Pothi Yatra – procession of the Sacred Text)

The evening began with the ‘Pothi Yatra’ or the procession of the sacred text. After a pooja in which the sacred book was worshipped as a form of Saraswati and Krishna, the ‘Shrimad Bhagwat’ was carried from the temple in ‘Shri Nivas’ to the tent where the katha was going to be held. Amidst the beating of the drums and gongs, the blowing of the trumpet and conches, and enthusiastic chanting of ‘Shriman Narayan Narayan Narayan’ and ‘Shri Krishna Sharanam Mama,’ devotees took turns carrying the sacred text on their heads while others danced the traditional garba. The text was placed on the Vyas Peeth or the sacred dais in the center. From here Shri Bhupendrabhai Pandya was to deliver his discourses on this holy text. On the left was a large blue back drop with pictures of Lord Krishna in his various forms with the mantra ‘Shri Krishna Sharanam Mama.’ On the right, there hung an enormous collage entitled ‘In The Footsteps of Bliss’ portraying Baba in the different stages of his sadhana. These reminded us that on the one hand there is the presence of the benevolent divine grace in our lives that may appear in any form and on the other hand, the inspiration to put forth effort to realize the goal of human life. Gurudev in his inaugural address said that such occasions are stepping stones to move ahead. For the next seven days, beginning from this day, the Bhagwat Katha was held in the evenings from 6pm to 9pm in this transformed tent. Shri Pandyaji started the katha with the ‘mahatmya’ or the importance of the text. His discourses had a practical and rational approach for he said ‘knowledge must be put into action’. He gave us a few rules of conduct to be obeyed for these 7 days of penance.

These seven days would be a trial period so that we could apply these rules of conduct to our everyday lives.

October 13

Each morning during the katha we chanted the Vishnu Sahasranam. In the morning session Shri Pandyaji answered questions put forth by devotees. In response to a question about how we can remember God even while performing our professional work, he said that if only we change our approach to all that we do, it would become worship. 

‘Yadyat karma karomi tattadakhilam shambho tavaradhanam’

Whatever action I perform, Oh Lord, Shambho! It is your worship.

In the evening was the discourse and from the second day the carry home messages were:

October 14

A group of 11 Konkani devotees sang Marathi bhajans. Dana followed with a talk on Vedanta. Bhupendrabhai Pandya was impressed with the depth of understanding of the subject Dana and other devotees at Shanti Mandir possessed. Explaining true love he gave the example of a married couple. When newly wed, they have expectations from each other but after 25 years of matrimony, love intensifies and expectations cease. Gurudev extended the analogy and asked if 25 years after Baba’s Mahasamadhi, our relationship had evolved. He asked, “Do we still pray for fulfillment of desires when we sit in front of the Guru or are we content?” Everyone raised their hands to express their contentment. ‘Sadhyati iti Sadhana’ Sadhana is that which makes us achieve our goal. He spoke of the difficult penance Baba performed in his early days of sadhana. There were days when he had to drink muddy water to satiate his hunger because there was no food to eat. We put forth very little effort compared to that!

In the evening session of the Bhagwat, ‘how we should prepare for death’ was discussed. Meditation, constant contemplation and donation that fosters detachment were some of the practical tools described.

October 15

The incarnations of Narsimha, Vaman, Rama and Krishna were described. The importance of leading a virtuous life and the Guru were discussed.

October 16 

The inspirational quote for the day was:

Also in our present world of unlimited desires, we must learn to discriminate between what we want and that which we actually need.

October 17

Expounding on the Raas Leela, Shree Pandyaji said that when the ego of being the chosen one arose in the minds of the gopis, the Lord disappeared. It reminded us of why Baba said, “Leave your ego with your shoes!”

October 18 

Gathered were people representing all the countries the tour had visited and is yet to visit in the next few months. The saints started arriving amidst hustle and bustle at the ashram; frequent pick-up trips were made to the airport. It was the last day of the Bhagwat Katha and 4 simple tips for a good family life were given:

After the discourse the pothi was carried back with traditional gaiety as the dandia (dance with sticks) was performed.

October 19

It was Asthami (the eighth day of the Navratra) and the Chandi Havan was performed after the Chandi Path to conclude the Navratra celebration; the Lakshmi Narayan Havan to conclude the Bhagwat Katha. It is a tradition to do the Dashansha Havan with one tenth of the shlokas from the text. Just before the Poornahuti, the Kooshmanda Bali (the offering) was made to the fire. The pumpkin, decorated as a demon, represents the negativity within and in the space around us. It was symbolically cut with a sword and the cut edges smeared with kumkum simulating blood and offered to the Goddess. Lakshmi Narayan were also worshipped in the human form as Tushar and Bhakti performed pooja to an older couple, Atulbhai and Madhuben Dave who have been married to each other for more than four and a half decades. Most of the saints had arrived and they were offered garlands and given a formal welcome.

Lavarji with the Goddess

October 20

The day began with Guru Gita in the morning. Everyone, the speakers and the audience, were excited as this was the first day of the Sant Samagam. Many were going to experience this holy confluence of saints for the first time. A translation system was set up and headsets were arranged for simultaneous translation into English.

The auspicious ‘Sant Samagam’ began with welcoming the holy men with garlands. Aastha sang the bhajan ‘Atma raman tu ho ja man re’: ‘Oh mind! Establish yourself in the Atman”. This is precisely the reason for which all of us had gathered here. Dana, who had spent many years with Baba, shared his experiences. He said that he and many others were fortunate to be part of ‘Baba’s Company’ like the monkeys and bears in Lord Rama’s army. Quoting from the Shiva Sutras, he said that we are the Vimoodhatama because we are deluded by our ego to think that we are the doer. Baba had a ‘detached’ attitude and it was so contagious. He said, “Baba became our life”. Truly, that was the profound effect that Baba had on many lives and they were here 25 years later to celebrate that experience.

A large banner behind the stage that had been set up for the saints said, ‘Ganga paapam, shashi taapam, dainyam kalpa tarusthatha, papam tapam ca dainyam ca hanti santa samagama.’ The Ganges absolves us of our sins, the moon of the heat, the kalpataru (the wish fulfilling tree) of poverty, but the Sant Samagam (the confluence of the saints) frees us of all three sins, heat of suffering and poverty.

The topic for discourses in the first session of the Sant Samagam was ‘Karma.’ Master Charles, one of Baba’s oldest devotees, was the first amongst the speakers. Quoting from Swami Yogananda, he said, “‘For any force in life, there is a counterforce. Yoga is balance.’ Baba showed us a practical way to apply this philosophy.” Mahamandaleshwar Swami Jyotirmayanandaji, who spoke next, said that desire and anger are the root of all evil. Karma is the root of both bondage and liberation. Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishweshwaranandaji congratulated Gurudev for organizing such a congregation, the first of its kind in America and called him the ‘brilliant star’ in today’s world. Mahamandaleshwar Swami Niranjanandaji, the Vedant Vageesh (the tiger that roars Vedanta) expressed his affection for Gurudev by saying that all these senior saints had come all the way from India to shower their love on the young one (meaning Gurudev). He said that the precision with which the devotees at Shanti Mandir recited the Shiva Mahimnah surpassed even the sanyasis at Haridwar. Explaining artha (wealth) which is one of the 4 types of efforts or purushartha in human life, he said the wealth given away in charity is uplifting as compared to that spent in luxuries. Gurudev thanked all the saints for their holy presence and said that he felt that the title of ‘Mahamandaleshwar’ that had been bestowed on him by the Sadhu Samaj (the community of saints) had truly been awarded to Baba posthumously for all that he did for humanity.

Mahamandaleshwar Gurudev Nityananda with visiting Acharyas & Saints

The evening session was on Bhakti (devotion). As Narayan Tarrago from Spain aptly put it in his experience talk at the beginning of the session, the best way to describe Baba is to remain silent in that experience. Acharya Vishvadevanandaji related that when a saint asked 3 laborers what they were doing; they gave 3 different answers for the same task that they were performing. The first one said that he was laying bricks; the second one replied that he was earning his livelihood whereas the third one replied that he was building a temple. Thus he elucidated that the same task when performed with complete surrender and faith in God is true devotion. If we call someone with faith, he comes. This is the secret of japa or repeating God’s name.

October 21

The subject for this day of Dusshera which symbolizes the victory of knowledge over evil was jnana, or knowledge. The morning session began with the chanting of ‘Muktananda Mahan’. All the great holy men offered their tribute to Baba as they spoke of the knowledge that cannot be attained without the Guru’s grace and complete faith. As Mahamandaleshwar Swami Niranjananandaji wittily put it,”Knowledge is invaluable but if there is an able recipient, great beings give it away freely. That was Baba’s grace; he distributed effortlessly that which he had earned through great penance.” We later sang Nirvanashatam, ‘Shivoham, Shivoham’, in the light of the knowledge that ‘I am the bliss of consciousness.’ Avahan Peethadeeswar Shivendra Puriji Maharaj, offering his tribute to the great master, said that it was a matter of great honor for him to speak in honor of Baba. Responding to the deep reverence that all these great guests rendered for Baba, Gurudev remarked that we often don’t realize how fortunate we are to have been in Baba’s company and received his grace. The saints were honored with gifts amidst a roaring applause and beating of the drums. As we sang ‘Dhanya dhanya ho Pradakshina,’ our hearts were filled with gratitude for what we had received. To conclude, 7 women performed arati to the seven saints.

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishvadevanandaji and Gurudev Mahamandaleshwar Swami Nityanandaji Maharaj

Gurudev, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shivendra Puriji, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Niranjananandaji and Mahamandaleshwar Swami Jyotirmayanandaji Maharaj

We had been invited to Geeta Mandir, the oldest temple of the Sanyas tradition in New York by Swami Satyanandaji. All the saints and Mahamandaleshwars congratulated Gurudev for his efforts to organize the rare opportunity for people of this land to have the darshan of so many saints together. They unanimously said that he had laid the foundation for such Sant Samagams in the west. Acharya MM Vishvadevanandaji compared Gurudev to Bhagirath who brought the Bhagirathi (Ganges) down from heaven. He said similarly Gurudev had brought the Jnana Ganga (flow of knowledge) to this land which along with the darshan of these holy men was more sanctifying than the holy Ganges. In the evening, the Sant Samagam was held at the Hindu Center where once again, these holy men paid their homage to Baba and applauded the continuation of his work by Gurudev. 

Queens, New York City, Sant Samagam

The culmination of the Jayanti mela on the 25th anniversary of Baba’s Mahasamadhi began with the chant ‘Mere Baba Muktananda.’ Baba was a lover of art and a great artist himself. It was befitting that the chant was followed by two dance recitals in his honor. Shanta Hattikudur performed the Bharatnatyam, and Shrilakshmi Parcha and Padma Gajjala gave a duet in Kuchipudi. Emotionally charged bhajans by Astha, Devayani, and Shanta followed. Until now, the tent had undergone 3 transformations: for the Bhagwat, Navratra and Sant Samagam. Now it was in its fourth incarnation for Baba’s 25th Mahasamadhi. It was announced that a DVD featuring Gurudev’s talk on ‘The Mind: Friend or Foe’ from the University of Delaware was released. Gurudev said that it is difficult to express in words the experience that Baba gave to him. “It is an experience of completeness, fullness, and contentment.” Just as a warrior is known on the battlefield, a yogi is known at the time of his death. The perfection with which Baba had everything organized at the time of his Mahasamadhi reflects his state. Quoting verses from the Guru Gita he urged us to exhibit fortitude and pursue our sadhana with continuity. “Karmana manasa vaca nityam aradayed gurum. True worship is contemplation of the guru during thought, speech, and action. ‘Mata dhanya pita dhanyo’ - The parents and the entire ancestry of such a devotee is blessed.”

Shanta Hattikudar performing the Bharatnatyam during Baba’s 25th Mahasamadhi celebration

The Samaradhana Pooja which honors the lineage of Gurus that have passed was performed in which four generations of the Guru lineage and 12 forms of Vishnu were invoked. At the end of the pooja, the kalash (pot) with the water which represents the holy water from the feet of the Guru was placed on Shanta’s head. She and other women devotees danced as we all sang ‘Dhanya Dhanya Ho Pradakshina Sadgururaayaachee.’ 

Devayani, Astha, accompanied by Acharya Naveenji singing bhajans during Baba’s 25th Mahasamadhi celebration

October 28 

The farewell satsang was a ‘bitter sweet’ experience as Devayani put it. Some had tears in their eyes at the thought of separation while other faces were lit up with the joy of contentment for what they had received over the last few weeks. Gurudev said, “For all it is a time to contemplate what they have imbibed from the years of satsang.” In the moments that followed, poignant bhajans like ‘Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je peer parayi jane re’, ‘Chidananda roopa Shivoham Shivoham’ and ‘Guru Kripanjan payo more bhai, Ram bina kachu janat nahi’ sent everyone into a contemplative mood. After a joyous chant of ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Muktanandaya,’ Gurudev answered questions from devotees. Responding to a question, he said, “It’s all in the mind. All it wants to do is to fool itself and entertain others.” Answering another question about the worship of the Guru’s feet, Gurudev said that it is more important to focus upon the foundation and the knowledge that the Guru’s feet stand on rather than worship the physical feet. Talking about karma, he emphasized that it is imperative that we introspect our own karma and try to fix ourselves rather than dwell on others faults. “The best you can do is to forgive others. Like a good tradesman cleans his instruments at the end of each day, a good seeker must contemplate on his actions at the end and beginning of each day. Life must be like a flowing river. We must constantly evolve.”

SADGURUNATH MAHARAJ KI JAI