 |
| Saints
on the inaugural day
of Bhaagavata Satram |
Harih Om Tat Sat! The 12-day Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva
Sameekshaa Satram, which began with the hoisting of
the Dharma-dhvaja by Purushothama Swamiji at 10 a.m.
on 22nd December 2002, came to an end when he lowered
the Dhvaja on the 2nd January 2003 afternoon.
In the 12 days that passed in between, the scenic
village of Paralikad and the traditional Thacchanaatthukaavu
Temple precincts displayed an exquisite spirituo-religious
festive look and vibrations, the like of which people
had not seen earlier. How much virtue and holiness
must the people of Paralikad and around have had to
be able to host this great holy event! By being instrumental
in showering the unique spiritual benediction to thousands
of devotional and spiritual minds in and around their
village, they have indeed played a very fortunate
role.
The real Bharat lives and grows in its 5 lakh villages.
Has each of these villages had the fortune of being
visited by at least one Saint or Dhaarmic Exponent
to enlighten or remind the residents about the great
Dhaarmic legacy of the land, which they should preserve
and strengthen, for the benefit and enrichment of
themselves and their successors? Will it ever happen?
But unless this is done, how can one think of the
people of this great land to be culturally strong
and cohesive?
In the field of knowledge or education, efforts have
to be sustained, widespread and consistent. Education
in dhaarmic values too should be a part and parcel
of our life and living. Though no organized and consistent
effort has been made any time to impart dhaarmic enlightenment
to our people, the dharma and culture of our land
has somehow prevailed and triumphed, by dint of their
intrinsic greatness and strength. And it has been
mostly through informal and disconnected efforts,
such as stage performances, narrations and dialogues.
Some here and there have also taken to the life of
wholesome dhaarmic propagation, in one way or another.
In such a life of dedication, the Ascetics, Sages
and Sannyasins have their own distinction and sovereignty.
Despite all cultural interventions and degradations,
the spirit and fervour of sannyasa still reign in
our land. And it is the children born to householders
who become Sannyasins. The household is indeed the
source of Sannyasins, a fact that householders often
forget, and strangely become indifferent to!
It is in such a background that I viewed the Sreemad
Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram in Paralikad, when
it was thought of. We know that in our life time,
neither those in this Ashram nor those in Vyasa Tapovanam
will be able to reach many villages and address the
residents on Dhaarmic enlightenment. At the same time,
the need and compulsion for such a mission do haunt
our hearts and minds. Thus when the great holy event
was thought of, I felt quite earnest and enthusiastic
about it, because what we cannot do by physically
going to many villages, let us at least try to in
a manner that many from the villages can derive its
benefit.
And this is exactly what happened during the 12 holy
days. The traditional rituals like Ganapati Homa and
pooja, reading of the relevant portions from Sreemad
Bhaagavatam, were conducted everyday between 4 a.m.
and 8.30 a.m. The Sreemad Bhaagavatam expositions
were held between 8.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Each speaker
was allotted one and a half hours. Hundreds of men,
women and even young ones sat throughout the sessions,
particularly the forenoon sessions, to listen to the
series of talks.
In the beautifully decorated Pandal, slokas from Sreemad
Bhaagavatam with their meaning, were displayed prominently
on large boards fixed all around the canopy. Also
there were placards reminding the great statements
like: Prajnanam Brahma, Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat,
Satyam Param Dheemahi, Sreekrishna: Saranam Mama.
The speakers were all veterans in the exposition of
Sreemad Bhaagavatam. They had their own individual
style of presentation, used as they were to the usual
Saptaahams and Satrams. But I had circulated a note
amongst them well in advance, explaining the difference
between this 12-day Tattvasameeksha Satram and the
usual 7-day programmes. There was accordingly an overall
recognition in their minds that their talk should
emphasize the principles and values while narrating
the story of Sreemad Bhaagavatam. This required some
extra effort and attention from the speakers. Prof.
Vaidyalinga Sharma, a reputed exponent of Sreemad
Bhaagavatam, said that in the next Satram, we will
be able to inculcate the new orientation more effectively.
Prof. Sharma had taken up the task of selecting the
speakers (more than sixty in number) for the exposition.
My dear souls, can you imagine the village folk flocking
to the Pandal with the primary aim of listening to
the great Bhaagavata narrations? Together with the
pious villagers, some highly educated professionals
from various fields - doctors, engineers and others
were also present. Many had taken leave from their
busy schedule to attend the entire session. A good
number of Sannyasins were also present, for whom special
hosting arrangements had been made. Thus the daily
assembly was an assortment of listeners, as it should
always be.
