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| Chinmaya Mission Boston Celebrates Bhagavata Saptah |
Venkat Pula
12/07/2015
October 25th to November 1st
Chinmaya Mission Boston at Andover, MA has celebrated week long Bhagavata Saptah between October 25th to November 1st, under the able guidance of Pujya Swami Shantananda ji (Resident Acharya of Chinmaya Mission New jersey, and head of Chinmaya Mission West).
The event has started on October 25th, Sunday afternoon with a Pothi Yatra. Srimad Bhagavata Purana is considered as Lord Sri Krishna himself. Around 50 Srimad Bhagavatam books beautifully wrapped in bright red silk cloth are placed on devotees’ heads and carried around the temple, following which Lord Sri Krishna puja is performed to these books. After the Puja, the books were distributed by Swami Shantananda ji. The inaugural speech was given by well recognized community service volunteer and head of Ekal Vidyalaya in New England region and Bharata Natyam dance teacher, Smt. Ranjani Saigal ji, who described the role of Bhagavatam in her personal life and its relevance in this day and age. Following beautiful devotional Kirtans and Bhajans incorporating both North Indian and South Indian styles, Swami Shantananda ji spoke about the glory of Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Mahatmyam).
Under the guidance of Smt. Saroja ji (a volunteer from New Jersey), a team of local volunteers have chanted all 18,000 verses of Bhagavatam in 7 days, reciting for about 7 hours every day. During the week, daily yajamans (sponsors) showed up every morning at 8 AM for a Krishna Puja and help start daily chanting of Bhagavata slokas. Swami Shantananda ji gave two discourses every night between 6:30 PM to 9 PM beautifully covering all important stories and aspects of Srimad Bhagavatam. Most importantly, he taught us the spiritual meaning, symbolism and implications of several stories in Bhagavatam. Daily dinners are served between 7:30 to 8 PM, brought in by several volunteers and ably organized and served by Smt. Ritu Gaind ji, Sri Vishwanath Balasubrahmaniam and a team of volunteers.
Saturday (October 31st) was the highlight of the week, with 4 discourses by Swami ji covering Lord Krishna’s glories, temple priests performing a celestial wedding of Lord Sri Krishna with Goddess Rukmini, a Raas dance performed by women devotees of the audience, dance performances by noted artists such as Prakruthi, Shriya Srinivas and Vennele Mannava, devotional melodies by Smt. Shuchitha Rao, and Bala Swaranjali group (Children’s wing of Chinmaya Mission Bhajan group).
The week long discourses have concluded on Sunday November 1st, 2015 with Swami ji giving two discourses on the final cantos of Bhagavatam. All audience together recited Canto 12, Chapter 12 at the conclusion, followed by a brief Sri Krishna Puja.
With an average week day turnout of 120 people and weekend turnout of 250 people, Bhagavata Saptah was a great success and brought the local Boston families a step closer to devotion and spirituality.
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