Year end Utsav culminates in Kalpataru Day Radha Kalyanam at Namadwaar Atlanta

Year-End Celebrations at Atlanta Namadwaar and Radha Kalyanam on Kalpatharu Day
As the year drew to a close, Atlanta Namadwaar, embarked on a splendid week-long Utsavam. A celebration infused with spirituality and culture. Notable highlights of this celebration are the various engaging programs and Harikathas offered by devotees.

26th December : Sri Madhurageetham offering and Harikatha on Santh Tukaram
The festivities began with Sri Madhurageetham offering by adults setting a sacred tone for the week. This was followed by Sri. Raghu Sridhar ji’s Harikatha on Santh Tukaram Charithram. Devotees who took part in the year end utsavam were enriched with life experiences of maha Bhakthas and their unwavering Bhakthi towards Bhagavan. Sri Raghu ji’s Harikatha on the greatness of the revered saint and poet Sant Tukaram kept everyone engaged. Raghu ji spoke about the early life of the saint. Sant Tukaram was born in the village of Dehu, near Pune, in the 17th century. Born to a family that was involved in trade, he was named Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile at birth.
Intertwined with various anecdotes, quotes and stories of other mahans, Raghu ji continued to narrate Sant Tukaram’s katha in detail. Tukaram’s life was filled with many challenges from being born to a family with comforts to leading a life of poverty. Tukaram married young. As time passed, he faced significant personal tragedies, including the loss of his parents at a young age and the death of his first wife and son during a famine. Tukaram’s kind heart admired every single creation of God. He believed that “the true mark of a devotee is that he expects no fruits from his actions. Only when a man’s spirit is at peace can he be called a true devotee.” Life’s hardships led him to a life of deep introspection and devotion. He spent much of his life meditating and composing Abhangas – devotional poems dedicated to the god Vittala. The Abhangas are known for spiritual depth and simplicity they emphasize love, devotion, and a personal relationship with the divine. Sant Tukaram’s greatness reached the ears of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha empire founder who decided to meet him. He secretly reached Pune to meet Sant Tukaram while the Mughal army devised a plan to kill Shivaji Maharaj along with everyone at the place where Sant Tukaram was singing bhajans. Sensing the danger that rocked the hearts of everyone present, Sant Tukaram prayed to Vittala to protect the people who had gathered to hear his glories. The ever-merciful lord, upon hearing the prayers disguised himself as Shivaji Maharaj and misled the enemies. Such is the strength of prayer and Bhakthi. All through life’s trials and tribulations, Sant Tukarams’ Bhakti towards Vittal was unwavering. Raghu ji engaged the audience with many captivating stories from Sant Tukaram’s life entwined with melodious Kirtans. Sant Tukaram believed that the only way to gain the grace of Bhagavan is to rely on His grace. Material riches and possessions will lead one to forget the lord.

Sant Tukaram’s life and works continue to resonate with people today, offering timeless lessons in faith, humility, and the pursuit of spiritual truth. Sri Swamiji always encourages Bhaktas to chant Bhagawan Nama and do Bhakthi. Sri Raghu ji concluded his Katha highlighting Sri Swamiji’s words and sought blessings from Sri Swamiji and Sant Tukaram to bless everyone with more such opportunities.
Please click on the link below to relish the Harikatha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLNdq9dm99I

December 27th: Madhurageetham offering by children and Harikatha on Sri Jayadeva Charithram
The second day kids made a melodious offering of various Madhurageethams. This was followed by a very engaging Harikatha by Smt. Soumya Narayanji on Sri Jayadeva Charithram. Kum. Radharani accompanied her mother in the Katha and seamlessly integrated Madhurageetham and Ashtapadis to complement the narrative. Soumya ji spoke in length about Sri Jayadeva’s journey from childhood, his blessed union with Kum Padmavathi, how Padmavathi’s Rasika bhava influenced and changed the perspective of how Sri Jayadeva did Bhakthi and more. The new perspective of bhakthi bhava led to the creation of the beautiful and divine compositions that we now know and relish as Ashtapadis. These divine kritis have pramanas in Shastras and are a blessing to the rasika hrudayas around the world who savor these exquisite compositions. Soumya ji extracted significant highlights from different Ashtapadis. which were melodiously interwoven by Kum Radharani. Soumya ji elaborated on the various leelas, and emotions portrayed in different Ashtapadi with rich detail. The moment when Sri Krishna along with Radharani blessed them Sri Jayadeva and Padmavathi with his darshan to the various leelas and blessings of Lord Jagannath on devotees who sang these divine compositions. The beautiful Harikatha was an enriching and engaging experience to all assembled at Namadwaar. It was incorporated with quotes from Sri Swamiji and other mahans. Soumya ji wrapped up her Harikatha with a couple of versus from Kalyana Ashtapadi. The evening program concluded with Harathi, Dolotsavam. Dinner prasadam was served to all the devotees.
Please click on the link below to watch the Harikatha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQkpz-AtuMI

December 28th : Akanda Mahamantra Kirtana and Sri Jagannath Parivar darshan and Chappan Bhog offering

As a part of the 3rd day festivities, 6 hours of Akanada Mahamantra kirtanam was offered at Namadwaar for the pleasure of Sri Swamiji, Sri Premika Vardhan Takurji and Sri Jagannath Parivar. The chanting commenced at 2pm. Atlanta Namadwaar children led the 6 hours program. They took turns to lead the bhajans, played musical instruments and danced to the melodious rendering of the Mahamantra. By Sri Swamiji’s grace, the children and youth are deeply involved in all Namadwaar activities. Their inspiring faith, enthusiasm and dedication brings new energy to everyone around them.

Sri Jagannath Parivar blessed the devotees with their royal presence. This is the first time Jagannath Parivar came to Namadwaar. To celebrate their arrival, devotees arranged Chappan Bhog offering. A variety of dishes made with love and devotion were neatly organized and offered to Jagannath Parivar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yD1ZN-Q64&pp=ygURYXRsYW50YSBuYW1hZHdhYXI%3D

December 29th : Srimadh Bhagavatha Parayanam
Devotees gathered at Namadwaar at 9am and did Dasam Skandha Parayanam under the guidance of Smt. Shobha Parusuji. Devotees of all ages participated in the Parayanam that concluded with Harathi around 5pm.

December 30th : Divyanamam and Harikatha on Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Charithram

Day 5 celebrations started with divyanamam offering. Devotees joyfully danced and sang. Devotees also made a string of Madhurageetham offering on Lord Anjaneya as a part of the Hanumath Jayanthi celebrations.
Divyanamam was followed by a blissful harikatha on the greatness of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. A great saint and incarnation of Lord Krishna whose heart was filled with Radharani’s bhakthi bhava. In his Harikatha, Sri Vijay Nenmeni ji dwelt into the profound teachings, greatness of Mahamantra. The Harikatha started with historic references at the time when Bharath Matha and Sanatana dharma were suffering at the hand’s invaders. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired a spiritual renaissance in the country that continues to guide millions even today. His teachings emphasized pure and selfless love to God as the highest objective and goal of human life. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu propagated the chanting of the Mahamantra. There’s no better place to hear this katha than Namadwaar. A blessing that Sri Swamiji has bestowed upon us. Everyday around 3 hours of Mahamantra is chanted by various devotees at Atlanta Namadwaar. Vijayji narrated the bala leelas of little Nimai who was born under a neem tree in Nabadwip, Bengal, in 1486, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was named Vishvambhar Mishra by his devout parents, Jagannath Mishra and Sachi Devi. From a young age, he was naughty but also displayed extraordinary intelligence and charisma, excelling in Sanskrit grammar, logic, and scriptures. Along with being a learned scholar, he was also known as a great friend. Vijay ji elaborated on the life events that followed from childhood to marriage. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life’s turning point came after his visit to Gaya, where he met Ishwar Puri, a revered saint. Initiated into the path of bhakti (devotion), Nimai experienced a profound spiritual awakening and dedicated his life to the ecstatic worship of Lord Krishna. At 24, he took up Sanyasa and became known as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, embodying Krishna’s divine love and compassion. Vijay ji recounted at length the various events and life journey of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He quoted many references of Sri Swamiji talking about the greatness of Mahaprabhu and the glories of Mahamantra. In his talks Sri Swamiji emphasizes on how Chaitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated his love for God and chanting of the Mahamantra as the ultimate path to liberation. Mahaprabhu believed that the Mahamantra could cleanse the heart, bring one closer to the lord by awakening divine love. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s stay at Puri was filled with divine experiences, his ecstatic dances during the Rath Yatra festival. Vijay ji engaged the audiences with Mahamantra, kirtans, sholkas, and stories that illustrated Mahaprabhu’s intense devotion and his ability to uplift others through his love for Lord Jagannath. Sri Vijay ji concluded the Harikatha with a verse from Shikashtakam
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ
sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam

The program concluded with Harathi, Dolotsavam and dinner prasadam.

Please click on the link below to relish the katha:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grCkKmsef00

Dec 31st – Welcoming the New Year with Hanuman Chalisa and Mahamantra
By Sri Swamiji’s grace, every day of the utsav had something that the devotees looked forward to. On 31st Kids performed a beautiful skit on Sant Namdev Charithram. The skit was directed by Smt. Aarthi Vijay ji. Satsang children played their part with great enthusiasm and creativity, bringing the story to life with their expressive gestures. Aarthi ji very thoughtfully encapsulated a few key events of Sant Namdev’s life into small snippets like, life of young Namdev, his encounter with Mukta Bai and in the final part focused on Namadev and his wife Raja Bai. The skit was followed by a dance offering for the kirtan “Nija vaikunthathai vittu”. The children captivated the audience and transported them to a world of imagination with their great performance. The skit was followed by Hanuman chalisa, Mahamantra chanting and Harathi at 12am welcoming the New year and also offering gratitude to Sri Swamiji and Sri Takurji for a blessed 2024 where everyone was blessed with opportunities to serve their lotus feet.

Please click on the link below to watch the skit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7A8tvigwM0

Mahamantra chanting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edcJlXNfYsc

 

Jan 1st – Kalpataru Day – Radhakalyanam
A vibrant celebration of the divine reunion. Radhakalyanam was performed at Namadwaar on January 1st. The program started at 4pm. The grand wedding was performed following the Sampradaya Bhajana padathi. Devotees dressed in their fine attire, gathered at Namadwaar to seek blessings as they welcomed a new year with hope and gratitude. They participated in all the Kalyana activities with great zeal, sang along, chanted and danced to the soulful offering of various kirtans like Kalyana Astapadi, Mahamantra, and Madhurageetham. Close to 200 devotees attended the Kalyanam. The joyful celebration culminated with Harathi and Dolotsavam. Dinner prasadham was served to all.

Mahamantra chanting during Radhakalyanam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty73da0Fv8o

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