day. Swami sat through the whole parayanam, listening and looking at the beautifully decorated stage. In between, He went into the interview room for a short while but even as He went, He told Rituraj to continue speaking and that He would return soon.

As He had said, He came out quickly and sat for the rest of the talk. At almost nearing 11:00 a.m., the commentary concluded and Swami smiled and blessed Maharaj. He asked him as to what time he would begin in the evening. He said, "4:30". Swami told him to announce that over the mikes. Then, receiving aarthi, Swami retired for the morning. In the evening, shortly after 4:00 p.m., the summary of the morning's commentary was read out following which the Veda chanting went on. Soon, the evening's parayanam began after Sri Rituraj took his place in the centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swami blessed him to begin and the evening's theme centred around the saving grace of Lord Krishna which rescued the Pandavas time and again. The dying Kaurava prince, Duryodhana, requests Ashwatthama to bring him the heads of the Pandavas. As Ashwatthama plans to make a cruel attack at night, Lord Krishna advises the Pandavas and their sons, the Upa-Pandavas to sleep elsewhere. "Like the modern youth, the sons do not listen to the Lord and so they were all killed!" said Sri Rituraj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then, as Ashwattama decided to direct the Brahmaasthra to the womb of Uttara to destroy the last hope of the Pandava lineage, Lord Krishna intervened and saved the child. The child was Parikshith, who was so named because ever since his birth he was on a search to find his Saviour! "All of us too must search keenly for our saviour for aren't we also Parikshith? Are we also not mysteriously protected and nourished when in the womb?" asked the Balsant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He soon concluded and Swami asked for bhajans to begin. First, He asked for the "Shlokam" bhajan and so “Shri Raghavam†was sung. Then, a flurry of Krishna bhajans followed which everyone enthusiastically participated in. After about half an hour, Swami blessed prasadam to be distributed to all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the bhajans, aarthi was taken. After this, Swami told a student in the front that the summary of the talks being given may be presented daily. He then blessed a few more students in the front and told everyone, "Go and take rest. Tomorrow, all that was said today will be summarised." It was 7:15 p.m. when He moved towards Yajur Mandir.

sourced:

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Portal/pd-articles/PD-17_03_2010.htm

 

 

 

 

 

March 18, 2010 – Day Two of Bhagavatha Sapthaham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second day for the Bhagavatha Saptaham dawned in Prasanthi Nilayam on March 18 and shortly after nine, the commentary by Sri Rituraj Maharaj began. The highlight of the morning talk was the episode of King Parikshit’s intense desire to listen to the Divine leelas of the Lord from sage Suka after he was cursed by Sanghi, the son of sage Shameeka, to see his death by the poisonous fangs of the king of serpents in seven days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the story progressed, Swami arrived for darshan at about 10:10 a.m. There was a silence as every ear listened to the story of the Lord and every eye concentrated on the form of the Lord. Passing through the ladies' side and the students, Swami collected letters. Completing the round, Bhagavan passed by the "picture of the day" - a mural of Lord Vishnu rescuing his devotee elephant, Gajendra. By 10:25 a.m., Swami was seated on the stage by the side of the Maharaj and the grand stage seemed even more beautiful and glorious with His presence.

Swami sat on the stage reading a letter that He had taken during His rounds. The story meanwhile moved to the narration of the sacrifice done by King Daksha to which he did not invite Lord Shiva. The story of Sati and the appearance of Veerabhadra followed. The narration was on for more than an hour in Swami's presence and at about 11:25, the concluding song was sung.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the session ended, Swami beamed a smile and asked for the aarthi to be taken. He spoke at length with the boy who presented a rose to Him and seemed to clarify some issues to him. Once the aarthi was complete, Swami called a primary school student, Sathya who hails from Iran, and asked him to chant a vedic hymn.

The little boy did so with great elan and confidence. He began with the Durgasuktam. Swami stopped him midway and then began to speak to the artists who accompanied Sri Rituraj's commentary on the keyboard, harmonium, tabla and the octopad. These artists in fact lend the flavour to the whole commentary. The background score blends in so naturally and gracefully and one is transported into the stories being narrated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Returning to our main narration, Swami began to talk to these artists. He told them, "This boy is a Muslim from Iran. Coming here, he has picked up the Vedic chants so perfectly. He can chant many suktams!" Then Sathya was told to chant the Rudram which he did so. Swami then asked him where his brother was. The little Rama was called and he came running up to the stage. Even at his full height, he struggled to come up to even the neck of our seated Swami!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bhagavan lovingly asked him as to whether He knew Vedas. He nodded a Yes and kept looking at Swami. Bhagavan patted him on his cheeks and told the artists, "He is his brother. He also has learned Vedas. They both want to stay here with Swami. I tell them to go back home but they say they will stay here itself." Swami introduced the brothers to Sri Rituraj also. Then He sent them both back to their places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The boy seated beside Swami is from Spain and Swami told that also to Maharaj. Maharaj seemed simply dumbstruck in Swami's presence and he repeatedly bent down to take padanamaskar - a blessed wise soul indeed for he knows the best things to be done when in Swami's presence. It was almost 12 p.m. when Swami retired after the morning session. The evening session began with the presentation of the summaries of the talk delivered the previous day evening and that day morning at 4:00 p.m. At 4:30 the talk by Sri Rituraj Maharaj began. He narrated the inspiring story of the little boy, Dhruva. The son of Uttanapada and his elder queen Suniti, Dhruva pines to sit on his father's lap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the king, who is very attached to the younger queen, Suruchi, stands mute witness as she banishes the little Dhruva from the kingdom saying, "If you want to sit on your father's lap, be born of my womb." It was at this point in the story that Swami arrived. The time was 5:15 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Maharaj then narrates the story with many sub-plots and intelligent deviations which relate to the state of modern day society. Swami moved towards the stage, taking a detour after the ladies' side. As He arrived on the stage, the story continued. Suniti tells her son, "If you pine to sit on someone's lap, pine to sit on the lap of Narayana." Inspired, young Dhruva goes to the forest.

The celestial sage Narada tries to convince Dhruva about the dangers and hardships involved but seeing his determination, prays, "Lord, even if I may never have your darshan again, it is fine, but let this child not return defeated." Using the mantra, "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya", Dhruva wins the Lord's love and with it, everything in life and after life too! The commentary concluded at 5:45 p.m. Swami then asked the students in front to sing. Taking His padanamaskar they began. The first was a Meera bhajan, "Payoji Maine" which was followed by another Meera bhajan, "Darashan Deejo Aao Pyaare". Both were rendered in classical Hindustani style and as they concluded, Swami told two other singers to sing Carnatic songs. One of them was the Kannada classic of Purandaradasa which sang out the great good fortune of Yasoda, "Oh Yasoda! Blessed indeed are you for you played with the One for whom the whole world is a Play!" Two more songs later, Swami asked for another couple of students to sing. They too came up with a song on Krishna in Telugu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this beautiful music session which lasted more than half an hour, Swami blessed prasadam, (lingam-shaped chocolates) to be distributed to all. Aarthi was then taken. After this, Swami looked at a student sitting to His extreme right and said that He would like to move that way. So taking a circuit around the portico and the veranda, Swami moved back towards the Yajur Mandir.

 

sourced:

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Portal/pd-articles/PD-18_03_2010.htm

 

March 19, 2010 – Day Three of Bhagavatha Sapthaham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The morning session of Bhagawatha Parayanam on March 19 was different from the previous two days with respect to Swami's physical presence. Bhagavan did not come out in the morning but His presence could be felt in the beautiful exposition by Sri Rituraj Maharaj. The commentary that day dwelt upon two stories which are told in answer to Parikshit's questions, "Is there 'meaning' in 'waste'? Is there 'Divinity' in 'selfishness' too?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Vena grew proud after misunderstanding the statement that "God does everything." He thinks that since there is no difference between him and God, he should be worshipped in temples and scriptures be written on him! On the other hand, his son Prithu did everything for the welfare of his people. Unlike his selfish father, he recognized the unity of the Self and thus did great sacrifices!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next story was that of Bharatha - a great king and later a renunciant who became very attached to a baby deer. So intense was his attachment that he was reborn as a deer! Finally when he got his next human birth, he had realized the totally futility of worldly love. Thus he was in permanent silence, earning him the name, Jada (inert) Bharatha. With this story, bhajans began and aarthi was taken at 11a.m.In the evening, as usual, there were summary presentations from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. after which Sri Rituraj Maharaj began. The evening's session was dedicated to the power and redeeming Grace that the Lord's name brings about. Sri Rituraj recounted the story of Ajamila from the 6th canto of the Srimad Bhagawatam. Ajamila was a virtuous Brahmin living in the city of Kanyakubja. Once, while he was returning home from the forest, he happened to see a woman in the lustful company of a Sudra. Enamored by her, he gave up his duties to his wife and parents. This story stands as a testimony to how circumstances and bad company can totally wreck a man. Ajamila changed completely thereafter.He married this unchaste woman and to please her, he even started thieving and killing innocent people. One day, a group of saints were passing by that village and they wanted to take shelter in a righteous household. When the saints actually met Ajamila’s wife, they came to know that Ajamila was a thief. In spite of that, they insisted on staying there for the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ajamila had atoned for all his sins justby Mere uttering the Divine name

When Ajamila returned, he was perplexed about their presence. It was the first time that an idol of God was installed in their dwelling and the whole environment sanctified by the presence of saintly people. When the saints were finally about to leave, they requested the lady to name their next son as “Narayanaâ€. A son was born and being the youngest, “Narayana†was very dear to both the parents. When it was finally time for Ajamila’s death, as the messengers of death approached, Ajamila called out to his son Narayana. Though the child could not respond, the compassionate Lord did. Since Ajamila seemingly remembered Lord Narayana’s name in his final moments, Vishnudootas (messengers of the Lord) arrived immediately and prevented Yama’s attendants from taking Ajamila to hell. The Lord of death then explains that Ajamila had atoned for all his sins the moment he uttered the Divine

name.

It was in between the Ajamila story that Swami arrived for darshan at just after 5:00 p.m. Taking a detour after the ladies' side, Swami moved straight to the stage. Blessing Sri Rituraj as he bent at His feet on His arrival, Swami sat at an angle facing both, the speaker and the audience. The noted speaker went on to narrating the story of Vritrasura. Viswaroopa, the son of Thwashta Prajapati, was slayed by Indra for stealing a portion of the sacred offerings. Twashta, then performed a sacrifice to get a son who would take revenge by killing Indra. As Twashta did not chant the mantra correctly, he instead begot a son Vritra who would be killed by Indra. When Vritra realized that Indra’s weapon Vajra actually embodied the prowess of Narayana because of the penance of Dadhîci, he invited Indra to use it. Vritrasura prayed: “Just like a small bird looking for its mother, just like a calf being hungry looking for the udder, just like a wife waiting for her husband, just as eager is my mind to see You, O lotus-eyed One.†When he was finally struck by Indra, a light emanated and merged in Lord Narayana. Indra got back the rulership of the heaven, but it was Vritra’s victory which was greater as he won over the Lord’s heart. Swami was involved in His narrative and in between, He leafed through some of the many letters He had collected. At 5:40 p.m., the narration concluded and Swami raised His right hand in blessing for Maharaj. Then, Swami signaled for the boys seated down to begin the programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swami had taken keen interest in this songs' programme that the students had planned. He had in fact called over these students to the building next to His residence for the rehearsals! That is the beauty of God. He plans, He directs, He corrects and finally, He enjoys the creation! The last part of the preceding statement was to be executed in the next few minutes!As the students got ready, Swami made a last minute change! He told all of them to come up onto the stage. As all the singers and instrumentalists moved up the stage, the audio department got into overdrive, quickly making changes to accommodate this change in venue! Soon however, everything was set and the programme began.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The presentation was a collection of poems and songs of Swami, on Swami! Even as the singers were singing, Swami gave each of them a Vibhuti packet from the bundle that He had in His hand. The songs brought out the similarities between the Krishnas of two different ages! The beautifully decked stage with the Lord and the singers presented an impressive sight. Due to the space crunch, the keyboard and sitar remained off stage and they were played from below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire programme lasted about 50 minutes at the end of which Swami gave padanamaskar to all the participants. As the students playing the sitar and keyboard went up the stage, Swami asked them, "How were the songs sounding (down there)?" It was such a sweet query. In one statement it showed His involvement in the singing and at the same time He let it be known that He knew these two boys were down and playing their instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swami then began to introduce some of the evening's performers to Sri Rituraj. He told him that all were post graduates and that they had stayed back for Swami. He asked some of them their ages and the answers were 37 and 40! Swami exclaimed and said, "See how elder they are!" Maharaj seemed so pleased to meet them and he folded his hands in namaskar to them.It was such a profound moment. It showed that all that we need to do is to be with the Lord. With the Lord, one gets the world too. Blessing the Balsant, Swami asked for aarthi. It was 6:50 p.m. when He returned to the residence.

sourced:

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Portal/pd-articles/PD-19_03_2010.htm