Srimad Bhagavata Saptah

Shrimad Bhagavata Saptah, The Elixir of Krishna-Katha by Pujya Swami Advaitananda ji, was inaugurated on  Sunday Dec 24th, 2017 at Chinmaya Sandeepany ashram in San Jose, California. The Saptah began with the traditional procession of devotees carrying Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana, the vaangmayi moorti of Bhagavan, on their head around the ashram. Devotees joined in the procession led by Pujya Swamiji, singing and chanting name of the Lord.

Pujya Swamiji then entered into the first canto of Bhagavata which describes the Adhikari or qualifications of the student and the teacher of the Bhagavata. It began with the sorrow of Veda Vyasa ji who still felt incomplete even after compiling all the vedas and writing the Brahmasutra and Mahabharata. Sage Narada ji advised Vyasa ji to expound the glories of the Lord with specific emphasis on devotion. Veda Vyasa ji in meditation saw the leelas of the Lord and composed Bhagavata Mahapurana. He then taught it to the best student of this katha, Shukadev-ji.

All Day 1 Photos can be seen here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rrNEfbokeZFv3AI92

We started the Day 2 of the Sapthah with Raja Parikshit leaving his kingdom and going to Haridwar and asking Shukadevji the questions that led to the telling of Shrimad Bhagavat. With this Pujya Swami ji entered into the second Canto of Shrimad Bhagavat which briefly talks of Bhagavan’s Avatar and the fundamental creation. This also contains the famous Chatusshloki Bhagavatam, where Bhagavan Narayana imparted the knowledge to Brahma ji. In 4 verses the essence of knowledge is given – What is Brahman, What is Maya, How Brahman pervades this world, how to come out of the samsar. This knowledge has now come to us in the form of Shrimad Bhagavat with the knowledge being passed from Brahma ji to Narad ji to Vyas ji to Shukadev ji to Parikshit Raja.

Then Pujya Swami ji entered into the third canto where Shukadev ji tells Raja Parikshit that the questions that the Raja had asked were also asked by Vidur ji in the past and we got to hear the conversation between Vidur ji and Uddhav ji and later Vidur ji and Maitrey ji. Third canto is about the expansion of the creation and there is also the story of the Varaha Avatar as well as the stories of Jaya-Vijaya and how they are born as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashyapu. Story of Jaya-Vijaya reminds us that with spiritual practices we can go higher, but if we let that get into our head we will have to suffer great fall.

In this canto Pujya Swami ji also described the family of Manu and Shatrupa. We heard the story of Sati ji. this was followed by the Story of Devahuti and Kardama Rishi and their son Bhagavan Kapila Muni who imparted the knowledge to His mother in the form of Kapila Gita. The last story for the day was Dhruva-charit. Pujya Swamiji personalized this story for us by showing how the King Uttanapada is no different than the Jiva and the two wives are no different than our mind (Suruchi) and intellect (Suniti).

The day ended with an excellent presentation by the San Ramon Balavihar kids depicting the story of Dhruva with an elaborate Audio/Video show including chanting and also tying it all back to current day and age as well.

All Day 2 photos of the Saptah can be seen here:

 

Day 3 began with the devotional echoes of  “Om Namo Narayanah”. Swamiji resumed 4^th skand of Srimad Bhagwatam. He reminded us that that the four purusharthas are expounded on through four stories in this canto. An exposition on ‘Dharma’ is provided through the Shiva-Sati Story, while Dhruva story shows the purpose of ‘Artha’, it asserts that the real artha is param tatva only and Dhruva recognized this goal ultimately. The evening proceeded with description on ‘Kaama’ and ‘Mokhsa’, former revealed by the story of Prithu Maharaj who made earth a perfect place for fulfillment of desires and latter through deeply profound and metaphorical story of Puranjan.

The 5^th Skand, focused on how the lord protects and maintains the world (sthana).  The story of Rishabhdev, who relinquished his throne and became an ascetic in the forest following the avdhut dharma ‘sacrificing everything and reveling continuously in the glory of almighty’, had the  audience spell bound. Through a beautiful bhajan in his melodious voice, Swamiji took the audience to the realm of one following avdhut dharma, you can listen to the bhajan “Yugun, Yugun, Yogi”  (By Sant Kabir Das) in swamiji’s voice below:

The story of son of Rishabhdev, Bharata, emphasized on the fact that the final thought that one entertains in the mind at the time of passing, is the state attained in the next birth. Bharata was a great tapasvi, who saved the life of a deer and in course, developed deep attachment to it. This attachment led to his birth as a deer, in his next birth as deer but due to the tapasya he performed as Bharata, in his deer life, he remembered what had happened. He was not born ignorant of the past. The deer died, and Bharata was once again born in the family of certain Brahmins. So he took three births in order to finally have attain moksha.

The stories in 6th Skand explain how the lord provides special care and protection for devotees who surrender to him (Poshan). The story of Ajāmila showed the glory of chanting lord’s name, as swamiji mentioned ‘the glory of lords name is much bigger than his personification’. Although Ajāmila lived an adharmic life, at the time of death he called for his youngest son Narayana. Hearing his name, the merciful lord sent his four order carriers to rescue him from the hands of the order carriers of lord Yama.

It is in the Seventh Skandha, that Swamiji provided an analysis of inherent tendencies or vasanas of individuals (Utayah). In this chapter, Narada recounted to Yudhishthira the birth of Prahlada, his devotion to lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu’s disappointment with his son and his atrocities on Prahlad and insistence on proof of lord’s existence and his end by Narasimha avatara of the lord.

The evening concluded with a beautiful presentation by Fremont Balvihar kids illustrating the story of Bhakta Prahlada and Narsimha avatara of the lord. The presentation was an apt audio visual delight for the audience.

All Day 3 photos can be seen here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KFRrbzc29NPRKf0j1

Festivities and celebrations were at the peak at Chinmaya Sandeepany on Day 4 as Swamiji expounded more on the 8^th Canto.  The topic discussed was manvantara which is the tenure of a manu who is in that position.  One manu entails a period of four chaturyugas.  Right now, vivasvan is the manu holding that position which is why all our rituals include his name invoking him as well.

When Lord Vishnu incarnated as Hari, the one who takes away all our sorrows.  He rescued the elephant king Gajendra from the strong grip of a fierce crocodile in the lake.  Initially Gajendra tried to free himself by his own efforts but was unable to do that even when his friends and relatives joined together to pull him out.  It was then that he realized the need to seek God and offered a plucked lotus to the Lord mentally.  The Lord immediately appeared after saving the crocodile liberated Gajendra.  The reason for saving the crocodile first being that he had held on to the feet of the Lord’s devotee.  The Lord goes all out for his devotee.  Gajendra here symbolizes the jiva who indulges in sense objects which is water.  The crocodile is mrthyu which makes our feet cold.  The jiva initially tries using his own efforts to become free in this samsaar of constant change.  He soon realizes his limited potential and seeks Bhagwan’s aid.  The lesson to assimilate is we should seek him right from the beginning.

In the story of samundara manthana churning of the milky ocean we see a coalition formed between devatas and asuras to attain the nectar of immortality.  The Lord assured the devatas that the nectar would be offered to them alone.  It was a herculean task to bring the Mandrachala mountain and Vasuki, the snake became the rope to be used for churning.  After placing herbs and plants the churning began and initially poison came out and Lord Shiva in all his compassion took it and placed it in his neck.  There is a beautiful symbolism on this since Lord Shiva has the name of Lord Rama in his mouth and has Lord Rama’s roopa in his heart. Churning continued and Kamadhenu was offered to the rishis, the horse uchesrava was given to asuras, Airavat the white elephant to Lord Indra.  Kaustuba mani went to Bhagwan instantly, kalpa vriksha and apsaras went to heaven.  Lakshmyji went to Lord Narayana and finally Dhanwantari devata appeared with a kalash.  He was an amsha avatar of Lord Vishnu.  The Lord in Mohini avatar came and deluded the asuras and offered the nectar to all the devatas.  Rahu, one of the asuras assumed a form of the devata.  The Lord cut his head off, but he didn’t die as he had taken a little nectar before. Swamiji with his deep insight brought out profound learning for us with this story.  In our lives we have this churning occurring daily.  Shirsagar (milky ocean) represents our mind which has both positive (sumati) and negative (kumati) thoughts, churning is the meditation that we try to do.  Initially, since negative thoughts are more then only poison comes out which makes meditation very difficult.  The herbs that are placed is vedantic shravanam.  It is only on that basis that manthan (mananam) can happen.  Mandrachala mountain represents the firm determination in the jiva and tortoise that holds the determination firm is our scriptures.  Vasuki represents the different questions and answers which arise after mananam.  As churning continues many siddhis are attained but we should move past them since that is not the goal we seek.  Finally, we attain amrutam that is consciousness.  The result is Self Realization.  From the empirical level we see that though Lord Vishnu did the entire thing yet devatas and asuras got credit.  We should realize God’s power manifesting in us and use it for HIS work.

Lord Vishnu as Vamana Avatar appeared as a brahmachari and asked Bali Raja for three foot of land as charity.  With one move he took over everything that belonged to him.  With one foot he covered earth, with the next he covered heaven and the third was placed on Bali Raja’s head.  The significance here is whatever belonged to Bali was (mama) and his head represents (aham).  I and Mine are the root of all problems.  When Bhagwan enters our heart, he is very small and gradually grows with devotion.  He then leaves no room for ahamkara or mamakara anymore in our lives.

In the 9^th canto we learn about the many kings of both the solar and the lunar dynasty. The topic for the canto is Ishanu katha which is glorious stories of Bhagwan and his devotees. In the solar dynasty Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama as the son of King Dasarath and Queen Kaushalya.  He was born on Navami tithi in Chaitra masa.  The number 9 represents completeness and fullness as it is the number of Brahman.  Bhagwan was born at midday in the palace.  Both Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are purna avatars where complete glories and brilliance is manifested.  According to the work to be done Bhagwan manifests himself in an avatar.  An avatar is a manifestation of Bhagwan in a human form. King Dasarath is one who has his ten sense organs under control. Queen Kaushalya represents good and noble thoughts. Ayodhya represents a heart which has no enmity with anyone.  When we become Dasarath then Lord Rama will manifest within us and delight us.  The one in whom everyone revels is Lord Rama.  His name works as a bridge to connect the jiva with paramatma.  As we study Ramayan in detail we get to learn more about our culture and noble traditions.  The beauty of Ramayan is that both great scholars and ordinary people can speak about it and enjoy it immensely.

After the first discourse the audience was transported to Ayodhya with a beautiful enactment of the putra kamesti yagna that the yuva kendra performed and the audience witnessed Rama Janma in all its glory.  The entire crowd was amazed to see a little kid come out from the yagna kund and hand over the prasad to King Dasarath.  We had smoke projected out near the havan kund to create the aura of a yagna.  It was sheer delight and true to the words of the scriptures as the Lord manifests he brings delight to our mind and hearts. Swamiji in his melodious voice chanted various Rama bhajans and took the audience to a complete state of bliss and joy.  The joyful audience broke into an instant garba to add to the festivities and rejoiced the Lord’s birth.

With bated breath and eagerness, the audience waited to start their favorite story on Lord Krishna coming in the 10^th canto.  The topic of the tenth canto is nirodh (dissolution) where everything of the creation is merged or dissolved in Lord Krishna. It could also be taken as ashraya where Lord Krishna is the substratum for the entire creation.  Lord Krishna was born in Dwapara yuga.  He was born at midnight on the 8^th day as the 8^th child of Devaki and Vasudev. At that time Mathura was under the oppressive rule of evil Kamsa.  He had imprisoned his father King Ugrasena, his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudev.  It was fore tolled that the 8^th child born to Devaki would slay Kamsa.  When the Lord incarnated at midnight the shackles broke and the prison doors opened representing that our bondages snap when Lord incarnates within us.  Vasudev represents shudh antah karana and Devaki represents shuddha buddhi.  When we create an environment conducive like this then Lord is bound to manifest within us.

The audience had an added treat witnessing Krishna Janma in the second half of the play where the yuva kendra enacted the whole scene of the Devaki and Vasudev in prison and how the Lord descends and incarnated in this world as little Lord Krishna.  It was unreal to see the bars of the prison doors stretch open as strings to allow Vasudevji to carry little Krishna to Gokul.  The show continues where we see Vasudevji crossing Yamuna river enacted by little girls wearing blue dresses and covered with blue sarees.  They were rising up and ebbing down like an excited Yamuna ji who wanted to touch the Lord’s feet.  The whole audience was completely in awe and mesmerized watching Lord Krishna being carried though the aisles in the hall.  You could see tears swelling up and throats choked where people were rejoicing the birth of Lord Krishna.  While the audience was captivated with Lord Krishna the scene changed on the stage to Gokul where Yashoda Ma was sleeping after giving birth to a baby girl.  After the exchange of the babies the audience witnesses a joyous Yashoda Ma and Nand Baba rocking their Baby to sleep.  Swamiji continued the celebrations with beautiful bhajans and drum roll.  To add to the festivities, we had little hersheys kisses strewn all over the audience to enjoy.  Words cannot do justice to what was witnessed in San Jose.  We can only indicate with words.  The experience was phenomenal and pure magical.  Everything came together so beautifully just like how it is expressed in scriptures where all the five elements purify and await the Lord’s arrival.  Days of practice, relentless hard work put together by the devotees made this day so memorable.

All Day 4 photos can be seen here:

If one thought the Saptaha had reached its peak on the 4 th day, the proceedings of the 5 th day disproved that with in the first few minutes. Yes, it’s the day we were eagerly waiting to hear the Leelas of Bhagwan! Swamiji enthralled us with the enchanting stories with their deep spiritual significances and interspersed them with lilting melodious bhajans of Surdasji, Mirabhai and Pujya Guruji. All one had to do was, close the eyes and be transported to the Vraja bhoomi. Bhagwan Krishna’s avatar is a Poorna Avatar – as it was complete with all its 16 kalaas. Unlike the avatars of Kapila or Vamana, Krishna lived and experienced all the samskaaras of a typical Jiva (human), starting with His conception in the womb of Devakima till the day He dropped His body and left the earth. And yet, unlike the jivas, Bhagwan was not just born. He “manifested” in a human form on His own loving will and performed the many Leelas to enchant and protect his bhaktas. It is to be understood that each Leela of Bhagwan can be viewed and understood in one of 3 perspectives – Adhidaivika (as an act of God Himself), Adhibauthika (In worldly terms as heroic acts) and Adhyathmika (as conquering evil tendencies within one-self through spiritual understanding). It is also said that Bhagwan Krishna was not an incarnation, but Lord Narayana Himself.

Yasodaji and Nandaji were delighted beyond measure on becoming the proud parents of Krishna. Gokul was brimming with joy and everyone in the village wanted to get a glimpse of beautiful Krishna. The festive atmosphere and celebrations continued for many days. Bhagwan Krishna also fully enjoyed the attention and love, there by bringing more joy to the residents of Gokul. Guru Garga Rishi was sent by Vasudevji to perform the secret naming ceremony of Bhagwan and his older brother. The older child was named Rouhineya (son of Rohini), Bala Rama (for his strength) and Sankarshana (one who was moved from one womb to another). Bhagwan was named Krishna (for his dark complexion; also indicated His blissful existence), Vaasudeva (son of Vasudevji). But in reality, like Bhagwan Himself, His names were infinite too.

Since Krishna’s birth, evil Kamsa had been busy getting his sinister team of asuras ready to find and eliminate all the newborn in his kingdom. Starting with the she-demon Poothana, Kamsa unleashed one asura after another, to get rid of Krishna. Thus began Bhagwan Krishna’s Leelas right from his 6th day. None of the demons were of any threat to the All Mighty Krishna, who swiftly killed them. In spiritual terms, Kamsa (ego), the chief of all evils, gave rise to the other evils such as Poothana (ignorance), Shatakasura (materialism), Trinavarta (kaama), Vatsaasur (mamta), Bakasur (hypocrisy), Agaasur (paap) and Denukaasur (never ending greed). Bhagwan Krishna, who embodies the absolute knowledge, is the only power that could vanquish these evil tendencies forever and lead one to liberation.

While destroying demon after demon, Krishna was also treating the Gokul vaasis to his playful pranks. As baby Krishna started crawling, many mischiefs started unfolding in the households of Yasodaji and the Gopis. Butter stolen and fed to monkeys, empty pots broken, and calves untied before milking the cows and so on. Yasodaji was constantly facing complaints about Krishna’s pranks but couldn’t do much to stop him. But in reality, in spite of all the hardships, the Gopis were thoroughly enjoying Krishna’s antics. After all, they were none other than the rishys and sages who had taken birth as vrajavaasis to enjoy a life time of union with the Lord. So, they wouldn’t have it any other way. He was not only a “Navnita Chor” but also a “Chitta chor”. Mother Yasoda also had her moments of divine union with Bhagwan, when Krishna revealed the whole universe and all beings in Him and also as Damodara. Swamiji reminded us with the spiritual significance of Krishna’s stealing of butter. Butter signified karma-phala and it should rightfully be offered to Him. He is not the chor (thief) as it was always His to begin with.

Bhagwan Krishna’s Leelas continued to teach the Lords of the heavens too. He taught Lord Brahma that even in human form, He was in full control of maaya, by cloning each gopa-kid and the cattle and sustained them for a whole year. Krishna as Govardhana Giridhaari, made Lord Indira realize that even Devatas are to serve His bhaktas without expecting any favor in return. This story also depicted Krishna’s love and respect for Mother Nature. The Kaaliya Mardan leela showed that Bhagwan was ready to shower his compassion and protection as long as one surrendered to Him unconditionally. For us,  He showed how our sense organs can be poisoned by vishaya (wordly enjoyments) and lead to our sufferings. The story of Kaatyayani vratham by the Gopa-kumaris also had an important lesson. When Krishna stole their clothes while they were bathing in the river, he taught them that even though their intentions were good, the girls had disrespected the Varuna devata by bathing without clothes. Bhagwan, through this leela, also taught the significance of dropping pancha-koshas (the 5 identification sheaths) to fully realize the all-pervading Atman in one-self. The glory of Venu (the flute) was beautifully described by Swamiji. The flute, through its great tapas and titiksha had attained the blessings of Krishna. It ever remained inseparable from Him, by always being either on his lip or his hip. With nothing but an empty body with holes, it surrendered itself to the Bhagwan, for Him to fill it with His sankalpa. Swamiji reminded us that there could be no better comparison to the flute than our Pujya Gurudev.

At last comes the crown jewel of, not just the Krishna leela, but the entire Bhagvata purana – The Raasa Leela. Swamiji extolled the place this leela holds in the entire purana. Raas Leela is explained in 5 chapters – referred to as the Raas Panchaadhyaya. How can a story, narrated by an ascetic none other than Sukhdevji and listened to by the virtuous Parikshit Raja himself, be about physical pleasure? No! This story is not about Kaama but Kaama-Vijaya (victory over kaama). On the beautiful supermoon night of Sharad poornima, Bhgawan played a melody on his divine flute that the Gopis alone could hear. The Gopis dropped all their possessions and bondage and rushed to the forest to be with Krishna. Rass Leela began. With His exclusive company, the Gopis’ minds were filled with pride. Upon sensing this, Krishna disappeared. Distressed Gopis looked for him in every nook and corner of the forest and lost themselves in Him again. Krishna reappeared amongst them and continued the raas leela through the night. The mesmerizing Gopi Geet sung by Swamij summarized how Bhagwan Krishna fulfilled the Gopakumaris’ longing for union (Milan) with Him, but not before the Gopis attained purity of mind by giving-up (Sanyaas) their pride (Maan). Thus Raas Leela brings out the highest Vedantic knowledge.

The grand finale of the 5 th day saptah was the Raas performance by one and all. With Swamiji singing the glory of Bhagwan, the bhaktas danced in joy after hearing Krishna katha. The Sandeepany Ashram was transformed into a Vrindavan !!! Om Shri Krishna Bhagwan ki Jai !!!

Some joys have multiple lives, they live as sweet memories, resurfacing in our minds at the slightest trigger, such, is the case with Srimad Bhagwat Shravanam.  On the 6^th day of discourse, while the audience was still basking in the glory of the previous evening’s talk on ‘Raas Leela’ and the  beautiful Garba experience, Swamiji picked up on “Tenth Canto- Raas Panchadhyayi”  section again. He told us how Radha, the epitome of bhakti, is ingrained in the day-to-day life in Vrindavan, even today, one can hear “Radhe Radhe” wherever one goes, whether it be the rikshaw-walla asking for the right of way, or just ordinary people greeting each other. Unconditional love beyond the cause and effect relationship leads to unconditional state of happiness, that is what witnessed with the Gopikas, the ethos of this love, still exists in Braj Bhoomi- Vrindavan.

Swamiji sang a bhajan showing us the path to be free from all the worldly miseries.

The evening proceeded with annihilation of a few more Asuras (Arishthasura & Keshi) and then we came back to Mathura, where Narad ji visited Kamsa first and confirmed that the eighth child who would obliterate him was indeed Krishna. He also visited the lord and prepared him for the series of upcoming events. We learnt about the sports meet up competition that Kamsa organized and how he called Bhagwan and Balram ji to the event using their uncle Akroor Maharaja as the messenger. Finally we heard the story of obliteration of Kamsa. After victory over Mathura, Shri Krishna sent Akroor ji as a messenger to Braj Bhoomi and informed the gopikas, Nand Baba and Devaki Maiya of his well-being and unconditional love for the dwellers of Brij.

The journey through the 10^th Canto continued, with the story of Jarasandh. We learnt that he attacked Shri Krishna’s army seventeen  times. Bhagwan strategically destroyed his army, each time, while letting him live. Post each attack, lord was left the Asura community weaker and weaker. Jarasandh formed alliance with Kaalyavan in the 18^th war, this effort was to no avail either, Bhagwan  outwitted him, by taking him to a cave where Muchkund Rishi was resting. Kaalyavan thinking it is bhagwan disturbed the Rishi and was reduced to ashes by the Rishi’s yogic vision.

Next, we moved to ‘Vivah Leela’ of bhagwan. Swamiji recreated the story of Shri Krishna and Rukmini wedding paying tribute to one of the most glorious love story of all times. He read us the love letter that Rukmini wrote to the lord asking him to be her groom and at the same time providing him the strategy to abduct her. He told us how Rukmi wanted to get his sister married to Shishupal while Rukmini’s heart was set on bhagwan. On the day of the wedding, per the plan Bhagwan stole Rukmini ji away in his chariot in front of a huge crowd just outside the Devi Mandir, Rukmi was enraged and followed bhagwan’ s chariot with the intent of hurting bhagwan, however, was disfigured by Lord Krishna and left alone on his sister’s request.

After attending the first five days of discourses, the audience eagerly anticipated the re-enactment of Rukmini Vivah as a finale to the beautiful evening and it was delivered beautifully. The audience had the lovely opportunity to watch the Shri Krishna whisk away Rukmini from Vidarbha (Rakshas Vivah) and then also partake in the traditional ritualistic wedding ceremony in Dwarka ( Vaidik  Vivah).