Shriji's Birthday Celebrations at Venu Vinod Kunj
Soon after, men and equipment would get ready for the badhai or congratulatory festival.
Ghanshyamji (right) Singing the Mangalacharan
Shriji on the Banks of River Yamuna
All the devotees would follow Shriji to Shri Yamunaji for achman[14]. Photographs would be clicked there.
Meanwhile, Rajnathji Shukla would make rangoli in the Kunj's courtyard. Then Shriji would take prasad[15] along with all the other devotees. In between someone would sing a shloka or sawaiya [16]. Wwhile taking prasad Shriji would sometimes sing a couple of shlokas in his melodious voice and make the atmosphere more exuberant. Then everyone would take rest. At 4 PM Shriji would talk to devotees who had come from outside, in his room. In the evening everyone would join in the sandhya arti of Thakur Shri Venu Vihari.
Rangoli
Shri Banke Bihari, Vrindavan
Soon after, Shriji would go along with all the devotees to have darshan of Shri Banke Bihariji.
Lighted Earthen Lamps
Before the 'kirtan' at night began, rows of lighted earthen lamps would be arranged. The number of these pure ghee lamps equalled the years of Shriji's age, thus the number of lamps increased by one every year.
The Mahamantra
Next day, Shriji would have tea etc.,along with all the devotees after getting free from bathing and again the congratulatory programme of badhai would begin. The
festivity had some added novelty each year. Members of Shriji's parikar would compose poems as per their moods and recite them with elated exultation. The venerable singers singing padas were presented shawls, dupattas[18] etc., and honoured.
A new item was added to the congratulatory programme. Short plays related to the life of Shriji began to be staged. In a courtyard filled with devotees Shriji would be seated on a high square pedestal.
Small daughters of Shriji's close devotees
would be dressed in beautiful traditional sarees and lehengas and be
adorned with ornaments. They would present the song cum dance sequence in a very interesting fashion. When these little girls with pitchers perched on their heads would enter the courtyard, dancing one after the other, the whole gathering including Shriji would reach the heights of elation and ecstasy. The ambiance at that time would be so divine that it could only be experienced by the fortunate people who were present.
Small Girls Dressed in Beautiful Lehengas
Shri Krishna Chandraji Mishra and each member of his family was
totally dedicated to Shriji. His son Brijesh Mishra (who is working at the post of an engineer) and daughter-in-law Shashibala would not be able to check their enthusiasm, and dressed as a bard and bardess would reach there to
congratulate Shriji. Singing their self-composed badhai they would dance for him.
Radharaman, Shiv Kumar, Anil, Govind, Dr. Rajesh and other boys didn't lag behind. They too dressed in the colourful attire of gopas and dancing in their own inimitable style would give badhai and congratulate Shriji. The nectar of love would constantly flow from Shriji's eyes. He would shower sweets and fruits amongst devotees for looting.
Gopas of Vrindavan
A bhandara or grand feast would be held after this programme of congratulating Shriji. Giving up the joy of witnessing the festivity, Shri Ramesh Chandra Garg, the brother-in-law of Deviji, would constantly supervise the cooking of food for the gala dinner. Ever since he was 14 years of age Anil Mohan Bhatnagar, the son of Shri Usha Bhatnagarji's brother, would come and take part in these birthday festivities.
Shantanu Rana and his wife Poonam belonging to Shri Usha Bhatnagar's parikar[19], had implicit faith in Shriji. This couple would reach for Shriji's birthday festival, for sure. Since the past few years Shri Shantanu Rana has been holding a high post in Jakarta, Indonesia. He had brought a video camera of the latest model along with him, but it had got stolen on the way before a cassette of the birthday festival could be recorded.
Jakarta
In fact, I have myself photographed all occasions since 1975. Several albums loaded with photographs of Shriji's birth celebrations have been safely stashed with me. By the way I wrote to Shantanu in Jakarta that had his video camera not been lost we could have made a video film of the birthday festival as per our heart's desire. As soon as he received the letter he bought a new camera worth Rs.45, 000/- and presented himself on Shriji's birthday by coming from Jakarta. With great feeling he made a video film of the birthday celebrations and with God's grace it came out so well that it has become a priceless asset for the devotees of Shriji's inner circle.
It is safely preserved at Venu Vinod Kunj as the last memento of Shriji. Thakurji (Ghanshyamji) had got a video of Shriji's birthday made by Brijesh Mishra. Shri Nattubhai of Rajkot had also made a video cassette on the festival of Holi. Shri Rajkumar, a resident of Haridwar and his wife Archana would come every year for the festival and do the task of cassette recording with expertise, happily rendering their services in the festival.
Venu Vinod Kunj
Lord Vishnu
This regime went on for some years. Seeing the increased number of people pouring in from outside Vrindavan it struck some of the chief associates of
Shriji that it would be better if
some personal lodge could be constructd for the stay of Shriji's followers.
This idea had come to Shriji's mind much earlier. The resolve of great souls is
bound to acquire a visible shape. Crossing several impediments the vast land
opposite Venu Vinod Kunj was purchased. When the idea of buying it had first
dawned upon us we had told Shriji there are many disputes linked to this land
so we must drop its purchase.
“Even I do not wish to buy
it but what can we do if the land itself is tenaciously pursuing us, there is
God's wish in this. There is no need for all of you to worry as the disputes
will get solved on their own accord,” had been Shriji’s reply.
Surprisingly these disputes
were easily pacified. The neighbouring people too were astounded by this turn
of events.
Tamal Kunj, Vrindavan
Dark-hued Krishna
Holi Utsav Being Celebrated
[2] Bhaktmaal:is a
great medieval work of Sant Sri
Nabhadasji. 'Bhaktmaal can be said
to be the first
ever collection of biographies and
a narrative of the different
bhaktas of Bharat, irrespective of
any sect or sampradaya.
[3] sattvikA person can be
called sattvic if he
has predominantly sattvic tendencies. The
name "sattvik" implies one who
is divine, pure, and
spiritual.Sattvic
individuals always work for
the welfare of the
world. They are hardworking, alert,
generous. They live life
moderately, and have good
memory and concentration. Sattvic
qualities include leading a
chaste life, eating moderately,
using precise language and
speaking truths palatably.
[5] Gulabjamun: an
Indian sweet made from
khoa and soft milk
chees, fried in ghi
and soaked in sugar
syrup
[9] Aghan Shukla
Ekadashi: eleventh day of
bright fortnight of Aghan which
is ninth month of
Hindu calendar
[12] Pancharti:: Pancharti
means invocation of God with
the help of panchparanas or
five lit ghee lamps.While
performing Pancharti we should feel that
the Atmajyoti is kindled in
us with the help of
five panchaprans present in the
body and we are performing the
arti with such a
flame.
[14] Achman: sipping
water from the palm
of the right hand
as a ritual purification before
religious ceremonies
[17] Ragas: one
of the melodic formulas
of Hindu music having
the melodic shape, rhythm,
and ornamentation prescribed by tradition.
[21] Satsang: company
with an assembly of
persons who listen to,
talk about, and assimilate
the truth. This typically
involves listening to or reading
scriptures, discussing and assimilating their
meaning, and bringing their
meaning into one’s
daily life.
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