21st Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram 2022

21st Śrīmad Bhāgavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram (23 Dec 2022 – 01 Jan 2023): The auspicious Śrīmad Bhāgavata Satram concluded on January 01, after the sublime Vishnu-sahasranaama Samooha Archana and Havan. The entire Satram programme was also livestreamed on YouTube.

Sabha Niketan

For 18 years, SBTSS was conducted in a temporary pandal erected each year. Then in 2019, construction of Sabha Niketan, equipped with all modern facilities, was begun by Poojya Swamiji, and the 18th Satram was held in the under-construction Hall. With the advent of the Covid pandemic, for the next two years, Satram was held online. This year, it gave immense fulfillment to the organizers as well as audience when the 21st SBTSS was held in the newly inaugurated Sabha Niketan. Sabha Niketan with its hall, without any pillars in the first floor, which can accommodate 3000 people, is a feast for the eyes and delight for mind.

Inaugural programme

Swami Tattvamayanandaji, Minister-in-chief of Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, inaugurated Sabha Niketan, lighting the tall traditional lamp elegantly decorated with flower garlands placed at the centre of a floral design. He then inaugurated the 21st SBTSS in the sublime function held on the first floor. Despite setbacks in his health, Poojya Swamiji was a lively presence and with his exuberance and enthusiasm, moving everywhere in his wheel chair.

The programme began with the mellifluous, devotional rendering of invocation hymn by Dr. Aravindan. Swami Tattvamayanandaji lit the lamp in the presence of Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji, Maji, Swami Adhyatmananda Saraswatiji, Swami Sadbhavanandaji, Swami Nigamananda Tirthapadarji, Brahmarshi Devapalanji, Sivapriya Mataji. Dignitaries like Honourable Minister Sri K Radhakrishnan, Sri Xavier Chittilappalli (Wadakkanchery MLA), Sri PN Surendran (Wadakkanchery Municipality Chairman), Sri K Ajithkumar (Wadakkanchery Municipality Opposition Leader), Smt Dhanya Nidhin (Wadakkanchery Municipality Counsellor) were also present.

Book and calendar release

Poojya Swamiji’s book ‘Ulnirvritiyude Ujvala-śāstram’ was released by Swami Adhyatmanandaji with Sivapriya Mataji receiving the first copy. This book is the Malayalam edition of Swamiji’s ‘Science of Inner Redemption, Volume 1’, based on Yoga-vāsiṣṭha Rāmāyaṇa.

To commemorate the 21st year of Satram, a table calendar with 21 quotes of Poojya Swamiji was also released. Swami Sadbhavanandaji, head of Ramakrishna Mission, Thrissur, released the calendar by presenting the first copy to Sri Purushottaman Master of Paralikad.

Satram programmes

During the 10 days, 35 exponents gave over 45 discourses. Daily melodious recital of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam by Swami Nigamananda Tirthapadarji, and evening Nama-sankeertana parikrama, were especially captivating events for the devotional hearts. Poojya Swamiji led the pradakshina in his wheelchair and devotees followed him dancing blissfully. When volunteers too joined swaying to the music, Naimisharanyam virtually became Vrindavan.

A special bhajan group from Chennai rendered Hare Rama Hare Krishna Mahamantra in 18 different ragas, a novelty for the audience.

The series of talks given by Poojya Swamiji titled ‘Nectarine showers from the Central Skandha of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam’ unravelled the potential and excellence the mind has, and how devotion can deepen and broaden these dimensions, through Prahlada’s story. The discourses by Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji and Ma Gurupriyaji and other exponents filled the minds of listeners with devotion and wisdom, explaining how to make spiritual saadhana practical in daily life in simple and interesting ways.

Vishnu-sahasranaama japa done collectively by students on Dec 29th, intended to augment memory power, develop intelligence and enhance the personality, had great relevance and impact. Several elders also participated along with over 1000 children. This was followed by distribution of prizes to students who had won in several categories like elocution, essay writing, drawing, painting, recitation etc. on topics from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

Vishnu-sahasranaama Sarvajanika Yajña conducted on January 1st for the prosperity and welfare of society was exceptionally grand and sublime. Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and Ma led the program which concluded with distribution of prasada with Moksha Sadhana jñāna-prasada.

Concluding ceremony

The Dhwaja or ceremonial flag was lowered in the evening by Brahmarshi Devapalanji to denote the conclusion of the 10-day Knowledge festival. The ten days were over in a flash, each and every devotee now waiting for the next Satram.

Poojya Swamiji gave his concluding remarks and distributed prasada to volunteers. The volunteers had toiled day and night to provide facilities for devotees who came from distant places. These devotees came, stayed throughout the programme, became part of the Satram till the end, and returned with their hearts full with a sense of contentment, thinking how the ten days had flown past so swiftly.

The proposed date for the next year’s Satram was also announced – Dec 22 to 31, 2023.