Section 3.   The Ancient Naimishaaranyam reborn

The complex infrastructure to be setup included:

1. A central Auditorium to seat 2000 odd people

2. The long and broad platform for speakers, Bhagavata reciters, and allied functions

3. Kitchen and Dining Halls to feed 400 people ceaselessly for hours

4. 25 Water Closets

5. A number of counters in front of the Satrashala, provided varied services from providing information and assistance to the visitors (Reception) to First Aid, were set up as planned

Shri. Verghese, the contractor, under the able directions of the Satram Committee did the job well. The Central two-tier Pandal was designed to allow oxygenated air to flow freely. It was decorated discretely. The Vedic, Puranic and Epic Verses and Mantras interspersed around spread an infectious sublimity and divinity in those that stepped in.  ‘Vaikuntha has indeed descended’, said many without reservation!

“Naimisharanyam” now took birth in Paralikad Arikkantam paddy field, as it first dawned in Swamiji Maharajs’ heart. Media vied with one another to carry the name to their enthusiastic readers.

Village poised to host Satram delegates

Paralikad and surroundings meanwhile were inwardly and outwardly filled with tumultuous ecstasy to host the 12-day Bhagavata Mela. This community awakening was the first goal Swamijis had set in them. The turbulent social sharing and partnership, which only events like this can generate, is, as Bhoomanandaji holds, the more rewarding part of the Satram.

Three processions herald the great event

Three processions carrying Sri Krishna Idol from Guruvayur, the Dharma Dhwaja from Tiruvilvaamala and Srimad Bhagavatam with Sreedhareeyam Commentary, an old Text the Ashram preserves, from Narayanashrama Tapovanam took off as planned in the penultimate three consecutive days. Receptions given to them enroute by a row of villages and towns also brought Bhojana Dravya Samarpanam (offerings in cash and kind) by devotees, marking the uprise of an unprecedented Bhagavata Wave in rural and urban minds. A Ratham handcrafted with archaic taste constituted the hub of these Yatras. Disciplined and austere devotees sat in this to facilitate enroute homage and distribute prasada to the visitors seeking them.

The penultimate day when the great holy Text arrived from Narayanashrama Tapovanam on 21^st Dec 2002, all preparations stood complete, awaiting the next dawn to echo Vedic Recitation and disseminate the ceremonial Ganapati Homam smoke, setting the scene for the much awaited inaugural Day programme hours later.

Day before Satram commencement

People by now saw the mega nature of the event and the epoch-making manner in which it had been ushered in.  But a tall and sweeping question stood before all. What makes this Satram different?  And how?  The answer lay in two distinguished and towering Rakshaadhikarees of the affair.  Bhoomananda Swamiji Maharaj had his own personal intimacy with Srimad Bhagavatam, of which the Mukti skandha, the 11^th he specially exposes to the spiritual and philosophical listeners. Purushothama Tirthaji Maharaj also is a Vedantic Exponent.  Any other Satram committee would be lacking ‘this twin presence’ of Paralikad Naimisharanyam. 

Every aspect of the 12-day event as insisted upon by the Rakshaadhikarees had the touch of discipline, sublimity, refinement and excellence with the judicious blend of devotion.  Enlightenment, not entertainment, Revelation, not revelry, were the watchwords everywhere.  The whole Committee and volunteers shared this spiritual resignation and flair unquestioningly.  This brought all the desired difference.

All this is about those on the actual scene. What about the countless those in distances? Though silent, their presence was more conspicuous. 

God and Devotion the only prop

“God and devotion” would be the twin props on which the Satram edifice would rest – Bhoomananda Tirtha Maharaj’s words kept on echoing in Paralikad Naimisharanyam.  But how will the twins produce the estimated Rs.25 lakhs?  Neither Vyasa Tapovanam nor Narayanashrama Tapovanam had broached the subject to the Committee any time. With advance payments, publicity, printing and postage, travels, meetings and processions, the Organizational Stream was flowing.  At no time anything was seen to halt or suffer.  Like the hands of a clock, every week passed and with that the events designed too.

The work in computer and office rooms in Narayanashrama Tapovanam, the ceaseless writing, regular mailing, acknowledging together with all the allied burdens also became clocklike.  Shri. Sreedhar from Coimbatore, a young qualified Finance man, who had the benefit of Bhoomananda Tirthji Maharaj’s intimate association right from young days, spent weeks in the Ashram to prepare and mail individual letters to the orbits of Narayanashrama Tapovanam and Vyasa Tapovanam.  Swamiji feels and says the Ashram should always share with the devotees whatever takes place – be it good, bad or indifferent.  He exults in doing so. 

 

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