Mahatmyam
After partaking in the events related with the Kalyanotsavam the devotees of Lord Varadaraja Perumal were filled with a thirst to hear the glorious stories related to the Lord and his exploits. The thirst is not an ordinary one which could be quenched with the sip of water. The thirst in these devotees can be aged back to millions of lives. Listening to Srimad Bhagavatham is the only way to quench the thirst.
Sri Ravi Kashyap, disciple of Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal of Maharanyam, was chosen to be the person who would quench the thirst of the Bhaktas at Govindarajapuram. Sri Ravi started of with the narration of Bhagavatha Mahatmyam.
He narrated that once when Sage Narada was visiting the earth, he wanted to have the Darshan of Lord Sri Hari at Various places. He traveled all along the Indian terrain and when he reached a place in North India he saw a lady who had traces of erstwhile beauty on her. With her were two men looking very aged and hardly able to stand up.
Sage Narada felt very compassionate and inquired her who she was. She introduced herself as Bhakti devi and further said that she was born in Dravida Desa. She was brought up in south India and married in the North Indian terrain. The two men were her children, Jnana and Vairagya. She further said that she was in this state because no one cared for her in this Kali yuga. As a result her sons also suffered and sought the asylum of Sage Narada.
With his divine vision Sage Narada advised to be present in a place where Stories of Sri Hari were sang and suggested her to be present in the place where Srimad Bhagavatham is narrated. She rushed to the place where Bhagavatham was about to be narrated, but the place was too crowded for her to find a seat. Yakshas, Kinnaras, Caranas,Gandharvas,Brahma and Siva together with all the devas were already present at the place. On seeing her plight sage Narada instructed her to take seat in the heart of the Bhaktas assembled and thus she took her seat in the hearts of the Bhaktas.
As the Bhagavatha sapthaham progressed, devi Bhakti gained her past glory and beauty and her children – Jnana and Vairagya grew stronger and brighter.
This was the highlight of the narration by Sri Ravi on the first day.
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.
Srimad Bhagavatham Day 2- 22/12/2009
The story of Jatabharathar was expounded in the moring session during parayanam. The famous Kunthi stuthi and Bhishma stuthi were narrated to a thirsty audience in the evening. Sri Ravi was describing the message given by sage Vyasa through Kunthi Stuthi and Bhishma Stuthi.
Kunthi stuthi is the song where Kunthi the mother of Pandavas extols Sri Krishna. Along with her praises she asks for troubles in life, since troubles are times when the lord comes to the rescue of a bhakta.
Bhishma in his stuthi praises the lord as the incarnation of Dharma itself and sings out the thousand names of the lord. His stuthi comes at the juncture where he is about to leave his mortal coils.
Srimad Bhagavatham Day 3 – 23/12/2009
Sri Narasimha avathara katha was narrated in the morning session during Parayanam.
The evening witnessed the beautiful exposition of Kapila Vasudeva charitram. Bhagavan Kapila an incarnation of Lord Vasudeva imparts Jnana to his mother devahuthi, who is so anxious to know the supreme Brahman. Blessed is the mother to whom the lord himself is born as a son and imparts Jnana. The lord explains the various system of yoga, the Sankhya, Karma,Jnana and Bhakthi marga to Devahuthi. Again the lord stresses the point that out of all these Margas the easiest one is to fix one’s sight on the Lord’s lotus feet and surrender one’s self to him. Devahuthi attains liberation after drinking the knowledge to her heart’s content.
Srimad Bhagavatham Day 4 – 24/12/2009
Shri Krishna Jananam was sung in the morning session during parayananm.
The story of Dhruva, dhruva charitram was narrated in the evening. The plight of 5 year old boy at the hands of his stepmother, his mental agony on being insulted while trying to sit on the lap of King – his father. The child develops vairagya owing to the insult and sets on for doing tapas. The determination of Child attracts sage Narada and he gives the child the sacred mantra of Sri Hari. With determination set in his heart like a rock, he starts his Tapas. Dhruva stopped taking food gradually and started living on air. At the end of the arduous Tapas Lord Sri Hari appears before him. Pleased at this devotion Sri hari bestows on him many riches and ask Dhruva to ask for a boon. Due to his Poorva sankalpam Dhruva asks for the status of King and Lord Sri Hari grants the same. On returning to his kingdom he gets a hero’s welcome and people flock around him and celebrate his arrival. His father was full of tears. Dhruva wins many war for his kingdoma dn fights for the devas as well. In due course he realizes that all these are nothing when compared to the Lotus feet of Sri Hari.
He again performs intense Tapas and attains the Lotus Feet of Sri Hari.
Srimad Bhagavatham Day 5 – 25/12/2009
Rugmini Swayamvaram was sung during the morning session. The parayanam was done by Sri Ravi Bhagavatha along with others.
Prahlada charitram, the story of the child who was initiated by Sage Narada while the child was still in the womb. The child was subjected to many tortures by his father himself, who was a strong antagonist of Sri Hari. The child displays the beauty of Hari Bhakthi and its strength. The child passes through many acid tests and at last when his father was bent upon killing the child, Sri Hari himself comes for the rescue of the child. When encountered by his father with a question whether Sri Hari will be present in the Pillar built by him, Prahlada the child devotee affirms. On hearing this the Asura king breaks the Pillar and Lo, comes out the Narasimha Moorthy in his full valour. He kills the Asura king with his bare hands and Prahlada extols him as Bhaktha Rakshakan.
The story of Gajendra moksham, the elephant which offered a lotus from the pond to the Lord Sri Hari saying Narayana Akhila Guro Bhagavan namasthe. The elephant when caught by an alligator in the Pond cries to Lord Sri Hari for rescue. Are we all not caught by the alligator of Karma in the Pond of Samsara. The story of Gajendra is a classic example for all of us to cry for rescue to none other than the Karunamoorthy, Sri Hari. Narayana Akhila Guro Bhavan Namasthe.
The story of Vamana Avatharam and Ambareesha charitham was also expounded after this.
Srimad Bhagavatham Day 6 – 26/12/2009
Hamsa Guhyam, the story of Lord Sri Hari imparting Jnana in the form of Hamsa, the divine Swan to the saintly brothers’ sanaka etc. was expounded during the morning session at Paarayanam.
The evening saw the narration of Sri Rama avatharam. The mission for the avathara was to show the world how to tread through the path of Dharma. Rama was the ideal for anything and everything. How to discharge the duties of a son, a husband, a king, a father, a brother and what not? Sri Sri Muraidhara Swamiji would expound Rama as the Lord Sri Hari, Sita as the Jiva in the samsara chain and Hanuman as the Sadguru who brings message from the lord, that rescue is not far away.
Shri Krishna Jananam was expounded after Sri Rama charitam. The lord due to his compassion and to keep his promise to Devaki in the previous birth is born at the Prison. Lord Sri Hari desisted himself from displaying his divine powers in the Rama avathara and played a role model on how a human being should live. In his present avathara as Shri Krishna he displayed his divine powers right from his birth.
A visit by Swami Sri Sachidananda Thirtha swamigal from Sri Chakra Mahameru Peetam, Bilaspur to the Temple
Srimad Bhagavatham Day 7 – 27/12/2009
Parikshit moksham was narrated during the morning session at Paarayanam.
The story of Rugimini Kalyanam was narrated in the evening. Though Rugmini the princess of Vidharbha wanted to marry Shri Krishna but her parents and brother have other plans. They intend to conduct a fake swayamvaram where King of Chedi Shishupala would marry her off in a pre arranged manner. Krishna had decided not to participate in the Swayamvaram, since he was not a formal prince. Offering silent prayers to Shri Krishna, Rugmini decides to end her life if Shri Krishna doesn’t come to her rescue.
Shri Krishna not only comes to her Rescue but marries her also in the Gandharva style by abducting her on her way to the Swayamvara hall. The lilas of Shri Krishna cannot be expounded in such a little space and hence let his message be our conclusion for the Srimad Bhagavatha Sapthaham.
Mam Ekam Saranam Vraja
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