Bhagavata
Saptaha Satram
This year preparations for the Saptah started almost a year back with fixing the Acharya. This time Brahmasri Nochur Venkataraman was chosen as the yagna Acharya.
Ramanacharanatirtha Brahmasri Nochur Venkataraman is an Acharya of Vedanta sampradāya. At a very young age, this sagely teacher started expounding on the age-old Vedic wisdom of the Upanishads, Gita, Bhagavatam and other texts on Vedanta. His discourses and writings are aflame with the power of Atmajñāna and the fragrance of bhakti that one gets on intimation of one’s spiritual essence instantaneously. Coming in the lineage of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Nochur Acharya’s talks and writings on Maharshi’s teachings are a great guiding force for Self-enquiry.
Hence it is was decided to contact him in person and invite him
for the Satra. After hearing the significance of the event as Man. Lakshmi Didi
would be completing 84 years he readily agreed to take part in the Sathabhishekam celebrations. She would have witnessed thousand full moons in her life time
that is why this satra occupies a very important event in her life.
As the yagnacharya could not be present at all times st the
yagna we changed the Saptah into a Saptah satra, giving an opportunity for
several youngsters to participate and give discourses.
From December onwards the actual preparations started with
notices and invitations and flex holdings etc. Cook and pandal and light and
sound arrangements were all booked in advance. This being the first time the
Acharya would be visiting Kodungallur we didn’t have any idea how many would be
attending the satra and how many will be staying and what will be the requirement
of water and other daily requirements. Things started becoming clear only by
the end of January as Acharya clarified certain things like he would be taking
the class only in the evening for couple of hours and he would be staying at
Kochi etc.
With the help of two devotees Sri Biju and Sri Narayan who have
offered their services totally free and could arrange the other acharyas to speak during the
Satram. Advocate.P. R. Ramanathanji a well-known Acharya of Bhagavatam was
invited to inaugurate the Satram. Everything was in place by 25th February.
At 6pm. on 26th Sri Ramanathanji couldn’t come as he
was held up elsewhere. Sri T. Gopalan Kutty Menon, well known poet and Prof.
R.D. Iyer, Chairman of Navashakti Trust inaugurated the Satram. Man. Lakshmi
Didi introduced the Acharyas to the audience. The atmosphere was charged with
chantings. The Mahatmyam was chanted and the importance of Bhagavata Satram was
narrated. Thus the first day of the Satram came to end with Shanti Mantra.
Daily programme was as follows
5 am. to 6am. Ganapathi
Homam and Vishnu Sahasranama
6 am to 8.15 am Reading
of Bhagavatam
9am. to 10.30 am Reading
of Bhagavatam
10.30 am to 12.30 noon
Discourse
4.30 pm to 6 p.m Discourse
All who honoured us by their presence and discourses were
27th and 28th Brahmasri Sreeraj Cheruvatta
29th Brahmasri
Perattupuram Krishnan Namboodiri
1st March Brahmasri
Harigovind Malikappuram
2nd March Brahmasri
Ranjit Moleri
3rd MARCH ON DIDI'S BIRTHDAY - TRIBUTES FOR DIDI BY ALL |
From 29th February to 3rd March every evening from 4 p.m. to 6.30p.m was the spiritual discourse by the renowned scholar Brahmasri Nochur Venkatraman.The topic chosen was chosen from the 11th Chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam -the 24 gurus.
He also spoke on the concluding day,4th March bringing to finale the grand-Saptaha- Satra.
Mananeeya Didi's 84th Birthday was on 3rd March. In addition to the Bhagavata Satra, in the morning hours, Ganapati Homa followed by Mrityunjaya Homa was performed by Rev.Dr Karumatra Vijayanji and his students.
Office bearers of many Hindu organisations came to wish Didi and take her blessings. Some of them performed dance and sang bhajans, recited poems, as tribute to Ma.Didi. Vivekananda Kendra's All India Adhikaries ,from our headquarters in Kanyakumari- Ma.Bhanudasji, Ma.Hanumanthaji, Ma.Krishnamurtiji, Sri Ayyappanji and Sushri Radha Didi too were present on the occasion and took the blessings of Ma.Didi. Nearly 700 people were present on that day.
Mananeeya Didi's 84th Birthday was on 3rd March. In addition to the Bhagavata Satra, in the morning hours, Ganapati Homa followed by Mrityunjaya Homa was performed by Rev.Dr Karumatra Vijayanji and his students.
Office bearers of many Hindu organisations came to wish Didi and take her blessings. Some of them performed dance and sang bhajans, recited poems, as tribute to Ma.Didi. Vivekananda Kendra's All India Adhikaries ,from our headquarters in Kanyakumari- Ma.Bhanudasji, Ma.Hanumanthaji, Ma.Krishnamurtiji, Sri Ayyappanji and Sushri Radha Didi too were present on the occasion and took the blessings of Ma.Didi. Nearly 700 people were present on that day.