Chapter 68: Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah at Tamal Kunj

 

Passionate Fondness for Krishna

Enough has been written about Rameshwarji, a great lover of chanting God's Name and a devoted bhakta of Shriji.

“What kind of saints do you like?” Shriji had asked him once. This was the reason of Shriji favourable inclination towards him

 “Those who are insanely fond of Krishna! ” had been his instant reply.

 Shri Banke Bihari Lal, Vrindavan

Once Rameshwarji was having darshan of Bihariji along with Shriji. 

“Maharajji! I do not want anything except that I give up my body in Vrindavan! ” he exclaimed.

“ Shri Bihariji is listening to what you have to say. He will fulfill your wish!”Shriji responded.

Rewa

Thereafter, Rameshwarji lived in Rewa. Two years before his demise an  opportunity to live in Vrindavan along with his wife came his way. He would come to Venu Vinod Kunj daily, have Shriji's darshan and take part in the kirtan and arti. He would roam around in Vrindavan for darshan of Shri Bihariji, seeing the 'Rasa Lila' and hearing spiritual discourses. Finally his life span came to an end.

 Shri Balkrishna Das ji Maharaj, Venu Vinod Kunj

As always he came to Venu Vinod Kunj on  10^th April, 1994 and having darshan of Shri Maharajji after the sandhya arti he went home. Thereafter, Rameshwarji rested after taking meals. He had pain in the chest at 11 PM,  which went on escalating steadily. He expired at 3 AM in the morning of 11^th April,1994. His age was about 82 years at this time. Thus Rameshwarji's wish to leave his body in Shri Dham was fulfilled because of Shriji's grace.

Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah

Shriji wanted to get a Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah done for Rameshwarji's sake as per his desire but there was dellay for certain reasons.  On 5^th May a grand organisation of the 'Saptah Katha' was initiated at Tamal Kunj. Shri Achyutlal Bhatt, a great scholar of the 'Shrimad Bhagwat' was the katha vyas or chief narrator. He would expound the scripture with great zeal because of Shriji's presence and felt exhilarated all the time.

“Despite his ill health Shriji is regularly present in the katha and listens to the narration so ecstatically that one's attention is not drawn towards time, for certain,” Shri Achyutlal Bhatt would say.

In this week long narration of the Shrimad Bhagwat almost all of Shriji's close associates and devotees living in far off places had taken part. A grand bhandara along with service rendering to saints was done at the conclusion of the katha.

It was the last Shrimad Bhagwat Saptah which was held in the presence of venerable Shri Maharajji.