Chapter 51: Concluding Ceremony of the Barwani Akhand Sankirtan (part two)

 

Shri Balkrishna Das ji Maharaj

Ensconced resplendently on his seat Shri Maharajji, the source of the delightful Barwani sankirtan festival and the tangible image of supreme joy, 

Dry Fruits, Fruits & Flower Bouquet

would have all the gifted fruits, sweetmeats, toffees and bouquets as well as flower garlands , looted by all and sundry. Who can describe the great good fortune of those looting these offerings with both their hands, forgetting the distinction of their being children, youths or elders.

Shriji would get the kirtan done for two hours every day. The instant people heard his voice on the mike they would come running. Getting no room to sit inside they would stand outside. Some people would not even get space to stand and they would sway emotionally wherever they were. 

 

Shriji Accompanied by Thakurji

Shriji was always accompanied by Thakurji who had a melodious, divinely gifted voice and good knowledge of music. After Shriji, Thakurji would get the kirtan done so loudly and fervently for two hours at a stretch that the public would be spellbound.

In this manner the whole of Barwani was drowned in the non-stop gushing river of sankirtan for twenty to twenty-two days. The very thought that the sankirtan would come to an end would make them sorrowful.

The Rasa Mandali

At the time of the kirtan's conclusion the rasa mandali [6] was called once again. It was commendable that both Swami Shri Ramji and Swami Fateh Krishnaji cancelled their programmes of 'Rasa Lila' which were to be enacted abroad and came to Barwani with their dance troupes at the orders of Shriji.

Nagar Sankirtan on Conclusion of the Barwani Sankirtan

A grand shobhayatra (procession) was to be taken out on the last day. Auspicious tunes were being played on instruments in the fore front, followed by a group of small beautifully decked girls with colourful pitchers perched on their heads who were enacting the round dance under the direction of Shri Shobharam Bhai. Behind them two child svarupas dressed as Rasa Bihari Priyatam, Supreme Lover Lord Krishna, and Priya, His Beloved Shri Radha, were resplendently seated in a beautifully decorated chariot. Shri Maharajji was walking on foot along with his parikar behind this chariot. People begged him to board a car but he refused. Kirtan mandalis were walking alongside as they sang devotional hymns. A huge crowd doing sankirtan was trailing behind them.

Svarupas of Shri Radha-Krishna

The whole town had been decorated with flags and buntings as well as big beautiful archways. At many a doorstep, men and women were doing arti[7] of the lovable svarupas of Shri Radha-Krishna. Free fruits, dry fruits and toffees were being thrown up for loot on pathways.

 Attics and balconies of every house were crammed with spectators. The entire arrangement of this grand procession had been possible due to the praiseworthy co-operation of Nigam Sahab. In the midst of the procession he took the svarupas of Shri Radha-Krishna to his house, did their arti[8] along with his wife and children and distributed prasad[9].He had adorned the entrance of his house with strings of electric bulbs and buntings. The procession returned in about four hours’ time. Next day a great bhandara had been arranged and several thousand people ate the prasad. 

 

Enactment of the Rasa Lila

The 'Rasa Lila’ was enacted for four days after the sankirtan’s conclusion. Hearts of devotees who loved the kirtan were dejected as there would be an empty void in the town from tomorrow onwards. This matter was put up before Shriji. Soon after, it was unanimously decided that kirtan would be held for two hours in the Ram Mandir, every evening and this is what consoled the dejected people of Barwani. The kirtan was inaugurated by Shriji in the evening of the very next day. This routine goes on till date.

Shriji stayed on for another four days in Barwani. One fine day, Shri Shobharamji took Shriji along with some devotees to his home in the village. 

 

Shri Welcomed with Showering of Flowers

As soon as Shriji reached the village's border along with everyone else Shri Shobharamji and the people present showered flowers on Shriji, making him walk on  foot rugs spread out for him, they got him home. In front of them a few girls were dancing with pitchers perched on their heads. A beautiful swing had been decorated at home and Shriji was made to sit on it. Some small girls were dancing around the swing as they did arti. Tears began streaming down Shriji's cheeks on seeing this scene and he reached a state of serious spiritual consciousness. There was absolute silence all around and everyone was stupefied for a short while. Thereafter, some refreshments were served to Shriji along with the group of devotees.

In this manner the long festive programme of sankirtan initiated by Shriji in Barwani left a very pleasant impression on hearts of the people of Barwani, leaving its indelible mark for all times to come.

Shriji Distributed Fruits

Shriji delighted all the devotees with humorous entertainment and distributed a lot of fruits, a day before his departure from Barwani. This conduct of Shriji made the bhaktas a bit apprehensive and they wondered whether it foreboded his leaving Barwani. This was true. Very sure that he should leave without informing anyone otherwise people would gather in large numbers and be very depressed at his going away, Shriji had asked Nigam Sahab to send the car early in the morning. However, some people somehow got a clue of this plan. As soon as Nigam Sahab's car arrived and stood in front of Shri Motibhai's door, a girl of that very same locality saw it and quietly ran to girls of the singing troupe and informed them. Now all the girls, some women as well as some devotees gathered and quickly decorated Shriji's car with flowers. With 'jai jaikar',  shouts of salutation, and heavy hearts they bade farewell to Shriji.

Maheshwar

On 2^nd June, 1983, Shriji, Thakurji, Kusumji and Radha, the daughter of Shri Hiralalji, reached Maheshwar. I too was accompanying them. My elder brother Sakhya Bihariji and his daughters Shashi as well as Beeju had prayed to Shriji to come to their home in Maheshwar. Bathing in river Narmada at Maheshwar and after having darshan, Shriji had meals at their home and took rest.

That is when a busload of Barwani devotees who were unable to bear the anguish of separation from Shirji, arrived at Maheshwar. Shriji stayed in Maheshwar for about eight hours and here too devotees thronged and gathered around him all the time. At 6 o'clock in the evening everyone left for Indore from Maheshwar and stayed there for four days. Many of the Barwani people who could not have Shriji's darshan when he was bidding farewell, reached Indore to see him.

 Vrindavan Dham

Shriji arrived at Shri Dham from Indore on 10^th June 1983.

After several days a letter jointly written by girls who had participated in the kirtan at Barwani was received by Shriji.

'All of us girls who had taken part in the kirtan have passed our examinations in the first division,' it was written.

Shriji & Manohar Baba (right) at Venu Vinod Kunj, Vrindavan

 

Thereafter, some devotees of Barwani wrote to him: ' You had said at the very start that all the desires of those who will attentively take part in the sankirtan will be fulfilled. This proved to be true in every aspect. Someone's daughter who was not getting married even after diligent efforts had been made for several years, got married. Another childless couple was blessed with a child. Those who were not getting employment got jobs. A certain person's court case was decided in his favour.'

Such kinds of letters were received by Shriji for many days at a stretch.

The main and most noteworthy effect of the sankirtan had been that many atheists had become theists, thus turning the arid ambiance of Barwani into a channel of religious devotion.

The Tree of Bhakti Blooms in Barwani

The juicy and fertile sapling which Shriji had sown on the dry arid soil of Barwani is blooming even today with its uniquely exquisite beauty. Shriji was the one who had changed the barren land of Barwani into a fertile farm of religious devotion, loaded with bhava or love flowing towards the Lord.

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[1]     Akhand: non-stop, continuous singing of devotional songs

[2]     Purushottam Masa: spiritually, the most special and powerful month!***

[3]     Bheel: tribal people of central India

[4]     Garba:is a form of dance that originated in the state of Gujarat in India.  Many traditional garbas are performed around a centrally lit lamp or a picture or statue of the Goddess Shakti.. Traditionally, it is performed during the nine-day Hindu festival of Navarātris.a

[5]     Tipari: -Tipri is a very popular male dominated folk dance which is performed in the Northern India particularly in Punjab and Haryana belt.

[6]     Raas mandali: theatre group enacting the round dance and exploits of Lord Krishna

[7]     Arti:  a ritual performed in homes and temples in which incense and light is offered to a deity

[8]     arti: a ceremony performed in worshipping God, a dish holding a lamp, burning ghi, incense or other articles is moved in a series of circles in front of the idol

[9]     Prasad: remnants of food offered to an idol