Mathura, India - February 8, 2005
This year for the most auspicious occasion of the appearance of Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, an unprecedented event has taken place during the days prior to this day.
At the Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Math in Mathura, from February first to the eigth, Savita Didi, a senior disciple of Srila Gurudeva has been conducting a Bhagavat Saptah. The process of hearing Srimad Bhagavatam in seven days is one of the main ways for attaining Krsna Prema, if the recitation and hearing is properly performed.
In the olden days, the seven day recitation of Srimad Bhagavam was considered a great religious festival, but in recent times it has deviated from its intended purpose. Nevertheless, these recitations are traditional and attract large crowds, offering great preaching opportunities.
It has been a unique and special opportunity that under the blessings and guidance of our Srila Gurudeva, Savita Didi has successfully completed this programme, attracting everyday a great number of devotees.
During four continuous hours in the evening, from three to seven o'clock, she has successfully completed the twelve cantos. From the first day she sat down and spoke in a bravely, powerful and sweet manner resembling our Gurudeva. In this way, everybody's heart and mind was captivated by the Hari Katha which provoked all sorts of feelings in the assembled audience.
Some laugh, others cry and of course some danced.
One significant detail which everyday occur is that as faithful listeners arrived to the math, none came empty handed, rather they all brought something with them and placed it at the Lotus feet of the pictures of our Gurudeva and Guru Parampara situated besides the Vyasasana. During the evening, all the bags with fruits, sweets, garlands, and other preparations, piled up and at the end they were all distributed among all.
On the first day, the fruit and glories of hearing Srimad Bhagavatam were described, the main slokas from the first Canto were selected and explained together with the process of bhakti.
She was very descriptive, citing various examples and stories, so the subject would be nicely understood.
On the second day, she completed the first Canto and started the second Canto, which contains the questions by the sages and the catursloki, where the essence of Srimad Bhagavatam is contained in ten verses. The third Canto was also started.
By the fifth day, she already managed to come to the tenth Canto, and spent the rest of the time describing all the sweet Krsna Lila, everyone was completely captured and felt revived to hear this topics.
What was remarkable is that once the pastime of Giriraja Govardhana arrived, she took all the audience on Govardhana Parikrama by mind, under the guidance of Srila Gurudeva. In this way all got a chance to do a manasik circumambulation of Giriraja.
Finally, the most nectarean topics of Venu Gita, Brahmara Gita, Gopi Gita were touched, there was not enough time to fully covered it all, but the essential slokas were given. It truly inspired many to make a stronger endeavour in sadhana, and awakened greed and a spirit of renunciation in many.
The last day the Vyasa Puja of our Guru Maharaja was a great celebration, by having heard such powerful Hari Katha, all felt his presence very close.
We hope to get another chance next year and again relish these most sacred of granthas: Srimad Bhagavatam.
Nitai Gaura Premanande!
