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Brahmotsav 2001 - 13th August 2001
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Bhãgavata Saptãham - Day Two!
(Dhruva Charitram)
JOY OF HARI NAAMA SANKEERTANAM EXPERIENCED!
8.00 a.m.
Unchavriti by Sri Rajagopla Iyengar.
8.45 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.
Procession of Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi led Sri Swamiji.
Sri Swamiji commenced the Bhajan with
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‘Bega bãro bega bãro neelamega varna!
Bega bãro bega bãro vella purada chenna!’
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‘Deva bandha namma Ranga bandhãno
Devara deva sikhamani bandhãno!’
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‘Om Namo Nãrãyanãya! Om Namo Nãrãyanãya!’
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‘Murahara Nakadara Govinda! Mukunda Madhava Rama!’
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‘Krishna! Krishna! Govinda! Krishna!
Govinda! Govinda! Gopala Krishna!’
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‘Nãrãyana Hare Govinda!’
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‘Sundarathe dhyãna!’
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12.30 p.m.- 2.00 p.m.
About 40 students from Guruji School, Chennai, along with their teachers chanted
‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare’ enthusiastically.
Sri Swamiji blessed all the children with Tulasi mãla and a picture of Sri Swamiji.
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Smt. Lata
Ravi distributed the Tulasi mãla to the girls while Sri ‘Pammal’ Bãlãji distributed the Tulasi
mãla to the boys. The teachers were blessed with sarees.
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3.30 p.m.- 6.50 p.m.
Divya Nãmasankirtanam by Smt. Kalyani and party.
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7.30 p.m. - Visit to Mãhãnyam Village
Dream of Sri Swamiji begun to take shape!
Sri Swamiji, clad in a simple dhoti-angavastra, with a grey shawl thrown over His shoulder,
eagerly started off on His annual visit to Mãhãnyam Village. |
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The strides were long with the devotees
trying to keep pace with them!
Venkatesan, the caretaker of the cows in the Ashram, held the lantern on his
head leading the way.
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The Village decorated with neem leaves, kolam, words of welcome and
praise to their ‘Sãmi’ at every doorstep, was all set to receive Sri Swamiji. |
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At the entrance to the Village,
the Village heads received Sri Swamiji with the auspicious Nadaswaram. Sri Swamiji stood at every doorstep in
all eagerness/joy accepting the hospitality offered.
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Sri Swamiji stopped at the local Rama temple (Rama and Lakshmana had stayed here for 3 days
during their wanderings in the forest) for the villagers to enjoy the portrayal of Krishna’s divine
plays by Sri Raghu Bhãgavata and Sri Rajagopala Iyengar Bhãgavata, through kirtan and dance.
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Young and old, men and women had all gathered around in great fervor to enjoy the ‘mischief’ of little Krishna.
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Moving up, Sri Swamiji was received warmly by Venkatesan in his home. Deeply devoted to Sri Swamiji,
Venkatesan maintains a Radha Krishna chapel in his house. Children living nearby chant ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’
along with his own three young children, here in this temple right in front of his small tile roofed house. Receiving
the ‘Sãmi’ and the co-devotees joyfully he explained how his ‘purposeless’ life style had changed with the entry
of Sri Swamiji in his life. Venkatesan now carrying the lantern on his head, walked ahead, throwing light on the
dark path of the village!
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At one door a young woman placed her ‘few days old’ tiny baby in Sri Swamiji’s arms.
‘Radha’! uttered Sri Swamiji softly and the mother took her baby Radha back happily.
No house was missed! Every nook and corner of the village was visited and blessed by Sri Swamiji.
DREAM OF SRI SWAMIJI BEGUN TO TAKE SHAPE!*
It was almost 11.00 p.m. when the whole party moved out of the village towards Mãhanyam Colony.
‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna
Krishna Hare Hare!’ was heard faintly across dark open fields.
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As the path took a turn to the
right into the colony little boys and girls, with twinkling eyes, hands clapping, clad in simple cotton dress,
wide smile playing on their lips and chanting
‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ loudly, stood in front of the small temple
at the entrance to the colony, offering the ‘most wished for style of welcome’ to Sri Swamiji!
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The eyes and face of Sri Swamiji lit up in surprise and joy as He quickly occupied the chair placed for Him.
The children, inspired by the deeply pleased smile of ‘Sãmi’ quickened the pace of chanting.
Sri Swamiji looked at each and every child - about 30 of them - who
chanted the Maha Mantra with deep clarity.
Sri Swamiji’s main vision of spreading the Maha
Mantra to every nook and corner of Tamizh Nadu has begun to take shape.
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Sri Swamiji sat there amidst these children, drowned in the chanting of the Maha Mantra. Great joy enveloped
the whole atmosphere, with the little hands clapping to the tune of the loud chanting of
‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna
Krishna Hare Hare!’
The devotees and the colony residents were lost in the scene -
Sri Swamiji, oblivious of all other things, enjoying the melody of His most favourite Kirtan provided
by the little ones with twinkling eyes and gleaming teeth!
After what seemed ages Sri Swamiji got up and made His way into the colony, surrounded by the little
‘chanters’! Premika Varadan-Madhuri Sakhi arrived soon preceded by senior Bhãgavatãs performing
Nãmasankeertanam. Sri Swamiji instructed Bhãgavata ‘Pammal’ Bãlaji to ‘take into the circle’ the
little local Bhãgavatãs! Innumerable colony teenagers joined the band and the only Kirtan heard thereafter
was ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ The dholki and jalra were played passionately by the
Bhãgavatãs, local and others. And soon the famous senior Metro Bhãgavatãs were out beaten by the local
Bhãgavatãs, not just in number but also in the loud ‘deeply devoted’ chanting of the Name of the Lord!
Dancing and singing the great Name of Bhagavãn the procession moved ahead through the streets of the
colony. It was a night of torrential ‘Rain of GRACE’, indeed, here in this little Mãhãnyam colony! Nothing
and None could stop the downpour that swept the colony away in an enormous flood!
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Bãlan, the regular supplier of flowers for our Mathurãpuri Ashram, and another local walking a little
ahead and on either side of Sri Swamiji, spread a carpet of the sweet fragrant ‘paneer’ roses as they led
Sri Swamiji through the streets of the colony. Sri Swamiji accepted the Pãda Puja at each and every
door of the colony and blessed the family.
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A teenager stood shyly and hesitatingly, a little way off, with a
beautiful thick garland of red roses. Sri Swamiji noticed the shy youngster, called him up and taking the
garland from him wore it joyfully around His neck. Amidst all these celebrations were two pairs of little
hands collecting and stuffing a little polythene bag and the shirt pockets with the rose petals offered in
various homes! Were the little ones collecting it for puja at home?
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Sri Swamiji was received with all honour at Bãlan’s house. Accepting the seat offered just outside
his humble home, Sri Swamiji removed the garland of red roses offered by the shy youngster and gave
it to him to be worn by the first player of ‘Uriadi’.
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Sri Swamiji then wore the crown of flower, the
huge garland and the flower ‘vankiis’, affectionately made and offered by Bãlan. Several oil lamps
had been lit.
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Bãlan and his wife performed Pãda puja to Sri Swamiji.
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Bãlan then performed
archana and took ‘ãrati’ to Sri Swamiji. Shri Raghu Bhãgavata and Shri Rajagopala Iyengar
Bhãgavata performed ‘abhinaya’ (dance) Nãmasankirtan. A long line of big basket of flowers,
offered by Bãlan, were strewn all around by the two dancing Bhãgavatãs.
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Sri Swamiji then
signaled the start of ‘Uriadi’ by the local youngsters. The ‘Uriadi’ poles glittered with the colourful
wrappers. The first player of ‘Uriadi’ wore the garland of red roses worn and given by Sri Swamiji.
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The treasure holder at the end of a long rope passed through a pulley tied to the horizontal pole placed
between two vertical poles was being run up and down as the main player tried to hit it with a stick,
against all odds - water was being poured and splashed on his face from all sides, by several other
youngsters. When the player failed to hit the treasure within the allotted time the next player took over
automatically. Finally, one of the players did hit the treasure! Sri Swamiji offered cash prizes to the winner and other participants.
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Sri Swamiji then continued His way
into the colony. From nowhere appeared two pairs of little hands, a little ahead and on either side of Sri Swamiji,
‘trying’ to spread a carpet of roses for Sri Swamiji! The mystery of the stuffed polythene bag and the stuffed
shirt pockets was being unfolded! Their heads just managing to reach the knees of Sri Swamiji, the voice
of the two little friends (boys) - ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ - seemed to touch the star studded sky!
Sri Swamiji was enamored with the little ones! So were the devotees of Sri Swamiji!
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‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
Hands up and clapping, feet moving in quick dancing rhythm the whole lot of the tiny tots of the village
as also the village teenagers sprayed the atmosphere with
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
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Sri Swamiji who was walking ahead soon found Himself encircled by the dancers-cum-singers of
the Name of the Lord! Sri Swamiji, too, joined the chanting. The street sides, roof tops, treetops
were filled with enthusiastic audience. A great volcano of the Name of the Lord had erupted.
There was no stopping it. Soon the procession arrived at a junction of three streets. It was
to take a right turn to visit more homes but Sri Swamiji suddenly stopped at the junction.
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The whole band of dancers-cum-singers went around Sri Swamiji in a circle. Dholki and
jalra were played to tune. Looking straight ahead Sri Swamiji began singing
‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ loudly. His two hands had moved up and the
palms were clapping softly. Sri Swamiji’s body swayed gently left to right to left and soon Sri
Swamiji went into Bhãva. Eyes half closed Sri Swamiji began dancing with soft steps,
in a circle.
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‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
‘HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!’
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The hands were still up clapping, the lips moving quickly with the singing of
the Name of the Lord. All the devotees, local and others, moved away giving space for a
smooth movement of Sri Swamiji. Round and round Sri Swamiji circled in light steps amidst
loud chanting of ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare
Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’
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After an hour and a half of singing and dancing Sri Swamiji led the procession back to Mathurãpuri Ashram. It was 1.00 a.m.!
2.00 a.m.
Dolotsav
* Spreading the chanting of the Maha mantra ‘Hare Rama Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ to every nook and corner of the world held as His foremost work, Sunday classes have been started at the behest of Sri Swamiji in the two villages viz. Malaipattu and Mãhãnyam. A band of young, highly educated and enthusiastic devotees of Sri Swamiji have volunteered to fulfill His dream. Begun in December 2000, every Sunday the young men visit the villages and conduct classes at the local temple precincts from 4p.m. to 6 p.m. The class commences with the chanting of ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare! and the children move around the streets of the village in procession with their leaders ahead. Arriving back at the temple the children are helped with their school work (home work) for an hour and a half.
The next twenty minutes the children are glued to the narration of the lives of Saints.
The class ends with the chanting of ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ as the whole lot move once again in procession around the streets of the village.
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