Detailed description of ritual of listening to Katha narrated by Shri Hari to Uttam Raja.
Detailed description of ritual of listening to Katha narrated by Shri Hari to Uttam Raja.
Shri Narayanmuni said:-
‘O great king, I will now tell you the manner of listening to this Puran, which is beneficial for the listeners. 1
The rich people should start the Bhagavata-katha in their own houses. Others should gather together in the temple of God etc., 2
‘O King, just as people are enthusiastic at the time of their son’s marriage, so should they be at the time of beginning Purana- katha. 3
At the beginning of Purana-katha, Lord Ganesha should be worshipped with Sindhura, Durva and auspicious sweet Laddus. 4
If a man wants to listen only to Shlokas and not explanation every day, he should listen it prior to his meal and he who wants to listen Shlokas with explanation, should listen after meals. 5
‘O King, if it is not possible to listen to it every day, then one should listen to it during Chaturmasya. 6
‘O King, all months except the Pausha month, are auspicious for the beginning of Bhagavatapuran. 7
During these months, when one’s mind is calm and quiet, Bhagavata-katha which destroys lots of sins should be listened to. 8
A man should listen to it for two months, starting on the ninth day of Bhadrapada and completing the same on the full moonday of Kartika. 9
Alternatively, he can start on the ninth day of Kartika bright fortnight, and complete it on Magha full moon day or start it on the ninth day of Magha bright fortnight and complete the same on Chaitra full moon day. 10
When a man wants to listen to it within a week, he should listen to it from the ninth day up to the full moon day, during the above months. 11
He should invite his relatives and friends from other places, who have faith in listening, before the starting day. 12
Letters should be written to the devotees of Vishnu, who are in different countries and honor those who have arrived. 13
Five days prior to the beginning of Bhagavata-katha, seats etc. should be gathered and a spacious ground should be selected for the purpose of Bhagavata-katha. 14
A temporary ceremonial pavilion should be erected on that holy place and it should be decorated with trunks of plantain tree, leaves, colorful clothes and flowers etc to make it attractive. 15
An intelligent person should arrange seats properly for ladies and gents and a beautiful seat should be prepared for the preacher. 16
Then the preacher should be invited to sit on that quite high, spacious and soft seat and the Bhagavata book should be placed on a four-legged stool in front of the preacher, a little higher than the preacher’s seat. 17
After that, the chief of the listeners, who has performed his daily rites, should worship Lord Krishna the presiding deity of Puran with the (following) mantras in the form of Bhagavata book. 18
Meditetion
I will now concentrate on Lord Krishna who has explained the divine parts i.e. words etc, occurred in the first Skanda upto the twelfth Skanda. 19
Lord Krishna has a beautiful body like a black cloud carrying new water, more beautiful than the luster of the moon in the Sharad season, the best of all. His eyes are more beautiful than the beauty of the lotuses blooming at sunrise. He, with the beauty of his body is an ornament Himself. 20-21
He is continuously being gazed at by the Gopis through the corners of their eyes, as if he is produced by their own lives. 22
He is like the moon for the Chakora-like eyes of Rama, Radha, who are always busy in self beautification. His head is shining because of the crown made up of valuable jewels. 23
He has a flute in his hand for amusement; he is served by the Gods and Demons. His chest is illuminated by the jewel Kaustubha. I worship such Lord Krishna. 24
Due to his excessive kindness, He incarnated in the form of Bhagavata for the destruction of sins in the Kaliyug. I invite him. 25.
Sacred prayer of Lord Krishna in the form of Bhagavata book
‘O Lord Krishna, this is the throne made up of gold and jewels. This pleasing throne is offered to you. Please accept it. 26
‘O God, you are the savior of those who have firm devotion to only you . You help them to cross this ocean of Samsara. ‘O great God, please accept this water for washing your feet and do a favor to me. 27
‘O Destroyer of difficulties by means of various Avataras, please accept this valuable offering of water mixed with eight things namely flowers, sandal paste etc. 28
‘O you, who gave pleasure to Gokula by your plays, who removed the pride of Indra etc., who is like the full moon for the Vrindavana, please accept this water for mouthwash (Achamaniya). 29
‘O Destroyer of the serpent Kaliya who moved in the water of river Yamuna and who enjoyed water-sport, ‘O Krishna, please accept this water for bathing. 30
‘O Krishna, I am offering this new, yellow silken cloth, which is worth wearing for you, ‘O son of Nanda, please accept this. 31
‘O God of Gods, this is the auspicious Upavitaka, made up of golden threads and having the Brahma-knot. Please accept this. 32
These divine ornaments, ear-rings etc., are offered with devotion. ‘O Krishna, please accept them. 33
‘O God Devakinandan, take this divine sandal-paste mixed with camphor and decorated with Kumkuma. 34
‘O God, ‘O Lord Krishna, these are the garlands and necklaces of various fragrant flowers and this is the garland of Tulasi. Please accept them. 35
‘O God, please accept this charming oil, rich with fragrant substances and perfumes. It is desired by all. 36
‘O God, as a play of a child, you have taken away the life of Putana; you have destroyed wicked people like Kamsa, etc., please accept this incense i.e. aromatic smoke. 37
‘O Self-illuminating God, lustrous like many suns, please accept this lamp removing the darkness (of ignorance). 38
This is the offering of cooked food which is tasty with six Rasas (tastes), ‘O omnipresent one, please accept this and give me a boon. 39
‘O God, please accept this holy, clean water added with the fragrance of roses etc., which is the actual life of all living creatures. 40
‘O Destroyer of the Madhu demon, this is the clean, holy, fragrant water of river Yamuna. Please accept this again for washing mouth (after meal). 41
‘O Lord Krishna, please accept this `Tambula’ which contains betel-nut, clove etc. 42 ‘O king of Mathura, accept this coconut which is the best of all the fruits and is liked by all Gods. 43
‘O Lord of Dwarikapur, I have offered golden and silver coins as monetary donation according to my ability. Please accept the same as ‘Dakshina’. 44
‘O great God, I am now worshipping you with a lamp. I bow down to you. I sing Arartikyam along with it. ‘O kamalapati, please accept it. 45
I bow down to you, ‘O God of Gods, who holds a conch, discus, mace and lotus in his divine hands. ‘O Lord Krishna, when I walk around you, it is as good as going round the world. 46
For the upliftment of all, you have manifested yourself on this earth. ‘O Krishna, I bow down to you in the form of Bhagavata. 47
I have fallen in the ocean of this Samsara as a result of my own Karma. Please save me by your grace as you are the treasure house of kindness. 48
‘O Lord Krishna, this Bhagavatapuran is a personification of Yourself. I have surrendered myself to you, so please do me a favor, ‘O Lord of the world! 49
Thus worshipping Lord Krishna in the form of Bhagavata, the preacher then should be worshipped with devotion, offering him sandal-paste, flowers, garlands etc. 50
After worshipping him and giving him new clothes ornaments and monetary gifts, the man should utter proper mantras and politely pray to him. 51
‘O seer Vyas, the knower of the day of Vishnu’s awakening, expert in all the Shastras, destroy my ignorance with the light of this Bhagavata-katha. 52
Thus praying to the preacher, he should then worship other listeners and Brahmins according to their respective statuses and ‘O King, the listener should listen to this Puran following own rules. 53
Thus ends the fourth chapter entitled ‘Explanation of manner of worship during Bhagavata-shravana’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 3
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